Changed my chain & sprockets for a set of renthal gold coloured ones purely for cosmetic looks really...also took off gearbox selector cover & polished that up to match sprocket cover. Didn't use a quad link chain tool just a ball pein hammer...obviously I didn't do it, I couldn't do a 2 piece jigsaw puzzle without the lid. One day when I say " I don't think there is anything more I want to do to this bike", I'll mean it.
I think Honda up until recently were without a doubt the best quality Jap bike around....more recently like most bike manufacturers they seem to have sourced cheaper suppliers & the quality of old has gone BMW have also seemed to have gone this way, especially on their switch gear....it`s awful
Your 2 stroke story reminds me of when I was just 17, some 40 years ago. As a 13 year old & after my dad sadly died I brought much to the discuss of my neighbors & my mum bless her a 1958 Francis Barnet 197cc Falcon with a villiers 8e engine in it. This bike taught me all I needed to know about motorcycles at this ripe old age I can tell you, especially the falling off part. After pushing it 3 miles home from Romford (Essex) me & a couple of mates (one who is still my best mate today) tried to get it bump started by running it down my Mum`s 60 feet back garden....After probably 3 hours & light fading fast it fired into life just as I got to the bottom of the garden....success, well it would have been had the clutch not dragged & took me & the bike through a hedge at the bottom of the garden into the old boys garden over the back before finally coming to rest on it`s side in his vegetable patch with me on it...His face as he looked out of his back window understandably was one of complete anger & possibly disbelief too, its not every day I guess that you get a 13 year old on a old British bike come through your hedge & come to rest on your lovely vegetable patch. We managed to drag it back through the hedge before he could get to us & that was that for the first night. After much tinkering for about 3 years the bike was ready for its first MOT in a very long while....I was 17 & with the bike MOT booked & "L" plates fixed I was ready for the 3 mile journey to Kenistons bike shop in Victoria Road, Romford. Being just 17 & completely naive I pulled up outside the said shop, rode up on the pavement & with the front wheel of my trusty steed nudged the front door open & rode in up to the counter....As the bike shop filled up with 2 stroke smoke, the counter area become a complete haze. Suddenly the shop keeper appeared & said in no uncertain terms...What the hell do you think you are doing? I proudly replied that I was here for an MOT, his reply was this..."I don`t give a Fuc# what you are here for....get that bloody thing out of here!!!!. Some 5 minutes later & the shop now fully restored to an oxygen level that we both could breathe in the MOT began. Now in the good old days front brake & clutch cables had soldered on nipples, as he pulled on the front brake, there was a crack as the cable broke free from the nipple. Without pausing for thought he tried the back brake & this wedged on the exhaust.....needless to say it failed so luckily I didnt have to tell him that the speedo had also failed on the way down there. Since that moment I havnt ever had a bike MOT failure. Sadly the old boy in the shop died a few years ago now & the shop closed. It has opened up in Chelmsford with the lad who worked there then (Bill Bonny) now the owner. Very unreasonable behaviour on the shop keepers behalf I think & I also believe he deliberately broke the cable & wedged the back brake too....There after 40 years Ive said it....rant over!!!
Got myself a single seat and rear pad, it currently has the long haul seat which I must say is very comfy, this is just for a different look if I chose makes a massive difference I think
Yes very simple change, so best of both worlds, That's actually the rear rack from the America had to rig a bracket but looks ok I think (not sure which look I prefer )
yep agree with Jez it looks much better with the single seat,i would keep it like that, unless your mrs is on the back
I have to go against the grain.............double seat looks better to me, whats the point of a bike that size and POWER to only take the rider? Just my opinion.
Thanks for all comments guys, though I'm pretty sure looks wise I'm in agreement with H.O. Crispey is also correct its a very easy job to go back to a double seat in case the Mrs decides to ride, (which she doesnt seem to do now) but also when I go to a rally its much better to carry and fasten all your gear down to.
Been out today on the t'bird. Called in at J&S in Northwich and came across a guy on a very well restored 1972 triumph , pictures to follow. I also gave him the details of the forum, so with a bit of luck he will register and provide us loads of detail on his rebuild. Wessa
Bought off eBay & nicely put together by me ha ha front wheel chock thingy (technical term) . I always liked the thruccy with the center stand removed but it was a royal Pita trying to do anything with it on the side stand, not anymore....job done. Now where's the wax gone?
