Ooops I bought a classic "box of bits"
Posted: 22 Nov 2025 15:41
On the basis that the worst case scenario would be that I'd get some new stanchions, a set of rear sets, a strada top yoke, some refurbished wheels and a stack of spares I stumped up £1k for this nice little project on ebay recently. Current plan is to get the engine either given its last rights or rebuilt by Jim Mclean down in Bristol and if that works out to slowly rebuild the bike in the style that I want, which is more of a classic bike, silver engine, black frame and maybe dark instead of red bodywork.
From what I can see the engine top end appears to be in good nick & if DVLA are to be believed the last MOT back in 2006 showed just 35k miles ridden, however the crankcases were grit blasted with the bearings open to the elements & the split bearing race is pitted but the crank has been rebuilt. I'll be dropping off the engine with Jim on Friday, so should get diagnosis as a whole in early December.
Meanwhile I've been looking at getting a rolling chassis underway, so far discovered the speedo drive grease seal & front wheel bearing spacer is missing, the nice new fork stanchions are 15mm short (590mm instead of 605mm), the steering tube thread needs recutting (slightly folded over at the top) and the frame has had the standard seat fittings cut off to accommodate a 350 humped instead of 500 seat, so I have to decide to either carry on down that route or find a 500W frame / back end that hasn't been cut about. Currently I'm erring on getting it back to standard, so if anyone has either an unregistered or knackered 500W frame lurking in their shed I'd love to hear from you.
From what I can see the engine top end appears to be in good nick & if DVLA are to be believed the last MOT back in 2006 showed just 35k miles ridden, however the crankcases were grit blasted with the bearings open to the elements & the split bearing race is pitted but the crank has been rebuilt. I'll be dropping off the engine with Jim on Friday, so should get diagnosis as a whole in early December.
Meanwhile I've been looking at getting a rolling chassis underway, so far discovered the speedo drive grease seal & front wheel bearing spacer is missing, the nice new fork stanchions are 15mm short (590mm instead of 605mm), the steering tube thread needs recutting (slightly folded over at the top) and the frame has had the standard seat fittings cut off to accommodate a 350 humped instead of 500 seat, so I have to decide to either carry on down that route or find a 500W frame / back end that hasn't been cut about. Currently I'm erring on getting it back to standard, so if anyone has either an unregistered or knackered 500W frame lurking in their shed I'd love to hear from you.