Rolling Chassis is almost there.

TL1000S forks mated to the frame with Bandit 1200 swingarm, wheels & brakes. Thanks to Cambridge Motorcycles who have done the work thus far. David 'Spike' Abraham working his magic as usual!

There's still loads and loads of work to do. To complete the rolling chassis alone:

• Rear brake and torsion arm
• Dry fit everything and then de-lug what's not required.
• Clipons
• Weld lugs and fit rearsets
• Front and Rear brake master cylinder
• Braided hoses
• Finish frame bracing to headstock
• Buy a TL front fender
• Inner bearing tubes

Then we can take it all apart again and send it off for powder coating.

So just in the interests of getting a feel for things I offered up the Seat etc...

So to my eyes .. that has lots of potential!

Undertray

Just had a quick text conversation with Steve Adam's of Lucky 7 Moto - he's making a batch of undertrays in January ... so the order is in with him for one. This will tidy up the rear end of the Katana, keep that central "V" section looking empty and provide a space for the battery and rectifier to live under the seat.

Frame bracing

So having spent a fair bit of time mulling over the Muscle Kat build - and studying internet posts. I have decided I'm going to spoil the frame powder coating and invest the effort now to get the frame braced.

http://oldskoolsuzuki.info/archives/315 for further details. However, rather than go with the box section in the  middle triangle, I decided that tubing would look better.

So frame, some TL1000s forks, bandit wheels and swing arm, Ohlins, and discs and brake callipers have been delivered to  Cambridge Motorcycles and left in the hands of Spike - mission one is to get to a rolling chassis.


Here's where we were up to when I visited on Saturday.

Spike has left the front section bracing for now until we get the tank on the frame to check clearance.

We've also noted that the TL1000S forks have lock stop lugs - so we can weld in a couple of lock stops to allow us to remove some more frame boxing around the head stock - that is there only to provide a point for some rubber mounted lock stops used with the original forks.

I should have the finished rolling chassis back before Christmas - we can then start think about a dry build, lug removal and what the next steps should be.

Food for thought ... 

Katana Project is go

So under the influence of a few vino's while surfing eBay while in Filey with the family - I come across a basket case GSX750 frame, GSX1100 motor, and a selection of bits that "allegedly" make up a full original Katana 1100! A speculative bid later and I am amazed I have won the auction.

The advert said, "This will be a good buy for anyone with the time and enthusiasm to rebuild it, it has a freshly powder coated frame, swingarm and wheels, front and rear ends are 1200 Bandit with the swingarm properly modded to twinshock, it also benefits from Ohlins rear shocks, flatslide carbs, Harris exhaust and Raask rearsets, stock footrests are also present as are the stock front and rear ends with girling shocks[not pictured but in good condition] Everything was working perfectly when stripped including the engine which runs very nicely. I can guarantee that all parts are there except for the chain and front tyre. the bodywork is solid and straight but has minor damage and would benefit from a respray."

A week later and in the cold light of day, having collected everything, I have:

• GSX750 Katana import frame powder coated black
• GSX1100 engine complete
• GSX1260 barrels
• Spare GSX1100 crank
• Spare GSX1100 heads and cams 
• GSXR750 slab side TM33 bank of carbs
• Period Harris exhaust 
• All fairing panels, lights, electrics etc
• 2 seat units
• Original suspension and Ohlins suspension
• Orinal forks and Bandit forks (polished)
• Rask Reasets
• Original Wheels and tyres
• Bandit wheels and GSX750 slab side wheels powder coated black
• Nissan 4-pots and original callipers and brakes
• Metchamex swing arm and original swing arm
• Bandit swing arm converted to twin shock and powered coated
• Enough bolts, spacers, spindles to not be able to find the bolt you are looking for

In truth I have a selection of parts from the original bike, Bandit, and Slabside 750. It basically filled a Range Rover with rear seats down.

So the aim is to turn this lot .....

.... into this - or something similar in any case.

I shall try to keep the blog up to date as I go along.