Timmy110185
New Member
Hi,
This is my first post on this project, and this is in fact my first project. Had bikes since I was a young lad but only ever done the basics. The majority of bikes being trials bikes and very simplistic, I thought I'd go for something as similar as possible. Here she is, what a beauty she was!
The guy I had bought it off wanted to replicate a SP400, but I wanted a very different bike indeed.
After agreeing with the wife that I could have a low power cheap commuter even though I sold my R6 when my son was born 3 years ago and had said I was going to go without bikes till he was older. I parted with a few quid and was over the moon, she was a bit lumpy running but a good starter. I dialled in the carbs a little and then pondered my next move.
One Saturday morning after just nipping into the garage for an hour or so too tinker, the project took off without much warning to me or the bike as I got carried away.
Next I decided to tidy the rear end up with a frame loop, my welding ability is limited with a small hobby mig, but I'm patient with a grinder so the finished job was not too bad. I removed all tabs that were without use, added some brackets for mounting the seat and a battery box.
For the frame I went for rattle cans of hammered black hammerite, it's plenty hard wearing and coats over rust. The finish has a nice metalic look and the hammered finish covers any of my inevitable imperfections!
Next I turned my attention to tidying up the engine, I got too it with degreaser, toothbrushes, wire brushes and just about anything that would fit into the nooks an crannys. I went for a gloss black engine enamel with highlighted alloy fins and badges.
Please bear with me as this is three months of tinkering condensed into a shortish post!
As I was keeping the original wheels I thought I'd try to clean up the chrome, I've never been a big fan of chrome, but as I was trying to get the whole thing done for less than £1000 including the purchase of the bike I had make some compromises. The front cleaned up real nice, mainly because of leaky fork seals meant that had a coating of oil constantly, but the back was too pitted to rescues so I dulled the chrome and went for a black wheel on the rear. Hopefully it will look good, I'm hoping the black wheel on the rear should make it appear smaller in turn making the front look bigger ie I want a 21" front wheel but the damn budget doesn't allow!!
So here comes my battery box. I was going to fabricate or buy a fake oil tank as I love the look, I then came across a biscuit barrel at a superstore in the sale. Perfect size and shape and at £4 I had to have it. So here's a little picture to give the gist of it mounted, it will look better when final fitted but this was a rough mock up!
This is my first post on this project, and this is in fact my first project. Had bikes since I was a young lad but only ever done the basics. The majority of bikes being trials bikes and very simplistic, I thought I'd go for something as similar as possible. Here she is, what a beauty she was!
The guy I had bought it off wanted to replicate a SP400, but I wanted a very different bike indeed.
After agreeing with the wife that I could have a low power cheap commuter even though I sold my R6 when my son was born 3 years ago and had said I was going to go without bikes till he was older. I parted with a few quid and was over the moon, she was a bit lumpy running but a good starter. I dialled in the carbs a little and then pondered my next move.
One Saturday morning after just nipping into the garage for an hour or so too tinker, the project took off without much warning to me or the bike as I got carried away.
Next I decided to tidy the rear end up with a frame loop, my welding ability is limited with a small hobby mig, but I'm patient with a grinder so the finished job was not too bad. I removed all tabs that were without use, added some brackets for mounting the seat and a battery box.
For the frame I went for rattle cans of hammered black hammerite, it's plenty hard wearing and coats over rust. The finish has a nice metalic look and the hammered finish covers any of my inevitable imperfections!
Next I turned my attention to tidying up the engine, I got too it with degreaser, toothbrushes, wire brushes and just about anything that would fit into the nooks an crannys. I went for a gloss black engine enamel with highlighted alloy fins and badges.
Please bear with me as this is three months of tinkering condensed into a shortish post!
As I was keeping the original wheels I thought I'd try to clean up the chrome, I've never been a big fan of chrome, but as I was trying to get the whole thing done for less than £1000 including the purchase of the bike I had make some compromises. The front cleaned up real nice, mainly because of leaky fork seals meant that had a coating of oil constantly, but the back was too pitted to rescues so I dulled the chrome and went for a black wheel on the rear. Hopefully it will look good, I'm hoping the black wheel on the rear should make it appear smaller in turn making the front look bigger ie I want a 21" front wheel but the damn budget doesn't allow!!
So here comes my battery box. I was going to fabricate or buy a fake oil tank as I love the look, I then came across a biscuit barrel at a superstore in the sale. Perfect size and shape and at £4 I had to have it. So here's a little picture to give the gist of it mounted, it will look better when final fitted but this was a rough mock up!
