Back with a M900 series I

[Albie]

I have to say I had intended to have a ride this week being off but the weather was pants from last Sunday.
On a brighter note I hope tomorrow I have time once electrician has gone from doing power to back garden.
The very job done is the fact that Denis from Italy sent me the nos bar ends and I received them today in this massive Jiffy bag. Why so big I thought and after I opened it up I saw why. He also sent me an original m900 1993 sales brochure
Awesome dude I think.
Anyhow I need to fit them on now. Tbh nothing massively different to what I have on mine now but just big countersunk olive green Allen screws.

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by Albie

?...He also sent me an original m900 1993 sales brochure......
Tbh nothing massively different to what I have on mine now but just big countersunk olive green Allen screws.

Photo's or it didn't happen.....

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Darkness

Photo's or it didn't happen.....

It did honest guv ! Good news is I can see where the rubber bands go as I found them again after I tidied up..

30706387_10216326916190665_7524734378381301711_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

30714263_10216326916070662_3213313944878193757_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

30714025_10216326916150664_5130602529465811891_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

30713285_10216326916110663_2478544649276295427_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

[Albie]

Its been one of those days that seemed like all had gone wrong and all would be a disaster. Turned out ok in the end just about as seat is now in the capable hands of a Welling Auto interior guy ready tomorrow. Bought myself another battery charger in case mine had broken ( turns out not ) so bike started and luckily had not leaked petrol into the sump.

So had to use the spare seat foam with a loose cover and rode to fill up with fuel for Wednesday. Then went on a ride to Isle of Grain at a gentle pace as technically i have to run it in to a degree. Pulled lovely tbh and i wasnt really feeling like " this is not like my 1100s and why would it be. Have to say the rear Ohlins is very nice and stable and the front end is very nice feel after having a total refurbishment. Brakes were good but rear could be better for me as i tend to use the rear.

Having got to the power station i stopped and was considering taking a few photos ( shame about the seat mind ) but didn't as i saw droplets of fluid on the fuel tank and traces also on engine case to the left clutch side and also on front left shock. I did feel also my left foot slip on the footrest once and because of that i had to go back home and abide the speed camera limit of 40mph and past two police cars too.

Got home and rinsed bike with warm soapy water and dried it off then investigated the cause. It was the clutch banjo on the reservoir that was not tight enough and i will take full reponsibility for that so i went around all the banjos again. The engine oil lines also i nipped up a wee bit more and checked the brakes and fork tops too. All is well i think now and 20 miles almost under my belt. Tomorrow evening another shakedown this time hopefully with proper seat fitted and a bit more bike confidence for me on the Monster will get it ready for Wednesdays day off. Another thorough clean will show me also if anything wrong.

I have to honestly say i am not dissapointed with its agility and feels lighter than expected but I really do hate the mirrors as one undid itself but sorted now. Hoping pictures tomorrow.

[Albie]

Probably my biggest challenge ever now is to get to the weekender. Not the fact that's it's not being trailered I'm trying to get riding again , but after its three year build I never new it's real engine history
After last Wednesday's amazing bike mag photo shoot with Rob for company I had never seen it ridden but there are glitches and was puffing some intermittant blue smoke. I'm very aware of that now but will brave it and trust my instinct
There is money left in the pot for engine work which will happen over winter where I see new piston rings needed at least. The bores were fine but I fitted a second hand set of rings on one as the original broke . This will be alongside a frame strip because the paint over the powdercoat in a few places and entirely down to me has hairline cracks. Not the biggest of deals but I will rectify by a strip down to metal and professional respray now we have a paint code.
Feeling pretty excited about journey and in a happy place

[Albie]

Ok so after the last report as suspected the bike failed in the rear cylinder department but nothing was going to stop me going on the bike to the weekender. I made it, I rode it and I was lucky and humble enough to win a prestigious award. It also got me home but I never ever want to ride a bike like that again in any circumstance.
The good thing is that this club is a club that helps out in certain circumstances and lots of people came together for me and shadowed me and also offered me parts that were donated to the club to which I am extremely grateful at this time and will reimburse the person who offered them for scrap even though they were not destined to be scrap. Its only fair in my department as long as they fit and run ok I will kindly donate some money to him or a charity and pass my old ones as trophies if it helps.

The pistons arrived swiftly today from Mr Gazza and I quickly cleaned the tops up making a note of Front and Rear. Just a spray of 3in 1 and a nylon scourer and cleaned all the carbon off. Look decent enough anyhow.
Now I just need bikelift free to do it all and space to put all the bits I take off.

