Gazman

So it's the weekend again, time for some more polishing, I think. My welder buddy is stacked out with work this week and can't fit in my seat unit and frame mods until the end of next week. Doesn't make any difference to the project but I just hate waiting. I need to tidy the shed first but then it will be polishing time, I will start with the front caliper which I have already stripped and then move on to the alloy handle bar controls, they look like they are annodised but I did a test polish on one side a few weeks ago and it comes off slowly, leaving behind some lovely bling with ingraved lettering. I will probably wait to post progress and pics until tomorrow night, should be something to see by then. Gaz

yeah still a bit sore matey but im still trying to carry on as it would do my head in if i just stopped work on it, cheers dick! I thought you might mate, If you are gonna do stuff, try wrapping tissue around your finger and then insulating tape. It will make it stiff but will stop you bending it and keep it clean, the tissue will allow you to remove the tape easily after working. Gaz

How's the finger Mark ? a bit sore I bet. Powder coat looks good mate. Gaz

Sorry Mark, sounds nasty mate, hope it heals soon, I'm sure you'll be back at it before you realize.

stue has yold you the rides in scotland didnt he What route you taking Josh ?, I'm in Oxfordshire mate and would be happy to go off route a bit to meet up and ride on together to meet Stue and the rest . I'm in Oxford if you fancy riding up with me? Hi Rose, let me know what route you are taking and I will work out where to join you. I'm very likely starting the day from Evesham as we are now staying at friends the night before, not far from the M42 or the M5, let me know.

That's a bit of a blow Mark, sorry to here that mate. Is the frame OK.

Sounds good mate, any pictures to share ?

stue has yold you the rides in scotland didnt he What route you taking Josh ?, I'm in Oxfordshire mate and would be happy to go off route a bit to meet up and ride on together to meet Stue and the rest .

Does anyone know if it's possible to trace the current owner of a bike I once owned ? I had an old James Captain 197cc, it had a rigid frame and was built in 1952. I sold it in 1980 to someone, without the log book, as I didn't have it. Last week I typed in it's number plate on the DVLA website and it came up with all of the correct info including engine size, year of manufacture and colour but obviously not the current owners contact details. I would like to trace this bike and make contact with the current owner to register my interest in owning it again, as it was my first ever bike which I owned from the age of 12 to 15 and used it on private land. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Gaz

Very diplomatic to put Mrs Stue at the top of your list Stue, thought Ronnie would have been top. You can add me on the 18th as well. Gaz

I really liked the tank that was on the bike Mark, but after seeing the mock up I think the 750 tank is far better, I really like those knee indents and the flatter lines as well mate. At this rate you'll be finished and on the road by October. Keep up the good work. Gaz

I will keep the posts and pics coming steadily but I must say that this project will not be completed and on the road until next spring time. I am approaching this project a bit different to the bandit project, I will be refurbishing, modifying and fabricating parts and then placing them aside. Once everything is ready I will start to build and so the exciting bit will be a few weeks before completion. Mainly because of space and storage issues now I have 3 bikes.

ile have a list sorted this weekend, but theres atleast 5 of me friends coming from south wales and were i live now, hopefully a couple more to add Sweet, I'll be there mate.

Stue, I'm really looking forward to it mate, how many are going (weather permitting)?

Cheers Mark, I've made a template for a steel infill mate, I want to leave it proud of the rear profile though, so that it remains visibly a piece of petrol tank. At one point I was going to mount the rear light and number plate bracket off of it but I have a more innovative idea for mounting them now, using more of the redundant parts stripped off the bike a couple of weeks ago. If you have any small bits that need polishing, send them over or take a ride out here on the bandit, i'll do them while you wait, can't do to much though, it's more time consuming than most imagine, 9 hours for that little collection yesterday and i'm paying for it today, ache aint the word. I'll PM my address if you want to get anything to me. You going on the ride out on the 18th Sept, I'm going as long as it's forecast dry. Gaz

Breaker break good buddy

Looking good Mark, Gaz

Cheers Gaz. Gazman

Got a few pics here of yesterday and today's efforts. I'm using the original knackered tank off of the silver bike to create a seat unit, mocked up the rest of the seat unit out of cardboard ready for fabricating in sheet steel, the rear will house the repositioned battery and so a battery box will be welded to the frame in the correct position once the seat unit is made. Today was just polishing, not a lot to show for a whole day's grafting but the Aluminium on this old bike is heavily corroded and needs cutting right back with the orbital sander before and buffing can take place and that's a long enough process on its own. Please with how it's looking though, the rear sets have come up very nice. Brake pedel before polishing 36 year old engine casing brought back to life. One day's work Will keep the posts coming, now I've started again. Gaz

I'm seriously considering it Stue, long way for me but I might well be up for it, be good to meet you and a few others. Gaz

I've hardly started Stue. Not much to get excited about but I will be posting pics tonight.

Good work Mark, How good is this cafe racer thing ?, I love it.

Mark, like me, you don't have time to sit on the net, get on with it man. Been watching your progress mate with a mix of envy and a real sense of, I can't be bothered. Been flat out at work recently and it's taking it's toll on my energy levels. Still I'm back on it now.

OK, so the the buffing wheels have had a nice rest for the last month or so. I've started to set about some of the alloy parts, ready for re assembly. Been busy making a model of the new seat unit, got that done and need to drop that, the frame and tank over to my fabricator this week so that he can do his bit and then it will be straight to powdercoat. I will post a couple of pics later, of today's progress.

Only an idea Mark but I reckon you could plug it off with some paper or tissue and then some putty or plumbers mate (doesn't set/ stays soft)to stop the ingress of blast beads/ grit. Gaz