The 850 Roadster restoration process.
I really should have taken a picture of this thing when I bought it for $95. It truly looked like I got taken. Lyn said "what an ugly bike" (read POS) <g>
Control Panel
I hated the down by my leg position of the stock Norton ignition switch. I also added the oil pressure gauge. Hey, what can I say, the thing was English. <LOL>
TaDa!
September of 1981 and the finished art work. It took about a year and a half. Hey, who's the guy with all the hair? <g>
The 850 Racer
I had a 750 version but exploded it on the front straight at Willow Springs in my first race. OK, so chamfering the rod journals IS important! My brother Greg and I hand built the exhaust system. It sounded awesome and didn't go to bad either.
Details, Details
No store bought anything! From the Rickman Metiese dirt bike forks with custom caliper mount to the rear set's and clip-on's. This bad boy was all hand built by yours truly.
Pilot's Cockpit
Instrument panel with tach and oil pressure gauge. The fairing was off a 19?? Who Know's What and worked quite nicley after fabricating all the mounting stuff out of 4130 ChromeMoly. Tail section/number plates/seat assembly hand fabed out of aluminum. I was so lucky the aerodynamics worked the first time. No wobbles or funny stuff at 130+mph.
Bump Me Baby!
Electric start? Heck, there wasn't even a kick starter or the internal shafts and gears for one in interest of saving weight. My brother was the motive force. Getting fired up for the novice class race. Yeah, I beat the dude on the 1000R. <g>
Front Straight Flying
Tucked and trucking! It was on this section of the track that the 750 went bang. The crank snapped at the left inside rod journal shattering the cases and everything else it could ruin. Don't ya just hate those "track oiling POS's"? <LOL!>