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Post by masonmart on Dec 1, 2021 17:33:09 GMT
Not sure whether anybody has been doing any interesting projects, they seem to have died with the advent of the modern bikes which are close to perfection. Being an old bogey and not doing many miles now I've gone more towards project classics. I'm sure that I've mentioned my Honda CB77 but I had the opportunity to buy a Dresda Honda CB500 in dreadful condition and to restore it. The engine was actually a 610cc big bore kit and it goes and handles like stink. If I could just get my feet up on to the high rear sets it'd be great. I bought a late 60's Kawasaki Avenger A7 which was a disc valve 350cc twin which was faster than a Bonnie at the time. Amazingly I found a lad in Wales who had bought all of the Kawasaki UK spares when they stopped supporting the bikes and he sold me spares to build a new bike. He did a lot of assembly for me to make sure he had the bits correct and that helped. It's on the road now and goes like a rocket. I'm looking now to get a similar "new" H1 triple. If I can then I'll be able to die truly happy.
Anybody doing any project work of their own?
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Projects
Dec 2, 2021 18:16:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Dec 2, 2021 18:16:14 GMT
I imagine that your workspace closely resembles an F1 pit garage with a bank of monitors, technicians talking into headsets and grid models getting shagged in the corner, possibly on top of a branded rug.
For the rest of us with a chilly lock-up with no power and cats shagging in the corner, a winter project can go fuck itself. Having said that, I'd like to get my old 'Blade running again. It's very tatty looking and needs plenty of TLC but it was running before I dumped it for a younger model.
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Post by beefus on Dec 2, 2021 18:27:35 GMT
I imagine that your workspace closely resembles an F1 pit garage with a bank of monitors, technicians talking into headsets and grid models getting shagged in the corner, possibly on top of a branded rug. For the rest of us with a chilly lock-up with no power and cats shagging in the corner, a winter project can go fuck itself. Having said that, I'd like to get my old 'Blade running again. It's very tatty looking and needs plenty of TLC but it was running before I dumped it for a younger model. Original ‘Blade?… |
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Projects
Dec 2, 2021 19:33:38 GMT
via mobile
Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Dec 2, 2021 19:33:38 GMT
I imagine that your workspace closely resembles an F1 pit garage with a bank of monitors, technicians talking into headsets and grid models getting shagged in the corner, possibly on top of a branded rug. For the rest of us with a chilly lock-up with no power and cats shagging in the corner, a winter project can go fuck itself. Having said that, I'd like to get my old 'Blade running again. It's very tatty looking and needs plenty of TLC but it was running before I dumped it for a younger model. Original ‘Blade?… A '98. Last carburettor model. |
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 2, 2021 21:20:17 GMT
Where do I start... 3 gp250's from 70's 80's & 90's, plus an original speed triple challenge racer sitting in me shed. Havent opened door of said shed in 9 months. Thats what having twins at 48 does to ya oh, and divorce lawyers..(turd emoji). No time to do the work myself, no money to pay someone else.
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Post by Eddie The Bastard on Dec 2, 2021 21:58:16 GMT
Where do I start... 3 gp250's from 70's 80's & 90's, plus an original speed triple challenge racer sitting in me shed. Havent opened door of said shed in 9 months. Thats what having twins at 48 does to ya oh, and divorce lawyers..(turd emoji). No time to do the work myself, no money to pay someone else.    |
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Post by pantah on Dec 3, 2021 9:58:30 GMT
My project is a story itself. Best make yourself a cup of tea before you read my waffle. The demise of my Ducati Pantah 500 began in 1991 when i loaned it to a mate and he pushed it back to me with a fucked gearbox. My racing at the time was taking all my time and money so after stripping it down and realising the extent of the damage it got shelved. For 29 fucking years!!
It ended up in loads of boxes and four house moves later got stashed at the top of the garden in a wooden shed with a mental note made to renovate it. The tipping point came 2 1/2 years ago when I discovered that rats had invaded my shed and that was it, i had to act.
First off I had to build a new shed which took the best part of a year. After burning the old shed and thoroughly cleaning all the parts i got all the black painted stuff power coated and then set about machining a dose of new spindles,spacers,linkages,brackets etc in either stainless or aluminium. I then decided to veer away from standard and went for the sans fairing look which required a whole new front end look and more machining and fabrication. So far the total cost was zero as i had access through work to powder coating and I'm a cnc machinist which is handy.
The engine was a different matter as the Ducati engine is a tad complicated and I had my hands full with the rolling chassis so after totally stripping it down, cleaning thoroughly and bagging everything i got this fine chap from the Midlands to rebuild it. He races them and has built hundreds of Pantahs and charged me less than a grand including supplying bearings and seals which was an amazing deal.
