Some Good News

Two emails popped into my Inbox within the last hour...

 and

... so far so good. No news on the Classic TT entry, so I logged onto the online entry system...

 



Nothing yet. Just a reminder for me to pay my entry fee...

Guzzi MGS-01

Couldn't resist posting this...
Moto-Guzzi MGS-01 in race trim from the Blood Falcons blog...

Still one of the best looking bikes of all time...

Busy Weekend

Between the Classic TT build, I've been sorting the Flattracker and Wee Monster.

 

Wee Monster gets new fork seals, new clip-on bar and got the broken seat-catch fixed. So idea how she'll handle with new fork oil that is probably a different viscosity to the old. We'll see.


Also got her dyno'd after she felt really slow at Oulton Park (after the crash into the gravel).

She was at 59bhp before... now down to 54. Her class limit (Class A) is 65... she's good as a Class B bike. Crap! I reckon she swallowed a stone or something and has taken a bit of internal damage. She still runs and sounds fine... so should be good for a race or two at Donnington Park on Sunday. I hope. I'm just looking for a finish... my last qualification race for my TT Mountain Course Licence.

Wednesday evening... in the sunshine, good tunes in the background, beer at hand and cutting tyres in preparation for the Flattrack racing tomorrow at DirtQuake II. Ah yes... life could be a whole lot worse :-)

Got a busy weekend ahead!

Classic TT Rear-Sets

Rear-Sets.

Proper rear-sets would be a treat for the Classic TT Duke... but are an expensive, luxury item. Not really in the budget at this stage. The only changes needed on the standard ones are the rubberised, flip-up pegs. The standard positioning is good... typical Italian - short legs and long arms.

I rummaged around my race-spares box for some spare Harris foot-pegs and engineered a few inely-tuned steel brackets so they can be bolted to the standard hangars.

 

 

Happy with the way they turned out... lightweight... ish, don't look too bad (might change the pegs for silver ones to keep it 'period'), solid, sturdy and loads of edge grip to wear a hole in my boot. Perfect!

I can engineer you a set of these babies a lot cheaper than bling rear-sets. £299.00 (excluding the pegs - you have to supply your own). Taking orders now...

Classic TT Build - Making Progress

Been away and super-busy the last two weeks... just haven't had a chance for an update. But things are moving forward with the Classic TT Build

Replaced all the wheel-bearings. Nothing wrong with the existing ones, but just to be on the safe side.

Also had a fight to get the oil filter off (proper wrench on it's way for future oil changes) - so haven't been able to get 2 hours of runtime with fresh oil for the next analysis yet. On the back foot there :-( Worried about that lead content.

Because of the age of the bike, some of the fasteners have never been moved since rolling off the factory floor so they need a bit of encouragement to come off. Also, working on the bike, I find all sorts of little botch jobs... mismatching bolts... incorrect bolts... seized bolts. Sorting those as I go. These things are a bit time consuming and frustrating - quite a few visits up to my local race/fastener/tool shop.

The bike had a James Bond device fitted. It flips the tail-light down over the number-plate. It didn't work very well.

Started the tedious drilling for the lock-wiring one needs for the IOM. Gone through 6 x 1.5mm bits so far. Just picked up another 8 that should finish the job off.

Replaced the clutch plates with some Barnett items. I've knackered 2 clutches over the years on the IOM... the bike is held at max power for such long periods of time, the clutches take a beating. Been using Barnett clutches for racing for many years and they're pukka! Also replaced the rusty old springs with some shiny new ones.

Before and after. Tempted to tart up the pressure plate and make it red... if we have time...

Made up a test spacer for the front wheel to replace the speedo cable gizmo. Will get one made up that I'm 100% happy with.

Happy with the shorter gearing-test, I got some more sprockets and changed the gearing around so that I could lengthen the chain by 1 link. Long wheelbase and high-speed stability is what I'm after. The plan is to start off with close to standard gearing and see where I go from there.

Taking things apart reveals a little history...

Cool custom rear sub-frame arrived. Fitted perfectly. Really surprised how neat and easily all the standard wiring, brackets and sub-frame could be changed. These things are often an absolute pain because they were never meant to be changed.

Made up a little hinge for the rear tank mount so that one can lift the tank easily. Also got a couple of dry-breaks for the fuel lines and some fuel overflow piping on the way. Still need to mount the rear heat-sink and wiring, ECU and shock reservoir onto the sub-frame.

Also picked up the bodywork yesterday from Ian at QB Carbon. He made them lighter than usual and gave them a 'Rosso' colour impregnation. Unless you can give a nice hard 2-pack paint-job, the paint just gets a stone blasting on the front fairing and the bikes look tatty by the end of practice week. Colour impregnation is the way to go for the IOM!

The bodywork moulds were taken of a Corsa. I guess back in 1992, open belly-pans were the norm. Rules now state that they have to be enclosed. This is a major pain in the ass. Going to have to do a few modifications there. It's all a bit tight with the lower exhaust... also a bit concerned about ground clearance, but we'll see what we can do with some resin and cloth.

