Everyday TR1 - half a year in a single post

As a matter of fact, it's a pretty good sign, given the reliability of my other vehicles, if all major stuff with a bike and it's maintenance can be compressed into a single post. 

In fact only two things had to be done: First the K&N airfilter needed a good cleaning and oiling.

And secondly some time in September starting the old girl became significantly harder. Turns out that the roughly 41 year old regulator-rectifier was slowly dieing. Luckily this was roughly at the same time as when the electrics on the Dre-XT-Stück played up so I went through my stash and had found two new aftermarket regulators. Only thing with these (and even the stock one for that matter) is that the cable coming from it, is very short and thus the plug sits UNDER the engine, where it is prone to getting wet. Add about 15cm and the plug can sit behind the battery, not only keeping it dry, but also making frame separation much easier. 

Thanks to a friendly TR1-forum member I got hold of a set of (like) new steering head spoilers, after the original ones had reached the point where most of it was various kinds of glue...

Finally a new set of Superbike bars as they are commonly referred to instead of the Dragbars I had on it before were put on. Mainly as I discovered that, when riding short distances they were absolutely awesome, but sit in the saddle for three or four hours and my wrists and shoulders would let me know, what their opinion on these bars were.

As the Everyday TR1 is currently the only bike in my stable with less than two catastrophic engine failures (yes, the bar is truly that low this year), I haven't tried out the hot cams that have been sitting on the shelf for almost ten months for fear that piston to valve clearance wouldn't be sufficient at high rpms and quite frankly, as much as I have a severe crave for speed, I do need at least one bike that runs. That being said, the XT is running fine now... so might be about time to take some chances, eh?

Lost Places - Tankstelle Michaelnbach

Imagine, work just stopped one day ten or fifteen years ago and that's it. You dropped your tools in the workshop, expecting to be back there tomorrow...except you didn't. 

Normal malarkey will be resumed later this week or next week, as there's plenty to do. Also when was the last time you saw a Mk.1 Fiat Punto convertible?

Dre-XT-Stueck - the re-Dre-XT-Stueckening (pt. 6)

I guess the next step was pretty obvious - grease up the alternator gasket and put the cover back on and call it a day. Pretty much what I've done to be honest.

Pretty much, because actually the chain guard on the swingarm is more than due for replacement as well. As a matter of fact only the yellow bit, which is visible in this picture still exists. The thing I didn't know: it's swingarm (or engine) out to do the job.

... quite frankly, I was having none of that this time.

As a matter of fact, there's a few things in the cards for this engine and bike - consider it a bit of an outlook over the Winter months: 

• the engine or the swingarm will come out once more and the chain slider will be fitted
  
• the 1VJ head will be overhauled and (most likely) be installed on this engine
• I already have all the materials for a pannier rack.

But mostly the old girl will be used as intended: as a lovely commuter and once the situation allows, she'll be put to good use to take me those far-away places. Because legally she's a Tenere 55W now and you know, there's this one grocery store that sells frozen peas like no other... 

The XS Triple Sidecar - it's been a bit quiet...

 ... and that''s not a bad thing. With the old Dre-XT-Stück in bits and the TR1 running flawlessly (*knocking on wood*) had a very simple job as being a reliable parts and all-sorts-of-stuff-hauler for me. Obviously this does not make for very exciting blog posts. 

So the biggest tasks of all of Summer, where to pass the annual roadworthyness inspection and for that get a "new" i.e. vintage Pirelli Gordon for the front, which I will probably only have to take off at some point, because the rubber cracks as it is about as hard as well seasoned wood.

If anything at all, it was smaller jobs, like swapping the bolts on the tail-light for decent allen-key hardware and fixing up the connection inside the Guzzi V7 taillight as they were a bit erratic at best.

One of the things I tried out this Summer, was to turn down brake disks on my lathe. With an RCX-insert, I had to face some vibration issues, but in hindsight, these might have been the ticket for the pads biting into those disks, like it's going out of fashion now. 

And for the upcoming Winter, I will simply assume it'll be as mild as the last one, I've put on a set of used Michelin Anakees for the mostly wet (and sometimes slushy) weather. 

Remember the hole on the top of my throttle housing? Well originally on a DR600 it would have been a drain hole. Now that it's facing up, it's a brilliant point for oiling the cables.

Lastly, here's a little treat to myself: I always wanted to try a proper Avon Sidecar tyre and find out myself, whether it would actually be worth it to buy one new. Well this is a "well seasoned" one from 2013, which I plan to put on next year.

At this point, I have to make a confession and admit that earlier this week, I nearly bought a Guzzi as a new tug for the sidecar. 😱 Due to some worries with the paperwork, I decided against it and made a list of stuff I want to fix either before Winter comes or in Spring:

• sidecar wheel axle - now that I don't run a sidecar brake anymore it's unnecessarily long and as my swingarm is a bit bent, a completely new unit is the smart move in my book
  
• replace the sidecar shock - have to find one from a Suzuki GS750/1000/GSX1100E
  
• work out some sort of airbox for the carbs, at WOT the engine's induction noise is deafening (the exhaust really isn't too bad)
• take care of the tinwork on the sidecar - at the moment it's just some edge/surface rust, but it will turn into A LOT more work quickly, if not taken care of
• fit the shorter final drive off a XS1100 - by now I have enough horsepower to use the 5th gear on level ground (and get the old girl to go a lot faster than the legal speed-limit on the Autobahn), but it would be nice to be able to use it all the time. Same goes for a shorter first, the engine has got some grunt down low, but in a sidecar more is more better. 

And then there's a second engine sitting in the workshop, which will get done some time in 2021 as the current one is an impressive fighter, but should have been done ages ago. 

Been out to the Sölkpass SR/XT meeting

... and my dad and my humble self did more km on the XTs in a single rideout than he did in the entire last year.

Now there's a distinct reason, why my dad's XT is called "the pretty one" and mine's called "Dre-XT-Stück".

A few corners before reaching Pyhrn-Pass.

If it's called "Kirchenwirt", it's only stereotypical that the local church official has got his own reserved parking spot.

The meeting itself is rather small and at the end of gravel-track (hence us riding on the ol' XTs), but the turnout was good and a lot of old friends have been met.

Even though not quite an SR/XT 500, that BSA B31 was probably the sexiest bike at the meeting (at least in my opinion. Even though my dad heavily drooled over the endearingly well-used Guzzi LM4.

We only paid a short visit to the actual bike rally as there was another action item that had to be tackled. On top of the Hengstpass is a little hut, which amongst other things sells some rather delicious Kaiserschmarrn. (Sort of a sweet omelette served with homemade fruit-jam)

Unfortunately on the way home at an intersection we had a bit of a misunderstanding that caused a bit of bent metal, a broken mirror and some bruises.

But as we had some discussion, why the performance of the pretty one was somewhat lacking a bit compared to the Dre-XT-Stück, I dug out a well perforated airbox-lid. As I suspected, the old girl was running rich in all places and that extra bit of air made her very, very lively.

So lively in fact, that I decided that the old Dre-XT-Stück will eventually get the same treatment, especially as she's awaiting a 600 engine transplant some time later this year.

Just ride.

Normal services will be resumed next week, when the weather is less nice.

Just ride.

Currently busy as F... with mostly non-bike-building-related things.

Normal operations will resume soon.