After stripping a bike to the frame, the first thing I do is completely smooth it out. All brackets are removed; the centerstand mounts are shaved; and the whole frame is sanded smooth. I then chop off all extraneous bits to the rear of the bike. In addition to better aesthetics, I believe the polar moment is bettered as well.

For reasons discussed above, the rear of the frame is important, and this was the primary reason I made this modification. However, over some pints one night, Kit, over at DropBars, summed it up best:

If you were to drop a line from the top of the frame, it must pass through the centerline of the axle--no more; no less. Anything beyond that line is waste.

Well said; well explained. I hate it when builders hang a huge fecking seat that extends past the tire--the Kardashian effect. I could provide some example of what not to do, but I won't.

Enough pontificating. Though its effectiveness is debatable, I like to fully brace the frame. I concede that on vintage bikes, many of the other bits contribute to its flexibility, but I still give it a go. Plus, as you’ll see later, it’s useful for mounting electronic bits. For reference, the plate used is 16ga mild steel, fully welded and sanded smooth. I also like to fully weld the locations where Honda decided to half weld.