PROJECT BIKE ME! RACE BIKE PART VIII

by Dino

Finally back together again...

OK, now I know it's been a LITTLE while since the last post on the mighty BIKE ME! Triumph 675 racer but it's not my fault, honestly it's not!

Those of you who were following the building of this fine instrument of speed will remember it all coming to dead halt in September after the dyno test prior to the first outing that never was.

Without its engine, the BIKE ME! racer contacted a severe case of hepatitis

Recapping, we had it track ready, stuck it on the dyno and found that the engine cut out when it dropped back to idle and refused to turn over. After a few minutes investigating batteries to no avail we whipped the side cover off the motor and cranked her over manually with a dirty big spanner and she was tight. Bloody tight. Too damned tight.

So we had no choice but to whip the donk out and get it on the bench. So that night whilst still down at Motorcycle Weaponry and using all Steve Cutting's lovely tools I got it out of the bike and dropped it on Steve's bench for him to have a gander at the next morning, and then packed all the rest of it up, stuck it on my trailer and carted it off home to gather dust in my garage for four months.

It wasn't supposed to be four months, in fact I was hoping for a couple of weeks. But alas parts are hard to get, apparently!

After Steve pulled the motor down he found all three big end shells had rolled (were stuffed) and had to send the crank away to a specialist to get cleaned and measured etc, then we could order the big end shells and required gaskets and seals. Piece of piss, right? Wrong!

I ordered the required parts from a reputable purveyor of all things Triumph and after 6 weeks I was told the parts had arrived. "Great", I thought, "a bit long but they are here now".

Wrong again.

I went to pick them up and I was presented with three big end shells of the required size. Yes, that was three shells, not three pairs of shell as I ordered. Now I ask you, what sort of brainiac would send three halves? I mean what the fuck can you do with three halves? "Oh my Triumphs fucked one and a half big ends so I would just like to order one and a half please." So I was not happy and even less happy when I realized it would probably be another six weeks until I got the rest of my order as they had to come all the way from Blighty both times. I mean don't the Australian Triumph importers have the cupboard space to hold a few spare parts in this country?

Well anyway the motor is rebuilt and in the frame and I fired her up tonight for the first time and she purrrrrrrred beautifully. Now I just have to stick the radiator back on and get it down to the dyno to see what sort of power we have to work with, then it's off to the track for tests.

Thanks to Steve Cutting and the team at Motorcycle Weaponry for their patience and help...