Thumper Club Forum

Technical => Project Progress => Topic started by: themoudie on October 23, 2019, 10:34:27 PM

Title: Duke
Post by: themoudie on October 23, 2019, 10:34:27 PM
Finally, having been carted to Stafford, completed on the Wednesday before the show after 18 years off the road and a complete rebuild with over 75,000 miles on the original piston; still running the original con rod, with a new big end and piston, the 'family friend' fired up and went for a 20 mile shake down.

5 miles down the road and the bends started to flow  ;D  I had to remind myself that the tyres weren't scrubbed in, the brakes needed bedding in and the motor needed running in.  ;D  Very different from the 600cc SRX's, with ~40bhp pushing ~120Kg along and without the balance weights in the motor. Drum brakes felt very different from Japanese disc setups; softer might be one way of describing their effect. As for the shims! So far I seem to have the right ones in the right places. Time will tell!

Now where is that 350 motor that's in big bits?  ::)

Regards, Bill
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: manxie on October 23, 2019, 10:37:46 PM
That`s a little stunner Bill, nice one  8) 8)
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: mthee on October 24, 2019, 05:42:38 AM
Gorgeous Duke!  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Moto63 on October 24, 2019, 06:31:40 AM
Yes a true classic without a doubt Bill... lovely 👍👍
Cheers, Michael
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: JOOLZ on October 24, 2019, 05:21:25 PM
Lovely motorcycle :)
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: spooky on October 24, 2019, 05:28:12 PM
Nice !!  looks like a contender for Aske Hall Sprint next year..
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Rossco500 on October 26, 2019, 10:12:32 PM
Looks great Bill - hard to beat the Italians when it comes to style. I particularly love the looks of their-mid 1950s 175cc machines.

Regards

Tony 
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: CrazyFrog on October 27, 2019, 11:06:55 AM
Cracking bike, very jealous...
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Ian on October 30, 2019, 09:43:42 PM
It looked very appealing to a lot of folk at Stafford....well done Bill. I wish you many miles of happy motoring.
Ian
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: themoudie on October 31, 2019, 10:29:42 AM
Thank you one and all for your compliments.

In 1976 I let my heart rule my head and fortunately circumstances have turned out that I still have the beastie 43 years later.

Whilst I like the look of it and thoroughly enjoy riding it the shakedown runs have not been trouble free.  :o  ;)  There is an oil leak from the timing chest cover and the carburation is not right, as it won't idle below 1,500rpm! ::)

So, once I've dealt with a goose and 3 brace of pheasants for the freezer that were going to be thrown away, because the shooters couldn't be a***d to clean them!  >:( >:( >:(  I shall be installing a Boyer Induction Discharge module, seeking the oil leak and trying out an Amal MKII that was in the stock cupboard.

Then there is the K2, etc, etc, etc.  :-X ;) ;) ;)

Keep twisting the throttle.

My regards, Bill
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Rossco500 on November 01, 2019, 10:57:59 PM
Currently for sale on Donedeal in Ireland for £2500. I think this is third time it's been advertised in the past 3 years. I'd leave it looking just as it is - another fine example of a 1950s Italian 175cc mini-thumper.

Regards

Tony
 
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: themoudie on November 02, 2019, 11:33:59 AM
Aye Tony,

You know you would use it.   ;D ;D ;D

Needs to be ridden and kept mechanically sound. You don't need anything bigger down those grass lined single track roads!  ;)

My regards, Bill
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Moto63 on November 02, 2019, 12:15:42 PM
Personally I'd flat tracker it...................ok, ok I was joking 😉👍
Name withheld to protect the innocent
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Steve Lake on November 02, 2019, 03:38:18 PM
lovely bike Bill .... 
'bout time you let it go, make room for all the other projects ?? .... i might have room for it :-)
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: themoudie on November 02, 2019, 10:24:42 PM
Aye Steve,

Yew've got nuf anyway!  ;D  Morini Riders at Stafford were a bit dour, but managed to make them smile, even though the 125H causes confusion!  :-\ looks like the electrics need some revision. Bl**dy Italian electrics!  :-X

Good health, Bill
Title: Re: Duke
Post by: Steve Lake on November 06, 2019, 10:03:26 AM
yes... #1 Sons 350 sport has the usual standard of Italian electricery ...  he has to ride behind me at night, and i watch his headlamp in my mirror going from bright(ish) to dim to TocH lamp in the space of 30 mins.
makes me wonder if we could cobble up LED's in some fashion ...   
trust all is well in the land of the free
pip pip