What a pisser…. And why didn’t I powder coat, well I don’t really like powder, but thats exactly what I did next, I wasn’t going down the paint route again that was for sure. I also had a feeling that the red frame idea may be unlucky, so I decided to abandon the idea of the Johnny Dare bike and go for something similar…. more subtle….
It was January of 2012 when I took my flaking bright red frame to Goldburn finishers, who have plenty of experience with powder coating motorcycles frames, remembering to block up the holes and making sure you can still see the frame number…. very important, as if you cover it up you won’t pass your MOT here in the UK. I picked the frame up a few days later and finally started the dry build with fingers crossed.
The inspiration this time for the finished bike was a bike owned by a friends of Wes and Four Aces Cycle Supply. It was one of my all time favourite Triumphs, and one of the two bikes that started my love for the ‘Desert Sled’.
One problem was now had to undo all the work I had put into stripping that petrol tank. I no longer had any faith in painters so I set about doing the work myself. I didn’t have to worry about doing a top notch job as I wanted the finished tank to look a little weathered, as if it had been ridden in the deserts of Arizona. Once the paint was dry, I set about rubbing it down again with wire wool. The finished effect, in my opinion looked the bloody business!
During the build I had to source a few replacement parts including second hand rear brake calliper as the original item was frozen solid. A big problem with the original rear calliper is its position, low under the swing arm were its gets a good coating of grime. I gave the replacement caliber a good service, replacing just about everything. While I was at it I also gave the front caliber the same treatment.To prevent the same thing happening again I purchased the UpNOver bracket from Triumph Twin Power which moves the caliber to above the swing arm, with obvious results. Next up was to get the stock wheels re-shod with the super knobbly Continental TwinDuros. I stuck with the original wheels after I priced up getting a set of new lighter wheels and hubs…. not something I could afford at the time.
- Frame shortened and loop added, rear peg, and genral brackety removed, frame powder-coated
- 6” alloy rear Mudguard
- Stock front mudguard, shortened
- LH side cover – Custom ‘Q’ Style
- RH Side Cover – 1963 California Licence plate
- Triumph Eyebrow Tank Badges
- Joker Machine foot pegs
- British Customs Regulator bracket
- British Customs Indicator bracket
- Custom Bates ‘Scrambles’ style seat
- Custom Desert Sled Skid Plate
- Natural alloy for legs
- Fork Brace Powder Coated
- All nuts and bolts re zinced
- Rear brake Serviced with new pads then relocated using Triumph Twin Power UpNOver Bracket
- New OEM front disc
- Tyres- Continental TK80 on stock wheels and hubs
- New Swing Arm Bearing
- Vintage MX Bars
- Motogadget Soft Grips
- LSL Bar Ends
- Paint removed from brake/clutch lever brackets
- Joker Machine Levers
- Bar clamps – from new scrambler
- Bonneville Top Yoke
- Electrics (new loom as old one was a mess)
- Mini Indicators
- Bates Style rear light
- Speedo – Motogadget with Motogadget mounting bracket (custom speedo censor mount)
- Igniter Triumph Twin Power programmable
- British Customs ignition leads
- New Bonneville NARK
- Keihin 39FCR Carbs with K&N air-filters
- Co-Built ‘Bud Ekins’ style exhaust
- Triumph OEM (new style) oil pipes
- Joker Machine Sprocket Cover
- Joker Machine Oil filler cap
- DID Gold chain, New 48/17 Sprockets
- Side & Cam Covers striped and polished (new gaskets)
- Oil and Filter changed