I've since rebuilt all the brakes, skimmed the discs, bought a modern digital speedo, got a guy to make a new wiring loom and bought a flat tracker style seat along with neat rear mudguard and light bracket. My mate is going to make me a stainless 2 into 2 exhaust system and my work is going to paint the tank and seat. Only other big spend is slip over cans but i reckon the total cost so far is around 2 grand and a shit load of man hours.
Next summer is the roll out plan. 🙂
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Post by bella on Dec 3, 2021 15:26:01 GMT
Not sure whether anybody has been doing any interesting projects, they seem to have died with the advent of the modern bikes which are close to perfection. Being an old bogey and not doing many miles now I've gone more towards project classics. I'm sure that I've mentioned my Honda CB77 but I had the opportunity to buy a Dresda Honda CB500 in dreadful condition and to restore it. The engine was actually a 610cc big bore kit and it goes and handles like stink. If I could just get my feet up on to the high rear sets it'd be great. I bought a late 60's Kawasaki Avenger A7 which was a disc valve 350cc twin which was faster than a Bonnie at the time. Amazingly I found a lad in Wales who had bought all of the Kawasaki UK spares when they stopped supporting the bikes and he sold me spares to build a new bike. He did a lot of assembly for me to make sure he had the bits correct and that helped. It's on the road now and goes like a rocket. I'm looking now to get a similar "new" H1 triple. If I can then I'll be able to die truly happy. Anybody doing any project work of their own? Kawasaki H1 500 cc Triple ?, that was my first taste of real power, for that era anyway, i'd just had a Yamaha FS1E and got a Suzuki GT 200, running around with a mate who bought an ex club racing race tuned H1, £100, no lights, Dunlop not permitted for highway use tyres on it, power coming with a proper kick in a narrow power band, i struggled to keep the taps open and the front wheel down and handed it back feeling daunted by the bastard. Anyway a few days later he was playing dare on a notorious corner taking turns to go faster than his mate and ended up smashing the bike, some wood fencing and himself up, a few days in hospital and then he sold the motor for the same £100 he paid for it. What a beast it was. |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 3, 2021 22:09:16 GMT
I imagine that your workspace closely resembles an F1 pit garage with a bank of monitors, technicians talking into headsets and grid models getting shagged in the corner, possibly on top of a branded rug. For the rest of us with a chilly lock-up with no power and cats shagging in the corner, a winter project can go fuck itself. Having said that, I'd like to get my old 'Blade running again. It's very tatty looking and needs plenty of TLC but it was running before I dumped it for a younger model. I wish El Noodle. It's a good double in size with bench space, a bike lift. Tools wise it's good because of the restorations I've been working on and having been left all of my old man's tools when he passed away. I must admit it's difficult to go out into the garage let alone on the path or in't shed. I hope that you can find the time to do your Blade, such a great bike. |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 3, 2021 22:12:58 GMT
Where do I start... 3 gp250's from 70's 80's & 90's, plus an original speed triple challenge racer sitting in me shed. Havent opened door of said shed in 9 months. Thats what having twins at 48 does to ya oh, and divorce lawyers..(turd emoji). No time to do the work myself, no money to pay someone else. Stay positive despite the adversity and keep riding. Do you have a road bike too? |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 3, 2021 22:18:47 GMT
My project is a story itself. Best make yourself a cup of tea before you read my waffle. The demise of my Ducati Pantah 500 began in 1991 when i loaned it to a mate and he pushed it back to me with a fucked gearbox. My racing at the time was taking all my time and money so after stripping it down and realising the extent of the damage it got shelved. For 29 fucking years!! It ended up in loads of boxes and four house moves later got stashed at the top of the garden in a wooden shed with a mental note made to renovate it. The tipping point came 2 1/2 years ago when I discovered that rats had invaded my shed and that was it, i had to act. First off I had to build a new shed which took the best part of a year. After burning the old shed and thoroughly cleaning all the parts i got all the black painted stuff power coated and then set about machining a dose of new spindles,spacers,linkages,brackets etc in either stainless or aluminium. I then decided to veer away from standard and went for the sans fairing look which required a whole new front end look and more machining and fabrication. So far the total cost was zero as i had access through work to powder coating and I'm a cnc machinist which is handy. The engine was a different matter as the Ducati engine is a tad complicated and I had my hands full with the rolling chassis so after totally stripping it down, cleaning thoroughly and bagging everything i got this fine chap from the Midlands to rebuild it. He races them and has built hundreds of Pantahs and charged me less than a grand including supplying bearings and seals which was an amazing deal. I've since rebuilt all the brakes, skimmed the discs, bought a modern digital speedo, got a guy to make a new wiring loom and bought a flat tracker style seat along with neat rear mudguard and light bracket. My mate is going to make me a stainless 2 into 2 exhaust system and my work is going to paint the tank and seat. Only other big spend is slip over cans but i reckon the total cost so far is around 2 grand and a shit load of man hours. Next summer is the roll out plan. 🙂 Nice one Pantah. There can be so much pleasure from old bikes and projects. £2k will be well worth it if you get the bike how you want it. We're true conservationists |
