Vintage motorsports first resto finished out of the new shop !!

[vintagemotorsports]

well its not a 3 wheeler but close, this is an 87 Honda fat cat I just finished out of the new shop I just moved into. If anyone out there has ever looked for nos fatcat parts they will know there is nothing out there for these bikes. I need to thank Pete big time for helping us out with the hard to find stuff. Everything on the bike is original parts that i restored to new less the plastic, tank and tires. This was done for a real good customer of mine in NY who has an incredible 3 wheeler collection and came across a fatcat and thought it would fit well with his collection. I delivered it last week to him as an early christmas present and thought some of you might enjoy seeing a restored fatcat. I am finishing up an 82 tri moto 175 now pics to come of this bike real soon .

thanks for looking
Mike

[200x350xtriz250]

As always, awesome work! Love the speedo on there...never saw one with a speedo before. Thanks for sharing.

[dirtface]

Another masterpiece, Mike! I was looking for a Fat Cat for a while, and your right, even good used parts are hard to find, so I can just imagine how hard the NOS stuff would be. I ended up settling for a Yamaha Big Wheel, parts are a little more plentiful, but not much, LOL!! Great job!

[atc007]

Mike ,your work is perfect. I look forward to seeing Anything you have touched! That was a fast turn around! It was only a few months ago you got his old R done for that customer. And now his Fatcats done ,,in the NEW shop!! Thank you so much for sharing !!!

[vintagemotorsports]

thanks guys !!
yes that is an nos speedo made for the fat cat it was brand new in the hondaline box I have never seen one also before he gave it to me to install honda used the atc speedo head in the kit .

yes this was a pretty fast turnaround , sometimes I get into a groove and things flow well this was one of those jobs. I dont think my customer expected it this soon either (LOL) . he gave me 2 more bikes to do when I dropped this one off non 3 wheelers though 81 Cr80 and an 84 z50. it will be a while before i get on those bikes give him time to recoup some funds.

the new shop has given me a burst of new energy sometimes we all need a change to recharge us a little .

[atc007]

Just amazing.....and still a landscaper???

[vintagemotorsports]

yup I do more excavating type work than landscaping but yes still busy with that as well although the grounds starting to lock up pretty good now for the winter, so will be in the shop more now than ever until the snow flies than its off to snowplowing Im into everything keeps me out of trouble kind of (LOL)

[ezmoney1979]

Looks amazing like always Mike! Thanks for sharing! I like the Fatcats but I have always wanted a Honda Cub EZ90. It would be like riding a Nintendo.

[JasonB]

Great job on that build, got any pics of the shop your now working in too ? Either way great work on that fat cat, those things are funny to ride

[AtcFactoryRacer]

Wow amazing work... Did you re-nickle plate all the original hardware or is that nos stuff?

[vintagemotorsports]

No that is all the original hardware that came on the bike in 87 they all get stripped cleaned polished and sent out to be re zinc plated , as they were originally . if you buy all new bolts from honda most likley they wont be exact to what was used in 87 Honda typically supperseades bolt part numbers to a particular size and length. thats why its very important to start a restoration off with an all original bike that was untouched over the years makes for a much cleaner resto

[shawnroy1971]

Another great build,thank's for sharing.I almost forgot about the Fatcat's...

[atc007]

I have 3,,2 riders,and 1 apart. ALL in need of this..

[Brockey]

Awesome work as always bud. If I ever won the lotto we will know each other on a first name basis. Lol

[bigworm626]

Tubular!!!lol Nice

[Orangecnty250r]

Great Job as always!!! I may have to meet you up there at your next drop off!!

[Dirtcrasher]

Looks great Mike!

Lets see the new shop soon :D

[tri-shee]

Nice restoration Mike on the fatcat . I have the whole collection of fat tire motorcycles . I am in the process of restoring my 1987 yamaha bw 350 . I have always liked you work .

[just ben]

Looks amazing like always Mike! Thanks for sharing! I like the Fatcats but I have always wanted a Honda Cub EZ90. It would be like riding a Nintendo.I seen a near mint one last week for 1200. not sure if its still there . I will pm a link if it is. back to the subject.. very nice build especially on such a rare machine

[honda200x1987]

That's what i like about your restos mike, you pay much attention to detail. My helmet os off to you, once again great job and I always look forward to threads on your restos, especially the ATC's! One question.. do you restore individual parts ? Like if i needed a set of rear rims from a 87 200X restored, how long would it take?
No that is all the original hardware that came on the bike in 87 they all get stripped cleaned polished and sent out to be re zinc plated , as they were originally . if you buy all new bolts from honda most likley they wont be exact to what was used in 87 Honda typically supperseades bolt part numbers to a particular size and length. thats why its very important to start a restoration off with an all original bike that was untouched over the years makes for a much cleaner resto

[vintagemotorsports]

here are some pics of the new shop I am still setting it up and will be framing in an office next to the bathroom in a little bit , but this is where most of the restorations are built , I paint and powder coat out of my other shop still its a much nicer change loading and unloading trucks is much easier . some pics of the tri moto in process now as well

[atv innovations]

Nice job Mike.

[honda200x1987]

Coming along on that tri moto, man you do the BEST work, I know you have produced some discontinued ATC parts in the past, any specific discontinued sport ATC part in the near future?

