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Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:40 am
by saka_ZXR
Cheers for the advice mate.

And wow 8 years im guessing u started it left it for years then started again?

As i doubt it took u 8 years of constant work :p

Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:17 am
by zimm
my 400/600 project is knocking on 3 years now .. weird thing is .. it's been a runner at two points .. even passed an MOT .. its still in bits though .. infact im trying to work out how to get the part built (again) engine out of the kitchen in one piece now that ive taken all my tools to my new workshop 100 miles away :smt017

Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:08 am
by Davw
saka_ZXR wrote:Cheers for the advice mate.

And wow 8 years im guessing u started it left it for years then started again?

As i doubt it took u 8 years of constant work :p
That is the way of it - rebuilding isnt a full time job for most of us so it has to (from time to time) take second place to other stuff like work (to pay the bills), girlfriend, wife etc. Parts availability can also be a real drag on progress

Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:17 pm
by saka_ZXR
Yeah i get how u mean mate, well as im only part time college and everyones hours at work have been cut i find myself with not much to do while my mates are all in college n work so i figured what better way to spend my time?

Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:43 pm
by Mori Man
Some great advice there and hard to challenge so what i will say there is three distinct builds:

1) Restoration, everything is taken back to it's component state and refreshed,repaired or replaced. The most time consuming, most financially crippling but should also be the most rewarding. I would approach this method with a bike i had a passion for as no matter what it would be done.

2) Re-Build, could be a bike in a box ,boot of a car or delivered in a trailer. Main task is to get it built and running with out regard to looks or out of service components - generally involves getting it to a rolling chassis with engine and getting it fired up then bolting everything else on.

3) Project bike, Could be a non-runner but preferably a runner and from there you are going to adapt it to your idea and not the factories. It may be accident damaged sportster turning into a street fighter or a classic beefed up to a modern muscle bike but before the project commences there is a clear path of where you are going with it.

Both your bikes sound like a re-build but maybe you 'll find a passion for one and go restoration. if they were mine , I would get the CB running as is, spend no money on it until it's going (probably points and a worn back plate with condenser) , then after riding it you decide to progress to the next stage you are starting with a bike that works which believe me adds a very big amount of motive to the restoration.

Always loved bonny's but the truth of them is they leak oil and clutches are a nightmare too - so if you want to have a "dream" in your garage go for it otherwise break it as there are the dreamers out there (no insult intended) who would love the parts. Triumph casings of that era are excellent quality and polish up like show chrome :smt004 so get your mops out and spruce them up before advertising and get instant sales.

MM!

Re: Would love to get some project bikes done.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:53 pm
by saka_ZXR
Yeah im gonna go with ur idea for the CB mate.

As with the triumph i probably wudnt keep it after i built it as id want to sell it possibly get a little bit of cash bash and buy another project.