Should have known better..... And non VFR bike's updates

[keny]

Well, time goes on, still dont have a VFR but after haveing to sell a lovely Africa Twin fall/autum 2021 becouse sudden payments came around the corner (read divorce early same year)

a few pics of the Africa Twin 750, model 95

 

So wanted a same kinda bike in spring 2022, so buoght a old cheap Transalp 600, 87 model, that a passed away fathers son sold, father had owned it for almost 15 years...

It was tatty, but didn´t care of looks, it did run good, so planed to just ride it the summer or 2 and pass on as I have funds for a other Africa Twin.......

 

It had a few issues, forks where leaking, front brake was weak from the fork oil that had com on brake pads as disc.... small fixes I tought.....

Got myself new brake pads as fork seals, but it needed more that just brake pads

Belive it or not, the pistons in that calipper moved freely!

 

To order more parts.....

[keny]

I hapen to have old good brake discs from my old 1986 VFR750F, that happen to be the same!

But needed a rebuil kit for the calipper whit pistons, Ebay my friend again. New VS old

Installed

 

As I ahd front wheel off I decided to change the worn out front tire, had a better arround... but new problems accured even the rim looked good from outside

Not so good in inside.... But again found a better on Ebay

Much better

Better wheel whit fresher tire as better brake disc as new wheel bearings ballanced.

 

So after this and a oil change, new air filter as spark plugs I was on the road again..

 

...untill the rear suspension sized! The linkage sized.....could not get that bolt out...

so did take hole swingarm out, and as it was in really bad state, I decided to replace it as linkage to shock whit a better second hand one...Ebay my friend again

Old nasty one

The "new" old one instelled, much better!

But as rear wheel was of, inspected brake, and the shoes where shoot, so much the old owner had moved level one splince to have brakes!

New vs old

 

and I did ride on a time again

[keny]

Then the leaking exhaust started bugging me, the silencer/muffler was shoot, headders rotten.... but foud better onec for ok money

The bike had also some cracked plasting and found cheap ha front fender, headlight plastic as other plastic bettwen that as tank in white, so bike becam 2 colored

 

Former bike owner was sur ea man that didn+t do anything unless needed, Brake level pull was steppy becos never lubed, as clutch, and the bad clutch cabel was not replaced, a pull back spring had been added as a odd button the shotcut the neutral light instead of replacing the bad neurtal light sensor....

 

By now I had also removed the crash bars that cam on the bike, 2 fastners didn´t fit properly so proberly for a other year Transalp? Might put them back one day...

 

 

 

[keny]

So then I noticed a bad thing more

The rear rim had cancer as well...

 

and also noticed the front sprocked started to snap on the splince of outcoming front sprocket axle..... bummer

 

did I mention I also did put a new chain on, the old was cracked, even sprockets like new, been standing outside?

 

Anyway at this point I parked the bike, last week I started it up, did start after all the standing! Amazing engine!

 

So I have scored a better rear wheel, got a sollution for the front sprocket problem aside splitting engine, a spechal front sprocket!

 

But now I´m moving to a other city as house, so will be a time untill have time to work on this Transalp. It has moved to my bigger garage already whit my other bikes, the last 2 in the row is a friends bikes thro that I slowly try to make runners thro......

A pic from last summer whit my plated bikes

 

So I have spent way more money on the Transalp I would have liked, but frankly I like the bike, even a ugly tatty old bike, very much!

So I migth just keep it and ride on, I have things to sort still like I mentioned, and have a nice header as small stuff to change, clutch still a bit odd feeling so might need some attention still..... as I move where I live will ride less offroad more on road, some gravel so likely like to get more road focused tires? we have to see what time as money allow

To be continued.....

[Dutchy]

A labour of love....  

 

 

[TimC]

That is both a scary and impressive amount of work for a bike I'm sure you didn't think you'd have to put that much into before you get another Africa Twin.  Kudos to you for all that work and finding parts as cheaply as possible!  👍

[keny]

16 hours ago, TimC said:

That is both a scary and impressive amount of work for a bike I'm sure you didn't think you'd have to put that much into before you get another Africa Twin.  Kudos to you for all that work and finding parts as cheaply as possible!  👍

Thanks!

 

Yes, way more effort was needed indeed, noe I have com to a point where I wounder is it wort to just love the Transalp a bit more and forget abaout a Africa Twin..... You get these nowdays to make for a Africa Twin look. https://www.perfect-fairings.com/product/honda-xl-600v-transalp-dual-headlight-front-fairing/  ... but you need to find headlights as faring bracket of a Aftica Twin first thro....can be hard 

[keny]

Well been busy to move to a other city. Still need to get much stuff in there right place before continue to work on the Transalp, and other bikes as well to be ready for season.

I have order a new tire for the Transalp for the rear, it has a only 2,5 wide rim, and oem size on the first editions are 130/80 that are a bit to wide for that rim nowdays, so ordered a 120/90 that later Transalps have.

