Dream with cut rear "fender" (frame) bad idea?

[sdaigle240]

im a car guy, to cut out and weld in a new pannel isnt too big a deal. Im also young (25) and still make impulsive dicisions from time to time.

Im going to look at this bike tonight (hence my kind of jumping the gun on this thread). My dad has been digging my dream more and more as its comming along, and i wanted to buy this for him as just another way for us to further bond.

Is this a crazy thought? I have seen bare frames for sale under 100 several times recently. surly you will see weld bead on the under fender, but its going to be a rider. i figured with a cut frame its worth 500 absolute tops (depending), anyone have any opinions for a novice 305 enthusiast?
of course at some point it would be sold ( for new projects) is this going to scare away the majority of buyers?

crapy pics below...its hard to tell (waiting on new pics via email) and the guy dosent know jack about 77's. hes a reasonable guy and i feel if he understands the frame has been cut he'd take such a low offer.


Thanks

Steve

http://providence.craigslist.org/mcy/1228665256.html

[sdaigle240]

uhh...its not a 305 is it? chains on the right on my CA78....? CA160/150 eh?














CA72?????? suggestions on worth?
PS dont steal it from me you new englanders! :)


EDIT: Ok i strongly believe its a "CA160" or "ca150" so now im wondering how similar the frames are....and if i can indeed cut a 305 frame and fit it to the 160/150 frame <- thats a LM question right there!

[mike69]

I don't know about the 150 Dreams but the 305's have the rear fender section spot welded in. It starts under the seat near the shock mounts.
Mine was hacked off in the same fashion.
I found a guy who sold me just the rear fender section and I installed it with nuts and bolts after drilling out the spot welds.

[sdaigle240]

quality info right there. thanks! ive already emaild a few ppl from the west coast asking if they would cut the frame a just send the tail. just not sure if 305 works for a 150/60, never seen a150/160 frae for sale before

[mike69]

Steve,I'd try to locate a 150 rear fender section first. The 305 may look similar but is probably larger, you may have trouble mounting it up.

[sdaigle240]

screw it, he agreed to my offer of " i dont know, depending on the cost of a bare frame, 400-500$?" and it was indeed a CA95E-#'s. runs and drives, cant beat that. I am a little nervous about cost and availibility of 150 parts though......

going to grab it shortly. now ive gotta do an intro on 3 bikes!

[caldreamin]

Cool!! get that thing home and outta the rain!! I have a cut framed 305 and love it!! it doesn't really bother me a darn bit, (well maybe a little) they cut the front on mine too so it matches, this must have been a 70's thing to make them look more modern ....or maybe they cut them to look like a superhawk which was much faster, or maybe they cut them for ridin' wheelies!! maybe its easier to remove the rear wheel, or maybe they were just plain ol' stoned and board with no gas money and a broken clutch cable and the bike was just sittin there ....next to a brandnew sabre saw from sears, who knows, anyway the bike was so clean , I didn't care that it was cut, I gave him his asking price and have loved it ever since, and besides ......you cant see that its cut when your ridin' it!!!