The start of another interesting project
Well, it has happened! A customer brought us a bike he recently bought off Ebay. It is a YZR500 replica using a TZR250-3MA frame, TZR250-3XV swinging arm, and an RD500 motor. Reportedly, about 12 of these were built, and judging by this one, I doubt any of them see any serious tarmac time. More likely, they'll be sitting in people's living rooms or other coveted, dry locations. They certainly look pretty with replica Max Biaggi bodywork.
The customer came to us with the brief of getting it ready for road riding duty and sorting out whatever needed fixing. After a careful inspection, here is the list of what needs to get done:
- Get engine running and carburation sorted, hopefully just jetting changes.
- Add lock stops to yokes (MOT requirement), and solve clip-on pinch points (currently hits the CDI and power valve controller)
- Sort excessively low clip-on positions on the fork tubes. This will likely require adjusting fairing position and fabrication of new fairing brackets.
- Investigate hugely progressive rear suspension. It currently has only about half of its expected wheel travel.
- Sort chain run as it rubs both on top and bottom of the swinging arm near the pivot.
- Sort out steering damper mounting as it currently interferes with the frame.
- Install short sparkplugs and HT caps on the front cylinders to increase clearance to the front wheel.
So, it a bit of a list. Some are easy to sort, others will be more of an issue, e.g. rear suspension, chain rubbing and fairing position.