197? Italjet

[Windsorlad]

A colleague asked if I wanted a little bike he had taking up room in his shed. He couldn't remember what it was but said it was yellow and he thought Italian. So I popped into West London this morning and am now the owner of a little gem.
I can remember these at scramble meetings back in the seventies and am looking forward to bringing this one back to life.
The first photo is Errol the previous owner, he wanted one last sit on it before it went.
Just about rammed it in the garage when I got home, I will transfer to the shed tomorrow.

 

[Tetter]

Very Cool Sir !
My "bike riding" started on a similar red Italjet 50cc when I was about 5 years old

Would love to have one for my boy's !

 

[Windsorlad]

Thanks Tetter, I am hopping it wont take too much to get it running as the engine turns and has good compression.
The twist grip is damaged and the throttle cable and flywheel cover are missing, not sure if I will find original parts but will give it a good go. I am hoping to get a reasonable price for it when done to fund something a bit more my size.
The question is do I fully restore or just clean up and leave it a bit raw?

 

[xb33bsa]

nice score !!
just get it running, sell as is, there are plenty of vmx people out there that would love to do the resto themselves

back in the late 70's in northern California when I was racing mx there used to be a kid that was barely big enuff to ride, winning the peewee class on one of those babies...his dad was the race promotor and owner of protrac trailers
that kid went on to become 1994 world mx champion 125cc class, bobby moore

 

[Windsorlad]

I was racing a Rickman Zundap 100cc in the south of England early 70's when I first saw them. The kids riding them could hardly hold them up and all the dads held them at the start but once moving they really went for it.

 

[Windsorlad]

So work is well underway on the little Italian stallion. First I took a few photos and then the strip down began.
Made me chuckle when I saw it had TURBO stamped on the head.

 

[Windsorlad]

Lots of cleaning and paintwork required and then to source parts.

 

[Windsorlad]

I was amazed everything came apart so easily. From my experience with Italian cars I was expecting everything to be rusted solid.

 

[Windsorlad]

Completed the strip down in two afternoons, then straped the frame and swinging arm to the back of my CBF to get it to work for painting. A couple more trips with the tank, mudguards and exhaust in my back pack and ready to start the prep.

 

[Windsorlad]

All the black bits done

 

[rundown]

Looks like you have found a very cool project.

 

[Windsorlad]

I have ordered new tank decals today, expected mid January as comming from USA.
So the tank and mudguards will be painted in the next couple of weeks.
I matched the colour with a spectromiter, it came up with a Peugeot colour EAZ, used on early 205's.
The plan is for the project to be completed by the end of January and then sell/swap for a new project 350cc or biger.

 

[johngofast]

Rad, can't wait to see this project all nice and new.

 

[Windsorlad]

Tank back to metal and dents filled

 

[Windsorlad]

Black bits painted and frame, swing arm and headset back together.
Yellow bits all prepped, primed and flatted ready for colour this week.
Rear brake cleaned up, front still to do.

 

[Windsorlad]

The seat and base are completely shot so I am making a fibre glass base, then new foam and cover.

 

[Windsorlad]

Tank and mudguards painted this week and tank transfers arrived from USA. I warmed them up before applying to make sure of a good fit on the curves. Just waiting on the handlebars and fork stanchions to come back from chrome and she is nearly there.

 

[focusinprogress]

this is an awesome little project. My cousin had a blue one of these when we were kids and I had a honda Z50

 

[Windsorlad]

this is an awesome little project. My cousin had a blue one of these when we were kids and I had a honda Z50

Yes I am enjoying it even though nothing very taxing, once finished I aim to sell or swap for a new project more my size. Alternativley a Z50 would be a bit of fun as a great little bike in there day.

 

[Windsorlad]

So I had a good afternoon in the garage today, engine in, tank and mudguards fitted.
No idea why my nearest and dearest says something has to go before I get another project,