VINDICATOR - 60's style Cafe Racer TR1

Pat ........ I go back to your original pix quite often ! I am a little undecided [ no, surely not ] as to the final colourways. I know WHAT a sixties bike [ Cafe Racer ] should look like - or at least the options, but I'm having difficulty imagining the contrast / compliment of colours finishes.

Plan is also for polished alloy instrument mounts [ as Gold Star etc ] - current thoughts are to paint the OEM TR1 instrument pods Black - OR polish them [ alloy housings ].

Duchat - yes I have one of those [ new ] in my stash, but the idea behind the Lucas rep is that I have an ideal place to run the Lucas switchgear and connect the TR1 wiring. That allows me to lose some of the squitter off the bars - and somewhere for the idiot lights etc.

Semmins ..................with all due respect to my pals at Classic - the chrome on the Indian units I saw last year was ....... er, not very good.

In fact the Black one I have was bought from them. The unit itself is very good, and the switchgear is exceptionally good, but even then the paint is not brilliant. Still excellent value for money even if I repainted it.

The unit you show is the one with just the Ammeter hole - mine has the cutout for the switchgear AND Ammeter.

That said, I have bought quite a few of my parts from Classic, and when I bought my lamp last year - they did say they were loking to improve the quality of the chroming. I'm going to see them next week as they are interested in marketing the RAM Classic Twinshox, so I'll check ot the latest chrome offering then. And yes - you are quite right - the shell is likely to be more than £30 to have chromed ! However that will be PROPER triple chroming.
 
I decided to have my modifed swingarm blasted and powder coated as it was a bit rough - side stand at the same time as I had my KZ750T Flat Tracker frame and parts done


 
I have reread your entire thread to familiarize myself with your direction. I remember why I started following in the first place, which is because I admire and appreciate Virago retrofit . Now I also understand how my suggestion, albeit with the best of intentions , probably was not helpful in designing a replica resto mod. I will not be caught half - aware again. Love the build!
 
Duchat said:
I have reread your entire thread to familiarize myself with your direction. I remember why I started following in the first place, which is because I admire and appreciate Virago retrofit . Now I also understand how my suggestion, albeit with the best of intentions , probably was not helpful in designing a replica resto mod. I will not be caught half - aware again. Love the build!
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Hey there Duchat - don't beat yourself up. The lamp shell you showed WAS valid in the late sixties, it's just the earlier type with the switch / ammeter is more convenient for me to lose wiring, idiot lights etc.

For me. it's all about getting as many styling cues from the Sixties as possible. At one stage I even thought about converting the rear end to twin shox ! As stated many times before - I have neither the skills or facilities to carry out all my ideas and I have to rely on others - which takes time if you don't have the bankroll to just go to a pro fab shop and say "Do that".

I'm flattered you took the time to follow my thread.
 
The new batch of 7" Chrome Lucas repro lamps is in now at Classic - so I'll give that a whirl before investing in a triple chrome job.

Somewhere along the line my 7" Moto Guzzi flat back chrome h/lamp has gone awol, all I have left is a chrome flat back 6" Japanese [ ?? ] unit.

I thought maybe swap the Lucas switch ammeter panel into the 6" - but it's not going to look "right".

Do the job properly young Beachcomber ......................

The alternative is Red / Black headlamp shell with polished instrument binnacles - thoughts ?

One thing I haven't changed my mind on [ ::) ] is the main colour - FO Red. Ford's old "Radiant Red" is getting the nod at the moment.
 
Mrs. B has been on at me for ages to make a wood / log store in the space at the side of our house - a "side entrance" 30 odd ft. x 6' 6".

My builder pal came up with some acrylic roof sheets he'd salvaged from a job - nothing wrong - just a bit grubby. So a day later and we have a lean-to style building enclosed on one side by the house wall and a 6' fence the other. Why is this even remotely important enough to impart ??

Well - when it was completed, we worked out that as well as a good supply of logs - I could get a very reasonably sized solid bench in there with all my bench tools, compressor, etc.,etc. In other words - a WORKSHOP !!!!!!!!!!! ;D And for the first time in years a decent bench vice. NO STOPPING ME NOW ................sounds like it could be a song ....... 8)
 
pacomotorstuff said:
Yer a hoot Manfred!
BTW, got "shamed" into doing a little work on my XV.
Have a Very Merry and a Happy New.
Pat
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Hey Pat ..... wasn't it a couple of years ago that we joked who might be the first to get their XV/TR project completed ????

All the best festive greetings to you and yours...........2015 it is then !!!!!
 
Beach,
I bought my XV about 6 years ago to use as a vintage race / track bike, spent about a year working on the conversion but after it fell on me a couple of times (ouch!), realized it was too big for me to race, so... started the conversion back to café / street bike.
The photos I published 3 years ago(!) on the DTT site is still pretty much where we are - the bike is currently under a cover in the garage and the engine has been mothballed.
A post-it note is stuck on the bookshelf beside my office computer, titled, "XV920,Next Steps":
1 chain clearance
2 fit FZ1000 (1989 / 90) rear caliper and machine spacers
3 rear master cylinder and reservoir mounts
4 rear subframe with the additional note, "Alloy?"
The rat's nest of wiring hanging off the side of the bike - I may have sent you a photo of same - doesn't really bother me, as I have a revised wiring diagram and that combined with a couple of hours on the soldering gun should resolve the issue. I've had power going to a few of the subsystems - lights, horn, turn signals, so I'm part way there.
So 2015 it is, Mate!
Pat
 
