TOPIC:

Happy to report that the air box is finally done, pods would have been easier but not the look I am going for. It's as tight as a "virgin gerbil" but it fits ( would be impossible with old rubbers !!) Once fitted I really didn't like the gap between the panels and tank (it didn't look like it should be that way) so off we go again with the glue and hot staples to re-work the panels for a more "factory" look (IMHO) 

 

My factory gap is huge, yours looks too flowing and tied in for the vintage of the bike. I see it looking similar to stock but with a much closer gap. Like 3mm to 5mm gap between the tank and side panel.

Looking great here, Wookie!! I love the flow of the lines of the bike as the reach the end of the tail section. I have so many ideas in my head of what I want to do with my 81 but the way your tail is coming out has been my biggest inspiration thus far.

Kelly E wrote:

My factory gap is huge, yours looks too flowing and tied in for the vintage of the bike. I see it looking similar to stock but with a much closer gap. Like 3mm to 5mm gap between the tank and side panel

Thanks for the feedback Kelly, I think the 70's bikes like yours look "spot on" as is. My issue was that the tailpiece doesn't belong on an 82 and I have reshape the ugly stock side panels. When this is coupled with the tight fitting seat it just didn't look "finished" to me. I think it is real easy to go down a rabbit hole when building something that you don't want to look "DIY" 

 

I like how you joined the side cover with the tailpiece, it looks right if you know what I mean.
When I built my 74' CB 550 K0 I was trying to make it look like someone built it in the late 70's. It was a little bit tough but the only thing that looks out of place is the front master cylinder. It's the only one that works with the handlebars.

Kelly E wrote:

I like how you joined the side cover with the tailpiece, it looks right if you know what I mean.
When I built my 74' CB 550 K0 I was trying to make it look like someone built it in the late 70's. It was a little bit tough but the only thing that looks out of place is the front master cylinder. It's the only one that works with the handlebars.

Thanks Kelly, the Honda looks great. I see what you mean ref the master cylinder, there weren't many stock bikes with ace bars or clip-ons back then. What are old Ducati parts like to find stateside ??

 

We don't have any Ducati's but we have a 90' Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans. We've delinked the brakes and rebuilt the carbs. Also some electrical gremlin fixes but it has always run pretty well. It's a fun bike to ride with lots of torque.

Another "fiddly job" completed today, I now have a seat lock. I have used a Yamaha lock (various models) to operate the Triump Trophy catch with a shortened Triumph cable. Bit of a PITA running the cable through the cross tube but that's where it wanted to be   I also managed to swop some wafers around so it fits the same key as the ign

 

Fiddly indeed, but, fully functional and necessary.

Nice work!

H.

A bit more progress this week, finally got the left side panel finished (still need to finish the right but that will be easier with out the vent and key hole) The vent is to feed freash air onto the R/R, I am using a MOSFET RR so probably won't need it but it won't hurt.

 

Also got the inner panels fitted up and tweaked the tailpiece to fit the closing panel

 

 

Really nice work Wookie - definitely looks like it's a stock panel.

So now with the holidays behind me it was time to get back in the garage today, been sorting the licence plate mount and I hung the back in to check for clearance (licence plate still needs some work  ) I'm really happy with how it's looking, still a long way to go (I originally estimated 12 months for this build  )
A lot less "Ltd" and a lot more "unique" now