Its been a busy time indeed..

A break in the wet stuff gave me a chance to seal the screw holes in the roof, just in time..

Not my doing, before you ask, so thats cured the damp patches in the back, still some more work to do in the back, as I found a few more scattered around the arches and floor, but I'll get there with them.

Also for the van, some new wheels and tyres.. I've had a soft spot for the banded steelies look for some time, and finally found a set local to me, and at the right price, so they are awaiting some attention, thinking of painting them a different colour with a contrast stripe before fitting...

Looking forward to getting these on, then back to the ZXR and the list of to-do's on the wall, but first..

Merry Christmas to everyone, yes its a weird time, but, we're all this together, so lets beat it.

Stay safe and have a great new year! 

  

The weather has been awful, so any chance of sealing the holes in the van roof have been patched with a few layers of Duck tape, need a dry couple of hours to do a proper job..

The seals are on order for the brakes, so with a few hours spare, brightening up the garage a little was on the as and when list, which seems to be never ending at the moment..

Found a few litres of good old emulsion, thinned it down and after a couple of coats, job done.

There's more storage on its way, so will free up some space, also a plan for getting the wheels and tyres on a rack.

Its all coming together nicely, and although 2020 has been up and down, I'm still enjoying this project, and 2021 should see some track time, as well as being able to work away on the bike as I like..

Did the whole wall in the end, once the bike is back on its wheels some matting is going down, and some repairs to the guttering is in order as well, more jobs... lol.

Stay safe everyone. 

I've been busy getting a few more bits for the garage, little bags of nuts and bolts, plus a few oils and sundries that might be needed.

The postman has been bringing a few packages in the last week or so, the garage does look good thou, and there is a lot of bits that have been collected over the last few weeks, all neatly stored ready to go.

The planned new race bodywork has been put to one side for the time being, and the fairings that came off the bike will be repaired and repainted, the colours will be staying Green and Black, nice and simple, but that s a way off at the moment.

Once the seals for the calipers have arrived, I'll be stripping them down, a quick look at them has all the pistons moving about the same rate, but think its better to have a really good look while I have the time, hopefully later this week..

But, I do have a leaky roof on the van that needs attention first...

Stay safe everyone.

  

 Forks are done. 

A bit more involved than first glance, and getting the bottom bolt out of the cartridge was not as easy as I thought it would be, but got there in the end.

A good clean of the sweep area, and some light polishing of some pitting, new bushes, seals and dust caps, with heavier 15w oil should help the front end! 

Moving on to the 6 pots next.. 

 Started the AirFix kit...

The rear shock came up well, although have found out I've misplaced my spring clamps.

But, a workmate and a couple of straps did the job, the spring paint took well, and looks so much better for it.

Swingarm and suspension linkage all greased and put back, so the rear end is almost ready to be back on the ground, the sprocket carrier has been cleaned, repacked with grease, the cush drive bushes are very good, so, just a good clean and a polish of the rims are next on the the "to do" list.

The mechanical side of things shouldn't take to long to get back on the bike, the electrics and re-wiring of switch gear and add on's might be a little bit more involved, but the manual is there, so patients will be the key...

but for now there is still a few more big bits to play with.

 Its all come together nicely, just needs a kettle! 

Whoops...

Dropped myself in the dog house, but hopefully the rear shock will appreciate it.

Had, yes Had to puts some bits into the garage, which lead on to having a look at the rear shock, the spring has a few signs of surface rust, I could have just touched it up, but thats far to easy.

After some messing about, it was apart(workmate, spring compressor, and some patience.) in the parts bath again, cleaned, and given a coat of paint, its a bit cold for top coat, so that will have to be done in the workshop after having the heater on for a few hours to warm it all up.

Unfortunately, I let the time run away with me, and the poor long suffering wife came in a disrupted my tittering about with the "Right, I'm off then...See you tonight." you're in the shit mate, tone of voice!

Good job the dog's still like me! 

Interesting amount of pressure required to release the top ring, Paul Daniels came to mind.. 

    

  

Got a coat of grey primer on, so the black should make it look rather nice.

Rear end looks good mate...

Swingarm and shock removed with no drama, although did find some crash damage on the swingarm, so decided to replace it, loads of used parts available for the G2, so no problem in finding a good used one.

Rear shock was cleaned, and apart from some surface rust on the spring, all looks good there,

There are no grease points on the shock linkage or swingarm, so a careful removal of the dust seals and pins, a clean and re-grease of all the points took a little time, but very rewarding to know they are done, and nothing is amiss.

Replacement swingarm arrived, and is very good, a clean and a re-grease, job done.

