Back with a M900 series I

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by Darkness

Looking good.

That now looks a lot more like my '93.

'

I'm planning on taking mine for blast cleaning and a primer layer of powder coat on Friday.

[Albie]

Its moving back along well now.

[Albie]

[Rally]

It's looking good mate, coming together really well now. So when are you hoping to finish it?

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Rally

It's looking good mate, coming together really well now. So when are you hoping to finish it?

For next spring is important but before that hopefully this end of summer for next year weekender

[slob]

Your usual attention to detail! looks bloody great Albie.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by slob

Your usual attention to detail! looks bloody great Albie.

That sir means a lot
Just like having a new bike again. Boring maybe but a pleasure to some I know it won't be perfect as missing some unobtainable exhausts but you never know and maybe some termis will suffice

[NattyBoy]

The devils in the detail mate. Superb.

looks better than new

[Darren69]

Now that frame colour looks spot on to me. Perhaps now when I tell people that gold powdercoat ltends to look brown they will listen, but tbh yours wasn't that bad but still not right. Looks amazing now though.

Although I still can't understand your desire to re-use the original fasteners, replated. In the name of originality. They were crap the first time round!

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Darren69

Now that frame colour looks spot on to me. Perhaps now when I tell people that gold powdercoat ltends to look brown they will listen, but tbh yours wasn't that bad but still not right. Looks amazing now though.

Although I still can't understand your desire to re-use the original fasteners, replated. In the name of originality. They were crap the first time round!

My fasteners to be fair were all very good condition as to why they cleaned up well. Often they get abused by peeps using poor fitting allen keys or lack of grease of cleaning. Almost every bolt undid and were greased.

There are various reasons to reuse.
Originality
No pennies to pay out for stainless and then not correct length or too much thread just bolts gathered in a pot make of them what you will seller. Plating is very reasonable and good if you know the right people.
Restorations come in many types.
Original as in painted parts and patina just kept roadworthy and serviceable (my TT500 )

Full nut and bolt restoration using original parts supplied by manufacturer as factory intended ( me )and making it good as new as far as parts are available

Restoration of a tatty or decent vehicle to a high standard preserving it from being unroadworthy using parts of any make and paint finishes as desired

Custom as in making something better or the same or even lesser making the vehicle unique and being roadworthy with less parts or better parts than as fitted as standard.

[Darren69]

Yes, I think with hindsight 'I don't understand' is too strong. I fully appreciate what you're doing to this bike, in making it 'factory fresh'. For me personally I would take the rebuild as an opportunity to 'improve' and make it better both aesthetically and performance wise rather than just to 'restore it'. But I know only too well how quickly that can get out of hand and budget!

The correct bolts can of course be sourced, as you know but its a case of knowing exactly what you want spec wise and 'screws vs bolts' and can be time consuming etc.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Darren69

Yes, I think with hindsight 'I don't understand' is too strong. I fully appreciate what you're doing to this bike, in making it 'factory fresh'. For me personally I would take the rebuild as an opportunity to 'improve' and make it better both aesthetically and performance wise rather than just to 'restore it'. But I know only too well how quickly that can get out of hand and budget!

The correct bolts can of course be sourced, as you know but its a case of knowing exactly what you want spec wise and 'screws vs bolts' and can be time consuming etc.

I have already been there modding my bikes. Still am on scrambler. S4 m900 m1100s. I do enjoy the custom side but something inside me is a restorer of things that were abused It was a dead donkey when I got it. I still have value in it if I sold it finished but I won't be. It's actually quite hard for me not to want to modify but I am sticking to my guns.

[Darren69]

The urge to modify can be strong with these things, so I respect your resolve to stick to the original scope and not compromise the build. I'm reminded of my Laverda rebuild which I was determined to re-use as much as possible with things like the fuse box and junction boxes which were bakerlite with brass fittings.

I gave up in the end in the name of reliability because the porcelain fuses (remember those) kept vibrating loose and the ignition trigger wires kept coming out so I fitted modern style blade fuses and proper connectors.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Darren69

The urge to modify can be strong with these things, so I respect your resolve to stick to the original scope and not compromise the build. I'm reminded of my Laverda rebuild which I was determined to re-use as much as possible with things like the fuse box and junction boxes which were bakerlite with brass fittings.

I gave up in the end in the name of reliability because the porcelain fuses (remember those) kept vibrating loose and the ignition trigger wires kept coming out so I fitted modern style blade fuses and proper connectors.

No I understand the need to update certain advantageous things. I will get electronic ignition on my RD 250 as its a year older than ones that had them Reliability is key