On November 2nd, the "Hill Country Motorheads M/C museum" will hold it's annual Revival Bike Show, and I'll be taking 8 of my finest classic bikes (and 1 more modern one) to show. For anyone interested in attending, it is to be held in Burnet, Texas, and you'd be welcome to sleep over at my ranch 15 minutes away, PM to reserve a spot.
For purposes of this being a Triumph forum, I'll share what's up with the Triumphs that I'm taking.
Bike 1 is my 65/66/67/68/69/70 Triumph Bitsa Bonneville 650 race bike that I scratch built in 2007 as my 50th birthday present to myself, to go vintage roadracing. I've told the story here, so I'll just say that it served me well for 33 races over 3 seasons, plus a record-setting run at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Since 2010 when it last raced, it has only been ridden a few miles, without a title or plate! I've sorted the title recently, but not ready to plate it till after the show "in race trim".
Meanwhile, I gave it a "minimum effort" attempt at start-up (gas and a battery) and it rewarded me with a very sore right leg (the one with the plate and screws on the Fibula). It did "fire" and sputter. So, I did what I've been putting off for a long time - mated my racing starter rollers to a dolly, and a deep-cycle battery.
It's so nice how easy it is to start a sleepy old bike with this rig!
I did have to separate all the clutch plates and change the oil...
It fired up straight away, and I had it out for a quick romp up to 70MPH without breathing hard. When I returned to the hangar, it was flooding fuel on the left side!
Oops! i forgot to tighten the tap fitting...
A nice bath was SORELY needed...
NOW it looks presentable!
For purposes of this being a Triumph forum, I'll share what's up with the Triumphs that I'm taking.
Bike 1 is my 65/66/67/68/69/70 Triumph Bitsa Bonneville 650 race bike that I scratch built in 2007 as my 50th birthday present to myself, to go vintage roadracing. I've told the story here, so I'll just say that it served me well for 33 races over 3 seasons, plus a record-setting run at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Since 2010 when it last raced, it has only been ridden a few miles, without a title or plate! I've sorted the title recently, but not ready to plate it till after the show "in race trim".
Meanwhile, I gave it a "minimum effort" attempt at start-up (gas and a battery) and it rewarded me with a very sore right leg (the one with the plate and screws on the Fibula). It did "fire" and sputter. So, I did what I've been putting off for a long time - mated my racing starter rollers to a dolly, and a deep-cycle battery.
It's so nice how easy it is to start a sleepy old bike with this rig!
I did have to separate all the clutch plates and change the oil...
It fired up straight away, and I had it out for a quick romp up to 70MPH without breathing hard. When I returned to the hangar, it was flooding fuel on the left side!
Oops! i forgot to tighten the tap fitting...
A nice bath was SORELY needed...
NOW it looks presentable!