Yard Art "Motorcycle Rider"

Steps 1-2

Steps:

1. The size of the wheels determines the scale of the motorcycle — a 16-inch wheel was selected for the front and a 12-inch wheel for the rear.

2. Place the wheels against a piece of pipe used as a straight edge (representing the ground), at the approximate wheelbase.

Steps 3-4

3. Cut the fork legs and rear triangle off an old bicycle and belt the wheels to them.

4. On the ground, lay out the rest of the bike.

• A 12-inch round tray bent into a curl as the gas tank;
• A leaf-shaped tray bent by hand for the seat;
• Two 11-inch pieces of chrome bicycle fenders bent to fit the wheel size as fenders;
• A 1/2-inch chrome tubing for the fork tubes and frame, handlebars and exhaust;
• A 3-inch chrome cap for the headlight
• A 3-inch diameter pan and two bicycle hubs for the engine.

Step 5

5. Lay out the rider portion of the bike using your own body as a reference for proportion:

• The torso is a 12" x 12" rectangular tray from a grill;
• The upper legs are a 20-inch piece of a 2-inch pipe bent almost in half;
• The lower legs are an 11-inch piece of a 2-1/4 inch pipe;
• The arms are a 12-inch long piece of a 1-inch pipe;
• The head is a 5-inch pan lid bent in half, with the top 1/4 inch cut off;
• The cowboy hat is an 11-inch pan lid curled into shape by hand and a 3-inch diameter cap.

Step 6

6. To assemble the motorcycle:

• Weld the fork tubes to the fork legs;
• Weld two cross braces to the fork tubes about where the gas tank intersects;
• Weld the bottom part of the frame together making sure to keep the frame straight with the wheels;
• Fit the seat and gas tank in place and weld;
• Weld the handlebars, fenders, headlight, engine and exhaust.

Step 7

7. Weld a kickstand so the bike will stand on its own leaning slightly to one side.

Step 8

8. Weld the upper legs to the seat and weld the lower legs to the upper legs. Weld the torso to the upper legs at an angle in which the arms will reach the handlebars.

Step 9

9. Weld the arms in place. Weld the head to the torso and the cowboy hat to the head.

Steps 10-11

10. Use a scrap of chrome for sunglasses and a bent triangle of sheet metal for the nose and ears as desired. Weld on rebar wire for hair.

11. Grind off any sharp edges of the "Motorcycle Rider" yard art piece.