Geez, it's been ages since I dropped in. My XS remains in pieces and isn't likely to get a look in any time this year.
It's not that I've been doing nothing.
I've done the RD350LC race bike. Twice basically. I sold that basically as soon as I got if running reliably. I was just over it. Yes, a mistake as the new owner just cleaned up at the Big Chill in Queensland.
I've also got the RD375LC running properly. That was a drama too, with gear shift linkage failures. It's no longer breaking but the clamp on the shift shaft is loose, again. However, it's running nicely now - I've gone from 2.01+ to 1.56.5 at Eastern Creek. The last thing I did there was put the slides into the correct carbs. It's amazing how I could race it mid field with that wrong.
I've also resurrected a TTR250, that sat in a paddock for 7 years. Lots of work but, until this morning, it's been a great little bike to rattle my way around the country side on. Had the front wheel out yesterday &, mistakenly, grabbed the front brakes. Now I can't get any pressure....
Then there is the Tiger 900/Trek sidecar. That's the long term job. I went to put it back on the road about 18 months ago. Discovered a couple of fractures in the frame. That's almost finished. Couple of things still to do.
Around the same time as I started that, I had front brakes failure on my RD250. It's currently No1 in the work list - paint and re-chrome to be done. Essentially time and lots of dollars.
Which brings me to the subject.
Period 5 XS1100 superbike.
I bought a part finished project at the start of the year.
It had sat for the past 10 years or so, in Adelaide. Had been passed on to a young fellow who never quite got to it. I was speaking to various at Mac Park and was offered it. Once the missus heard I wasn't going to do the mechanical work on it, she was happy to let me dive in.
Quick summary of what I've got.
XS bored to 1194 (about)
Wiseco forged pistons
Web Cams 0.400"lift
35mm Keihin Racing CR carbs
frame widened at the swingarm pivot
GSX11 alloy swingarm
Swingarm pivot altered - forward
TRX850 yokes and forks
R6 fork internals (not yet fitted)
17" Dymag wheels
Chain drive conversion kit
US model petrol tank
Woodcraft 75mm rise clamp ons
Kibblewhite titanium valve retainers
Z1000 shim under cam buckets
And it's stalled. Waiting for the Kibblewhite 0.440" valve springs to come from US. It's been 3 months so far.
It's never going to be competitive with the Suzukis doing 160-180hp. They are ridden by A graders, for a start.
It just might last a bit longer. My expectation/hope is that it will be mid field in the 2 valve superbikes.
The reason is that it's different to the Suzukis. There are still some people riding z900s & 1000s, a couple of GS1000S and even a CBX or two. Then there are the Ducatis & Guzzis being ridden.
I'll be happy if I can have fun playing at the back of the field & not get lapped.
'Grid Filler Racing'.
I just thought some of you may be interested.
I had hoped to have it ready for 2022 but, given the parts delays it's looking like Spring 2022.
