Duke Cafe Racer - El Chupacabra

By SoulMoto

Thanks Bikeshed for the pics.
Full article here.

Ducati Dafe Racer

Beautiful Duke Cafe Racer being built by Revival Cycles. A few hours gone into them pipes!

IOM 2014 Day 10 - Hurry Up and Wait

On Monday we were up early to load the bikes and get the Ducati up to skrootineering for the Formula 1 race that was scheduled to run around lunch-time. We also took the Aprilia along for the scheduled practice in the afternoon. The weather was pretty wet, windy and cold and we were doubtful the races would run. We had to be there anyway, just in case.

Before the roads closed at 09h30, the Clerk of the Course announced that Monday's programme was to be postponed to Tuesday - the forecast looked better for Tuesday. Because of the new schedule, the races would be run over 3 laps and not the original 4. I was pretty relieved that we would be racing in better weather... but a little disappointed that the race was shortened. I just love riding around here!

We spent the day checking over the Ducati again, prepping the Suzuki for Wednesday's race (with the racing on Tuesday, we had to get this done in advance) and checking out the bikes in the factory Suzuki and Kawasaki displays, some of the big teams and a huge collection of Joey Dunlop's race winning bikes.

IOM 2014 Day 9 - Prep and R&R

Friday is the last day of qualifying and those last laps on the Ducati and Suzuki were good enough for me to qualify 22nd in the Formula 1 class on the Ducati (8th fastest Privateer), 11th in the Supertwins class on the Suzuki and 25th in the Senior class on the Aprilia. Well pleased with that and the personal bests we've been getting on almost every session.

A great photo of the wee Suzuki coming out of the Cregg-ny-Baa that appeared on the Manx TT Radio Website - Fame!

Sunday morning was spent prepping the Ducati for the Formula 1 Classic TT race that was scheduled for Monday. Check everything. Then... check it again. It seems like the soap has fixed our fuel leak... 3 laps of practice and not a drop leaked... should be good for a 4 lap race. With new tyres on and everything triple checked, by 14h00 she was good to go.

Oil sample taken and sent out for analysis - fresh oil for the race :-)

After solving the pain in the ass of the Chevy battery running flat because of of faulty interior light switch/loose wire, I could finally spend some time with my beautiful wife Alex who flew out on Friday night for the weekend and to help in the pits for Monday's race.

Ducati all prepped and ready for the Formula 1 race

The main opposition for the race - Bruce Anstey riding the Padgett's 500cc Yamaha Grand Prix bike.

120kg and huuuge power - proper GP stuff! Could be a bit frightening around the IOM. Kudos to Anstey for riding it!

Beautiful beaches south of the Isle

At the Calf of Mann

IOM 2014 Day 8 - Final Practice

Although we weren't racing, Saturday was the first day of racing at the Festival of Motorcycling - the 500cc Classic race. Before the race we had a short practice session for the Ducati and after the race a longer session where we could have a run out on the Aprilia and test the new fork springs. It was an early start with the road closing at 09h30 so we were up till after midnight prepping the bikes.

Burning the midnight oil...

We get the Duke through skrootineering and into it's tyre warmers up on Parc Firme. Pretty soon and we're blasting our way down Bray Hill. There was rain earlier in the morning and the course was damp most of the way around. I took it easy and tested the changes we'd made - they were good. I was quite please with a standing start lap of 106mph in those conditions.

A few carbon repairs needed

After the practice session, the 500cc Classic race was run. Unfortunately my friend Mark Herbertson got a DNF in lap 1 after engine troubles during practice week.

We get the Aprilia through skrootineering during the race and are out for a few laps afterwards to test the new springs. The harder springs will help the bike bottoming out and diving on the brakes, in turn helping to keep the rear wheel on the deck under heavy braking. It also allows us to dial in 5mm more sag on the front. The bike feels better - still good over the bumps, but much better on the brakes. It also seems to wheelie a lot more over the bumps and at gear-changes.

Ex-Gibenau Desmosedici on display

I can't remember my laptimes on the Aprilia, but they were good. There were a number of incidents during the session and that evening and we were saddened to learn that night that Tim Moorhead had lost his life on the Mountain in one of the incidents. Sincerest condolences to Tim's family and friends.

