Visitors bikes page 4

Hi John, Here are some pic's as promised. Sorry about the background, the Jenkins premises are a bit crowded at the moment! It seems that something nasty from the Far East has crept in to one of the pic's, but at least its got a Vee form engine. The 916 has had a bit of a reprieve. It was really rather rough but I found a chap on e-bay who was selling copies of genuine Ducati eproms for non std exhausts for £18, and so I bought one. What a difference! Its gained 20-25% midrange torque (which is a lot not to have) ,that means its just about possible to keep up with the gear changes in the lower ratios, and the driveability is 100% better, the throttle actually connects to the rear tyre now. I can genuinely say its awesome, just like the AMA guys!

The bike is my Alazurra I purchased new in 89. It now has FZR400 front suspension and wheels and capacity is 749ccm. The header is from PCS Daytona that used to race these bikes in Florida in the late 80s and early 90s, and with the balanced length downpipes it really boosts midrange torque. Works great with the Alazurra cams, gasflowed heads and large valves. Next modification is Keihin FCRs, if I can only find out how to fit them, downdraft or sidedraft in the front ? 37 mm or 39 mm or maybe 35 mm even, and so on. Information is getting hard to get by, and the only websites seem to be in Japanese.

John,
Thought I would forward you a couple of shots of the bikes now they are "completed" and being ridden.

The 900SS is originally an English bike bought back to OZ 21years ago by a good mate and myself after a 12 month adventure around Europe on it and an 82 BMW R100RS. I have replaced the mags with wires and updated brake lines with braided lines. Otherwise, engine is rebuilt (by Gowanlochs) and paint freshened by my good mate CJ (who did both the bikes for me). A recent track day at Eastern creek (JAN 07)showed me there is plenty of life in the old girl yet, it ran and handled as only a duke can! My mate CJ bought his 80 Jota along for a run as well (included a photo from the pit). The SS has a Gianelli pipe which sounds wonderful on song down the main straight. My daughter is now the real owner of the bike, I have passed it to her a an investment for her future, she cant wait to ride it, but in the mean time Dad gets to have fun.

The 82 MHR is a restoration after I purchased the bike in a very sad and depleted state. I have sourced parts from all over the world (Kudos to Mdina Italia here for great service) to ensure I have returned her to her full glory. The front suspension is a set of 38mm M1R Marzocchi's that Gowanlochs imported for a limited period back in the early 80's, other than that the bike is a pleasure to both look at and ride. I owned one in the mid Eighties and just had to have another, when I found this one (and apparently many had looked at it , but it was "too big a task") then I had to have it and I am really happy with the outcome, I still need to locate a couple of small detail parts to completely appease the concourse judge set, (and I will), but its a treat to have and ride.

Please enjoy (as I do!)

Regards,
Grant Medlock

Beautifully restored SS, he replaced the wheels with wires
as it originally came with the dreaded Speedlines!!

excellent SS Built in 1993 from new parts, some changes include: longer tank,
German electrics, rear brake calliper upside down, up rated suspension.

Just in case anyone fancies having a go with parts availability now possibly
better than it was in the 90s it's still perfectly feasible to replicate
this or a 75 style wire wheel SS if you have an SD or 860 donor bike.

Pictured at the Italian Auto/Moto festival held in the St.Nicholas Market
area of Bristol, looks like Bologna to me!

Fantastic SS from Switzerland, and look at the scenery too! No doubt it runs like a Swiss Watch.

Roger Donnans 900SS
restoration work in progress shots and a picture of how he bought it from us last year with a blown motor,
looking forward to the end results.

These are the latest pic's of my 750ss, I now hope to have it on the road by the end of march !
Watch this space !

Rob Deans MHR bought back to life by him and now being ridden and enjoyed by him too.

Steve Gould from the west countrys beutifully restored Mille, one of very
few here in the U.K

Bill Hughes lovely racer conversion, and the 860 as it was when he bought it from us last spring.

Richard Jones really had his work cut out when he bought this project back
in 99, well done Richard, it's lovely.

