OK, todays progress, or lack of.. I needed to move the rear sets before doing anymore work on the exhaust. But I didn't know just where they should end up. So todays task was to make a couple templates in some scrap alloy, with a few different mounting holes, then I could try moving around the pegs until I was happy, and hopefully let me finally position the exhaust the way I want. This will mean making a new shift rod and modifying the downpipes yet again. Its not a problem, as I consider the bikes I build to be prototypes of themselves.. they always have to change and evolve.
Over at Jeff's workshop.. cut out two alloy 3mm plates from an old road sign, mark out where the holes should be..
Drill them clamped together, check and time for a teabreak..
Back home, the templates fit, though I needed spacers. I was considering making new brackets for the LSL pegs, but now I'll just make a pair of simple plates to move them forward. They'll be made a lot neater then these templates, from 12 to 15mm alloy, so the frame mounting bolts can be countersunk flush with the plate (so wont need the spacers). The alloy plate will be threaded to take the bolts holding the rear sets. This position seems to work ok, it should give me enough clearance to fit the mega the way I want..
Still got to get the downpipes right, but feels like I'm on the right track now. This is the tricky bit, to get the joint right as the downpipe comes up and out from the underside of the engine. Have to get the correct angle and position of the mega and give sufficient ground clearance..
While at the workshop, we extended one of the downtubes by inserting a two inch piece, just tack welded for now.. was going ok till the very last weld, when we blew a hole through the pipe. I'll cut out 5mm from this section and have it welded up later..