“Is a Race Bike ever finished?”
It might not be the most philosophical question ever asked by mankind, however it’s one that gets asked a lot here. The answer is....
“Yes”.
As much as constraints of time, ability, The Biking Gods and beer tokens will allow, they are finished.
And then as soon as you have any more of the above, they get progressed again.
Then finished again.
So follows a 7-Part Blog series of the journey. Taking an unloved, unregistered, rusty, dusty and neglected 748, and turning it into…well…into a 748 really. Nothing too tricky. Just making it as good as it can be with limited budget.
Stripped back to a frame and motor, blasted with 12 cans of brake clean, reassembled with grease, some new shiny bits, some upgraded bits, and some original bits too.
Then taken racing.
“THE PLAN”. Do One thing A Day. For 100 days.
Otherwise it’d still be in the corner covered with a sheet and no closer to seeing daylight. Doing it in the middle of Winter was also a thing, and waiting 8 weeks to get the forks back were some of the many technical hitches you’ll read about here.
We started in March 2018, and ended…mostly…in July of 2018.
Day 1
Ducati’s 748 / 916 Series. If there is a landmark red bike, this is it.
One turned up here de-registered, bought from a hardworking bloke repairing Kaikoura’s roads. Turns out those roads a bit more than a 5 minute job, so the Rego on the 748 lapsed, despite him spending $500 on some new wavy ARTRAX discs.
We bought it as the wrecker it was and it sat in the workshop for a few weeks, looking sad.
Then someone mentioned the 748s now fit in the pre-96 class in CAMS racing. And somewhere in BEARS too if I’d paid more attention.
We happened to have an Ohlins shock, some fresh race fibreglass...some donated rear sets, Renthal bars and grips, fat headers, fat mufflers, some sticky race tires, and a lightweight chain and sprocket kit....also sitting around doing nothing.
Authors Note: glossing over many details and bits needed- a sure sign of the Race Bike Madness. If anyone has a legal cure PM me, it’s an annoying condition.
All the road gear came off and was made available, and more shiny bits were bolted on. That’s the usual recipe. Add a dash of cash.
Of course there is a solid argument for building the biggest fastest bike you can – cause it usually costs the same. However having had a taste of an 1198R (cue rantings about wheel standing, tsunami of torque, mental horsepower etc), and it’s matching appetite for money, tires, time etc.
So here we are with a small bike. Must be cheaper. Surely.
We’ll settle for the inaugural “Looks Good Sounds Great" award. Which may have to be self-presented. I hope it comes with red wine. And a keen pilot for Novembers Mike Pero classic at Levels, Timaru.
What could possibly go wrong?
Day 22
Turning an unloved road bike into a much-loved track day bike.
We’re at the point of checking the steering head bearings. Why? Well we spent time in the pits at a NZ Nationals road race a while back. Across the pits was a Well Known NZ Racer. Racing in the 600cc class.
I call it The Axe Murderer’s Class. Those people are absolutely certifiable.
If you get to attend one of these, munch on your burger during the Superbike class but pay close attention in the 600 class. There is real talent there and blisteringly fast lap times. And most would run well in the superbike class.
Well Known NZ Racer spent that Friday with their upside down smile on.
You know the one, when they roll back into the pits,shaking their head. “It’s not handling, no confidence in the front end” etc, and the poor mechanic tries to turn that into some positive plan of action.
It was forks out, different oil, forks out again, different springs, shock out and faffed with, tires changed. Cue Friday and it’s not getting the lap times they deserve.
Late in the day we note entire front end out of bike. Yep, some notchy steering head bearings was causing all the above. $100 set of bearings derails their $20,000 National Champs challenge. Oops.
So, best have a look inside our 748.
It’s got the adjustable steering head, so out it all comes for a clean and regrease. Old bearings are the OE type pushbike style, so with bearing removal tool (Cool Tool #1), it’s out with the old and in with the new. Love these steering head tools- makes it a fun job.
Also fixing the bumps and bruises on the eccentic caused by some heavy handed previous owner.
Bearings fully greased and pushed back in with Cool Tool #2.
Cool Tool#3 allows steering head insert to be rotated to correct position- note teeth missing from someone not using correct tools....Happy days.
We'll be setting the eccentric to the lazy "street" position, and looking to get it turning in OK with fork height and rear ride height changes.
Next DOTAD (Do One Thing A Day) task is reinstall forks, and fit new wheel bearings.
Those Who Know advise that it’s best to set the steering head angle at the steeper of the two for track days.
Lots to learn.
Every day's a school day.
To find out what happened on Days 24 to 61, Click Here