dietry fibre

I just had to photo these lc's..... should have been us 20 years ago.

The fat old FZ really was alarmingly fat in road trim with loads of scope for weight loss.

looking at various data sources for the FZ, threw up varying results so i have decided to go for the most sensible looking one. 222kg wet sounds about right and feels about right compared to similar machines I am familiar with.

So this gives us an approximate starting point.... Thunderbikes rules ( www.thunderbikeuk.com )are formulated to give close racing, which certainly worked last season!.... one of the rules states a power to weight ratio limit of 1bhp per 1.814kg.

We estimate we can shed at least 20 kg, this will allow max bhp to be around 110.

Again, data sources are varied with the majority stating around 100. We think it's more likely to be a fair bit less, maybe as much as 80bhp, so there's plenty of room to shed as much weight as we can.

As far as the engine goes, we think that short of doing the valve clearances and filter, plugs and leads, we would be better off leaving any internal work for now and trying to gain bhp through pipes, airbox mods and we may try the YZF carbs. Early inspection indicates they will do the job.we would idealy aquire a second motor and work on that later in the year. Starting with the motor we have for now means less early expense and time. The money would be far better spent on a rear shock and any other suspension upgrades. Getting this beast to handle is going to be priority.

This place is gonna be busy, and Phil has the Laverda to sort yet!!

shocking trouble!

The front end is on with a longer steering stem, cut, sleaved and welded. The lock stops have been modified as they missed each other completely. The fork internals will be a case of wait and see but we think they may just do the job, at least for now.We are confident the front geometry is ok at this stage.

The rear thew up a few head scratchers. The swingarm goes in with a little messing with differant shims and spindles worked out by Phil.

The swing arm top rails were banging on the subframe, so this will be removed and a lighter alloy used.

The next problem is the shock. In order to keep the correct alighnment of the swingarm and shock, we have worked out that we will need to weld a new top shock mount and trim out around the hole in the swingarm where the shock routes. there's not a lot of room for a bottle so we will likely need a remote bottle.

Wheel alighnment and chain run both look good.....so not too shocking......untill it's time to fork out for a new shock.

THE SUB FRAME GETS IT!

I have been itching to cut it off!

Stuff in general is getting a polish and some paint here and there while we wait for santa to f*** off and then things will get going soon after that

dinosaurs

As you can see, the FZ is a bit ancient. How you may ask is this thing gonna compete with modern stuff? answer..... i don't care too much, it's more about actually having a battle with someone, anyone, just to be racing is enough and i'm getting too old to be able to take it all too seriously. The biggest challange for me is to get there in the first place. finacially more than anything.

So we take a crap old FZ and turn it into a racer. We started the bike a couple of weeks ago so i shall write to catch up and then post as things happen, or not.... i will introduce you to my friends and long time co loonies Phil and Steve, without whome i wouldn't be doing this.......they forced me to do it ! honest they did! That's Phil with the hat below, Steve on the right.

updating the story so far

Steve has been a good friend of mine for years.we have shared interests; lc's and 2 stroke yams, pink floyd, guitars, live music among other things.After riding together for years, and having a 4 year break from bikes, Steve helped bring out my longing for another bike and ultimately getting on track and having some fun. So when i finally decided to make an attempt to go racing, Steve quickly donated the use of his nice new workshop to build the bike.......the only condition was i had to build it for him first! :-)...... i was only too glad and as you can see from his grin, so was Steve.nice hat by the way!!....didn't it rain at Lydden hill !

Phil has been a friend of Steve's since they were kids and i have got to know him since i met steve in my late teens. Phil having already donated the FZ to the cause, then decided we could use anything from a spare YZF750 he has.... fantastic! the complete front and rear end minus the shock.... a good start.

Phil is the engineer among us and works for a very accomadating boss who donates the use of his extensive business premises. There's not much that can't be done by these guys so I am in good company to get the bike sorted.The need to strip right back and paint the frame was decided and with time on my hands while Phil messed about getting his head around fitting the YZF front and rear end, and with budget in mind, the old tin of hammerite came out of hibernation.

So with just a bear frame, freshly painted, and the front and rear end being in rehab for a while, attention was turned to things that would end up back on the bike.

Starting at the front, on went the clock and fairing mount from the YZF and the original FZ part weighing an alarming amount more. Only a temporary fitting for now, to get an idea for mounting clocks and fairing.The FZ clocks were severely over weight, being encased in cast and so were stripped completely. The bin saw the speedo and the temp/fuel gauge thrown in and the four idiot lights reduced to two to retain the oil and neutral lights. This has been test fitted against the rev counter which looses its cast casing. Must have saved a kilo just here!

lust

having tasted some private bike racing abroad with www.racedays.net and many other trackdays, on these two machines, the time has come to go racing for real in the uk. It's been a long time coming for me, since i was a small boy i guess.
So the forthcoming posts will record the metamorphosis of the tatty old Yamaha FZ750 that my good friend Phil has donated to my cause, and along side that, the path of my first year of British Club Racing. ... hopefully.
Bemsee is the club and Thunderbikes the series that i hope to compete in. i had better get on with applying for my licence etc....