My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread

Christmas in September! I've been waiting on this for like 2 years. Will probably wait until putting up for the winter to install

My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread
 
Just went through my records. Bought the bike in 1994 with 15,243 miles and the mileage when i started the rebuild was 15,278. That means i put on 35 miles between 1994 and 2023. And most of that mileage was riding it home from where i bought it (23 mi), so that means i really only rode it for 12 miles in the 29 years i've owned the bike (up until the rebuild). :rolleyes:
 
I needed to check on my car (see post #1) which is being worked on at a shop in New Jersey and i noticed there was vintage AHRMA motorcycle racing at a track in NJ (NJMP) so why not kill two birds, check in on the car and take in some vintage bike racing, all while getting in a nice ride taking back roads through Maryland and Pennsylvania. The trip up was nice (Amish farm country), but long, 7.5 hrs/220 miles. When i got to the shop, noticed my original right side exhaust sheared completely through at the muffler

My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread


I still had to ride another 100 miles to my hotel, but my taped fix (forgot to pack the essential bailing wire) would not keep the exhaust nut from rattling loose, even after tightening. So every 10 miles or so, i'd have to reach down and hand tighten it. I was beat and did not want to spend more time trying to find some wire (rolled into the hotel at 1930 after leaving at 0600). Next day, i headed to NJMP and i figured i could find someone that would have some spare wire.

Low and behold, i ran into the legend Kenny Cummings, owner of NYC Norton. I've bought some of his parts (swingarm clamp), but never personally dealt with him. He was totally approachable and kind enough to let me borrow his exhaust spanner. And that wasn't all, he took the time to safety wire the exhaust nut. Respect right there!

My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread


The end result. It was enough to get me home (another 175 miles)

My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread


All in all, it was a great ride but maybe a little much. Over 500 miles in 95F heat. My back is killing me and i have blisters on my right hand. Thankfully, the old girl did not let me down.
 
TomU said:
I needed to check on my car (see post #1) which is being worked on at a shop in New Jersey and i noticed there was vintage AHRMA motorcycle racing at a track in NJ (NJMP) so why not kill two birds, check in on the car and take in some vintage bike racing, all while getting in a nice ride taking back roads through Maryland and Pennsylvania. The trip up was nice (Amish farm country), but long, 7.5 hrs/220 miles. When i got to the shop, noticed my original right side exhaust sheared completely through at the muffler

View attachment 114988

I still had to ride another 100 miles to my hotel, but my taped fix (forgot to pack the essential bailing wire) would not keep the exhaust nut from rattling loose, even after tightening. So every 10 miles or so, i'd have to reach down and hand tighten it. I was beat and did not want to spend more time trying to find some wire (rolled into the hotel at 1930 after leaving at 0600). Next day, i headed to NJMP and i figured i could find someone that would have some spare wire.

Low and behold, i ran into the legend Kenny Cummings, owner of NYC Norton. I've bought some of his parts (swingarm clamp), but never personally dealt with him. He was totally approachable and kind enough to let me borrow his exhaust spanner. And that wasn't all, he took the time to safety wire the exhaust nut. Respect right there!

View attachment 114990

The end result. It was enough to get me home (another 175 miles)

View attachment 114991

All in all, it was a great ride but maybe a little much. Over 500 miles in 95F heat. My back is killing me and i have blisters on my right hand. Thankfully, the old girl did not let me down.
Click to expand...
So when you park at your motel is it a secure underground park or just outside in a parking lot? .cheers
 
REALLY good to see Team Obsolete back in the AHRMA scene. It's been a long time since all the ugliness...
 
Had to take some of the material off the CNW headsteady to fit over the wiring loom. There's a small relief (see post #641), but I needed a little more clearance (and i couldn't easily move the loom).

My What Am I Getting Myself Into Combat Build Thread
 
Brakes

I had installed a RGM front disk and a Don Pender (i.e. Japanese) master cylinder. I never really rode it with the stock disk and MC, so i had nothing to compare to, but i found this setup underwhelming.

IMG_3044sm.jpg


The RGM disk looks good, but is crap IMO. I measured 10 thou run out in the disk and i believe others have voiced this problem (wished i saw that before i ordered it). Instead of just replacing the disk, i decided to give it the full Pender treatment.

IMG_5071sm.jpg


After some time with this setup, it's better but IMO not throwing me over the handle bars good. It seems to want a lot of heat in the pads before it gets grippy, so maybe that's the issue, the pads. I track my RX-7 and use high temp pads. These are like an anchor on the track, but barely stop me on the street. Wonder if anyone else with this brake has similar experience. I did some research on this brake and it seems a common mod is ditching the three pot caliper for a two pot caliper. Think i'll mess with the pads before i make another caliper change.

Oh, and did not install the fender brace that comes with the Pender brake. It's painted silver and does not match the stainless front brace. I bought a pipe bender to bend the existing stainless rear strut i had, but the stainless is so strong, it broke the bender. Maybe i'll get Pender's brace chromed. That may match the stainless better than the silver paint he uses. Structurally, it seems fine without it, but looks weird IMO.
 
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