Following the rebuild the engine sat idle for so long and unbeknown to me the new clutch plates had fused together and having had the engine running many times in the past it wasn’t until I went to put it in gear that the problem was identified and even with the clutch lever fully pulled in the drive to the back wheel was still fully engaged. Rooky error 101!
Steve gave me two options – ship the bike to GT Performance for him to strip down and manually tease the clutch plates apart, brilliant offer but would involve a 300+ mile round trip, or fire up the engine, warm the oil up, switch off and cable tie the clutch lever in and periodically rotate the back wheel to see if the lock could be broken ………I chose the latter and after six weeks it finally yielded and even then for the first few days it wasn’t a happy bunny going into first with a good “Clunk”
Now back in business once more - it was MOT time and after a lot of discussion and push back from various local MOT stations about presenting my bike without lights and at one place being told I’d even have to remove the switch gear as well – I conceded (for the time being at least) to toe the line and reinstate the lights etc and ditch the faux pipes. In doing so the front and rear bodywork has been removed and replaced with the originals and for good measure its also sporting a big ass number plate the same dimensions of an extra-large Domino’s Pizza box – oh and orange rather than black lensed indicators are present once more.
My only concession is I’ve not fitted the NOS mirrors as I can’t bring myself to fit them, however that’s probably going to change if I can’t easily see what’s going on behind me and then were pretty much back to OEM standard before all my nonsense started.
So for the time being my goal of having a faux version of this has been sidelined.
Now looking rather standard – but never the less still a looker for an old 1980’s girl
One rear panel is still awaiting HRC decal and Rothmans lettering so paintwork is looking very flat at present without the clear coat.
Quietly awaiting collection…
As I was no longer going to push the bike to a local MOT station - Gas Junky Motorcycles in Cheltenham kindly drove over and collected it, after a good look over from Mike who also set up the suspension for my 70kg mass, aligned the headlight beam, balanced the carbs and adjusted the idle speed before duly carrying out its first MOT in 26 years - it’s fully road legal and back in the system once more.
Being old and a 2 stoke the guys at Gas Monkey Motorcycles took a few snaps - way nicer than mine
Since I’ve got the original tax disc from 1997 and can’t display a new one - its still going to wear this one with survivors’ pride, I have to confess had it been possible I would have unashamedly gone back to the exact same post office some 26 years later to get the replacement.
Sadly I’ve no action pictures as (ironically) I only got to ride it in the dark “with the lights on” and its been mainly wet ever since, but I’m still smiling like a Cheshire Cat – Honestly can’t ever remember it being this quick and compared to my vacuum cleaner hosed ZXR H1 weight wise at least it feels like a 125cc and a much nicer ride.
Rob / Zeus – I’m going to be stalking you both come spring and my Yellow headlight will be appearing in your mirrors.
_________________
Nick
Rebuild project NSR250 MC18 R4J