The juggle

XL250, CB360 and the GS450t....

Finding time to build, modify and ride seems to be getting harder and harder!

Spent some time on the CB this weekend every time I touch this bike the direction changes.

A good friend of mine, who paints for a living says that you always start with an idea, you put paint to canvas, you apply layers, you remove layers until the painting reveals its own character and spirit; I believe this is true.

The CB finally sits with its own confidence and I will maintain this shape for the completion of the build.

Update from the shed

It's a bit rough, but I have mocked up the front end and engine in the part of the frame I am going to keep.

A collection of Honda tanks and the only one that works is an XT ( mint) tank....

The top tube back will be replaced with a narrow rear hard tail shape

Keep watching this space

More art for my walls

Saturday night I had the privilege to attend a fund raiser.

This wasn't your usually black tie and cocktail set; no this fundraiser saw me attend in red wings and not one sideways look by the crowd

We were there to celebrate the work of Ken Mcintosh; motorcycle engineer and good all round kiwi bloke and help him fund his campaign to race his vintage Short stroke Norton at the Isle of Man TT later this year

Beers flowed and stories were shared, Graham Crosby spoke of warm up laps in the fog at 6 in the morning, of his first introduction to Bellascarey...

There was an 85 year old gentlemen who held the world title for 125cc Grand Prix (his bike had 14 gears!) who threw his leg over faster than most 20 year olds

And then I had a moment, like a teenager at a bieber concert, awestruck; I found myself sharing a beer with Mr Stroud - the man is an absolute legend to pilot the unknown Britten to with in inches of victory, to wheel stand past those Ducatis like they were standing still. 

To have grown up watching this guy do amazing things with a bike built in a shed by kiwi reminded me of who we are, Richard Pearce, Burt Munro, Bruce McLaren, John Britten, Ken Mcintosh; all blokes that had a crack and all succeeded. All blokes that started in their sheds

I was lucky to attend, I would like to thank the hosts York Street Mechanics and the many interesting people I met through out the evening.

I was fortunate enough to win two items up for auction and these pieces will grace the walls of my shed, to remind me what can be achieved.

A signed limited print by Ron Holyoake, the draughtsman (or in today's world an artist) responsible for penning the Norton engine seen in the bike to run at the TT

The other sits proudly next to my Britten piece, Mcintoshs GSX in full wheel stand

 

Heart and soul

So like a kid at Christmas I could resist mocking up the engine, it will feature the period upgrade; a 285cc piston and some other goodies.
I opted for Allen key bolts as the main fixing method. Tappers and points cover are to be left Ali.

But my big question to you is;
Do I leave the cylinder barrel natural? Or do I powder coat it white...
I'm thinking white, but I could be swayed
All white would be the ultimate storm trooper colours

Wheels

Tonight I had my first crack at building a wheel... Or two.
I started on the rear as the hub was symmetrical - wasn't that hard.
However, the 1972xl features a 2 piece ftont hub, half house the drum brake and the other a steel plate 120mm in diameter

So not only did I have to short between inner and outer spokes... There were to sizes

Here's tonight's work