bloody hell - the thing is actually alive. Steve (o' knowledgeable one) came over, we replaced a few fuses. connected up a battery,put the plugs back in, got some spark and ignition lights, reattached the tank with some old fuel and....the bloody thing started. Needed a lot of choke but we've got the old girl going. Ticked over very nicely indeed. Didn't even need the kiskstart so my hope is that this means the major electrical parts are all ok.
sounded good - engine is tight, but with no airbox it wasn't exactly smooth. We then took the carbies off in the hope of giving them a quick clean but a number of bolts are stuck solid so further work will be required. Also, one of the slides appears to be stuck shut so it may need a professional strip down and reassemble but...there is light at the end of the tunnel.
sensational.
Reds top of the table so I feel like I'm back in the eighties....
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Sunday, 3 April 2011
April 3rd 2011
little progress - my theme song but have been very busy with other things.
key other thing - been to Bologna Italy and convinced the missus that a visit to the Ducati factory was essential. Nice little museum and the factory tour was quite cool. Simply a product line with assembly workers bolting the relevant parts on plus the testing rooms. Saw the manager of the MotoGp team drive into the factory and impressed the tour guide that I knew who he was (I think) - also topped the class in tour q&a so again my ego feels I've achieved something this year. The number 46 was plastered over everything in sight and the guide suggested tour number were up 200% on 2010 which says all you need to kow about why Ducati closed down it's WSB efforts to secure Mr Valentino Rossi's services in GP.
Lovely part of the world, great coffee , food and really friendly people. Small enough to be comfortable (unlike Rome I'm told) with very limited tourist presence. Worlds first university and still a lot of students which means that there are some cheap eats scattered in that quarter of the city. Nice architecture and it has the requisite amazing cathedrals and art that goes with that part of the world.
Images below are the 72 Hailwood, Paul Smart Imola and various WSB winners
Took the TL1000S out yesterday as spring has finally arrived - great to be back on the bike. Hopefully some work can be done on the W650 soon...
MotoGp warming up nicely - Stoner all the way this year is my call.
Caio.
key other thing - been to Bologna Italy and convinced the missus that a visit to the Ducati factory was essential. Nice little museum and the factory tour was quite cool. Simply a product line with assembly workers bolting the relevant parts on plus the testing rooms. Saw the manager of the MotoGp team drive into the factory and impressed the tour guide that I knew who he was (I think) - also topped the class in tour q&a so again my ego feels I've achieved something this year. The number 46 was plastered over everything in sight and the guide suggested tour number were up 200% on 2010 which says all you need to kow about why Ducati closed down it's WSB efforts to secure Mr Valentino Rossi's services in GP.
Lovely part of the world, great coffee , food and really friendly people. Small enough to be comfortable (unlike Rome I'm told) with very limited tourist presence. Worlds first university and still a lot of students which means that there are some cheap eats scattered in that quarter of the city. Nice architecture and it has the requisite amazing cathedrals and art that goes with that part of the world.
Images below are the 72 Hailwood, Paul Smart Imola and various WSB winners
Took the TL1000S out yesterday as spring has finally arrived - great to be back on the bike. Hopefully some work can be done on the W650 soon...
MotoGp warming up nicely - Stoner all the way this year is my call.
Caio.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Feb 6th 2011
Good and bad news.
The Bad - word has come from my folks place in Brisbane that the SRX was basically 80% underwater during the recent floods in Brisbane. I've lost the seat and the custom made cowling that sat over it giving it the cafe racer look. Also lost battery, helmet, manual, some tools, leather jacket (plus all of their stuff) to the water. Without seeing images I'm told that the rest of the bike looks ok and needs a clean. I'm hoping the fact that I had covered the bike in water resistant coating for the storage period may have helped. Won't be able to tell until I see images of it I guess. Some friends of the folks are keen to clean it so it may turn out that with a clean and a bit of work (plus parts) we can get it back on the road.
To be fair - many many people lost much more so I can't complain as a bike is way down the list but bitterly disappointed to lose the 6 years that went into it and feel especially hopeless being 10,000 miles away and not being able to help. Luckily the Vet shop son of satan recruitment latte sippin arse clown sea eagles supporting bloke has promised me AU$2K in a drunk moment to fix it.... what a guy!! Have kept the email which a lawyer has advised is binding.
The Good - had a visit from Steve (code named - as 'he who actually has a fu cking clue about bikes) which has given me great hope that the W650 project may actually have more than a 5% chance of succeeding it had whilst I was wrecking things. God forbid - maybe even a ride in summer 2011....
40 odd days to Motogp, still haven't been for a ride but i reckon I'll tax the bike at the end of the month and get the TL out and about.
hope all well at your end of the swamp.
