beachcomber said:
CAFE CREME - BOARD.....TRACKER
- Thread starter beachcomber
- Start date
BTW - the rubber mounts at the top will be ditched and mounted solid. The Bantam forks are now stripped and cleaned ready for primer. I'll shorten them by 2" [ from the "kitchen" mock up ] by simply shortening the springs. I'm also going to fit 2 additional bushes per leg [ 4 in total ] as even with the brace effect of the front springer element, they're still only going to be "adequate". Still looking for a scrap Bantam frame [ just the headstock will do ] my Brit mates. 
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semmins said:
Many thanx - that one will do. The only problem is I'm not familiar with the interchangeability of the various year forks. The D1 steering stem looks particularly undernourished !! I just missed out on exactly what I needed - there was a guy in Norfolk selling a front end frame ! Someone beat me to it - and he only wanted £20 for it !
Spotty .... I thought that might be due to the angle of the pic - but I've looked at some others and they DO appear to have Chopper type rake !
spotty said:
One of our local [ Dagenham ] Telegram delivery boys [ Red Bantams ] was well known in the neighborhood and went on to be a reasonably successful short circuit racer ! I regret to say I can't recall his name, but watching him on the streets of Dagenham was awesome .... especially when you consider what he was riding !
When the service was ended you could pick up one of the Bantams for between five and ten shillings !!
There seemed to be a time when everyone had at least one old Bantam in the shed / bottom of the garden. Where are they now !!!
spotty
Vmax...why,yes i think i will
i heard years ago that the modern sport of mx can trace its roots back to the 20s in france. the story goes that the post office delivery riders would hit the paddocks behind the post office after they'd done their deliveries and fun turned to timed fun over a pre-described circuit which turned into challenges to neighbouring post offices
A bit more progress on the forks. The POC mock up has been completed - and YES it will work ! Pix self explanatory. There will be a plate on the top yoke for the pin RAMSHOX unit fitting and there will be a decorative plate added to the top of the "Springer" loop [ see green garden hose stand in ] with the mount bracket for the shock bottom mount. The forks are shown 1" shorter than stock, and with pre-load / sag that will reduce to about 2". My pal Brian has fettled the fork legs so that the Honda wheel spindle slots straight in - just needs shortening and re-threading.
I wasn't keen on the "look" of the Mitas rear tyre [ 3.50 x 18" ] when it arrived - looked far too modern - so I've just ordered a 3.50 x 18" H03 TT 59P - we'll see.
I wasn't keen on the "look" of the Mitas rear tyre [ 3.50 x 18" ] when it arrived - looked far too modern - so I've just ordered a 3.50 x 18" H03 TT 59P - we'll see.
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Thanx for the encouragement Limey. I managed to get a headstock from a guy in Ireland - so that will save me £80 or so having one made ! Once the forks are "free standing" I'll mock up the forks into the new headstock and see where I want the frame tubes to be. It's at times like these that I wish my welding was better than the "bird shit" variety ! :
I now have all the new / refurb parts for the forks - bushes, seals, fork nuts, new [ !! ] springs, etc.,etc. but there'll be a full mock up first. I've decided to save myself some money and spray the components. definitely some sort of Coffee Cream for the cycle parts with Cream highlights - maybe wheels [ as the chrome / alloy is very good ] but definitely the engine [ yes ], handlebars and probably tank - IF I decide to spray rather than keep the 100 + year old patina.
I now have all the new / refurb parts for the forks - bushes, seals, fork nuts, new [ !! ] springs, etc.,etc. but there'll be a full mock up first. I've decided to save myself some money and spray the components. definitely some sort of Coffee Cream for the cycle parts with Cream highlights - maybe wheels [ as the chrome / alloy is very good ] but definitely the engine [ yes ], handlebars and probably tank - IF I decide to spray rather than keep the 100 + year old patina.
My pal Brian [ build buddy ] is now obsessed with having Brass highlights - nuts etc. he's just finished the template for the top yoke cover - in 3 mm Brass ! I'm trying to find someone who can etch in "Cafe Creme" 8)
BTW - the fact that the holes are obviously out of line is NOT Brian - but the good old factory workers at BSA ! :
BTW - the fact that the holes are obviously out of line is NOT Brian - but the good old factory workers at BSA ! :
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The special RAMSHOX unit now mounted and functioning as I envisaged. ;D Good to have mates eh !! The springer hoop should be here this week so the front end design can be finalised.
Both Mitas "period" tyres have arrived now and the old knobblies removed from the wheels - decision made they will be powder coated - Buttercream. Just trying to get the right "flavour" for the contrasting Coffee Cream colour !
The springer hoop should be here this week so the front end design can be finalised. Both Mitas "period" tyres have arrived now and the old knobblies removed from the wheels - decision made they will be powder coated - Buttercream. Just trying to get the right "flavour" for the contrasting Coffee Cream colour !
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I'm thinking of getting the La Francaise Diamant tank reproduced in ETHANOL PROOF fibreglass. Originally it was a back up plan in case the real one ever got damaged, but I've had 2 people interested. I would need to get interest in 5 so I can get an accurate quote.
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Finally got the old fork bushes out ... what a mission :. All ready for re-assembly with the new bushes now. The springer hoop arrived this morning and I've done the final POC mock up - all seems OK. The weld bungs just need a gnat's out of the bore to be a good press fit on the hoop prior to welding. It's a mad rush now to get as much done before my pal is off to the US for 3 months.
. All ready for re-assembly with the new bushes now. The springer hoop arrived this morning and I've done the final POC mock up - all seems OK. The weld bungs just need a gnat's out of the bore to be a good press fit on the hoop prior to welding. It's a mad rush now to get as much done before my pal is off to the US for 3 months.Attachments
FINALLY DID A POC MOCK UP WITH THE KZ MOCK UP ENGINE ............................. just doesn't have the right period look I'm after. Anyway, up pops a 250cc Virago complete bike on E-Bay for the right money. All up and running with a long MOT [ Test ]. I've worked out that even conservatively I can sell off all the bits I don't need and end up with all the bits I need as freebies ! This is a German built 125 Virago to give you an idea.
