North Weald Drag strip, run what you brung

Our last attempt to run the finished GSXR1100M at North Weald Run What You Brung (RWYB) was a bit of a washout as it rained. The track was really wet and although it stopped raining as the cars hadn't had much time on the track there wasn't any rubber laid down on the surface which really didn't help the bikes get any traction.

So tomorrow is another North Weald RWYB lets hope the weather holds out. These days are great fun and only £10 for spectators, lots of interesting cars, bikes and vans etc
 

GSXR 1100M Drag bike project Part 2

Making progress with a customers Suzuki GSXR 1100M which he want converted to a drags bike. Fairing off in the first picture, engine serviced, carbs on the bench and now waiting the rebuild kit.

2nd picture - pipes off with new Akrapovic pipe in 3rd picture. That's about 1/4 of the weight of the original twin can set up(4th picture)! An easy way to save a lot of Ks and improve performance - as long as you sort out the carbs and then Dyno it of course!

1970's Yamaha XS650 Chop Ebay Project

Interesting one this. Customer bought this L reg 1972 Yamaha XS650 off Ebay, was running but filled the road with smoke - looked like the workshop was on fire again! The frame was chopped in the  1970s. Plan for this is a general tidy up, custom banana seat, rebuild the engine with a big bore (750cc) kit, RamAir filters and Mikuni Smooth Bore carbs. I'll let the customer ride it - he'll probably want to sort the suspension and brakes then!

GSXR 1100M Drag bike project Part 1

Customers 1992 Suzuki GSXR 1100M in for conversion to a drag bike. These are solid engines and despite it's age should be good for mid 10s on the drag strip once sorted, low 10s when the owner has got used to it. Plan will be to lengthen and lower (slam it), carb rebuild with Stage 3 Dynojet kit, twin oval K & Ns, full Akraprovic exhaust system, strip any excess weight, then off to the Dyno for testing. Will remain normally aspirated but should be good for 140 bhp at the back wheel.

I've been really busy get the new work shop fully opened up, MOT bay now fully functional and we've been very busy so the blogs haven't been updated for a while. I'll update the other projects shortly :)

North Weald Run What You Brung (RWYB) Drag meet 8th May 2016

My 1st North Weald RWYB meet of the year. First meet of the season so first chance to give my GSXR 1000K4 a few runs this season. Started the morning slowly, disappointing 10s. I think I was just a bit rusty and the track was cold. After lunch the track was a little warmer and the cars had laid down a load of rubber (more traction) so I blitzed it bagging 1st in the eliminators with best time of 9.72s.

Up against a few GSXRs, the pictures below show mine 1st (mine K4) and a couple of old GSXR11s which bagged 2nd and 3rd. I think only one of them was on the nitrous that day.  

GT550 2 Stroke Triple Cafe Racer Project

This is one of our current project it's a Suzuki GT550 J 1972 two stroke triple yep two stroke triple! American import from California.
So far i have cleaned and set up the carbs (i had to replace one as it was totally coroded and unsavable ) i fitted a piranha ignition, a new set of plugs and caps . Five kicks and it fired up . it sounds ok for a 43 year old motor . Now all i need is a 600 bandit front end and an SV650 rear wheel and swing arm as the 1970,s brakes and tyres are a bit suspect .

Updates to follow...........

Well I changed my mind about the front end and we've got a GSXR 100K1 front end rather than the Bandit which had been the original plan. Frame needs some bracing now and then custom built single sided swinging arm next. Great engine and it'll handle too.

Honda CX meet at The Ace Cafe

honda Cx650 turbo

I dropped by the Ace Cafe on 23rd Feb for the CX owners club meet. I spent years working at Chas Bikes when these were the dispatches ride of choice. I also owned a lovely CX650 turbo a few years ago (in the picture). Great bikes - often misunderstood.

New Workshop now open in Greenwich SE10

So I'm finally up and running in the new workshop, back on the site of my original workshop in SE10 which spectacularly went up in flames. Still have some work to do to get the MOT bay up and running, just electrics really. Work benches are in and the kitchen and loo now have running water. The boys from Trimoto, ABE and MME are also up and running too.

I need to thank everyone who has supported me over the last 22 months whilst we tried to rebuild. It hasn't been easy.

It feels really good to be back in SE10, I think about 5,000 more people live with-in a ten minute walk of the workshop now compared with May 2014 (hopefully some of them have motorbikes too). The amount of development and building work taking place in and around Greenwich is quite incredible and Ikea are moving in to! Shame they're knocking down the eco friendly sustainable Sainsbury's supermarket less than 17 years after it was built to do it - not sure it was particularly sustainable after all!

Meantime Brewery has also extended their brewery and have a visitor centre too. Building work has also started on a hotel next to the Blackwall Tunnel approach which prevents our workshop being seen from the road. However the developer has run out of money and left it half finished.

GSXR 1000 K4 Drag bike

Not enough BHP yet! Standard motor.

Sadly my GSX 1100 EFE drag bike that I had owned for 22 years melted in the fire, this GSXR 1000 K4 is my current drag bike. The almost standard engine needs working on and I'll be blogging about it as it develops.