Random from the archive

Abstract:

Ben has been the number 1 bike provider in the first 5 years I started working on motorcycles. Get to his place was like a pilgrimage. Not only is it far enough to be considered as such, but it's always crowded with the lastest and cleanest superbikes he's just finished saving from their previous owners' outrages. As a road rider, few are those who can say they drive faster in the southern Belgium twisties and on track he's said to be fast as well. This is one of the track bike he' had over the years. This pre-2000 R6 had its special RedBull paint made by a friend of his.

Handy spares

These new rear wheel nut and clip are going to replace the knackered and rusted originals. These spares were ordered from World of Triumph.

By the way, if you're located in France and looking for Triumph parts and want them quickly, don't go to your local Triumph dealer. Instead check out their website and have your parts delivered to your door within 48 hours. Much better than the "one back order per week" policy in the Triumph shops.

Next challenge

 The next challenge in pictures. Check, change, clean, lubricate, ...

Last weekend's heroes

The compressor is finally working again and the airgun has done wonders on the Speed Triple's rear wheel nut. Absolute weekend heroes saving this project again.

It only took the airgun 5 seconds to unlock the rusted nut at full blow. Good tools when you need it.

Random from the archive

Abstract:

The first generation GSX-R. Picture was taken back in 2003 at the Paris bike show. That specific bike is out of Suzuki's collection and was in stunning condition. Suzuki had reunited the whole GSX-R family to present the new addition which can be seen just behind. This was long before the '84 model become desirable again by collectors and retro-racers - first generation GSX-Rs were about to be allowed to race in classic races.

Smoking Panigale

Baldovini's Ducati Alstare Panigale after they crash at Phillip Island last week ... (Credits on pictures)

Temp patch

One of the thing that needed fixing to put the Speed Triple in road trim was the front brake fluid reservoir. A new place was to be found since the standard mirrors had been removed. The right one was holding a bracket on which the reservoir was bolted. With the clip-ons on, there's a place on the right one designed to receive the brake reservoir, but it can only be used if the bike is also equipped with the Daytona front fairing bracket or else the reservoir will hit the speedometer while fully turning left.

Anyway, I know I said I would take some time to build my own bracket, but now the Speed Triple has to be in rolling conditions sooner that imagined so that the rear wheel nut can be fixed at the dealer shop. So here's what I did as a temporary patch.

Ugly, isn't ?

Dead compressor

... compressors are not the new trend for this blog. It's just that mine is useless with a perforated air tank. It won't pressurize over 4 bars, which is bad since the airgun needs 6 to work properly. I discovered the problem when trying to unlock that bad rear wheel nut from the Speed Triple with the airgun. The later was hardly moving with only 4 bars in the tank ... 

R1100S Kompressor

Spotted on the Pelican Parts forum this supercharged BMW R1100S project by San Jose BMW. The thread doesn't mention any figure and even not if the project is actually finished, but these pics speak volume on the work performed under the fairing panels. Would like to see the complete bike though.

The part list and work done is impressive with :
- bespoke rigid front subrame
- bespoke rear subframe
- USD fork from a Japanse supersort
- relocated and thicker oil radiator
- custom exhaust headers
- ...