TD - you have my complete understanding. 
EIGHT years ago I bought a BMW K100 with a view to making a 60's style [ there I go again ] Cafe Racer. I decided that just wouldn't look right [ watercooled for one ], then hmmmm, maybe a modern Race Rep. Got well into that one when BMW brought out the S1000R - which just so happened to have the same R6 fairing [ for prototype work ] and it was then that I realised it didn't matter WHAT I did with a faired Race Rep - they were ALL going to look the same as every other fucker out there [ 'ish ].
Then lightbulb time - a Fighter, and yes it IS nearly finished, nearly 9 years later ! ;D
The Vindicator CR has progressed RAPIDLY [ by my standards ] - now only 18 months. Main problem is lack of cash [ cue violins ] but also the lack of suitable workspace. However, I do have 99% of the parts I need to finish it. Just need the funds for the aforementioned powder coating, polishing, passivating.
Of course what I SHOULD have done - was get the garage sorted first !! :
I finally decided [ after working in the dark / cold / snow ] for the first few months of this year, to finish the garage. After waiting for the invisible mates - "yes, I've got some flourescent fittings - they're yours" - and other arseholes, I bit the bullet and used £33 [ [$50 ?] of my powder coating money to get 2 new 5' units [ good old E-Bay ]. A good friend [ REAL one ] has volunteered to come round and help me make up a power take-off board and lay the wiring for sockets and the lights.
Then it's a simple matter of a 4 metre waterproof extension lead to go from the garden BBQ sockets to the end of the garden - and THEN just a flylead [ 3 metre ] between power board and extension across the private road to the garage building.
I admire the enthusiasm of youth when I watch a complete build on these pages take place in a couple of months - some have access and skill to make their own parts as required, but never the less they get built quickly and to a high degree of workmanship. What is sad - is that I used to be those boys. Cafe Racer in a weekend ! 8)
So my schedule is looking like -
BMW Kay Fighter - late Summer
"Vindicator" [TR1 60' style Cafe Racer] - Autumn 'ish.
KZ750 Flat Tracker - could be mid Summer.
GS450 Part Chaser Flat Tracker - again mainly needs work rather than cash - maybe late Summer
"Cafe Cream" Boardtracker [ TR1 based ] - fuck knows - next year sometime and maybe with sidecar.
Max Deubel Sitter sidecar homage - hopefully before I die.
WARNING - do not hold your breath .................................. :
Did I mention I used to play with American Muscle cars / Rods - well my business actually, as well as a hobby.
There's a very unreasonable part of my brain saying " One last Rod - TJ".
1958 -60 Rover P4 [ "Auntie" Rover ] - 3.5 Rover [ nee Buick 215ci ] V8, autobox, Minilite wheels. resto-Rod style with Aston Martin Sage Green paintwork.
EIGHT years ago I bought a BMW K100 with a view to making a 60's style [ there I go again ] Cafe Racer. I decided that just wouldn't look right [ watercooled for one ], then hmmmm, maybe a modern Race Rep. Got well into that one when BMW brought out the S1000R - which just so happened to have the same R6 fairing [ for prototype work ] and it was then that I realised it didn't matter WHAT I did with a faired Race Rep - they were ALL going to look the same as every other fucker out there [ 'ish ].
Then lightbulb time - a Fighter, and yes it IS nearly finished, nearly 9 years later ! ;D
The Vindicator CR has progressed RAPIDLY [ by my standards ] - now only 18 months. Main problem is lack of cash [ cue violins ] but also the lack of suitable workspace. However, I do have 99% of the parts I need to finish it. Just need the funds for the aforementioned powder coating, polishing, passivating.
Of course what I SHOULD have done - was get the garage sorted first !! :
I finally decided [ after working in the dark / cold / snow ] for the first few months of this year, to finish the garage. After waiting for the invisible mates - "yes, I've got some flourescent fittings - they're yours" - and other arseholes, I bit the bullet and used £33 [ [$50 ?] of my powder coating money to get 2 new 5' units [ good old E-Bay ]. A good friend [ REAL one ] has volunteered to come round and help me make up a power take-off board and lay the wiring for sockets and the lights.
Then it's a simple matter of a 4 metre waterproof extension lead to go from the garden BBQ sockets to the end of the garden - and THEN just a flylead [ 3 metre ] between power board and extension across the private road to the garage building.
I admire the enthusiasm of youth when I watch a complete build on these pages take place in a couple of months - some have access and skill to make their own parts as required, but never the less they get built quickly and to a high degree of workmanship. What is sad - is that I used to be those boys. Cafe Racer in a weekend ! 8)
So my schedule is looking like -
BMW Kay Fighter - late Summer
"Vindicator" [TR1 60' style Cafe Racer] - Autumn 'ish.
KZ750 Flat Tracker - could be mid Summer.
GS450 Part Chaser Flat Tracker - again mainly needs work rather than cash - maybe late Summer
"Cafe Cream" Boardtracker [ TR1 based ] - fuck knows - next year sometime and maybe with sidecar.
Max Deubel Sitter sidecar homage - hopefully before I die.
WARNING - do not hold your breath .................................. :
Did I mention I used to play with American Muscle cars / Rods - well my business actually, as well as a hobby.
There's a very unreasonable part of my brain saying " One last Rod - TJ".
1958 -60 Rover P4 [ "Auntie" Rover ] - 3.5 Rover [ nee Buick 215ci ] V8, autobox, Minilite wheels. resto-Rod style with Aston Martin Sage Green paintwork.