Hi John
Here are three pics of the Laverda you sold me back in '99. Although it still looks a little rough around the edges, it's evolved into something of a road weapon. The bike now sports shortened forks with Racetech cartridge valve emulators, Nissin 14mm master cylinder, Suzuki GSXR1100 switchgear, forged Jota pistons, IIS ignition with 250W alternator and Fireblade coils, left
hand gearchange conversion (with rearsets) and Falcon alloy shocks. Interestingly enough, I have not had to do anything to the bottom end of the engine, despite the abuse it clearly suffered in Spain. It goes beautifully, and handles far better than a 70s lump has any right to. Many thanks for selling me a brilliant bike.

Cheers

built this lovely GT up from spares, the motor came from me when I was living in Spain, though I got it from the U.K, went to Texas and was then sold on to Mike in Canada. Long way round but it ended up in a good home

Here are some photos of the 1978 900SS I bought in 1984. The motor has been rebuilt by Fast By Ferracci with several modifications, including pistons designed by Ferracci, Mikuni carburettors, reworked valves with modern valve seals, etc.... I replaced the original Speedline magnesium wheels with your wire wheels, and have the Speedlines mounted on the garage wall. The paint, decals, etc is original and un-restored. Bike is maintained and tuned by Ferracci.

Two of Nick Marshalls excellent restorations, the 250's a genuine Desmo and the 750 started life as a GT

Nicks latest project, I tried to save him from himself but some people are beyond help, watch out here for the results.

This is his excellent 75 replica built from a very tired (I know I sold it to him)78 model

This is from Scott of Scotland, the picture says it all about his beautiful 750SS,

Rob Lawtons excellent Jota, bought from us in 1994,(we imported it from Spain) restored and rebuilt by Rob several times since and it's still his main bike.
Really nice to see it still being enjoyed Rob.

very well used 860, this is what he says about it:

I got it in '81 I think ... it was in a breakers, looking very sad. I was just a kid at college .. but for £400 it was mine. I was the coolest
kid in the class then :) Its had a few mods, Verlicchi 2:1 system (silentiums rotted out long ago), Lucas Rita, micron fork brace, SS crank, Mahle pistons, numerous rebuilds and re-shims of the box which is now mostly 3 dog gears, crap respray (must get that sorted out) . I've had it pretty much on the road since then, commuted on it, toured on it, even went on honeymoon to Switzerland and Italy on it ... its been quite reliable, but not ridden much in the last 5 years. Just got the bug to put it "right" now and enjoy the sound of rolling thunder this summer :-)

excellent collection, Giro 2006 pics coming soon, and yes he's doing it on his real Duc!!

"Quote" Its a nice old thing to ride, comfy , goes well enough to be useable but old enough to be interesting (and free road tax and cheap insurance!).. mechanical side pretty much sorted, I'm thinking of getting it repainted this winter, especially as I don't like the chrome mudguards...

and his immaculate pair of Ducs, the SS he's just finished a ground up restoration of, the before pictures are how he bought it from me last summer.
Excellent Karl, and it does seem to be on the road before mine!!!

October 1973 vintage. 750 Sport
Mods include 40mm Carbs, Twin plugs, large valves and Mez Porting. Gives a great midrange.

Peter. Australia
A lovely restored 750S from down under, now with amongst other mods, V2
internals and 864cc with Desmo heads.

Paul's 860 special, it's been almost as slow coming as my own SS, though not quite!!, Truly excellent result though.

Kevin Bakers Darmah
which he's owned from new (1984) now done 59,000 miles,
engine rebuilt at about 50,000, other than that unrestored and just used.

Bob Savory'
lovely 1980 900SD 30000 miles, engine still has original seal and she runs like a goodun.

Andrew Nahum
Excellent 750SS on a trip from London to Scotland, great
to see it being used Andrew!!

Richo from Tasmanias Raspberry tart
Loads of money, blood, sweat, tears have gone into Richos early GT, with fantastic results!!!
Just needs the early L shaped kick start lever to finish it off, anyone got one??

This is Pat Harr from Tasmania, excellent 750 racer, he reckons it's cost
him the price of a small Caribbean island, but I reckon it was worth it Pat.
He built it himself, exhaust pipes, tank all bodywork in carbon fibre
vacuum bagged, footrests and levers, built the engine with Vee Two internals
,lightened gearbox, crank. Verlicchi frame, and it now has mag triple clamps
and fantana mag calipers, and now its about to have some nice new custom built
Maxton rear shockies
runs 42.5 Malossi on 98% Methanol.

And after a 3 year restoration.....his beautiful 750S covered 4000Kms last year, 2500 of them at the Giro