Okay,
Being a man of action, I have started the transformation.
I had a set of LT bars in the spares pile, so I though I would initially use these on the front end to get all my brake line, cables and wiring sorted. I have also removed the rear-sets and gone back to standard pegs and controls.
It does not look if I have actually done much, but most of the work is hidden under the tank, or it has been a direct replacement scenario. So it has taken me two weekends to:
1. Extend all wiring from the controls - 8 inch entensions, soldered and heat shrinked on every wire. A bit of fault diagnosis because I missed out an earth
2. Replace front brake pipe with longer BF Goodrich hose and bleed the system.
3. Reposition the ignition and idiot light cluster.
4. Move the stantions and reposition the head light and all the tomfoolery with front end semi strip down.
5. Route new throttle cables and clutch cable (done several times to find optimum route), retune/balance carbs for new cables using my £5.00 carb balancer.
6. Remove rear-sets and search the garage high and low for the old pegs and levers. Had to order a new gear linkage as my bent piece of wire (kinematic lingage) had been lost in the last 10 years! Went for an adjustable type off of the larger airheads - but I had to shorten it to get the gear lever in correct position. Had to make up a new bush for my brake pedal as original was missing.
7. Test all lights and controls for correct operation - Check ride to adjust position of all and sundry.
So what does go like:
Well, the steering is lazier, as I cannot have the stantions poking up through the top yoke a full half inch to account for the larger 19 inch front wheel as the handle bars are in the way. I am considering making up some short risers - only 5 or 10 mm, so I can level the bike up again and quicken the steering. My weight is also further back, which also might have some bearing on the situation. I do not want to preload the shocks as I will just get a bone jarring ride.
What's next:
I have to look at the rear end - I need to re-instate the hoop on the sub-frame before I can make a new saddle - And I am going to introduce a bit of a 'kick up' on the hoop to pick up a new alloy rear mudguard. I am currently considering either a single seat or a dual seat. And I will have to change the rear light to something a little more stylish.
The current handle-bars are temporary, they are too high - I will be going for something between the LT and 'Euro' flat bar - only wider - I'll know it when I see it.
I will be saving all my Cafe-Racer bits, just in case a change of circumstances makes it more viable again.
There you go then, rode her to work this morning in -2 deg Celcius. Did not ecxeed 30 miles an hour through town and all is well - especially my wrists!
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