Yep, I've now got two parked in the back yard. I don't have a shed, just a double garage of which one half is my part time work area and park time parking spot for my wife's HR-V. Its so cramped that my two sons (returned home) have their cars on the driveway. My DMax & bike trailer are stuck on the street.
Back to the bikes.
I've just picked up another 1996 Triumph Tiger 900, to compensate for this.
April this year, on a backroad just near Tarana . It bent & broke the sub frame under the seat, amongst other stuff. So I found another bike. The sidecar escaped with minimal damage. Swapping over is a job for next year. In the meantime, I've got a big solo to ride.
Then there is the 1973 RD250. I got it (1976) from my brother who bought it new at the end of 1972 (yes, we got 'next years' models at the end of the year).
This is 1973/4 at Oran Park, south west of Sydney. Oran Park is now a suburb with the roads names after various motorsports identities of the circuit's era.
This is 1978, me riding around the Earle Page residential college I lived in while I was at U New England, Armidale. I tried doing Science. I spent most of my time doing bikes and anatomy. Love the style.
It followed me around as a wreck. Eventually I did get it running & on historic rego. Sort of 90% restored.
It's now waiting for a full restoration to be finished, as I did this to it a few years ago. I enjoyed riding it but maybe won't be taking it on 400km day rides again.
-- Edited by tripodtiger on Thursday 15th of August 2024 12:28:13 AM
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
I've got an 1980 XS1100, that I've had since 1981. It's in bits, on a table, downstairs. I wonder if I'll ever get to it.
Lovely bike but I've got too many projects to allow me to get back to it.
As a result of owning an XS and racing RDs, I've met Mal Pitman. He led me to buying a stalled project, chain drive XS1100 race bike.
It's getting there. It's been a few years so far, covid put a big stopper on progress. Now illness of my friend, who is doing it, is slowing it down.
It will end up a Mal Pitman tribute bike.
There is a new historic Superbike Masters series, in conjunction with the Australian Superbike Series, for unlimited bikes from 1980 to 1990. I hope to get it out in that field in 2025.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
This is the new to me '96 Tiger I bought last week. It was in a garage less than a km down the road.
I'm riding it around town a bit. The rear shock was known the be past it. When the TTR shock comes back, I'll pull this one out and send it off for a rebuild. That should make the riding experience much more pleasant.
It will be a week long job moving the sidecar chassis to this bike - Leading link, sub-chassis, rear shock, left and right side crankcase covers, air cleaner and can't think of what else. Sidecar body repairs first though, so it's not a next week job.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
Then there is an old XT250 that my eldest son bought a few years ago. He's no longer interested. I've sort of taken it over, with maybe the notion of doing vinduros on it.
****s & giggles.
Or torn ligaments and broken collarbones.
One or the other.
I had it running, with a new pilot jet, a few months ago. I've not looked at it since before I turned the sidecar over. Now it won't start on either the kick or rollers. Stale fuel, maybe the pilot has blocked again.
Interesting lesson with setting up the carb. Over a period of time, probably because the pilot was blocked, the slide has been raised way too high. I dropped it back down until the down stream side of the slide was just blocking the carb venturi. Hold it up to the light and wind the idle speed screw out until the light is stopped.
Refit then carb and just attempt to start it, with choke & no throttle, winding the slide up half a turn at a time. It will start when it's just getting enough air. Once it's warm the idle can be reset with the choke off.
And it wont attach another photo here???
-- Edited by tripodtiger on Tuesday 20th of August 2024 02:32:35 AM
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
The only stock components are the lower crank case and the gear box components.
TZ250 wheels.
Kawasaki ER6n front calipers. Not sure what the rotors are from.
Yamaha FZR250 forks/triple clamps with Gold Valves & Ikon single rate springs.
Scitsu tachometer & TT temp gauge on a panel made from 3mm alipanel.
Woodcraft clip ons, because they are easy to take on & off the forks and the 'bar tubes are separate.
LC front master cylinder with braided lines.
Standard tank, with non-genuine dents, side & tail panels.
Modified LC seat. It's a bit too short for me, I end up sitting on the hump on longer straights.
Frame is modified in the swing arm, which is braced in 3 places. Otherwise, the frame has had a couple of lugs taken off it.
I made inner panels from plastic sheet to keep grime out of the carbs & under the seat. I tell myself the under seat one helps smooth out the air flow. Really, I'm not going that fast.
Wilbers rear shock.
Modified, from drum brake on the rear wheel, for the TZ rotor and a Brembo caliper, with braided lines.
Woodcraft / home made / Hollamby made rear sets.
LC bottom of the engine.
High flow, stainless water pump.
High capacity Wilson radiator.
TZ750 barrels, head, pistons. I've not attempted to alter them. The first set I had were altered to fit 6 petal reeds, by grinding out the reed mounts. I never got to see how that set makes it go, because they caused no end of drama whilst I was learning the thing. It ended up punching a rod through one of those barrels. Repairable, I think, if I send it to NZ Cylinders.
32mm Mikuni VM carbs with home made throttle cables attached to a TZ, quick action throttle.
Self designed, CAD machined bell mouths (no filters)
Hydroformed expansion chambers. Can't think of the name of fellow that made them. English immigrant who is now of advanced age. All his patterns were sold to a bloke who is now on the Gold Coast. I've compared them to TZ 750 specs I got from Mal Pitman and they appear to be to that spec.
Being 373cc I race it in the Period 5 500cc as it's first class. Cross entry into the 750cc class, if it is being run, or 1300cc if they don't have the 750cc class available. Yes, turning up on the dummy grid on what looks like a 350 gets some second glances. I've had to point out to officials that it's a 500 class bike so they let me out with the 1300cc 4 strokes.
I have beaten a 1300cc GSX Suzuki, in Victoria and had a great weekend racing a mate on his GS1000S, in South Australia. Beyond that, good fun with slightly older 750 and unlimited class bikes. I pass them on the turns. They pass me in the straights.
I scored 3rd in the 2023 Australian National Titles, in class. I also came 2nd in the non-title 750 class at the same meeting. That was fun and far better than I expected when I entered the meeting. I normally sit around 6th - out of 25000000 Australians. They all were entitled to enter. I even beat Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner, Casey Stoner et al! Granted, it may have been different if they showed up.
-- Edited by tripodtiger on Thursday 22nd of August 2024 03:16:06 AM
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
I've had to turn down a KTM 640 because there's no room at the inn.
I just destroyed another needle & seat from the XT250. Why wont it run? Because the fuel turns to jelly and gums up the fuel system. Then, trying to fix it, one has to destroy the needle/seat because it is sealed with an O ring and there is no way to get the bugger out other than pliers and multigrips.. at least they are reasonably cheap.
__________________
In the Riverina.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
