zedhead Posted December 1, 2022 Posted December 1, 2022 (edited) So, as Katanamangler alluded to in his welcome post, I've finally got around to pulling my finger out and going road racing, as I've been muttering about for some years. I'd actually got my ACU licence, did the training etc, about 14 years ago, but then procrastinated when a potential bike was no longer available, and then years passed by in the blink of an eye... And then 2022 came, kicked me in the bollocks and made me realise that if you want to do stuff, then just fucking do it... End result, a Bandit 600 bought at Newark Autojumble, with a conversation 24 hours later with the guys from Formula Prostock Racing at Motorcycle Live, and me signing up for the 2023 series. Nothing done to the bike yet, but here's how it stands right now. Edited December 1, 2022 by zedhead 12 Quote
davecara Posted December 1, 2022 Posted December 1, 2022 Tomorrows not a given mate, get out there and get after it Is the Bandit getting dommies and anodised bolts? 1 Quote
zedhead Posted December 1, 2022 Author Posted December 1, 2022 No lights required, and if they were it wouldn't be Dommies as they'd be headed the same way as the anodised bar ends and levers... to the bin via the bandsaw! 2 Quote
bluedog59 Posted December 1, 2022 Posted December 1, 2022 Welcome to the fun world of motorcycle racing, prepare for a season of elation, comedy and misery. As it's your first time I wouldn't bother trying to have the best/fastest bike on the grid, just one does what it's supposed to do and is easy to ride. The bike will always have a better lap time in it than the rider can manage while you're learning. Working out how to go fast on track is more about head than balls, concentrate on being smooth and getting your line right, put them together and the lap times will come. If you need a spanner man for Donington, give me a shout as it's only up the road from me. PS. No matter how fast or good on the brakes you think you are, the fast guys will come flying past. It's a totally different level to what you can do on the road. PPS. It will take over your life and be your only subject of conversation. 3 Quote
Duckndive Posted December 1, 2022 Posted December 1, 2022 Well done and good luck “its about getting back in the saddle” 2 Quote
jonny1bump Posted December 3, 2022 Posted December 3, 2022 Someone can take pics of you for a change. Awesome. 3 Quote
zedhead Posted December 5, 2022 Author Posted December 5, 2022 (edited) Parts being collected together before I start any work, so far I've got:- a flat track style number board from Red Max Speed Shop, brake lever guard from R&G, lockwire-ready sump plug, service kit, flat bars, rearsets from Race Supplies (although they'll need adaptor plates to give enough ground clearance) and a Black Widow full exhaust system. I still need to pick up a bellypan (that's coming from A16 Racing) and a sharks fin chain guard. Edited December 6, 2022 by zedhead 2 Quote
Paulm Posted December 5, 2022 Posted December 5, 2022 I think there's a pair of wheels at the unit Dave,yours if you want them,have a look next time you go over,pair of white wheels in the pile next to the door. 1 Quote
gsxwill Posted December 6, 2022 Posted December 6, 2022 Watched a day's racing last year and it did look like a lot of fun, good luck! going to be following this with interest 1 Quote
zedhead Posted December 6, 2022 Author Posted December 6, 2022 On 12/5/2022 at 5:06 PM, Paulm said: I think there's a pair of wheels at the unit Dave,yours if you want them,have a look next time you go over,pair of white wheels in the pile next to the door. Nice one, thanks Paul, I have a couple of irons in the fire for spare wheels right now, as need a pair for wet tyres, and was considering going white with the wheels. Hoping to get over to the unit later this week, so I'll have a look ;-) Quote
Paulm Posted December 6, 2022 Posted December 6, 2022 1 hour ago, zedhead said: Nice one, thanks Paul, I have a couple of irons in the fire for spare wheels right now, as need a pair for wet tyres, and was considering going white with the wheels. Hoping to get over to the unit later this week, so I'll have a look ;-) I'll be there on Saturday Dave. 1 Quote
zedhead Posted December 8, 2022 Author Posted December 8, 2022 The mileage is, seemingly, genuine. And it looks as though it was originally a red bike, although the log book says that it's blue... 1 Quote
clivegto Posted December 10, 2022 Posted December 10, 2022 The other guy that was interested in buying the bike at Newark was humming and haring about the colour with the seller when I walked by, then I heard you just walked up and bought it. Made me chuckle . Good luck with the racing 2 Quote
zedhead Posted December 12, 2022 Author Posted December 12, 2022 On 12/10/2022 at 9:10 AM, clivegto said: The other guy that was interested in buying the bike at Newark was humming and haring about the colour with the seller when I walked by, then I heard you just walked up and bought it. Made me chuckle . Good luck with the racing Yep, exactly what happened Clive! The other bloke was looking at it for the third time, and I asked Gen how much he wanted, and what the mileage was and then, with that information, I said "Sold!" and shook Gen's hand. The other geezer stomped off, looking dismayed, frustrated and perplexed... you snooze you lose! 4 Quote
zedhead Posted December 12, 2022 Author Posted December 12, 2022 First bit of absolute joy... header bolts are not happy at being asked to depart from their place of rest... Quote
yantosh Posted December 12, 2022 Posted December 12, 2022 what Suzuki has joined let no man cast asunder 1 Quote
zedhead Posted January 2, 2023 Author Posted January 2, 2023 Now on the ramp, with lots of penetrating fluid (fsnurk) applied... 1 Quote
Duckndive Posted January 6, 2023 Posted January 6, 2023 On 12/6/2022 at 8:39 PM, zedhead said: Nice one, thanks Paul, I have a couple of irons in the fire for spare wheels right now, as need a pair for wet tyres, and was considering going white with the wheels. Hoping to get over to the unit later this week, so I'll have a look ;-) Also have spare 600 front wheels and should have a b12 or 1100 rear if needed ...no cost Quote
zedhead Posted January 6, 2023 Author Posted January 6, 2023 @Duckndivecheers Clive, I've got a spare set for wets (as long as I can get the disc bolts out, more seized shenenigans) and the wheels have to be standard B6, so no chance of fitting a larger rear... 1 Quote
zedhead Posted January 15, 2023 Author Posted January 15, 2023 Well, that was fun... the bolts in the spare wheels were not just seized... they were torx-headed bolts, not shouldered as they should be, fitted by a gorilla with about a bucket of loctite (or similar)... all now out bar one, that has just had a nut welded to it after the torx fitting that I'd welded to it snapped. I'm leaving it overnight so it can think about what it's done, then it'll feel bad tomorrow and will pop out of it's own accord. In other news, one header bolt still being a bit grumpy. 2 Quote
zedhead Posted January 15, 2023 Author Posted January 15, 2023 3pm, before the "shouting at disc bolts" episode. 1 Quote
yantosh Posted January 15, 2023 Posted January 15, 2023 disc bolts, soft as cheese, but hate to be drilled 1 Quote
zedhead Posted January 16, 2023 Author Posted January 16, 2023 11 hours ago, yantosh said: disc bolts, soft as cheese, but hate to be drilled Indeed. And seemingly made from the same material as the bolts used to hold on the rear brake master cylinder - one drilled, then welded, then snapped. Fuck you, off to the bin you go! (replacement master cylinder ordered...) 1 Quote
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