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 4, 2021 0:17:41 GMT
Where do I start... 3 gp250's from 70's 80's & 90's, plus an original speed triple challenge racer sitting in me shed. Havent opened door of said shed in 9 months. Thats what having twins at 48 does to ya oh, and divorce lawyers..(turd emoji). No time to do the work myself, no money to pay someone else. Stay positive despite the adversity and keep riding. Do you have a road bike too? Not so bad, just working harder than a 62 year old should, not complaining though. Had a more than enough craic well past my 30's and raced bikes to my mid 40's. Road bikes; BMW K1300s which I ride most days to work and a KTM 950sm for fun |
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Post by masonmart on Dec 5, 2021 17:13:34 GMT
Stay positive despite the adversity and keep riding. Do you have a road bike too? Not so bad, just working harder than a 62 year old should, not complaining though. Had a more than enough craic well past my 30's and raced bikes to my mid 40's. Road bikes; BMW K1300s which I ride most days to work and a KTM 950sm for fun And it could get better although I find that it just gets harder. I'm 70+ now and have a heart arrhythmia so find it really hard to keep warm and winter riding is hard. I missed out on racing due to working away for so long and being poor for so long when I was young so I envy you there. Hope to get a few more years of biking in before the reaper comes for me. |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Dec 6, 2021 15:04:48 GMT
This thread needs pics! (of the bikes).
I started my Thai CBR150 project when I lived in Bangkok and although I wasn't allowed to bring the frame, I did bring everything else back to Spain when I moved 5 years ago.
I even bought a CBR125 frame with a Spanish registration, but I just opened the basement storeroom door, put the frame on top of the boxes of bits from Thailand and there it has stayed. The boxes haven't even been opened.
I might put it together one day, all the engineering work was done in Bangkok so in theory it is a "bolt it together" job, but I won't be able to ride it legally on the road because it won't go through a Spanish MOT without homologating all the changes, and the Thai engine has no EU emissions certification so it's a dead end, unles I buy a Spanish 125c engine, which kind of defeats the object.
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Post by beefus on Dec 6, 2021 18:10:20 GMT
My project is a story itself. Best make yourself a cup of tea before you read my waffle. The demise of my Ducati Pantah 500 began in 1991 when i loaned it to a mate and he pushed it back to me with a fucked gearbox. My racing at the time was taking all my time and money so after stripping it down and realising the extent of the damage it got shelved. For 29 fucking years!! It ended up in loads of boxes and four house moves later got stashed at the top of the garden in a wooden shed with a mental note made to renovate it. The tipping point came 2 1/2 years ago when I discovered that rats had invaded my shed and that was it, i had to act. First off I had to build a new shed which took the best part of a year. After burning the old shed and thoroughly cleaning all the parts i got all the black painted stuff power coated and then set about machining a dose of new spindles,spacers,linkages,brackets etc in either stainless or aluminium. I then decided to veer away from standard and went for the sans fairing look which required a whole new front end look and more machining and fabrication. So far the total cost was zero as i had access through work to powder coating and I'm a cnc machinist which is handy. The engine was a different matter as the Ducati engine is a tad complicated and I had my hands full with the rolling chassis so after totally stripping it down, cleaning thoroughly and bagging everything i got this fine chap from the Midlands to rebuild it. He races them and has built hundreds of Pantahs and charged me less than a grand including supplying bearings and seals which was an amazing deal. I've since rebuilt all the brakes, skimmed the discs, bought a modern digital speedo, got a guy to make a new wiring loom and bought a flat tracker style seat along with neat rear mudguard and light bracket. My mate is going to make me a stainless 2 into 2 exhaust system and my work is going to paint the tank and seat. Only other big spend is slip over cans but i reckon the total cost so far is around 2 grand and a shit load of man hours. Next summer is the roll out plan. 🙂 Mate of mine has a Jota 1000, in his loft for over 20 years. Recently he sent the engine away for a rebuild so he’s finally got the ball rolling. Love those bikes, one of my boyhood bike crushes! |
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