Tim Moorhead was a Newcomer in 2012

After the practice session, there was a parade lap with the who's-who of TT racing on historic TT bikes to commemorate Joey Dunlop's TT career. Kevan managed to blag his way onto Glencrutchery Road and got selfies with just about all the celebrities. I've spent the last few years doing the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT in the company of these famous riders, when I saw all Kevan's selfies, I realized I don't have any pics with these legends. I made a mental note to get at least one in the next few days.

Steve and Mandy with TT legend John McGuinness

We've worked hard and improved the bikes every practice session and set personal bests in almost every session we went out in. I was happy with the bikes and ready to take them out to race. With only two short practice session remaining during race days, and me happy with the bikes, it was more than likely that I won't be doing any more practice laps. We'd put in the effort and reaped the rewards. All that was left was to race prep the bikes and go racing.

 Some of Kevan's selfies from Glencrutchery Road...

...more who's-who

Steve Plater on Hizzy's bike

Steve Plater and Mick Grant

IOM 2014 Day 7 - Faster, Faster!

With only 2 practice sessions remaining and only 2 laps done on the Ducati 888, it was critical we fix the fuel tank and get out for Friday's practice. So we were up early and stripped the fuel tank again and tested it again. That's when we found the leak. The boss on the bottom of the tank where the fuel pump wires come out was cracked. It was finer than a hair.

This twilight shot looks like it was taken at Cornk-y-Mona

First prize would be to get it welded properly. We went for it. A message on Facebook quickly brought us a few alluminium welders in the Douglas area. By 08h30 we were phoning around. One guy was recommended down on Peel Road and he could do it for us. We got the tank to him before 10h00. He had a look and said "No problem." The crack was in a tight corner so it needed to be cleaned up a bit - this would take an hour or two and he had another job on the go for the dairy. I suggested that I clean it up and bring it back in an hour. He said that would be great and that it would only take 15 to 20 minutes to weld.

Back at the garage, I got stuck in with my Dremel. I cleaned it up real good to make sure the guy had a good starting point for a proper weld. We drop the tank back off with the guy by 11h30 and return to the garage to prep the Suzuki. He'll call when done.

I impressed myself with the neat job.

By 13h30 I haven't heard anything. I start to worry and give the guy a call. He couldn't talk and would call me back in 5 mins. 10mins, 20 mins... no call. I call twice. The phone just gets hung up. So I drive down to the guys workshop. When I arrive, the tank is lying upside down on a bare metal workbench. Its still warm, the weld doesn't look great and when I turn it over, it is full of scratches and scrapes. The idiot that welded it just dumped it on a steel workbench and dragged it around upside down. I was pretty pissed off and explained to him in the nicest possible way that metal actually scratches paint and that he's a fucking idiot. They should stick to welding bits for udder pumps. Muppets!

And here's the job by the 'professional' welder....

To top that off... when we test the tank, it leaks even worse than before. The fuel just pisses out now. Great!

Thanks for fucking up my tank mate!

We swiftly try plan 'B'. Soap. I find some soap which just happens to be the perfect constituency and work it into and around the weld. The fuel leak stops! We re-assemble the tank, load the bikes and head up to the paddock where we are very late for skrootineering.

We are seeded in both practice sessions so luckily on this day, being late isn't too much of an issue. We get the Suzuki through skrootineering and I'm hooning down Glencrutchery Road on it while Kevan gets the Ducati through.

Ducati 888 - held together by Clinique!

The changes we made to the Suzuki are working and she is easier to ride. Easier to go fast on. I get Ballagary, the right-hander after the Hawthorn pub, end of Cronk-y-Voddy straight and Ballacrye bend absolutely flat-out in 6th. Something I couldn't do before. It feels great! What a rush! And what a difference it makes to my laptime - 107mph average on my second lap. 3mph faster than my previous best that I have been trying to better for the last 4 years!

Our hard-working trolley suffered a blow-out...

The two laps are over too soon and I'm back in Parc Firme feeling under the Duke's tank for a fuel leak with her brimmed tank. It's dry. Sweet! I swing my leg over her and open her up down Glencrutchery Road.

We have out best yet run out on the Suzuki...

