Spongebob

I'm booked both days. Most likely Bimota SB6 as it's quiet and wont run foul of there very strict noise limits

So you saw me when it was running on fumes. It was hunting badly as it picked up the last dregs of fuel and actually expired by what used to be the Fox Inn on the roundabout. £10 of unleaded and we were off again. Gave it beans between Highworth and Faringdon. Suspension needs some fine tuning as the bumps were sending me off the seat. By the time i got home my neck ached and my knees had locked just under my armpits. What a riding position!

Yes, took it for an MOT in Swindon. Passed! I ran out of petrol by the Coop in Highworth on the way home but the garage was only 100m away. Some small issues to sort out but pretty pleased. where were you?

Dont worry! Found it. RS Bike Paints has a searchable database by model and year. Powerful Blue apparently!

Calling the experts/anoraks out there.... What is the correct colour blue (dark one) for my 86 1100 Slabbie. Need to touch up some minor chips with something that hopefully matches. Name of pantone number is fine

This bike really does hate me. Before painting I knew the fuel tank leaked and the welder assured us it was fixed. I've left it with fuel in for the last couple of weeks and a bubble has appeared on the lower seam so it's obviously still leaking. Fuel tank now drained again and on the phone this morning to Frost's. POR15 purchased plus stripper to remove last of old liner. Another £90 not budgeted for or expected plus hassle. Hopefully that's the final issue

FZR600 front discs. Cheap and easy to find

Look what finally came back yesterday........

Good shout. Just bought 2 of these. One for the Magnum and the other for my Lawson replica that's next project and also has a Koso speedo. Digital-speedos.co.uk are UK stockists. £80.

There is no mechanical speedo drive on these Astralites so i'm using a Koso clock. Magnets are attached to disc bolts. Did consider GPS speedo but decent ones are really expensive. I have no intention of moving away from stock Harris seat. I'm sure some stretching exercises will allow me to create the fetal position required to place feet on rests. The tail light did come from Eblag. NOS i recall but a while ago. Does look very correct doesn't it. Many thanks for parting with it!

Temperature in to double digits and a dry road so took the Harris for a ride today. Not ridden it for 3 years before today. First impression - how does anyone contort themselves to fit this thing? I'm 5ft 11 and can barely screw my legs up under me enough to get my feet on the rests let alone adding a further complication of gear changes. Did Harris use jockeys when they designed the riding position? I had to part with my 750 Slabbie as I couldn't bend myself in to it anymore and this is far worse. Riding impressions - Relatively clean pick up and feels like it wants to rev. Noise through the Harris pipe is superb. Not too loud as to attract unwanted attention but you know I'm coming. Just gave it a couple of miles just to let everything settle in. Couple of minor oil leaks from generator cover and also from cam cover. Jobs left to do: Fix slow puncture in front tyre Fix minor oil leaks Purchase dzus fastners to properly fix seat hump and battery box lid Fit magnets to front hub for speedo and calibrate Fit fairing (when it finally comes back) plus headlights MOT End in sight!

Wheeled the thing out the garage this morning as the temperature was now above zero just to take a couple of pictures for you all. Also discovered another issue! Got a bloody slow puncture. Cant find it either. I am convinced this bike hates me. Hopefully fairing will be back soon so that can get fitted

Fuel tank is back. Mike drilled and tapped to 1/4 BSP and I have a spare tap from my Moto Martin in there as it uses same thread. Took an age to get taps pointing in the right direction so I could a) turn them on and b) connect the fuel pipes without fouling the frame or rear shock. I've bolted the seat unit on properly and the tank is now fitted. Spotted another design flaw..... How do you turn the chokes on? Luckily CR33 carbs used will eventually start with out choke. Put a liter of petrol in the tank to check for leaks. Cant see anything obvious. Started engine up and let it run for about 5 mins. No oil leaks I can see. Sounds good. Revs pick up well but dont drop off so well so carb balance possibly? Final observation is ignition key. We mounted it under the electrics tray and above the cylinder head. After 5 mins of tick over it was rather hot. relocation might be called for.... Did not take it outside as it's snowing and the everywhere is covered in crud. If things improve in the week I'll push it outside and take some new pictures. Just waiting on the fairing back from paint now. My wonderful painter decided to finish my Moto Martin paint that I told him was the lowest priority. Oh well!