I fitted the bodywork in a mock-up (I just couldn't wait to see it on the bike!). It fits a treat... the bike starts to look the part now :-) Still need to make up front and rear sub-frame fittings for it all to hang onto.

We're getting there. Still no news on my entries though... think the organisers are pretty tied up with the TT at the moment. Speaking of which... the TT footage has been awesome!

DTRA Flattrackin' - Round 2 - Rye House

Been away so I'm a bit behind on this one...

Sunday before last we were out at Rye House for the second round of the DTRA National Flattrack Championship.

I think I'm just about to bite the dust here... but looks cool.

Thanks Tom Whiting for the pic

With all my racing, I'm a bit of a slow starter. I need to get out there and do a few laps before I can get up to the pace I know I can do. Problem is... with these short races (road racing too), I leave myself too much work to do. I only really get going half-way through the heats and so don't qualify as well as I should in the final. Start slot in the final is crucial... if you're not on the front row, you're gonna struggle to get up near the front in the race. So, I decide to pull my finger out and go for it from the practice so that by the time the first heat rolls on, I'm onnit. Yeah - nice theory.

Pre-race stretchin

Thanks Ian Roxburgh for the pic

Practice - I go harder than I usually do... finding the limits as quick as I can in 2 x 5 laps. A little break, check the bike over... top up gas and ready for heat one. I'm drawn on the front row so have to finish in the top four. No problem.

A sweet lookin' Yamaha new build from Tom Clemans

I get the bike out onto the clay... practice start on the back straight... find my slot on the front row... revvs up... and we're away! I get an okay start and get out of turn 2 in third I think. From there... it goes backwards. I land up coming home in 6th. Bollocks! I chide myself.

Thanks Tom Whiting for the action shots!

Gotta pull that finger OUT! Next heat - Pro Open mixed with Restricted class. I'm drawn middle row. A decent start... I push as hard as I dare. I land up coming 6th again. No good enough.

Another well organised event - thanks Anna, Anthony and all those helping out!

Confidence, confidence, confidence. That's what I think it is. It takes me some track-time to build confidence. As the heats come, I get faster... I even bag a 1st in Thunderbikes and a 2nd in Pro Open by the end. Too little, too late.

I qualify 8th in Thunderbikes and 9th in Pro. Well, at least I make both finals :-)

Thunderbike final: My starts have been getting better all day and I make a good one in the final. Out of turn 2 in 5th. I hang onto the back of Neil Martin, Dave Chadburn and Guy Sutherland. I can't find a way past and just ride as close as I can, waiting for any of them to make an error.

Thunderbike Final

Thanks Ian Roxburgh for the pic

There are a few small mistakes - enough to keep it close and exciting, but not enough to make a pass out of. I run home in 5th. Happy with that :-)

Pro Final: Another good start from the back row. I get right up into the thick of things in turn 1 and am up to 7th. I hold it for a few laps before George Pickering and then Derek Brindley make passes on me that stick. I'm getting loads of drive out the turns, but the weight of the Thunderbike puts me at a big disadvantage against the DTX bikes when sliding into the turns. Too much momentum.

Battling with Drogo Michie

Thanks Tom Whiting for the pic

I hang on, pushing harder each lap. I'm the first Thunderbike and am 9th with a gap to Guy Sutherland in 10th. Eventually on lap 6 or 7 I push a little bit too hard going into turn 1... front and back slide a little too far and I can't get it back... I lowside in a nice, even slide. Swishhhh-grrrrrrrrrchhhhh...

We're goin' down!

Awesome photography from Tom Whiting - catching the off again!

Fuck! I scrabble up and out of the race line. I and try and get the bike started, but she's a dog to start on the clutch and my gear lever is knackered. My race is run. Bollocks!

Giving it sum beans in a earlier heat race

Thanks Tom Whiting for the pic

At round 1 I qualified 8th and 8th. In the final I got 5th and a crash-out. This round I qualify 8th and 9th. In the final I get 5th and a crash-out. At least I'm consistent! Leaves me 12th in the Pro and 4th in the Thunderbike Championships. Bring on Round 3 at Dirtquake II in 2 weeks!

Awesome sunny weather and long evenings... I can get home from a day in the clay, crack open a beer and take my time getting the bike all clean and sorted for the next meeting - perfect!

BSA Streettracker - For Sale

Will be sad to see her go... but got my old, super-cool BSA A65 Thunderbolt Streettracker up for sale.

Spread the word... she's a good 'un and needs a good home.

This Classic TT Ducati build is bleeding me dry!

Classic TT Build - Oil Analysis

We're going all scientific here. Sent the Ducati SP3's first oil sample away for analysis last week. Got the results this morning...they aren't great:

 

 

Bah.
The water might have something to do with the fact that the bike has been standing for the last 2 years. The lead? Hmmmm... sincerely hope it's not bearing wear. We'll drop the oil, replace and send another sample in 2 hours of runtime and see.

