So this winters project should be a relatively easy win, getting the V7 ready for the road. I bought it about 18 months ago and started tinkering before being distracted by last years Z1000 rebuild. Anyway - hopefully I will have some shed time in the next few months to get this roadworthy. Its a 1971 V7 700, not an Ambassador I'm told but an ex-Italian government bike of some sort. Apparently for the home market (particularly government supply) they kept making the original V7 700 well into the '70's - no 750 or 850 power monsters for me ! 
It had co-axial radio cable running front to back and a rear aerial mount which I've since removed so who knows what it originally was. The wiring loom is original with the addition of some hacking into it for various things over the years - so a brittle rats nest. One main bits of work is to re-wire with the excellent Greg Bender loom kit which I already have sitting on a shelf waiting. The cylinders are still on their chrome plated bores and no doubt a bit of a time-bomb to run about on. They are coming straight off and going to Langcourts for a bit of a going over.
Other than that it needs the oils changed and carbs going through. The tyres were replaced last year, drum brakes re-shoe'd and I had the speedo rebuilt by a lovely chap in South Wales. One amusing mod is the battery security - whoever last used the bike has it held in place by a matrix of cable ties. It really is quite a beautiful construction to behold. Not sure how they are originally fastened down, from that era I'm expecting a long threaded bar and plate kind of affair. If anyone knows please let me know.
My one dilemma is whether to paint it - it's a knocked about cream colour at the moment and has an old Italian garage sticker low down on one of the tool box covers which is fun. A big part of me wants to keep it how it is and hope I can make a nice reliable oily-rag rider. Then I see some others in wacky bright colours which I do admire.... There's a great orange one which crops up on Facebook occasionally and an 'in your face' yellow one. Hmmmm - maybe leave that for another day.
It had co-axial radio cable running front to back and a rear aerial mount which I've since removed so who knows what it originally was. The wiring loom is original with the addition of some hacking into it for various things over the years - so a brittle rats nest. One main bits of work is to re-wire with the excellent Greg Bender loom kit which I already have sitting on a shelf waiting. The cylinders are still on their chrome plated bores and no doubt a bit of a time-bomb to run about on. They are coming straight off and going to Langcourts for a bit of a going over.
Other than that it needs the oils changed and carbs going through. The tyres were replaced last year, drum brakes re-shoe'd and I had the speedo rebuilt by a lovely chap in South Wales. One amusing mod is the battery security - whoever last used the bike has it held in place by a matrix of cable ties. It really is quite a beautiful construction to behold. Not sure how they are originally fastened down, from that era I'm expecting a long threaded bar and plate kind of affair. If anyone knows please let me know.
My one dilemma is whether to paint it - it's a knocked about cream colour at the moment and has an old Italian garage sticker low down on one of the tool box covers which is fun. A big part of me wants to keep it how it is and hope I can make a nice reliable oily-rag rider. Then I see some others in wacky bright colours which I do admire.... There's a great orange one which crops up on Facebook occasionally and an 'in your face' yellow one. Hmmmm - maybe leave that for another day.
