It lives !!
Rode it down to the village and back, only about a mile but I live at the top of a long steep hill and didnt want to have to push the thing too far if it did crap out. Smokes like a bitch, but I think it's from being on the side stand for a while - illogically that puts the crank case above the head, so oil seeps to the top of the engine.
Ive ordered a right hand side stand for it. Its a heavy bike and the original side stand allows the bike to lean over at a really steep angle - make me nervous seeing it like that so hopefully the new right hand stand will give it a more upright position ... otherwise I will have to adapt it so it does.
Still need to fiddle with the rev counter, it's a bit jumpy so will experiment with where the input comes from. Also need to get the gas gauge to work.