32086005_10216515887954841_9207180254961991680_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

32116927_10216515888034843_3417210164065861632_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

32116262_10216515887994842_6257970536584839168_n by Andy Patterson, on Flickr

[Albie]

Hello all I guess its time to return to the Monster after a whole year away from it. Something in these last 2 weeks has made me determined to start the ball rolling again. Having lost my friend Geoff last week bought it home and just speaking to him 2 weeks ago about getting cracking again I feel I owe it to him to move my butt into the garage again. This was somewhat easier said and done a few weeks ago as the last time Monster moved was the day of returning home from the weekender 2018 limping in limp mode. It hasn't turned a wheel since as feeling very despondent.
That year out I have as some may know turned my hand to making electric guitars and 4 guitars later the garage needed a sort out and electrics upgraded and lighting and lots of hoovering of sawdust and crap I seem to have collected over 12 years living here.
So tonight I started to clean off the said dust from the Monster and the Scrambler the other love of my life for 4 years now and can actually see some Red paint now.
She is still the same and still never yet ridden in the rain as that weekender was a hot one. Still has the flies on the headlight and still has missing the nylon washers from the front mudguard bolts where they vibrated off on the ride out.
I have ready at least to now use another clutch reservoir of early type with chamfer which was pointed out by another member to match the brake one. I also got a NOS very early rear number plate light from the USA with the 2 screws you can see. Not really that cool but once again pointed out to me as that's what the earliest models had. I don't doubt mine had this light originally but I wanted that look.
So my plan is now I have space ( not much space but some ) to now swap the Monster over with the XT500 on the lift as that's had the crank replaced and buttoned up also electronic ignition and 12v and ready to go.
I will then take her apart and drop engine and get the pistons swapped out and get the frame professionally repainted this summer. Who knows if I ride her this year but I hope for next years weekender its reborn again and better than ever.
I will keep you all posted as also it now seems my thread has been overtaken by Richards slow monster rebuild lol and also picture hosting is too much hassle on sites now.
Albie.

[Darkness]

You can’t leave it dangling there Albie: what does a chamfered clutch master cylinder look like?

[Albie]

Originally Posted by Darkness

You can’t leave it dangling there Albie: what does a chamfered clutch master cylinder look like?

Early ones allegedly have a more chamfered/ radiused edge where banjo joins. Later just an edge more or less. Nothing as exciting as exhausts mate.

I guess yours is now finished right ?

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by Albie

I guess yours is now finished right ?

Ha Ha Ha. The new [Oldest] one is on the road, but no progress in eighteen months on the middle one. With no more parents/in-laws to lose, shall get on with it soon, unless life continues to get in the way!

I just went through thread and, I am thinking now. Is it better to get a new Monster motorcycle or choose from custom variants like these https://thecustommotorcycle.co.uk/ad...ycle-for-sale/ . Or maybe better to buy new and customize it on my own??

[Albie]

It whatever you want from your bike. I have been down all paths of new and secondhand and custom and blinging. I have also a scrambler #727 off the line but I like the cafe racer very much.

Originally Posted by Albie

It whatever you want from your bike. I have been down all paths of new and secondhand and custom and blinging. I have also a scrambler #727 off the line but I like the cafe racer very much.

I have the cafe racer at the moment. And I think... maybe take Scrambler and try something new?

[Albie]

Having a week off on my own its about time I got some stuff sorted out. No guitars being done now for a while at least but still 2 being finished.
So this morning I started sorting the cluttered dusty garage sorting out tools and crap to find the item I got from USA around a year ago. The said item was pointed out to me to be wrong on my bike for what I am describing my bike as what an original M900 should look like.
To most including myself had never noticed the first bikes had a rear number plate light differing from the norm. It had 2 screws to remove cover to change the bulb. The Mk2 has a rubber push in bulb holder that so often fall apart as get covered in road debris. They are certainly a cleaner look the Mk 2 but if I don't show how it was meant to look like it defeats the object.
I nearly got one after someone who has his in the Ducati museum offered me one for sale but that seemed to not happen. I kept a vigil on ebay and finally sourced one from the USA at shall I say reasonable cost.
Anyhow today it was fitted along with some fresh front mudguard bolt nylon washers which I lost at the weekender 18 months ago when 2 bolts vibrated loose.
My next task is to get my xt500 off the lift again this week and Monster is going back on to drop the engine. Somehow I need to get these pistons out and swapped by next spring. Its now almost 4 1/2 years in ownership and started to bug me I got so far and actually failed. I guess at least I got the Magazine shoot which meant so much but meaningless when it doesn't turn a wheel and has not moved since May 2017 since returning home in limp mode as such.
Onwards and upwards

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Albie

Monster is going back on to drop the engine.
Onwards and upwards

Good news! I look forward to your updates.