Frame tubing...Where do I get it?

[Voltaire]

Building a classic racer based on an early 70's BMW, looking to do some bracing on the " rubber cow" frame.
Any thoughts on frame tubing, types, where I can buy appreiciated.
Did some years ago when doing OE on an R 100, used Renolds 531 if memory serves me....

[geoffm]

ERW tubing from your local engineers suppliers.DOM tubuing (drawinover mandrel - no seam) is better if you are doing bends, but cost s more and harder to get.
I wouldn't bother with fancy alloy. I bet the oringinal frame is glorifed water pipe.
Geoff

[Ixion]

Glorified water pipe? No "glorified" about it, the Munich municipal water company are still wondering where all theie pipes went to.

[Voltaire]

Glorified water pipe? No "glorified" about it, the Munich municipal water company are still wondering where all theie pipes went to.

....Berlin actually.

[Ixion]

The took the city pipes with them when they moved from Munich to Berlin. Provided them with material for frames for years. The Munchen authorities blamed the water leaks on Allied war damage. And obtained a huge Marshall Plan loan to replace it all.

[Voltaire]

They moved to Spandau so as to be near Rudolf.

[phantom]

That was the ballet

[pritch]

I think my Cheney frame was 531. That was a bit up-spec compared to the average Brit bike though.

[Voltaire]

apparently supposed to use chrome molly 4130 and fancy welding wire and heat treatment....gasp.

water pipe and brazing was so much easier.

[Nade]

You can use chrome moly...but its not the cheapest.....

We used to use ERW on street fighters back in the early 2000's in CHCH.
bit of a sand up and a coat of paint...tidy welds etc and looks like its ment to be there.....for chassis mods we used slightly thicker pipe or RHS....one guy even used 50 by 25 RHS that looked really good after mild bending and time consuming welds.