A very productive couple of hours in the garage playing with a few bits, all looking very nice, ready to go back.

Shock linkage bearings being re-greased.

Looks a bit sorry for itself, but all for the greater good...

  

Rude not too...

A nice early finish to the work day gave me a few extra hours to work in the garage,

I did have an idea of turning the bike around, but then decided to leave it, and just carry on.

with the forks awaiting oil, the swingarm and rear shock need a look at.

Now, the rear is held up on a paddock stand, so will need to be out the way for the swingarm to com off, an Abba stand would be very useful, but I sold mine a while ago, so thats out.

turning the footpegs upside down and then supporting with axle stands, will allow work on the rear...

Exhaust system removed, all nuts and studs okay, but I'll refit them with new nuts.

So, a bit more done, a couple of things to get, then the rear will be off...

  

Then there was light...

My poor garage was a little dark, and with winter nights drawing in, it was time for some light.

12v LED strip lights looked favourable, and with some not being used, very easy to liberate to the garage.

A unused car battery for power source,

some wire extending and away...

 And seeing how it looked so good, I thought it would be rude not to have a look at the forks.

Which have been left to drain over night, with the operating table awaiting...

Not your normal Friday night, but these are strange times...

Hopefully, these will go without hitch, and be back together with no problems.

Famous last words eh..?

The strip down has started, and there is plenty to do, but first job, the fork seals, 

The top yoke had a seized bolt, and although I did try to remove it, obtaining another was a quicker and easier option, plus I wanted to remove the ignition lock and smooth it up a little.

 Couldn't resist a bit of polishing, plus a NOS Datatool gear indicator sourced as well. New pads for the front as oil has seeped into them from the forks, seals and bushes, and a host of stainless bolts to replace a few rusty worn ones.

Looking a little sad, but its a on going process, yes that is a stock end can, I have another, and also looking out for 1 more, then all noise issues are covered! 

Radiator will be coming off and getting some tlc, as its a little full of dirt... 

Forks dont look to bad, and hopefully will clean up nicely, and not be hiding any horrors when they come apart.

Fingers Crossed.

Say hello to the MK7!!!

 

Yes, another van...the Connect has gone, a bigger van was needed to carry the dragger, and somewhere to sleep, so.. a MK7 Transit MWB has filled the position nicely..

A few bits to do, and some changes to make, but nothing major, and so far, so good, although I do miss the Connect, as it was so easy to live with, but the bigger brother is growing on me... 

Its been a while...

A lot has happened, 

Firstly the Dragbike has gone, unfortunately the hours spent working on it, and then watching the weather, Covid rules, and then having to juggle everything to get there really didnt fill me with joy and wonder, although still very interested in the drag scene, I still enjoy a ride on a bike, and with no road bike to fall back on, it was very hard.

So, its got a new home, and hope to get to see it run next year...

Now, with the dragger gone, what's next...

Welcome to the trackday/road bike!

It's been around a while, and has a few scars and bumps, but all there and was being used up until recently.

So the plan is to inspect and refresh, then  bring up to Daytime MOT spec, meaning the odd wobble around the track is not where I become used to the bike, and allowing some road riding and learning how both bike and rider get on...

The first look round after getting it home and unloading all the bits and pieces, I found a weeping fork seal, most of the road wiring is still there, meaning its not been cut about to much, so altering the wiring loom to how I want it, wont be a problem.

The parts ordered have arrived, and the modifications have begun, top yoke has had the ignition switch removed and smoothed down.

both handle bars will be cleaned up and switch gear removed,

right hand bar to have a 3 button race switch, Run/Off, Start, and Horn button.

A single main On/Off switch will be on the Yoke, along with a 3 way switch for the Rain light which will double up as a Brake light.. 

and thats it, nice and simple dash switch gear,

the warning lights in the clocks that are not required will be blanked off, and a cover for the speedo for track use made up.

Bodywork is fibreglass, and a new fairing is on its way already! 

so will see how I feel about colours and things later.

The main thing is to get it together, clean it up, check all the suspension linkage, and just enjoy the fact I working on it with no agenda, or pressure, just fun...

Oh and the lockwire will be out, I do intend to make it a race prepared bike, but just for fun..

   

A Happy New Year to everyone, and time to catch up...

So, the first run at Santa pod wasn't a disaster, although it was cold, it was very busy, with a fairly long wait for the bikes to be let out, met up with some old faces and made a few new ones to look out for in 2020.

I only did one pass, which was enough to show the bike was strong, and just needs a little tlc to get it back on song.

Once home, its been semi stripped, the bodywork is off being painted, the carbs have been off and cleaned, the wheels and swingarm is next to come off for a colour change, ready for February....