I love the Cadwell weekend but it's Spa the next weekend and that's already booked and paid for. I will be going in to negotiation with the boss later to secure either Cadwell or Donington but suspect i wont be allowed both due to Spa and a week in Portugal with No Limits.

So this thing hates me! Fitting the bodywork at the weekend i noticed one of the fuel taps was loose so I give it a little tweak to tighten and guess what.... Stripped thread on the tank which would also appear to be made of cheese. Options as i see it (thanks to all on Harris forum on Facebook) 1) Block damaged outlet and run carbs off a single outlet - will it flow enough fuel? 33 CR carbs, 1170cc, fast road cams 2) Drill and tap both holes to 1/4 BSP and use air line taps instead of standard Paoili fuel taps? 3) Cut both existing fuel outlets out of the base of the tank and replace with a plate with suitable fixing to allow use of Pingel dual outlet tap? Answers on a post card to.... What else can go wrong with this build?

Collected the Magnum from Adam yesterday. I rather got the feeling he was pleased to see the back of it. He's also set the cam timing up accurately whilst the engine was out. I now have 5 gears instead of 3. Starts on the button and sounds very sweet. Off to the shed now to fit the bodywork that I do have (yes, still no fairing back). Will take some more pictures and perhaps a little run up the road when it stops lashing down with rain.

x2 on clear coat. They look great done that way.

He's found it. Apparently I had put something in back to front so the selectors weren't engaging properly. Unfortunately it was engine out and cases split to fix rather than access via the clutch. Positive spin at least it's fixed. I'm going to drop the clutch and sump etc with him later and get him to reassemble whilst I am laid up. Should be back early new year.

Given up. Can't see f all in that gearbox and wont pretend I know what I am looking at either. Nothing obvious hanging off or in the wrong place. Also f**ked my back so heavy lifting is off the agenda for a while. Bike has gone to Adam Perkins to remove motor and dive in the gearbox to fix. So close and yet so far! Just glad gearbox issue was discovered before I fited all the body work and tried to run it up the road. It's going to cost me but at least i know it will be right when it comes back.

I can see what you mean! I cant see f all in there for lumps of casing. Going to take bike off the ramp and lie it on the ground see if i can see in there better when its on its side.

Yes, clutch cover is off and if I get time I'll remove the exhaust and drop the sump. I was talking to the guy building the Katana race bike at Motorcycle Live and reckons you should be able to see and hopefully fix via sump

Bike is home from Mike's. He's done a neat job on the wiring and has fixed the oil leak which was simply a nicked o ring. It starts on the button but I have discovered a new issue. Bike selects 1st gear, changes to 2nd and then 3rd but will not select 4th. I've tried with engine off and engine running with the wheel in the air but no joy. I am dreading the prospect of having to take engine out and split cases. Hoping I can see whats wrong either via clutch cover or very least dropping sump. I've never been deep in a Suzuki engine before. What do I need to be looking for?

and it lives! Due to lack of time and plain couldn't be arsed I asked Mike at Full Metal to sort me out a loom and just check over a few areas I have of concern. Apparently it fired up easily and pissed oil everywhere. Easy fix as filter cover o ring pinched. Mike will be returning it in a few days and i'll then move to finish which is mostly cosmetic stuff. Still no sign of my fairing back from paint but I'm told it will be done end of this month. End is in sight!

We eventually found a parts diagram for a Jota. Whilst not identical it gave enough information to work out what was missing from where. With some new preload spacers machined up I should be ok. Interesting that there is no bush at the top of the fork so the stanchion just slides against the fork lower. Ohlins they are not!

Any one got an exploded view or parts diagram of the internals for Marzocchi forks as used by Harris on Mag 2 please? I think same forks also used on Laverda of period. Mine are not working as they should. We think internals may have been modified but have nothing to compare to. Cant find anything on internet.