[petesatc]

Hey Mike
the FC turned out awesome!!!! lovin the new shop as well :-))))

[vintagemotorsports]

thanks Pete could not not have pulled it off without your key parts ...

On the new repro parts yes I do have a few items in the works now , I am trying to get my front brake hoses done again for the 250rs and 350xs . working with a company to make higher volume to cut my cost down so i can sell them a little cheaper , also working on the tooling for the 250r and 350x front brake hose guide . i have some fiberglass parts in the works as well for some vintage dirt bikes . I try not to get too far ahead of myself with parts the cost to make this stuff cant put you out of business faster than anything if you are not carefull

[Flossyb20]

The bike looks amazing...how do you get the engine to look new again...that finish is amazing!

[atc007]

Just curious on your shop.. That's obviously , 1 bay,,with the three tables.. There are at least 5 other bays !! Storage? Or do you tear down in a separate bay? And have that much storage? Top class man!! Can't wait to see the Tri Moto in all it's glory!!!! I always thought you were in Maryland. You're in Mass ??

[vintagemotorsports]

no I only do restorations out of that one bay , I dont lease the entire building Im not that big !!(LOL) I do park my heavy equipment there as well . the building is over 30,000 square feet its huge. bays on the other side as well. my other shop at my house is where i do all my paint and powder coating that is approx a 4 car garage. my goal some day if all goes as planned is to buy a large commercial lot and build a nice building with a showroom , museum etc . thats my dream anyways ...

[350XJEDI]

:beer:Dlove that fatcat haven't seen one that nice since 87 good work.

[R-tifacts]

Such nice work, perrrfect fat cat and a very inpressive shop, keep turning em out!

[honda200x1987]

Mike, hope you have healed up since your accident, do you have a latest resto for us to drool over? :drool:

[vintagemotorsports]

Thanks yup im all healed up and back at it full bore. still have very little hearing in my right ear but I have gotten used to it plus when my wife is yapping at me i can just turn to that ear and all is good (LOL). yes lots and lots of projects going right now in the shop alot of vintage MX stuff and some really rare one off bikes like a factory HRC rs600 flat track bike 1 of 10 built by HRC. and a ultra rare 68 Suzuki RH67 MX bike one of 6 known to exist. I do have some three wheelers going a 86 250r , a 74 ATC90 and a tiger 500, here are some bikes on the lifts now 86 cr125 and a 1980 CR80, I will get some pics of the 3 wheelers when they progress. Thanks for checking in . Mike

[atc007]

Truly just amazing. That was no joke what you went through. Most would be thanking their lucky stars to be alive,or able to speak. Too mention walk,,,too mention build these perfect masterpieces! Great to see you back at full song Mike !

[Darius1502]

Thanks yup im all healed up and back at it full bore. still have very little hearing in my right ear but I have gotten used to it plus when my wife is yapping at me i can just turn to that ear and all is good (LOL). yes lots and lots of projects going right now in the shop alot of vintage MX stuff and some really rare one off bikes like a factory HRC rs600 flat track bike 1 of 10 built by HRC. and a ultra rare 68 Suzuki RH67 MX bike one of 6 known to exist. I do have some three wheelers going a 86 250r , a 74 ATC90 and a tiger 500, here are some bikes on the lifts now 86 cr125 and a 1980 CR80, I will get some pics of the 3 wheelers when they progress. Thanks for checking in . Mike

Mike glad to see you are back and doing well. Those are some amazing CR's are you are working and everything you do is just flat out incredible. I'd love to spend days looking at those photos...

Great stuff!!

What are some of newest projects?

[Dirtcrasher]

Great to hear your AOK Mike!!

As usual, your work you do is shocking, it is simply amazing; What talent!!

[Rigaman]

When you restore a bike like one of those CRs, do you use mostly nos parts? Restoring some parts are pretty hard to get looking perfect. The airbox.. Swingarms usually have dents or dings. Also, lots of hardware usually gets marred up on some of these old bikes.

[vintagemotorsports]

the only thing on the crs that we replaced with new is the plastic everything else is factory original parts that i reworked to new , things like that swingarm on the 86 cr125 that was all chipped and dinged up I literally have 5-6 hours of sandng putting the correct brushed finish back on it , same with the lower fork legs , all of the hardware is original just cleaned polished and replated , you cany buy much of anything nos for these bikes so everything needs to be reworked . Lots and lots of labor thats all.

[honda200x1987]

Those CR's look truly amazing and the 86 250R restorations never get old, I look forward to seeing more. Glad to see you back on the forum.

[Taiser]

Truly, truly impressive! LOVE your shop! You have the same compressor I have! :) I also love your metal lathe! How much use do you get out of it? I'm debating whether it's worth getting one for myself.

[Rigaman]

That 125 swingarm looks amazing. It looks better than new from the factory. To me.. One of the most important things to a restoration is the hardware. It has to be right. Its hard cause alot of bikes have different hardware mixed up all over. Or the hardware is all stripped and beat up. I have been having a rough time finding a place to plate my hardware. Not many people will do it.

What about the rims and spokes? Those cr125 rims look perfect too. It all looks perfect, but rims are so hard to get right.

[ONEBAD350X]

That is very nice work.. Congrats on the new shop, I hope many more builds are to come!

[jsmay]

Just wondering where you got that number plate? Looks similar to the dc plastics tecate one.. Thanks Jason