Duke Blackwood

Oh and I almost forgot, My double seat has returned, re-covered... It is an awesome improvement over the heinous standard double seat.

I told them to ditch the grab strap, shave the foam so that it is all one level height and use pleated leather on top. $130 including shipping, awesome value.

So, I failed my Vinn.

Shit.

But I've almost got her sorted, she failed on:

- Loose grips

- Swingarm play (Rooted bushings)

- Front tyre

- Blown lamp

- Brake light switch

From the top:

- He told me to glue my grips but that's gross and those grips aren't long term so i cut the ends off, put horrible end caps on and wired the grips on like a race bike (With help from anglia4)

- I've got a race bike machinist dude making me some swingarm bushings from Phosphor Bronze (Expensive) because plastic ones wear out regularly unless you grease your swingarm every ride (apparently)

- Front tyre was a pain because I wanted to run a 110/90 but the original guard wont fit and it needs a guard... you'll love my solution to this dillema pictured below.

- VTNZ blew the lamp by trying to use my rooted electric start which I TOLD them not to do. Easy fix.

- They also stopped my brake light switch working by fucking with it, a tiny adjustment and now it works fine.

Mondo 110/90 18 front tyre, same size as rear. Next time i'll put a rear tyre on the front, they have a way cooler tread pattern.

Obviously the standard guard wouldn't fit over that, so I made this new guard mount with the help of Dad Blackwood.

And used it to mount the hori-est mudguard I've seen on OS.

This guard is so Rangi, I almost want to keep it. It's off a KX80. Hopefully it inspires someone to make a dual purpose GB scrambler with knobblies and a really tall rear. That should see me through my Vin reGUARDless.

I've been working on my tank decal too, I made up a stencil but it's too big. Unfortunately I'm back to work tomorrow for two weeks, so the bike will be completely standard (Except for that tyre) for Bikes, Blues and hot Cars. My realistic goal is to have it running and legal. That way I'll beat anglia4 by default if he doesn't get his slack ass into gear and put his bike back together! Two weeks Jeff!

Mr Loser beat me to it, your red frame will look tacky without a freshly painted engine!

Also, you should install one of these to match your battery box.

Then keep Raro in it, don't drink and ride!

So there have been some set backs, my speedo drive cable was broken, but I fixed it. I discovered the backlight lamps for the speedo were missing, so I replaced em. I re-assembled it incorrectly (Missing a washer on the rear axle) so my rear wheel was lose and chain went slack. The bike shop that I wont name (The same place that has twice now reemed anglia4 brutally), where I spent $500 rebuilding my brakes, is now suggesting they might still not be up to Vinn spec and they want two hours to fix 'em at $75 an hour. GRRAAR. They reckon they're gonna sand out my rear drum, but then it might not be within it's wear out tolerances and i'll have to get a new one...

FROM THEM!

I might stop going there.

But anyway, provided I get my bike back today it's going in for it's Vin tomorrow and then I just have to prove I own it, stupid system.

My twin seat is in getting recovered, I can't wait to get that back.

My little jaunt into the shop was the first time i've ridden the bike and I loved it! It has a speed warning light which comes on at 85kmh...

it gives me the heebee daba GB's haha.

Behold the majesty... Anglia4's frame is back from the powder coater's and currently residing in The Blackwood Stable

It looks really good, it will be a completely different bike after re-assembly.

Battery box mounting platform and no sign of all the old side cover tabs

Red bikes go fast, it's just science.

Ok team, it might not look like it, but shit's happening.

I've got my new rear tyre fitted 110/90-18 Metzeler Lasertech. It will get the same on the front after the VIN. At first I thought this was the ugliest freakin tyre i'd ever seen but it's growin' on me.

It is very, very close to being VIN-worthy now. I just have to bleed the front brakes, install the battery & I might also chuck the rear view mirrors from my Shadow on her to look a little more legit. The one thing i'm waiting on is the seat hook latch I am missing to arrive. I'm buying one from a guy wrecking a GB400 on Trademe. VTNZ have happily informed me that it can pass a VIN as kick start only, YAY!

It wont be how I want it in time for the show, but that's ok, it still looks good. As soon as it gets vinned I'll have two weeks to do all the modifications I can. I have a pod filter and exhaust heat wrap on the way from the states, and this baby arrived this morning...

