My long suffering 1200 Daytona project

First off hello to all as this is my first post on here. About 6 years ago I had a clear out of bike spares and bought a semi street fighter'd 1200 Daytona from a fiend of a friend, it was an odd mix of a cut up scooter fairing up front with a chrome rack on the back. Bit of a personality styling conflict to say the least! My plan was to build a retro cafe racer using some spoked wheels from a project bike I'd lost interest in and sold off in pieces as part of the clear out.
Anyway the build started, we moved house, the new place turned out to be a disastrous mistake so the Daytona was put into storage while we moved out for best part of a year while serious remedial works were undertaken. Towards the end the builder was trying to flease us and not doing what was being asked so I cut my losses and finished the work myself, meaning that the bike is still mothballed to this day but not for long. I recently saw the cafe racer kits offering for the T3 triumphs and it is a cracker! I had my z1000 up for sale and decided to go down this route, however the buyer was a knob, messed me around and eventually turned up with a trailer and a third less than the agreed price. Needless to say I still own a z1000. After a rethink I've decided on another plan, to build a retro style bol dor endurance style bike using some stuff I've got kicking around the garage. The bike should be on my bench within the next few weeks, so I'll post some updates as and when they happen. Sorry for the long first rant but I'll try to add some old pictures of the bike pre storage.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Haha just read that back to myself and it sounds like right old moan, not really how I wanted to come across Just wanted to explain why it had laid unloved for so long. Glad I kept hold of it though, funny how my tastes have changed over a relitivly short time, you can see from the pics the hard work was all but done and at the time I liked it but to my eye now it just looks too long. The wheels are staying and the tank too as its fully painted but the fairing wil be different, I've an old crossbow twin headlight fairing ( as modeled by Sam Fox ) that may fit the bill. My main challenge will be making or modiying the side panels, I've seen bikes without them and its not a good look, the other is to remodel the solo seat cowl to look more like a race seat but still be removable for occasional pillion carrying, any thoughts or ideas welcome.

Mark

 

Apparently if you look closely there is a bike in this picture, I've looked for hours and I'm bugered if I can spot it!

 

More pictures (sorry) stared getting some bits ready for the Daytona's homecoming.

 

Thanks, have to admit I do love the paint. Its based on the team NB Suzuki colours and was painted by my mate who owns C&G finishes stove enamellers in Liverpool. When I said off white and marroon everyone said it sounded f*****g horrible but once it was painted most agreed it looked good.

Mark

 

Dug this out of my stash of old bike mags earlier today, Mechanics February 1985. I apologise that
neither are Triumphs but dont they look fanbloodytastic? More Inspiration for the Daytona build!





Mark

 

She's no threat to your Mrs these days as "she gets the other bus" maybe you should display it in my garage ;-)
Thanks for the comment's on the bike, all being well it should turn out nice.

Mark

 

I looked and all I thought was you wouldn't get many of those in a skip ;-)

 

Hi, its all but done. A little more work on the fairing and paint it and some bits for the mot and its ready for the road this summer. The garage is full of stuff in storing for a mate so I cant even see it let alone work on it but as soon as lts clear ill take a pic or 2. The exhausts are American made m3 for a busa, they are serious money though and not a direct fit. I bought these second hand 9 years back and paid £200! They are properly loud but look the part.

Mark