pacomotorstuff said:
Beach,
I bought my XV about 6 years ago to use as a vintage race / track bike, spent about a year working on the conversion but after it fell on me a couple of times (ouch!), realized it was too big for me to race, so... started the conversion back to café / street bike.
The photos I published 3 years ago(!) on the DTT site is still pretty much where we are - the bike is currently under a cover in the garage and the engine has been mothballed.
A post-it note is stuck on the bookshelf beside my office computer, titled, "XV920,Next Steps":
1 chain clearance
2 fit FZ1000 (1989 / 90) rear caliper and machine spacers
3 rear master cylinder and reservoir mounts
4 rear subframe with the additional note, "Alloy?"
The rat's nest of wiring hanging off the side of the bike - I may have sent you a photo of same - doesn't really bother me, as I have a revised wiring diagram and that combined with a couple of hours on the soldering gun should resolve the issue. I've had power going to a few of the subsystems - lights, horn, turn signals, so I'm part way there.
So 2015 it is, Mate!
Pat
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That's it then Pat - here's to a grand finale this year - for both of us !!!

As usual - this year is a bit late in beginning for me !

Slight diversion while my Dobe had one of her toes amputated [ !! ], and a serious [ really serious ] dose of "man flu" which laid me out for 10 days meant that January whizzed by in a blink.

On the plus side, Mrs.B decided we should have a log store at the side of the house [ in the UK ] - a sort of lean-to affair tied in to the bordering 6 ft. wooden fence. A builder pal owed me a big favour - so £50 [ materials ] and a day later we had a 30 + ft. x 7ft. covered space at the side of the house. Whoaaa back there - we only have the log fire on for effect / top up around Christmas / special occassions. Yep - 10ft is plenty for logs. Hmm what to do with the other 25 ft or so - W.O.R.K.S.H.O.P. !

So TWO workbenches later and now somewhere to actually attach a bench vice and use my other power tools that are still in their boxes !

In reality that will give me space to work on sub-assemblies, paintng , detailing etc AND release space in my garage for bike assembly and storage - refuckinzult.

I guess that means when it's finished and 100% useable [ 2 weeks or so ] I have NO excuse not to get on with the projects.
 
High On Octane said:
Awesome! It's always nice to have a dedicated work area for your projects. :)
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Right on ........................ gotta make some space for that BMW Airhead frame and Connie motor I will no doubt be getting at the Stafford show !! And YOU are to blame for me having yet another potential project !!

I really should NOT have played your video ... the Connie engine always had a distinctive sound.
 
beachcomber said:
Right on ........................ gotta make some space for that BMW Airhead frame and Connie motor I will no doubt be getting at the Stafford show !! And YOU are to blame for me having yet another potential project !!

I really should NOT have played your video ... the Connie engine always had a distinctive sound.
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Hahahahahaha!!!!! ;D Yeah, those RE 700 twins sounds like no other motor. Not to mention the nostalgia cool factor is out of this world when you ride one. ;)
 
Well done on bragging the workshop space .... I know how much it has been a pain in the ass for you!
 
Erskine said:
Well done on bragging the workshop space .... I know how much it has been a pain in the ass for you!
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Thanx for the encouragement.

Benches now installed [ AWAITING EX. KITCHEN WORKTOPS TO REINFORCE ! ], 9" engineer's vice courtesy of an old pal, Flourescent lights coming next week - courtesy of another pal. Roof now completely sealed and the end fascia finished off. Just need something to block the wrought iron gate to keep prying eyes away. Then it's run the 4 way switched sockets and I'm pretty much good to go.
 
This is my latest cause for excitement [ sad ]. The workshop space / log store [ ha,ha] is nearing completion, which in turn means I can get on with some meaningful work on my projects.

The idea is for sub-assembly work to be done here, freeing up space in the garage for final assembly. I can also undertake spraying, welding and small fabrications - something that I can't do in my garage !

Still waiting for the ex. kitchen work tops and now totally given up on "mates" who promised to dothe wiring for lights and power sockets. I've ordered the materials and that's next week's jobs.


The "wasted" space



Roof water tight [ unlike my garage ! ] and benches nearly ready [ 12 foot long ]



Just waiting for suitable cladding for gate to secure privacy at the end facing the public path.

 
yea, fuck 'em all - so called mates who say they'll do stuff for you.

So NO flourescent lights, NO wiring, and NO worktops.

The wiring is now completed [ and working ] thanx to my own efforts, just need to tidy up the cable runs and clip them up. Flourescent lights coming "soon" courtesy of E-bay, and worktops ?????? Temporarilly beefed up the workbenches into one 9 ft. long unit - but useable.

The cams [ Megacycle ] and springs arrived courtesy of RichArd and mates - I'm taking a set of springs to the guy that does the progressive fork springs [BMW ] and rear springs for RAM. They actually make OEM valve springs for several large car and motorcycle manufacturers so know what they're doing. NOT a huge market for TR1 / Virago stuff, but might be worth getting some made. If his prices for fork springs are anything to go by, we should get some good pricing.

As soon as the floiurescent lights are installed I'll be bringing the first parts from the garage that need working on - finishing the Vindicator gas tank buck, prepping the frame for paint and also some parts from the Kawasaki KZ750 Flat Tracker.
 
Now you see why it takes me sooooo long to get anything done ::)

All up and running now - apart from finishing the front gate / door ! Oh yes - the small slabs on the right had not been laid in this pic, just put in place [ now done ! ]

Gradually moving some essential tools etc. from the garage. The KZ750 Flat Tracker is the first to get on the bench for sub- assembly, and that has allowed me to clear enough space in the garage so I can work in tandem on the Vindicator. That will be finished next week. [ the space that is ! ;)] AND I've used all my new toys - pillar drill, belt linisher and vice. I know that might sound a little sad - but remember this is the first time I've had such facilities since I retired from my business [ 2001 ].





 
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