BOO-YAH! It's straight open and not bad quality for costing under $100 new! The end cap is removable as well so I can install and remove baffles for warrants...SWEET! I've decided the bike will get a shed job rat-paint before the show so that it doesn't look so standard. I've also been in touch with Kimber Charmans motor trimmers who say they'll recover my bench seat with pleated leather for $150! So then it will look sweet even two up.

http://www.trademe.c...px?id=551200881

http://www.trademe.c...px?id=551200881

Here's two sweet finished projects that have boosted my motivation. Thanks for following my build!

If you've got the factory front indicators my father in law would be stoked to buy them, his have been cut and welded on both sides!

Sure thing, I'll need them for my vin but then I'll be putting little ones on, I'll let you know when they're available (hopefully soon)

This is going to be an awesome bike, it's a shame you can't get stuck straight into the fun bits! That racing number on the front of your inspiration looks freakin' awesome, I wonder if you could copy it entirely and encorporate a headlight? Like something Roland Sands would do, he made his cafe racer from a CR500.

hey duke,

I took the front guard off and I havn't noticed any difference in handling at all. I have however noticed an increase in road gunk hitting my face. I had heard the fork brace idea before but gave it a go and yea cant tell the difference.

Okay that's good, I think i'll run without a guard then. I'll make the original one available for sale once I've put it through the Vin. I'm thinking i'll put a massive front tyre on it, the same size as the rear, to get that symetrical/muscular look. It has a 90/90 18 up front and a 120/80 18 on the rear. I think a 120/80 18 should fit up front and look very staunch, without comprimising the handling too much... please let me know if people have tried this on other bikes and failed? You don't often see a bike with a massive front tyre so there must be a reason people don't do it.

Butch, let us know how you get on whet it comes time to relace your wheels.

Fat front tyres, matching rear, look good.

Hey dudes, check out the brand spanking new stoppers (If only they had something to stop! I've only ever ridden this thing to the end of the road once!)

Don't go falling in love with that Honda Blue, it's days are numbered...

Next move, save for a couple of weeks then buy a battery and new tyres. Then save again, Vin, then the fun starts!

Anyone have any tyre sugestions?

Hey Lew155 welcome to Oldschool. That's a neat photo you've taken and a cool bike, I'm diggin' the knee pads on the tank haha. Did you ditch the front mudguard or a previous owner? Because I've heard that removing the front guard on a bike of this vintage can adversely affect handling as they act as a fork brace? If you do take the air box off don't biff it as you may find your standard carb won't tune without it. Keep us posted on your progress

If any GB owners get a moment, would you mind posting a pic of the fastening hook that latches your seat down? Mine was missing when I got it and I've never seen another? Better yet if you have a spare seat latch ill buy it off ya! Cheers guys.

Hey Team,

If you have your own GB feel free to posts pics in this thread, we'd love to see 'em!

Punkposta, There's a guy who I think operates in Hamilton (?) that will make a single seat from your dual seat pan and get this, he will hand craft the seat to a mould of your arse! apparently they are the most comfy seats ever and he'll do it for under $500 I was told.

Kimber Charmans Motor Trimmers 06 843 6969

and Butch, I love your plan with the tank, that sounds awesome, although I dunno about white... Also i've been told (By a mechanic with a few GB race bikes) that the standard carb will not tune to a pod filter so you might have to re-think that one. How much will it cost to relace the spoked wheels? My Spokes are painted chrome, yucky. It's a shame none of you buggers are in New Plymouth.

My project update: paint's drying on my front brake caliper and soon it will be treated to a complete rebuild with every pad, disc, seal, bolt and piston replaced. It should stop like a new one. That's one of the last big jobs before it becomes road legal, expect quick progress then!

So, I haven't been keeping this thread up to date, but I have been quietly beavering away at the bike and saving for parts.

The first major hurdle is getting it vinned, so I'm ticking off the list of small jobs before making my modifications.

That is the drive gear and behind it you can see a new wire running to the Neutral indicator light. It is perilously close to the gear, which makes it pretty obvious what happened to the original wiring. Sorting this out took bloody ages, but now all my dash lights work, including the four backlighting lamps which had all blown.

The rogue indicator behaviour turned out to be due to the fact that the bike actually has running lights housed inside the giant amber indicators. So with new lamps these functioned ligitimately also.

I have aquired a Mikuni Flatslide carburretor which I have reconditioned, ready to install after vinning, along with a new plug and air filter.

