Dogbytes' R80 ST project

[Dogbytes]

My mobile phone bill is going to be evil!

Over the last couple of days I've spoken to Woodcraft and Pingel in person and Toaster Tan by email - SJ BMW, I'm still waiting for a reply from. That's five or six hundred quid going stateside and that isn't helping the balance of payments! I'm seeing a gap in the market here.

But seriously, both Woodcraft and Pingel have people selling their gear in the UK and I tried several of them before going direct to the manufacturers. There is a considerable variation in the standard of customer service - most of the UK suppliers don't seem to give a f**k. Clearly they have enough business that they don't have to worry too much about new business. I've noticed this in other industries too.

Happy to report that Flatracer delivered my Monza fuel cap this morning - I only ordered it yesterday. Excellent product, great service and friendly too. I'll be doing more shopping there.

 

[Motorcycle Michael]

My Wilbers shod R100GS para had a death wobble at 70 mph plus !! I'll not be buying another.

Have you spoken to anyone at Wilbers regarding your "death wobble"?
I've always found John at Revs really helpful-I'm sure he'd help.
I used to run a Wilbers GS shock an a Mystic for more ground clearance and never had any problem,even at an indicated 120mph with the rev counter into the red zone,it was solid.
Perhaps tyre pressures weren't quite right coupled with long soft forks?-just a thought.

 

[B Murr]

Would a death wobble be something induced by sideways play in some steering/ tracking component as opposed to the shock which is just responsible for up and down movement. Could the wobble be something more likely caused by worn bearings/linkages in forks or swing arm? Perhaps a loose shock will share some of that erratic movement whereas a firm one just pushes that back into those loose or worn components elsewhere.

 

[Motorcycle Michael]

Would a death wobble be something induced by sideways play in some steering/ tracking component as opposed to the shock which is just responsible for up and down movement. Could the wobble be something more likely caused by worn bearings/linkages in forks or swing arm? Perhaps a loose shock will share some of that erratic movement whereas a firm one just pushes that back into those loose or worn components elsewhere.

Good point well put.

 

[fayeslane]

Taking time to adjust the static sag on any bike is time well spent particularly if adding new suspension components.

Dogbytes - you sound like a kid at Xmas with all that shiny stuff arriving

 

[Dogbytes]

Taking time to adjust the static sag on any bike is time well spent particularly if adding new suspension components.

Dogbytes - you sound like a kid at Xmas with all that shiny stuff arriving

There'll be a lot of setting up to do, once the bike is all together. Until then, final weight, weight distribution, etc. is all educated guesswork

New toys, excited? That's for certain!

 

[Dogbytes]

I'm having a lot of trouble finding a way of bending the tubing for the seat subframe, just wait 'til I have to find a way of making an exhaust system!

In the meantime, I'm going to put the wheel bearing outer races in the freezer and get ready to have a go at that taper bearing pre-loading thing that people keep going on about.

In parallel with the above, I need to finish off the wheel jig and then I can tension and true the front wheel.

Since I need to source a 32:10 bevel box, I may well strip the standard one down and nick the flange to make a rear wheel adaptor for said jig - unless anyone has a donor 3-stud flange they want rid of...

 

[Dogbytes]

Stainless steel fasteners coming out of my ears

Excellent service and quality from Chris Shaw Engineering.

 

[Dogbytes]

Started making the seat subframe

...at long last

 

[Dogbytes]

Also!

I've started making a seat pan which will then be sent off (this week) to Bootleg Bike Seats for upholstering (slightly) and covering with black Alcantara.

I've cut it out if aluminium sheet and it'll be curved to match the seat unit. I haven't quite finalised how it'll be held on, Velcro sprung to mind! But it'll probably be three captive screws.

 

[Dogbytes]

News from the front

The fork legs and bottom yoke have gone to be powder-coated satin black. The brake caliper is back from being recoated and, I think, is going to look quite nice on its floating disc. The wheel jig is nearly done and so, by extension, are the wheels. The front end is just awaiting top yoke (Toaster Tan, on its way), clip-ons (Woodcraft, on their way) and levers/brake master cylinder (Brembo RCS, on their way). I'm off to Azerbaijan in just over two weeks time, the front end could well be finished by then.

 

[Dogbytes]

Seat pan. Ready to be sent for upholstering.

 

[markjackson]

Excellent service and quality from Chris Shaw Engineering.

Seconded! Lovely stuff and an absolute pleasure to fit.

One of the things I'm really enjoying about airhead ownership is the amount of stainless stuff at sensible prices. It must be popular as the high zinc content keeps airhead bits from corroding despite all the wee

 

[charlie b]

Painted rims and hubs with stainless spokes...

The fork legs and bottom yoke have gone to be powder-coated satin black. The brake caliper is back from being recoated and, I think, is going to look quite nice on its floating disc.

That combination is going to look great John..! This project is coming along very nicely

I just hope it is not too distracting for you whilst away working...

 

[Dogbytes]

That combination is going to look great John..! This project is coming along very nicely

I just hope it is not too distracting for you whilst away working...

Not at all, Charlie - you'll just have to put up with my constant wittering on about it

 

[Kenny]

Keep up the excellent engineering/fabrications ...you have a lot of followers tuning in each time

 

[Dogbytes]

Keep up the excellent engineering/fabrications ...you have a lot of followers tuning in each time

Thanks for that, I'm serious! This project has rather grown in significance, on a personal level and, given the amount of people who look at the thread, it's now become a bit of a responsibility to ensure its worthy of the attention!

I was talking to Richie Moore one day, I was trying to explain what I was trying to build and it was quite difficult because Richie lives in the real world where only performance and reliability count. In the end I told him about this...

Back in 1975 I bought an issue of 'Cycle' magazine and it had an article about a guy called Howard Blau, an attorney. Who had commissioned a Honda 550 special. I think it is the most beautiful motorcycle I've ever laid eyes on (I'd love to know if he still has it!). With this project I wanted to build something that someone else would remember, 40 years later, and think it was the most beautiful bike they've ever seen. I'm not very ambitious, one person would do!

So there you go - now you know!

 

[Dogbytes]

New bits have been arriving...

Lots of new bits have been turning up. As I mentioned earlier, I had to order few bits from the U.S. - due in no small part, to the utter indifference of the official importers.

The Woodcraft clip-ons, I was particularly looking forward to and I'm not disappointed - they are exquisite!
I decided to go for new forks stanchions, one was out of limits, runout-wise, and they were a little pitted. Not anywhere where it would affect the seals but the whole thing is going to look so nice that pitted stanchions just weren't going to do it. New seals, obviously - and gaiters for the traditional use. Hey, it's still a Beemer!
Badges? From a top box, I believe. They fit into the fork reflector spaces with hardly any alteration.
Battery and silencer were supplied by Richie Moore. Gretna service as usual and genuinely race-proven components. The silencer looks LOUD. can't wait

I also got a new wheel spindle but it's the wrong one. Won't mention where it came from - but I will if they don't take it back!

 

[Dogbytes]

Forks

The forks nearly sorted. New stanchions, slider and bottom yoke powder-coated satin black, new seals, Racetech cartridge emulators. Waiting for the Toaster Tan top yoke and sorter, stiffer, linear fork springs to arrive from the US. Oh, and BMW badges where the reflectors were!

There's another couple of nice bits for the front end arriving in the next few days too...

 

[Canuck]

from what I hear those cans are loud...

Can't wait to see this all together.