I hit 10000 rpm in every gear... she flies. Between 8000 and 10000 she is soooo sweet. She just keeps on pulling. I'm loving it! We'd made some changes on the old girl too and she was feeling better. None of the big wobbles I was feeling on Monday through fast, bumpy, cranked-over sections. More stable but harder to turn in - I was working the bars hard. Something to improve for Monday's race.

... and on the old Duke

I missed a lot of apexes and ran wider than I'd like on a lot of fast turns. Everything felt just that little bit faster but just a little bit more in control. I land up doing my personal best on that bike on the second flying lap - just short of 110mph. Yeeeeeha!

IOM 2014 - Day 2 - Day of Rest

Sunday is a day of rest on the Isle of Man - no racing or practice. With yesterday's practice cancelled and the bikes all ready to go (well... except for a few keys...), there wasn't much to do but chill-out, watch MotoGP, go for a few laps in the van, visit friends in the paddock, go for a run and eat an awesome home cooked roast dinner - thanks for Brett and Jules (my island landlords) for the dinner :-)

One of Alan Hermiston's beautiful Matchless

A relaxing day... but kinda like the calm before the storm. I want to just get out there an go fast - I'm a bit impatient and hate waiting.

Our landlords are also refurbishing their garage... so luckily we don't have to work on the bikes. They've been outside in the weather (with covers on) and all the tools and bits are all packed out the way. I hope they finish it tomorrow... could do with setting it all up for Tuesday when we'll be working on the bikes.

The organizers (MMCC) have mixed the practice schedule around and tomorrow we only have all three bikes in the same session. That sucks. At best we'll be able to get two laps in. We're aiming for a lap on both the Ducati and Aprilia... but around here, you never know. Also, Alan Birtwhistle should be here in the morning with the tooxbox and keys :-) Looking forward to that!

IOM 2014 - Day 1 - First Practice

After a few hours good kip, we were up early to unload the bikes and get our stuff together for signing on, paperwork, briefings, first skrootineering and hopefully get out for first practice... oh, and visit the Fairies. Ummmm... and organise to get the toolbox and bike keys!

Getting my gear and fireproofs checked, signing on, road insurance, rider's briefing and tech briefings go quickly and soon we're loading up the Ducati 888 and getting her ready for skrootinnering. Luckily the Duke has a keyless ignition, so at least we have one working bike :-)

Kevan with the old girl

Last year skrootineering was a nightmare with queues over an hour long... this year, the old girl sails through in half an hour :-) We fuel her up in pitlane and I go get me gear on for first practice. Dark clouds have been looming all day and it's quite chilly, but the rain was holding off so all was looking good for a lap or two.

"All In" flies through skrootineering once again

I'm really keen to get that first lap in... settle myself mentally and just get everything going. I get my kit on and head up to pitlane. Phil Taubman, the Clerk of the course comes on the tannoy. Bad news... not enough marshals. To run a race of practice, they need a small army (over 500) marshals around the 37.7 mile course. Unfortunately a passenger on one of the morning ferries had a heart attack and they had to turn back. With the ferry running with one engine short, they couldn't make up the time and this pushed all the other crossings back a few hours. A lot of the , marshals couldn't get on the island on time :-(

Stafford Evan's immaculate Duke 888/944 looking fantastic in pitlane

They let the Newcomers do their speed-controlled lap and cancel the rest of practice. This is is the third year in a row that Saturday's practice is cancelled. I bust my ass to get here for Saturday practice... Bugger!

Despite the disappointment, we end the day well by having a good braai with Warren Verwey and Mike Dickenson :-)

John McGuiness's little setup in the paddock

Duke Engines

Check this out for an awesome concept in internal combustion design:

Not sure the packaging would suit the tradition motorbike layout though... would have to have some radical new designs around it.

Check out this vid of how little vibration there is:

Nuts!
I still like my chunky, vibrating, inefficient, great sounding vee twins though... just like some folks still like old-time bikes.

Wee Monster Together!

Picked up the third set of rings for the Wee Monster yesterday...

popped them on the piston, then shimmied the piston into the barrel...

wrist pin in...

make a super-thin bottom gasket - got to get every last psi of compression out it...

head back on...

and she lives! She's given up that filthy smokin' habit. She's breathin' clean. Yeeeeeha!

Just waiting for a few exhaust clamps, then need to get her down the dyno, some new tyres, nuber board and number and we're gonna go racin!