The Bad - word has come from my folks place in Brisbane that the SRX was basically 80% underwater during the recent floods in Brisbane. I've lost the seat and the custom made cowling that sat over it giving it the cafe racer look. Also lost battery, helmet, manual, some tools, leather jacket (plus all of their stuff) to the water. Without seeing images I'm told that the rest of the bike looks ok and needs a clean. I'm hoping the fact that I had covered the bike in water resistant coating for the storage period may have helped. Won't be able to tell until I see images of it I guess. Some friends of the folks are keen to clean it so it may turn out that with a clean and a bit of work (plus parts) we can get it back on the road.
To be fair - many many people lost much more so I can't complain as a bike is way down the list but bitterly disappointed to lose the 6 years that went into it and feel especially hopeless being 10,000 miles away and not being able to help. Luckily the Vet shop son of satan recruitment latte sippin arse clown sea eagles supporting bloke has promised me AU$2K in a drunk moment to fix it.... what a guy!! Have kept the email which a lawyer has advised is binding.
The Good - had a visit from Steve (code named - as 'he who actually has a fu cking clue about bikes) which has given me great hope that the W650 project may actually have more than a 5% chance of succeeding it had whilst I was wrecking things. God forbid - maybe even a ride in summer 2011....
40 odd days to Motogp, still haven't been for a ride but i reckon I'll tax the bike at the end of the month and get the TL out and about.
hope all well at your end of the swamp.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Happy New Year
no further progress
cricket a disgrace
middle of winter so snow/rain/cold and no heater in garage
have abandoned all hope until it gets warmer or I get off my arse and buy a heater for the garage...
have a good one!
cricket a disgrace
middle of winter so snow/rain/cold and no heater in garage
have abandoned all hope until it gets warmer or I get off my arse and buy a heater for the garage...
have a good one!
Sunday, 28 November 2010
November 28th 2010 otherwise known as brass monkeys day
bloody hell - sub zero temps mean nada trips to garage.
have finished tank so at least that is done. moving on to front brake repair, replace and repaint, then jump into the engine (or try and find a cheap mechanic to do it for me).
Hit -2 & snow yesterday so absolutely no chance of me taking the other bike out although today was 'warmer' and clear skies at about 3 degrees. have abandoned all hope of riding again until spring whenever the hell that is is the godforsaken hellhole they call England.
found a couple of cool headlight brackets so may start getting the old one off in readiness for eventual new lights.
less said about the cricket the better.
have finished tank so at least that is done. moving on to front brake repair, replace and repaint, then jump into the engine (or try and find a cheap mechanic to do it for me).
Hit -2 & snow yesterday so absolutely no chance of me taking the other bike out although today was 'warmer' and clear skies at about 3 degrees. have abandoned all hope of riding again until spring whenever the hell that is is the godforsaken hellhole they call England.
found a couple of cool headlight brackets so may start getting the old one off in readiness for eventual new lights.
less said about the cricket the better.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
November 14th 2010
Some progress - tank is now 3/4's done. Started polishing and cleaning the final bits of paint off. I'm planning to leave it a bit rough to add to the feel of the bike. Images posted below.
Still one side to do plus a final wash of the inside to complete. Then hopefully on to other items.
Still one side to do plus a final wash of the inside to complete. Then hopefully on to other items.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Oct 31st - Halloween and Boss's Birthday Pt 1
Still suffering from to many other non fun things to have completed further work. Tank is 3/4's done and I should have that finished soon. Then on to brakes,sparks and oil.
Took the boy child to the National Motor Cycle museum when I was up at the in-laws last week. Some images below including a namesake ? (see other posts), didn't know Chris W. had a motorcycling pedigree but there you go. Some nice images of the original Triumph engines and you can see how much Kawasaki lifted the design from these original brit bikes.
Couldn't resist including the oil containers as a reminder as to why the old brit companies are no longer with us (Mr Bloors fine rebirth of Triumph excluded of course.) A Barry Sheene Norton, Vincent and a few other nice bikes below.
Great museum, recomended for a visit but avoid the cafe with it's truly horrible coffee.
Deep autumn here although I was able to get the TL out last week for a good spin but I suspect it may be some time before the next one as the weather is pretty grim.
Took the boy child to the National Motor Cycle museum when I was up at the in-laws last week. Some images below including a namesake ? (see other posts), didn't know Chris W. had a motorcycling pedigree but there you go. Some nice images of the original Triumph engines and you can see how much Kawasaki lifted the design from these original brit bikes.
Couldn't resist including the oil containers as a reminder as to why the old brit companies are no longer with us (Mr Bloors fine rebirth of Triumph excluded of course.) A Barry Sheene Norton, Vincent and a few other nice bikes below.
Great museum, recomended for a visit but avoid the cafe with it's truly horrible coffee.
Deep autumn here although I was able to get the TL out last week for a good spin but I suspect it may be some time before the next one as the weather is pretty grim.
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