imago

I tried it over a Bandit wheel and a 180 will just fit. The problem I have is with the look of the arm, the box section is too square for the frame to my eye as the frame is all sweeping curves of tube. Even with something chunky like the alloy Metmachex the box section has well radiused corners and a bent hoop rather than cut and welded. I think this arm would look better under a middleweight GS or something like that.

In the absence of anything more productive to do I thought I may as well clean up the Dresda/Davida arm. Cut off a couple of random brackets and such that look like they might have been 'race' adaptations for a paddock stand, welded up the bolt holes which held a second torque arm mount that had been added to the top of the box section, that sort of thing. It's all back to original now so I may as well fire it off to be blasted and powder coated. No intention to use it on the Dresda, but if it's all shiny and nice it can either be stored for some future use or sold.

As long as I don't start something else I'll be OK.

Frame's at the blasters for stripping and powder coat, a nice dark grey metallic. That's me without a project in the workshop for at least a couple of weeks.

That's on FaceAche, as @Jdeacsaid it's Pete Fields and when you scroll further down it says "Systems start from £1,700".

I'm sure it will bug quite a few people, but I won't be one of them.

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view, Larry is also a bit of a contrarian and I quite like the mis-match. So at the moment I'm thinking of a strip down, polish the rims, paint the centres, seal the front and reassemble as they are.

Earlier and later design I'd guess? Aside from manufacturing restrictions there's no benefit to split rims, so presumably they tooled up at some point and changed over.

It's one of those things where you have to see them in the flesh to make the call. My plan (subject to the usual caveats, wind direct, distractions etc) is to fit them as they are, get as much of the rest of it together for a dry build, then see if I can decide on colours for the frame, bodywork, wheel centres and so on. Once that's done then bits like the rim bolts will come on the back of that. At the moment I'm thinking either a monochrome approach to the bike as a whole, running from bare aluminium alloy colour to a charcoal grey but avoiding black. Or, loud colour for the frame such as the orange it was in the '90s and something contrasting for the rest. A couple of outside possibilities are to base the whole scheme on the Gulf Racing scheme because I've always liked it, or for the same reason the black and gold JPS scheme. Both of those have been done to death, but would look good IMHO as it's basically a race bike so it'd probably get away with it without looking naff. A fair way to go before it becomes urgent I know, but I find it easier if I have at least a few possibilities to ponder.

It's a good question, and there's probably an equally good answer. I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it will be good.

Tends to be the way with bikes and bits, the rarer or more oddball something is the more it seems to do the rounds. Still shaking my head when I think of you suggesting I go on 'UK Specials' to find info on the Dresda to find that a previous owner is on there. We're paddling in a very shallow pond when it comes to these bikes now, not many of them about, but a very small market too.

Indeed, I never know whether it's bad form to say where you're getting things like these, so err on the side of caution and don't.

No, alloy.

It's an option but I have some very nice wheels (Saxon) sorted now so I want to get them here and measure/try the fit. As it's only going to be a temporary arm while I search out a nice JMC or Metmachex I have no issue putting the angry grinder to it. The current sticking point and only thing keeping it from being an engine in roller is a nice RWU front end, but these things take time I guess.

"Work smarter not harder."

The amended (yet again) plan is that I'll get it blasted and coated at the same time as the frame. Then I'll use that until I find something better, probably a JMC/Metmachex. Seems daft to keep the bike off the road while I wait for an arm to turn up.

You did, and it is. Fun though.

Dresda made them, but they look very similar to Davida. From what you read they were on good terms and loads of helping out and swapping went on, Davida supplied some arms to Dresda at one point.

There was an awful lot of knackered, ugly, not to my taste, bodged and way too heavy stuff to ditch. So basically I'm keeping the frame and losing everything else to start again. For example (one for @davecara ) check out those lovely caliper adaptors The arm's not going to suit what I have in mind, so I may use it to start a @clivegto'stash' or more likely I'll accept that I can never attain such lofty status and move it on. It's in pretty good condition and surprisingly well engineered with key ways in the eccentric adjusters and a keyed spindle. It looks more like a Davida than an Dresda arm to me?

The Dresda is 'Blue approved' which given the amount of bikes he's seen and his knowledge of special frames that's an impressive endorsement.

Just weighed the rear wheel as they're heavy to see what I save when I get the replacements. The rear wheel with tyre and sprocket weighs 15.5 kg, the bare frame only weighs 15.8 kgs.

This thing's led a busy life. Having stripped it down I decided to investigate the patch welded on the underside of the tank. I doubt it was cut for a sender, fuel pump maybe?

Like a glove. Which is good news because it removes any doubt about the choice of engine. As you and @Paulmpointed out, there's no point in spending more money to have less power no matter how it looks. An early start means the frame is ready to go for stripping and either paint or powder.

Good news, confirmation that a GSX engine drops straight in. So that's a home for the 1170 with flowed big valve head.

"Best laid plans ...." In theory it could be done, but it'd be a lot of work for an end product I wouldn't be happy with. The other danger being a temporary build turning into a permanent build. The safety net being that it's not going to lose money whatever I do or don't end up doing with it which is an unusual position to be in with a project bike.