Engineering

I was impressed recently when i saw the fabulous outcomes of my brothers blood, sweat and tears in the renovation of his Grade II listed thatched cottage. He has a fabulous streak of Nike in him. It inspired me, and so I've decided to "Just do it"....... But where to start?
I need to get the headstock turned and so hit the internet, Back Street Heroes mags, and contact recommendations of Hughie to find a suitable engineering company to make my bit.
There are hundreds of small engineering companies here in the West Mindlands (though sad to say they are reducing in numbers these days) - but i dont really know what im asking for (Ive never had a headstock requirement before) so i really wanted a MOTORCYCLE engineering workshop, and i wanted one that i could go visit to talk through my requirements - so i wanted a custom bike builder in Birmingham. [and while we're on the subject, my definition of a custom bike builder doesnt include boutiques that buy and sell chromed harley parts and airbrushed helmets]
Up until now I had planned to use Ray at BlackSpur [see earlier blog entry], but sadly that business appears to be no more (another example of small specialist back street engineering companies being pushed out by housing developments) and so a new search was necessary
My searches found a couple of people who over the phone showed little interest, a couple of people who i suspected were going to outsource the turning, and a couple of people that were simply going to be too far a drive to get to.
Exasperated, I glibly typed "headstock" into ebay, and bugger me, there was someone offering to turn a head stock to my requirements! fifty quid! But surely thats too dodgy to buy a bit of engineering from an unknown on an auction site? But wait!...... whats this? this chap is in the midlands, he has a website, he builds custom trikes and bikes, he is 6 miles from my house!
I call him. Kev is a nice guy. He is interested in my project. He invites me over.
And what a fab workshop it turns out to be. And what a skilled engineer - hes been in this business for 6 years. There are 4 bikes in progress, one trike and hanging from the roof, a ready for sale, complete soft rear trike end. His engineering facilities are clean, tidy and well lit. And he made time to chat. Brilliant :-)
For all your custom bike manufacturing needs talk to Kev at www.projex-uk.co.uk
The only downside is that "reliant engine" is a sinful concept in Kevs world, so as long as i can keep talking about trikes and not about engines, i think Kev is going to be a really useful chap on this project. All ive go to do now is to continue to "just do it"