Nute

Tank cap looks good ... & so does the rest of the bike!

It’s not a real one sadly, but it is great fun. The best way of turning petrol into noise when the weather is good !

Thanks all. The forks / bars are the original BMW setup (at least I assume it is, it all fitted within the fairings ok before disassembly). I think I will measure the max deflection with each option and see what the difference is. I’m leaning toward the last one too, even if it will mean more welding. For some reason the tanks always seem to leak at the lowest point each side, I guess as water gets in and sits there. The original tank cap leaked and dripped water into the tank. It’s a 1983 bike and the loom is a mess, I assume where it’s been repaired or altered in the past so I might need to make a new one. There are various after market gizmos for reducing the amount of wiring required though. It’s 50/50 weather I get this finished before I shuffle off this mortal coil or the earth is taken over by aliens but it’s fun to do.

This is what it started out as when I got it, it looks a lot tidier than it was - someone has blown over the engine casings / final drive with silver paint and the black parts around the engine (airbag etc) with black paint. Most of the paint was starting to flake off except for the black sump with looked like it had been painted with about 10 coats. It didn't run when I got it, I did manage to get it running but I think only on 3 cylinders. The fuel system was full of crud so the injectors would also have been, and the tank leaked.

I bought a knackered K100 a few months ago. I pulled it all apart and am starting to put it back together without the fairings and other bits I don't like. I am trying to decide what tank position and seat alignment I like best - need to decide this now as it will influence the amount of space I have under the seat/ tank for the electrics (which ive not really thought about as yet). Which one do you lot think looks better - the bike is on the centre stand so the back will drop 20mm or so when off it. The first pic is the easiest to achieve, the tank is in the original position with the original mounts, the new seat will bolt near enough straight on. I don't like the misalignment between the seat line and the base of the tank . If I went this route I could tidy up the frame/ seat gap with the original fairing section. The second pic is with the tank in the original position but with a spacer under the back of the seat to make it line up better. There third one is with the front of the tank raised off the original mounting and with a packer under the back of the seat to make the seat and lower edge of the tank line up as far as possible. This will be the most work to achieve as I will need to make a new mount for the front of the tank either by welding an aluminium bracket to the underside of the tank or cutting and altering the frame mount points. I will also need to increase the clearance between the bars and the top of the tank to accommodate the increased height. I think I prefer the third option - this is the first bike ive ever done anything drastic to so feel free to point out any potential cock ups ive not thought of. I will need to weld something onto the frame to fill the gaps between the base of the seat and the frame.

Thanks, terrible experience, I still need to get the thing removed but at least it doesn't hurt any more and no kidney damage im told. Just been back to the hospital and left the A&E staff a huge tub of chocolates to say thanks. Whatever they are paid it should be doubled.

Farming today, then off to A& E with excruciating abdominal pain. Just got home but still need a bloody kidney stone removing. It’s a Bitch getting old.

Seems a lot of dough for a centrifugal fan, but if the thing dates from 2008 you are lucky you can find parts for it. Every time I want a spare part it “ sorry sir, we stopped making those 20 mins after you originally bought it”….

Yesterday - clearing up leaves and smoking the place out burning them. Today - village Remembrance Day parade / service. I have a lot of local military and ex military friends. They go straight to the pub from the service and stay there until chucking out time. I will wander up there in a bit for a couple.

Good luck with that.... Everything I set out to do to mine takes 5 times as long as I think it will, hence it's mostly still in bits all over the garage floor

I have mine set up to take fresh air from the outside as well. I know where you are coming from with the thing though, my external walls are brick, Id be cautious running the hot exhaust out thro a wooden wall. It does get bloody hot , hence why I was going to run it through a metal rad as well to pull a bit more of the heat out.

I fitted a diesel heater in my garage, one of the best things ive bought for it. Bloody brilliant thing. Garage is mostly uninsulated so its gets a bit chilly in the winter - the heater is supposed to be 5kw but 3-4 is prob more accurate. Im considering getting an old radiator to run the exaughst through to improve the efficiency a bit further. I have a wood stove in there to but that is a bit of a pain to light and keep feeding. I did take it the diesel heater apart last summer and replaced all of the fuel lines as they were a bit shitty.

Skill more than makes up for shit equipment. Put me in a lotus and lewis Hamilton on a mobility scooter and he'd kick my arse.... even if the lotus didn't break down after 300m.

We've got all your shit weather down here. Even the dog doesn't want to go out to have a wee. He sticks his head out the door and then turns round and runs back to the log burner.

I was disappointed they decided to stop production of the FTR.

Me too … but only if you get rid of road tax for bikes and you get whoever maintains to lovely smooth main roads in France to come do ours.

Its the same wherever you advertise ... I had my VW Touareg on auto trader for £X and got lots of "I can collect it today for £half X " and other similar crap. I just deleted them although I did go back to a couple and said "to you its £2x" ... then you get the "I'll be round at 4pm to look at it" and then never show. A mate of mine was flogging his Volvo and 2 guys showed up, one asked to see the MOT history so he went inside to get it and saw one of them squirting something around the engine bay as he came out again. They then said "you got an oil leak mate, we will give you £halfX". Turns out the even put some in the rad expansion tank.

Looks like you have been shat on by an ostrich, a really sick one.

God I loved the 80's ...

I do love my Indian ( I find the FTR's one of the best looking bikes ever made), but I have to admit I find the aesthetics of the bikes with all the boxy fairings and luggage rather difficult to appreciate .

Mine is only a 5.7l not a 7l and id swear I can see the gas needle move with my foot down. Id be surprised if it got 15/gal.

Would that have meant relocating to FL? My wife is American and when we got hitched we had to decide where to live. My qualification for my job is not something which is recognised in the US, my only options in the US were flying instructor or a McJob or similar so we ended up here.

Jeez, that must be worth a mint. Im not sure ive seen seen a 7l one ... lucky bloke ... Must be a couple of million quid he is driving round in

Is it a 289 or a 427? Id love a real one, or failing that a Superformance one, but I cant afford either . Mine is a humble AK, but it's bloody good fun.

Not very imaginative but I'm shit at taking photos & was in a hurry ...