We’ve made slow progress on our little Di Blasi, but we’re cool with that! The bike is in bits. From here we’ll clean everything up, the engine, the wheels, we’ll strip the frame back and prep for paint, which should all be in the next update!
More pics on Zen: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2016/02/zen-deathtrap-v3-update-2/
I’m always on the hunt for interesting scooters. I’m still a little upset that I never saw the Honda Monkey bike project through too (sold it to a dude who also still hasn’t finished it!). At one stage I was super close to buying an 80’s Honda Spacy (so ugly but so coooool), but I was outbid. There was a ‘buy it now’ button on this little Di Blasi though, and after doing a little bit of research online, I pulled the trigger and now it’s a new Zen project!
No doubt about it this is the Zen Garage Deathtrap V3. I mean just look at it. A 49cc two-stroke scooter that folds down and fits in your boot. It weighs 30kg and best of all it’s street registered!!! Bad news for everyone else on the road though, it’s top speed is only 45km/h.
The guy I bought it off explained that he bought it off a company which was using a fleet of these bikes for a drink driving service, where if you get intoxicated and can’t drive your car home, one of these guys will come out to you, fold and pack their scooter into your boot, then drive you home (then they would ride their Di Blasi back to base). Overseas it’s marketed as a unique auxiliary vehicle for boats, caravans and motorhomes, even light aircrafts.
We think this thing will be hilarious on back roads, but even more fun at EOMM’s and other Zen related events! We’ve started tearing the bike down so we can paint the frame, from there we’ll trick out the bike too, so stay tuned for updates!
PS: More on Zen.
I say no to most commercial work these days but sometimes you just can’t say no! This is a branding design I’m just finishing up for a new women’s cycling label in the UK. The concept was to avoid the typical cliche women’s cycling aesthetic (soft fonts, pinks, purples, flowers and pretty things). Client is happy. I’m happy!
Nanami gave me the heads up on this little bike shop which is situated in the laneway behind Taylor St. where I used to live! So rad! I hate it when places I used to live at get cooler!
I’ve put the full feature on Zen Garage. Visit: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2015/06/shimada-cycleworks/
I’ve kept the EZY Slider Trike build nice and simple. Swapped out the standard stem for a beefy FUNN Rippa stem, and the tall polished BMX bars for the left-of-field On-One Mary Bars (mounted upside down for extra points). I’ve also changed the polished brake lever for an all black Tektro lever, swapped out Fitbikeco grips and an Alligator serration disc rotor and scored an awesome set of 80’s BMX wheel covers for that 80’s flare.
View the full feature on Zen and also before photos here, and look out for action photos ASAP!
For more info, visit: http://www.ezyslider.com/
I’m helping the EZY Slider guys out with a photoshoot soon and today I built up one of their trikes that had been sitting in my man cave for a couple of weeks.
It’s a simple thing. Gravity trike so no pedals, heavy steel frame, a mechanical disc brake set-up on the front wheel and EZY Slider wheels. I love it that it’s a blank canvas.
Part of me wants to go nuts on it and have some fun with it. Even if it was with the parts I have lying around from my billion bike builds of old. I’ve got a few ideas for the shoot in mind, and I’m one step closer to finalising a concept now that I’ve built the trike and have it in my lounge room to perv at when I’m lounging about.
First up, fitting!
Since Nanami’s confidence on the bike is down, she’ll just start with the seat height a little lower than usual.
Helmet fitting. As always, anything Nanami buys has to be either black, or white.
A few more dollars buys you a much better product. This POC helmet had a similar style to, but was way lighter than the skate helmets.
Jordi’s pet parrot!
Happy customer.
Fits in the boot folded, no worries!
Nanami’s owned a mountain bike for as long as I’ve known her. It’s never had a home in her city apartment. Wherever it moves to, it’s always in the way. She’s never once taken it out for a ride as far as I can remember, mainly because it’s too big and heavy to drag up the stairs (she lives on the top floor of her apartment building) and she’s just got not much confidence riding it either.
Quite a few months back she mentioned a folding bike and soon after that Nanami dragged me to a Japanese budget store to check one out. It had wheels the size of a plate, made out of steel and just nasty all round. We dropped in to Giant Sydney and we were both impressed with the folding bike on offer. The whole idea of getting a folding bike died off for a while until today where we went in to close the deal.
Good thing Giant Sydney had the new 2015 Giant Expressway 2 in stock. In comparison to the other rubish bike Nana was looking at a while back this bike has much bigger wheels, wider bars and it’s much easier to ride than the wobbly Strida folding bike I used to own.
Nanami’s happy. I’m happy. Whether she rides it or not she’s winning as getting rid of her old mountain bike will free up apartment space, and if she’s not using this bike it’ll fold up and hide in her wardrobe quite nicely!
I’ve been meaning to check out Tokyo Bike ever since they opened up in Darlinghurst, this shop in Surry Hills being their 2nd store.
Hipster goods everywhere.
Can’t go wrong with Brooks gear.
Also finally tried Paramount Coffee Project. I went for the friend chicken/Japanese curry waffle. Waffle was good, curry wasn’t the best Japanese curry I’ve had (expected, really?!).
Nanami went for the steamed pork belly bun with apple slaw.
Finally checked out what the hype was all about. So many hipsters in the building I felt uncool. I went for the fizzy cold brew at Paramount and liked it, very subtle coffee aftertaste but the guys at Brewrista’s in Glebe still have my vote!
NINJAS @ Zen Garage last night.
Back in 2011 when we first opened up we had the NINJAS over to bless our space (revisit that feature here). Back then we didn’t have our shop fit out installed, we basically had an empty space, so it seems fitting that we invite the NINJAS back one last time now that Zen is completely empty again.
As expected, seeing the space so empty stirred up a few emotions. Zen Garage is but a shadow of the space it once was, the logos on the walls are the only real remnants of Zen, and as strong as they are they don’t carry across that great Zen vibe without all the other goodies we managed to cram into our man cave over the past 3 years.
Like the first time, we ordered Pizza and again we had no table or chairs to eat it on, but the great company, conversation, food, tunes and beers helped get our minds off the empty space that once was Zen Leichhardt.
Soon after dinner we got the Pedalkhana going. A course which saw a fast slalom through the pylons, a slow and slippery figure 8 through some posts then a roll up a couple of down low ramps into the office through to a step drop off into the finish line.
The first round saw contestants use their bike of choice, the second round was much the same except riders weren’t allowed to set a foot down (if they did they were instantly disqualified). The third round levelled the playing field and saw all competitors use the funny bike!
View the full feature on Zen Blog: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2014/08/ninjas-zen-garage-the-last-hoorah