Here we have a brand new rear drive sprocket, brand new aftermarket brake disc ($300 worth!) and some awful cheap handgrips which I will not be using.

The rear hub looks to be just within it's maximum runout tollerance so that's good. It has new shoes waiting to be installed.

It's always the little jobs that prove to be big hold ups and the obscure clutch lever mounting screw which my bike is missing proves to be no exception. It will take three weeks to arrive from Japan.

Other jobs before vinning include a new rear tyre (Standard size Metzeller $180), new battery and maybe fixing the speedo.

That's assuming I don't need to fix the electric starter. I've tried another second hand starter which works in the vice but not in the bike so I don't know what the problem is.

Man the bike is looking awesome, well done Jeff. I particularly like the new headlight and the tail, does the tail have any padding or are you just riding it hard arsed? Are you planning to fit a rear mudguard or just leave as is? Did you have any trouble with the sideways plate and the warrant man?.

It'd be a shame to sell this after all the work you've put into it, especially unfinished... but that other bike you're loooking at is pretty awesome!

That looks awesome. Like a true shed job haha. What's your plan from there bro, to get it smooth and purty?

Image Motorcycles in New Plymouth sell them for $80 each, all shiney new chrome. They have two on the shelf, saw 'em yesterday. They also do a mini megaphone for $120 which i'll be getting for my GB.

That's very cool jeff, well done. Do your mufflers match? In one of your pics it looks like the tips are different diameters?

Toucan: I'd rather a twin too, for more character and more power, but so far I haven't even spent $1,000 and you can't argue with that! Smaller indicators are on the way but i'm still not sure about that guard... some people like the girders, theyre rustic.

Kirk: Thanks, i'll bet you have nice hair too, but i'm not painting my bike grey haha

Rookie: Lowering and Clip ons are a definite maybe, but as for rearsets I have had a brainwave. I have two seat pans, the one pictured but also a nasty thick flat one. I will have the flat one re-upholostered thinner with Banded leather strips, keeping the passenger footpegs, and that way I only need to do two bolts and I can take my partner

(This is not a compromise, she doesn't even like the bike haha)

So I spent some time in the shed this avo with the goal of making the front brakes and starter motor work...

One rooted screw in the master cylinder slowed me down, but I pressed on and bled the brakes... onlt to find that they still suck. The disk wont pass a VIN anyway so I'm up for a new one, pads too.

From there I turned my attention to this

Which came out of here... what a fiddly nightmare.

The starter is different to the one detailed in my manual (GB500) so that was no use.

The brushes and continuity looked good so I didn't know what else to check.

The whole operation was overseen by this guy

But he lost interest...

So I rang Anglia4 who told me to test it in the vice with a jump starter pack.

Sparks.

It failed the test. So now i'm out for parts and in the mean time the bike looks like this.

This page has had over 100 views but only one reply from someone who isn't related?

Don't be shy, tell me what you think, sooner or later I'll have to paint this thing!

Neat project man, it's awesome seing people do bargain Cafe Racers!

I think instead of me giving it to you, you should buy a 50% share and we should turn it into this...

With homebuilt springer forks and dad's old chainsaw haha

The 80 engine is too good for it, we can make something else from that...

Come to think of it doesn't dad have another spare small moto X engine somewhere?

I have this beast on Trademe for $100, it has mean fat tyres, a wide slick rear, a stiff heavy frame and i'm offering a 10% discount to any Oldschool member:

I'm new to the concept of 'Droming', but with lower bars and the footpegs moved backwards it seems like it'd be the go

That graphic is really impressive, you've got skills man. It looks like a lot of work though just to mount some switches? You might have been better off just splashing out on a full set of more modern controls. I hope all that front end work is leading to a new master cylinder as well, the one on it is like an olympic pool.

This was the inspiration I had in mind, it's not quite what you're doing but I thought you might like the tank? The exhaust is awesome too.

Maaaaaaann... It's awesome to see you making so much progress bro, but you're making me anxious about my own project. That new throttle assembly is realy slick and all that work you're putting into the dash should pay off big time.

When do you plan to start painting...? Keep it up man.

Is it bad manners to post 'inspiration' on someone elses build thread?

I know you aren't keen, but on another bike it would be cool to make the Cafe racer seat bubble tail from an old helmet.

I've prepared an elaborate computer generated concept, pictured below.

Badass.