 

Also the FJ1200, a 1990 year model, still needs some TLC, buogth that as a non runner some years back. Had the carbs overhauled but still needs new diagrams. Still did a short trip to Sweden last August whit it, to Gotland iland, by ferry there of cuorse, The Transalp would have been better for that trip, but was still not complet then, so opted for the FJ, but had issues during the trip, like no idle as the diagrams did go shoot, as having to brake down engine rpm at times by rear brake.... 

 

Then also the other fork seal blew during the trip....

And did a first aid to not get to much oil on the brakes

 

Was a shame the bike had the issues, as Gotland has a race track, the Gotlandring, and did visit to see where it was, but even you could enter for a lap that day opted to not as the bike had the issues it had.

 

Safe on the ferry, and dirty from the limestone dust....

The clean again a few days later, after that it was taken of the road to wait for the comming repairs.

I have the new, rather expensive, diagrams, the fork seals, and just ordered a rebuil kit for the oem front brake M/C, already have one for the clutch M/C as slave. I did put on M/Cs from a 1990 CBR1000F (that I did brake down to parts) as the oem's did need rebuild to make the bike rideable, but want to test the orginals. they are 16mm ones, the honda are 14mm ones but work well actually!

 

[bmart]

Lovely. My FJs were always a pleasure to ride. 

[keny]

The work on the Transalp slowly go on, some new small stuff, handelbar change/paint as mirror make-up. Then next clutch cover off to find reason for why clutch release point change as you hold in clutch lever a while

[keny]

And while Transalp waiting for more parts, a ride whit my TRX850 on now local roads, in fact twisty roads starts ~800 meters from my current home!

[bmart]

I'm green with envy. Always wanted one of those. 

[Dutchy]

As for a V35...  you should know better.........   🙂

[keny]

Well I sure hope I know better now, buoght a bike I consider a find.

1992 Honda CBR600 F, bike is issued in spring 1993, has had 2 owners before me, second of them has had it for 29 years! It has 41k kms, tires need replacement thro as they are Dunlop D220 from 2004/2006 that has tread like new. Bike is like new, runs great. Did testride it before the buy.

I didn't get the bike home until today through, reason is I had nothing to bring it home as I did go to see it and after that I had a wrist operation, left hand this time, so no bike ride for me in a while, but a friend was kind enough to ride it home for me.

Here on a stop on way home

Finally in my garage and wait for me to ride it! Well fresh tires first. The oil you see next to front wheel is from the FJ fork leg, it been moved closer to wall so the CBR fits in. Will take the oil from there as I can, the CBR front tire will be charged before a ride so no worry's.

 

[bmart]

Nice taste in bikes...all of them!

[Captain 80s]

Love it!

[keny]

As I have my hand like this

It's just to wait, but you can take a few pics of the CBR to show it's great condition

I think it's stunning condition myself, like new!

[Wald]

It looks like it just came out of a time capsule! Sweet! 

What is the deal with your hand?

[keny]

3 hours ago, Wald said:

It looks like it just came out of a time capsule! Sweet! 

What is the deal with your hand?

Thanks, think so to.

My hand, well the dog, that is fast as muskular did see something behind me, it's rem over my shoulder and snapped my wrist, so a legiment reconstruction as a mislocated bone back to place in a operation that lasted 103 minutes.... Cast as stitches goes off next Wednesday, then a lighter cast for a while until fysical treatment starts mid July...

[Wald]

Wow, that is a serious dog offense. I thought it was bad when my wife fell on her face (she had a black and blue face for 2 weeks) when her dog ran after another dog.

I bet you are burning to ride the new bike! I wish you speedy recovery!

[keny]

Well I got the stitches off and a new removable cast

 

After this I did get a few bits for the Transalp

New brake as clutch level's, clutch priviot hole was oval as brake slightly bent on the onec on the bike. For turn signals you see reason in next picture

 

Also I have fresh tires for the CBR600 now waiting to be installed when I can

Not a matching pair but hope they will work together ok

[bmart]

That's a sad blinker. Heal quickly!

[keny]

Well, I slowly can do something, as pealing off the old clutch gasket.

Still alot left, slowly slowly......

 

Don't know if I informed what I think is reason the clutch bite point differs when you hold the clutch lever in for a while, well I think it's because the bearing, that the clutch relief level on clutch cover bush on, thro a spacer, doesn't rotate all time and has eaten material of the holder of the bearing. At least the bearing was totally loose in holder, so a few new bits, new bearing, holder, spacer as the relief level as its spring (not in picture)

Waiting for mounting as I get old gasket off as the clutch cover bolt that former owner has broken 

[keny]

So as I'm still 1½ handed, perhaps 1¼ handed don't stop me to work on bikes, at least when I can help a little whit the one getting better.

So today wheels of the CBR600F as read of the TRX850.

So tomorrow I head to a friend to get the rubber changed

Some might wounder why the TRX850 rear wheel to.... 

[bmart]

We'll need some TRX riding video with audio...please.