Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[mangocrazy]

Having read (and enjoyed) @Scuffmark's thread where he tinkers with his stable of bikes, I thought I'd attampt something similar. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all. I retired from the world of paid work at the end of July 2020 and have slipped very comfortably into what is probably called 'pottering about in sheds'. Most of my (bike-related) attention is currently directed towards the 350LC that I'm renovating. It got to the point where it was ready for MoT in early September last year and I've put just under 300 running in miles on it since then (a 5 week break in France got in the way of completing it).

There are still some parts that need finishing off - most obviously the wheels. They will be returned to as close to standard as possible. I've owned the bike since new in 1980 and a couple of years into its life I had the wheels powder coated white, and time hasn't really been kind to them. From a distance they look OK, but close up is a different matter. This is the bike just after it passed its MoT:

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The wheels along with brake plate, sprocket holder, top yoke, clutch lever mount and bar clamps were sent off to C J Ward before Christmas and arrived back about a week ago. I am very, very, very pleased with the way they've turned out:

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Since then I've been slowly replacing all the bearings and seals, trying to remember how to fit brake shoes to the brake plate and being generally frustrated at the almost complete lack of torque settings for major components in the Haynes book of words. Oh, and rediscovering just how much I hate inner tubes (as I've mentioned elsewhere). Sometime over the weekend I hope to have both wheels back in the bike. We'll see...

If anyone wants to read the LC's back story I've been keeping a sort of build log on the Ridersite tumbleweed forum where I'm an (almost entirely unemployed) admin. Every day's a slow day... Here's the link:

https://ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13813

[Skub]

That's lovely looking.

[demographic]

I used to have an XJ550 years ago, I'm fairly sure they had the same wheels as LCs.
After feeling the weight of them I can understand how come Astralites were a popular swap.

Looks bloody good though. Nice one.

[Yorick]

I used to have an XJ550 years ago, I'm fairly sure they had the same wheels as LCs.
After feeling the weight of them I can understand how come Astralites were a popular swap.

Looks bloody good though. Nice one.

Same brakes. I "acquired" some brake pads for my LC

[mangocrazy]

The wheels do weigh a ton. A bare LC front wheel weighs about the same as a modern (wider) front wheel with discs and tyre fitted. Rear wheel is even worse, with the steel brake drum. All plastics are original, as is the tank. I've avoided having those parts resprayed as a) they don't really need it and b) I prefer it with its battle scars and history.

After some deliberation I did remove the 'Clouseau fans against the Beumb' sticker on the ducktail that got added in the early 80s...

[weeksy]

And this is why I built a forum

[demographic]

Just had a look at that Ridersite thread.
Bloody hell, you've had your work cut out with that resto.

[mangocrazy]

Just had a look at that Ridersite thread.
Bloody hell, you've had your work cut out with that resto.

Yeah - probably why it took so bloody long... A local dealer had been pestering me to flog him the LC (doubtless for a pittance). Very glad I didn't. But I have to say that living in Sheffield with all its various metal-bashing trades has proved invaluable.I've got pretty much everything I need within a 5 mile radius of where I live. (With the exception of the wheels - C J Ward are in Burton on Trent).

[demographic]

Whats the cush drive like on the back?
I seem to remember the one for my XJ was a bit clunky and was hard to get a new one.
I honestly can't remember if it was just cos I was skint or if they had stopped selling new ones.

Ebay is a thing nowadays so spares are simpler to get hold of, back then it was partsearch sites sending out a fax to a load of the breakers.

[mangocrazy]

Funnily enough I'm trying to remember where I put the cush drive rubbers... And it was not much more than a month ago when I stripped the wheels. Oh well...They weren't in bad shape, but seem to recall they are NLA from Yamaha. However Norbo from RDLC Crazy has them listed at £26 for the set, so not too bad at all.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm slowly getting my 350 YPVS how I want it, it'll look like a standard bike from a distance but won't be as some parts are stupidly expensive to get

[mangocrazy]

Nice.

