Edizione Finale…

…So just before I ride off into the sunset in a slightly smoky haze, I shall pick up from last time.

The seat.  Well, I have found someone local to me that are Master Upholsterers and have made plenty of motorcycle seats previously.  Take a bow the guys at Crowther & Sons who have done a fantastic job.  After visiting their showroom and looking at the different products I went for a tan leather in a specific style that is somewhere on another blog entry.  To keep the cost down my dad and I did some preparation work to the seat base which involved gluing some battens to the lip of the base which the leather would eventually be secured to…

 

…and it turned out pretty much okay, a couple of bits needing only slight adjustment by the seat maker.

Attention then turned to the intermittent starter motor problem whereby it would not engage correctly, requiring a little tap to help matters.  I know that's not the right thing to do so decided that a reconditioned unit might be required but tried a local auto electrical specialist first.  There was a dry soldering joint, a misaligned something or other and a droopy spring…so that has all been resolved now.  The chap who did the work knew from when the starter motor originated from 10 feet away but was surprised how heavy it is.  Thanks go to Electro-Mec for sorting it out.

As some paint was on the mating face of the starter motor I decided to take all the paint off.  As time has gone by I have got less and less enthused with it so have spent a few hours with Dremel and drill and a variety of flap wheels and wire brushes to polish it instead.  I think it looks a lot better for it too…

BEFORE…

 

…DURING…

 

…and AFTER

A period of shakedown tests will commence very, very locally before I venture too far afield.

So how does she look now that she is complete?  Well, I am slightly biased but think she looks gorgeous and has been worth every millilitre of blood, sweat and tears, not to mention ££££'s it has taken to get to this point, nearly three years after first starting this way back in August 2012…But, I shall let you judge the success of the completed Little Goose.

 

 

The next project is yet to be sourced.  It might be a bike.  It might be a car.  Who knows?  But whatever it is, it will be built with a passion for bringing back to life that which had previously been neglected.

The Man From The Ministry…He Say 'Yes'.

The bike has now received a 'Pass' of the Ministry of Transport Test and is considered safe to be on the road now that the weeping oil seal has been fixed.  I take responsibility for that failure point as I had 'butchered' the two oil seals when I re-assembled the forks quite some months ago now.  Lesson learnt…I need a proper bearing driver set rather than use a similar sized socket!  Anyway, fork oil seals replaced and no more leaks.

The P-clips arrived in M10 form so I could mount them on the lower yoke pinch bolts.  They are just perfect for moving the braided brake hoses away from the fork legs which was the other failure point.  And with all that done she was given a 'Pass' certificate for one year. 

The Red Bull can went the way of the bin and in its place went an un-required Brembo brake reservoir with a single side exit which was perfect for the job.  A little hole was drilled in it to release pressure and vapours.  This is only a temporary measure as the home-made oil catch tank has its vent to atmosphere at the bottom which means fluid is going to come out of it…it should be at the top.  I shall have to try and locate a properly fabricated one to fit in the very small gap I have.

 

This is the first bike I have ridden since 2006 when I sold my Ducati 748.  The first few miles I felt quite vulnerable but I think that was as much to do with riding a bike that I don't know and the thought at the back of my head that I actually built it and not renowned for my practical skills!!  Or common sense as I ran out of petrol on the way back…thankfully half a mile from my brother in law, who once again has been a diamond bringing me out a few litres of fuel.  I shall now experience range anxiety for the rest of my life!!

At the weekend my 11 year old daughter helped turn the tip we call a garage into a useable storage space…

…all it was missing was the Guzzi.

All that remains now is to source someone to make up the seat that I would like.  I am planning to visit someone tomorrow about this.  There is also a little intermittent problem related to the wiring whereby the lights/horn stop working…so I will attempt to trace that in due course.  And then that will be that.  Another project is being considered along different lines, perhaps a GPZ900R or 1100 Zephyr that might attempt to replicate the artworks that AC Sanctuary produce or maybe a late 80's early 90's icon such as a FZR1000, CBR600 or a 250 stroker if such a thing exists at reasonable money.

So all being well the next blog will be the last one with all the little paint jobs tidied up, a spit and polish and a lovely new seat.