Rory's US Air-Tech YZR fairing on Canadian FI Build Thread.

[hondaror]

Purchased a billet Banshee intake for 34mm carbs today. That should take care of one set of Lectrons. If I like the way it works, I'll get a second.

Cleaned up a large space in the garage. Built a large bench, and hid 3 car engines under it. Now have 7 RZ and RD LC engines on top. Starting to go through all the parts.

[hondaror]

Hey guys, did I mention that I bought a '99 RM250 back in February?

A couple of nights ago I purchased my CMA race licence.

RM250, race licence?!

I must be planning to go racing. Motocross? Surely not at the tender age of 54?! I have not raced since Oct of 1988. Yes, last century. A week before marrying my first wife.
Well, I'm currently working in a BMW motorrad shop, while I wait to return to work at Universal Cycle. A co worker returned this week from the Stateline races in Nevada. Stateline races? Supermotard? Hey, that might be fun to try!!! Even at my advanced age. Should be easy enough to twist the throttle, but I hope the body helps me keep up.
I've sourced some gixxer wheels, and I have a ton of work to do. Going to the races will hopefully get Grumpy Lui Racing and AirTECH some exposure.

[RuZty]

Sounds like you are are having plenty of fun after your long struggle, I enjoy your stories. Don't hold yourself back, but one thing I have found that has improved tremendously with age is my nervous systems ability to transmit pain. And unlike most people I seem to talk to these days I am actually a bit younger than you. Carry on, and take care.

[hondaror]

Thanks Russ, I will.
Fun is a very subjective term. Hell, I have fun every day!
Pain, now that's not so fun. Everyone says the older you get the slower you heal. I guess I might learn that lesson the hard way. Oh, at my age, I feel pain every day, just getting out of bed and listening to my feet crack and snap as I venture into the kitchen or bathroom.
I do know, to have fun on a bike you have to ride it. I also know, that if you ride a motorcycle, you eventually fall off. If you race a motorcycle, you don't get faster unless you exceed your limits and comfort zone. When you exceed your limits, it often terminates with a crash. These are the risks we take in order to enjoy the act of riding. This crash event, can also produce injury, and/or death. Hell, we risk death every day that we live! The preverbial chicken crossing the street. Getting hit by a bus. I make my living working on motorcycles, I ride motorcycles as a means of entertainment, and transportation. I want to race motorcycles again, because, as I write this, I appear to still be healthy and capable, and I have not had the pleasure and fear of the first corner of a race for a very long time. Having said all that, after I crash again and survive, if that's what the good Lord has in mind for me, ask me then if I want to race anymore. Like Barry Sheene might have said, if I can safely operate a machine, the answer will likely be yes.

[hondaror]

Here is my mocked up RZ with the fibreglass tank.



This is the new bike build.









I've cut off about 4 lbs of tabs, and had to weld a tab on for the oil tank. Close inspection revealed a crack in the cradle of the frame. A little prep grinding, produced a hole on the side stand side. Very common. Water gathers on the low side. Welded the hole up. Getting ready to paint and start building.

[hondaror]

Had a few setbacks. Sold a car, and the buyers backed out. Bummer! Broke a molar yesterday, so not in the mood to work through the pain until I get it fixed. Steve, Off Road needs some welding done, gonna try and get that done for him in the next couple of days. Molar to be fixed Monday, and the hopefully some progress next week. Pics will follow.

[hondaror]

Well, Steve brought his bike over and I welded up a tab that he needed repaired. Got a little work of my own done.











Well, managed to get the frame painted, started the tank and body work but am having all kinds of issues with the paint. Running, contamination, going on too thick. Even with days between, it's peeling when I lift the masking tape. Prep, prep, prep. I know. The weather has been all over the place the last week. I'm sure that that is a big part of it. Never had so many problems putting paint down. It's just going to take more time to repair the issues. Showed the shotty work to give you guys an idea of what I'm doing. I'm working hard at it after work. I'll keep posting as I go.



The swing arm is a real treat!

[wolfman]

I feel your pain Rory, when shooting and it's going wrong, there just no saving it.
Sometimes it's best to step away a bit and start new.
That's probably why it takes me forever to finish anything.

[hondaror]

I'm just letting the paint set up, and then I'll block sand all the imperfections, and spray again. It's a time thing. Eats too much time when you're in a bit of a rush.

Good news: I sold the '74 2002. Today. It was picked up and I have more space in my garage for the motorcycles.











The car is gone, and it's time to get the test bike on the road and looking decent.

[kpke]

Space for motorcycles???

There's always the living room, dining room, etc.

[hondaror]

Lol, I've kept bikes in the house. I think every racer has at one point or another. My garage is heated so they don't have to go in the house...oh, and none of my bikes look like those. The ones I keep will be used often. For street riding and racing. It's too bad so many collect just to put on display. What a waste!




Here is yesterday's progress on the crusty swing arm. Today I purchased steering head bearings for install tomorrow. Want to get the triple clamps on the frame...then start the build with a swinger and forks.

This thread has been around for quite a while, and I'm now so happy to be posting progress on a regular basis. Hopefully, this will continue.

[kpke]

Nice job on the swingarm. What finish is that? It looks shiny. It's great to see forward progress.


The dude that owns all of those race bikes still rides many of them. They all have some sort of historical significance in regard to racing prowess. He and his wife both still race. He is on some sort of vintage racing circuit and rides TZ750’s (can't remember how many of these he has, 8?) at IOM and Phillip Island, etc.

Why don't you swing on by and we can drop by his house for a tour?

Lots of info on the www. From 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liNKa-XMlkg

See you later friend.

[hondaror]

Not a waste then is it?! I think I'll take you up on swinging by and dropping in to visit him and her. We'll bring a couple of RZs to ride, in the van. I'd like Bryan Turfrey to build me some pipes and I know he's relatively close.

Nice link Ken. What a wonkie tach. He's not riding it very hard. It's all about the vintage bikes, I know.

The swing arm is an aluminum coloured Rust paint. I was shocked by it's brilliance.

[hondaror]

I did the steering head bearings today and mounted the triples. I was going to mount up the front end until I discovered that the fork tubes are slightly bent. I still have options to keep this build going. I also discovered that I don't have a decent set of black wheels with good tires. I'm going to paint a set of the black rims I do have, to freshen them up and then mount some decent rubber off another set. Lots of work to do.

[evan_calgary]

Rory, I have some spare fork chrome legs if that is what is bent.