I haven't ridden my LC since 2017 (I think) but it's sitting there waiting for when I do.
Amongst the other stuff tucked away there is also a TDR250.

I put Brembo wheels off a JDM TZR on mine.

I like what you've done with the wheels. At a quick glnce you might think they're standard LC. Are the forks and caliper off the JDM TZR as well? It's the brakes and wheels/choice of tyres that really let old bikes like the LC down, but I'm loath to go down the customising route because a) I know what I'm like and I would never stop and b) I did all that back in the 80s. Before I put it back to standard it had AP Lockheed calipers, Marzocchi 35mm forks, Hejira box section swingarm, Ducati Pantah clone fairing, Hejira Spax shock etc. etc.

[Scuffmark]

Some of the work arounds for the Lc and the workmanship thats gone into them are impressive.


One of the best things for me is that you've owned it from new... I bet there's not many could say they've owned a bike for 40 years ?

Looking forward to the updates.

[mangocrazy]

Some of the work arounds for the Lc and the workmanship thats gone into them are impressive.


One of the best things for me is that you've owned it from new... I bet there's not many could say they've owned a bike for 40 years ?

Looking forward to the updates.

Yes, it must be a pretty rare LC according to that. Never been dropped, stolen or raced either. Which probably makes it unique...

The LH barrel was the biggest curve ball. That and finding the deck heights were subtly different after I'd put it all back together again.

In other news, the cush drive rubbers have been located and fitted and both wheels are now back in the bike. Tiny steps.

[mangocrazy]

Interesting that you used TZR 250 forks; nearly 30 years ago I built (or had built) a YPVS-based special that had Hejira box section frame & swingarm, Astralite wheels with 3.5 F and 4.5 R rims and I used TZR forks on that with a Billet-6 caliper. The bike was intended for my vertically challenged girlfriend at the time, but we'd split by the time it was finished, so I kept it and turned it into a track bike.

45.5 bhp is very respectable for an essentially standard LC. I'd be very happy with that. Agree about unnecessary bling - it cheapens the overall effect to my eyes. I much prefer to go for stuff that makes a real difference to on-road performance but without shouting about it. I also own an Aprilia Falco and a lot of Falco owners fit the RSV Mille banana swingarm for the bling factor. I think it looks crap as it doesn't match the style of the bike, and there's no benefit from it - both swingarms are equally rigid.

[mangocrazy]

Not been doing very much in the last few weeks, due mainly to the presence of nasty white stuff on the ground and a bloody freezing cold shed. I ventured into the shed today and the inside temps were at least 5 degrees colder than outside. Everything I touched was similarly cold, so I beat a hasty retreat to the warmth of the house, but not before taking a quick pic of the occupants.

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The LC has its newly powder coated wheels fitted and the Duke is (as I'm sure you've noticed) missing its forks and wheel. The forks are on my bench in the cellar awaiting some softer springs and a reduction in oil level/increase in air gap. Having a front fork that has a published travel of 150 mm, but with 45 mm unused travel is just plain silly.

[Scuffmark]

I increased the air gap in my 690 forks for the same reason. ... I think they'll need some work to the compression stack ( high speed is harsh) but thought it was costing nothing to try adjusting the air gap.

[mangocrazy]

Thanks for the confirmation, I feel the same way about high-speed compression damping on my Duke. I was toying with the idea of dismantling the compression stack and measuring up the shims, but the buggers at KTM have staked the rod end making it impossible to remove the nut. And the thread looks to be some impossibly fine pitch that only KTM use, so I'm reluctant to grind the end off...

[Scuffmark]

Arr, you've been further into your forks than I have . Interesting to know.

I've not ridden my smc since altering my forks so it'll be Interesting to see if its made a difference.

[mangocrazy]

It's more than a bit annoying - with the forks in pieces, now would be the perfect time to dig into the compression shim stack. But I'm totally certain that the part I need to butcher wouldn't be available as a spare part, so I'm a bit girly scared of doing anything too brave.

Be very interested to hear your feedback on the air gap mod when you get the chance to ride it. How much did you change it by?