Classic TT Build - Ohlins

Also got delivery of some proper bling from Harris last week...

Besides all the 'Manx/TT' proofing you do to your race bike, if there is one mod that's essential around the Isle, it's one of these puppies. It's worth many bhp - horse-power isn't much use when the bike is tank-slapping all over place. Doesn't have to be Ohlins... but didn't find many competitively priced options out there for these old-timers. Made a bracket... looks the part.

 

 

Using a spacer to keep it well clear of the original bodywork. We'll see if I need that when I fit the race fairings. Took it out for a test... pukka!

 

We're Goin Flattrackin in the Mornin!

Round 2 of the DTRA National Flattrack Championship at Rye House tomorrow. Racing starts at around 12h00, culminating in the Grand Final at around 16h30.

Be there!

Classic TT Build - Week 1

Been in the garage every night this week... making a bit of progress.

Fitted some Renthal clip-ons. Never used them before... thought I'd support British industry. They are a bit chunky and almost foul the brake and clutch master cylinder so that there is zero room for adjustment and a 0.3mm gap. Not happy with that. Back with the standard jobs. They are a bit higher and only 100g heavier. They'll do. Renthals can go on my old Aprilia RSV that has been without handlebars for over a year after I robbed them for my SV650. I hope they fit. Woodcraft are still the best clip-ons out there. Oh - and some Renthal grips. No other grip comes close. Best 7 quid I'll spend on the bike!

Also fitted a quick-action throttle. On garage tests, it's not as quick as I'd like. We'll see when we get he out for a test ride.

 

Changed the sprockets and chain. Trying different gearing to get a feel for the differences and to make sure the toe guard is in the right place to cover all eventualities. Got it geared pretty low now.

 

Got the bling-bling toe-guard fitted too. It's a bit basic, but kinda fits in with the ally swing-arm and the image of the bike. One in carbon would be ideal... if I got time I might get around to making one. Did the alignment and marked the swing-arm too.

 

Turned the tick-over up to 1500rpm. Bike idles now and is suddenly not lumpy from pickup. Yay! Aggressive gearing, quick-action throttle and 1500rpm tickover. I gotta watch it around town!

Scratched around my pile of wheels in my dining-room (keeps the rubber good - don't store race tyres anywhere where the temp goes below 5 degrees). Jackpot! Found a set of good Brembo discs that were on the spare wheels of the last Aprilia I bought. Got started on replacing the stock iron ones (thanks for the help and advice on this one Mark and others...).

 

Of course, simple things aren't ever that simple. First - a seized bolt. Got it out. Mismatched disc bolts... oh well... 11 more M8 bolts into the miscellaneous bolts drawer. Fitted the discs only to find a slight clearance issue. The discs aren't exactly the same offset... or maybe that's why the original disc carriers are mullered. Hmmmm... a problem for the morning. Nothing that a few spacers can't sort.

Oh - almost forgot... got an oil sample off for analysis. Hopefully it'll tell me a bit of what's going on in the bottom-end. We'll see what they come back with.

Classic TT Build - Start

I got the flattracker prepped for next weekend... and then got the 888 onto the bench for some lovin...

 

First up were those crap brakes...

 

Filthy!

 

Disgusting syrupy-snot brake fluid.

Iron discs are still good... but rivets or even the carrier may be worn. Need to get them refurbed.

 

With the brakes all clean, fresh brake fluid and some new Brembo sintered pads... the brakes were proper again. I test rode the bike on Saturday afternoon. Loads of stopping power now :-)



I also started taking off some bits I don't need...

This is the air intake collector. There is mesh on the front fairing intakes, but some muppet put more mesh and sponge in the air-pipe. Not much airflow going through there.

Non-standard stickers on second-hand bikes always hide damage. Pity. I like carbon.

First 'TT Proof' activity. Stainless mesh on the rads.

R&G toe guard is pretty heavy and doesn't give enough required coverage over the sprocket for different gearing... It'll go back on Fleabay soon... out with the grinder...

Made a proper coverage toe guard from some 50x100 ally box section. Maybe not a pretty as the R&G one (still needs some angles to it) but nearly 50% lighter, adjustable and will get me through skrootineering :-)

.

The box of bits I don't need is starting to fill...

Coolant is nasty to race-tracks. Drained and system flushed. Replaced with regulatory water.

I didn't get through as much as I wanted... with all road bikes, once you take things apart, there's a whole cleaning to be done.  I spent most of the time with the bike just looking. Figuring things out. Seeing what I need, what I need to change, what bits I need, how things work on this old machine and working on problems I need to solve.

The most used tools of the weekend were my eyes and measurers.

 

Despite being 21 years old, she is generally in really good nick. I am impressed. I how her innards are as good as her shapely outside. There's still a shit-load of work to be done on her...