Good news from me

The Bantam's very close to taking shape now. It now has an almost complete front end (minus a tyre and brake disc) albeit not on the frame yet, as i still have to rub it down, brace it, and send it off to powder coating.

The engine is split and cleaned, and i'm in the process of ordering up a few bits, although i'm doing the engine work after i have a rolling chassis.

Took a bit of a gamble with the wheel though, it's a Honda CB 125 RS front wheel which the guy said was 1.4" wide, so i checked it in a tyre application book and it takes a 2.75 dunlop kr82, so definately not 1.4" like the shop said lol. Also, it fits nicely on the spindle in the forks i'm using, so no need to change bearings, unless there's play in them of course. Looking at getting the forks converted, but at £395 +vat this may have to wait a while, i'm afraid my EMA payments wont be able to buy that it

so yeah it's coming on nicely, I'll post pictures etc if people ask for them

Zak

Please post some pictures Zak,
Love to see how you are progressing. I note that you are doing the cycle parts first... this tends to be the easier job and most new starters go down this route. I always advise to concentrate on the motor as this is where it matters in bantam racing and you can loose a lot by rushing at the end of the build, better to rush the cycle parts than the motor!

Anglesey soon.. will we see you in the paddock over there?
Cheers,
Alan

alan wrote:

Please post some pictures Zak,
Love to see how you are progressing. I note that you are doing the cycle parts first... this tends to be the easier job and most new starters go down this route. I always advise to concentrate on the motor as this is where it matters in bantam racing and you can loose a lot by rushing at the end of the build, better to rush the cycle parts than the motor!

Anglesey soon.. will we see you in the paddock over there?
Cheers,
Alan

thanks for that alan, i've blogged everything on myspace and Tj tuning, so i'll transfer over a few pics, or my whole blog if you like

I see what you mean about focusing on the engine rather than getting a rolling chassis, i'm starting the process of building it while the frames at powder coating

going to the opticians tomorrow to get that part of the ACU application signed, going to ask my dad very nicely about a trip up to Rugby to do the Competitors course at some point so i can then send my application off

and no with regards to Anglesey as I'm away camping in Somerset with the parents, mum didnt take kindly to the idea of a detour on our way there lol.

me too Zac. I've nearly sent off my application for the ACU. Need to do eye test( strangely i need to have one again. I would advise you to get a dog tag with your name, age and blood type on it incase of any unwanted accidents! I had one last week because i had small dots on my retina but all is fine now.) Might do competitors course next month and get the bike from Andy C. Here's a pic if you're interested in what it looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41090654@N05/3787835231/

Need to ask Jimmy for a fairing and tank. Then get it sent off for spraying and i'm done. Zac, where are you camping in Somerset? I live in Wiltshire which is just next to Somerset. I am very looking forward to joining you guys and you Zac on the grid next season! Keep riding and keep racing!

cheers,

Tim

Also with TJ Tuning it's not letting me register which is very annoying! Can you help me avoid this problem?

Tim

tim, ive already got my tags made, and you have to have them.

errrm minehead i believe is where we're staying. I'll talk to stanley or trevor for you about tjtuning

cheers, hope you enjoy your stay at Minehead!

Tim

pictures as promised

this is the original box of bits from london




Down at my dad's workshop with the engine, all of the clutch assembly minus the basket was missing.


the cover was easy to take off after i found out the part of the haynes manual saying "this bolt is LEFT HAND THREAD" lol


the cases split, the copper mallet was plan b


before


after, going to paint anyways


the front wheel rim came up a lot better than the rear wheel rim, which looks like it's made out of solid rust, so it will be transferred over to the rear hub


rear wheel after half an hour


the forks we dug out at home


the CB 125 wheel on the powervalve forks, it was delivered to my home address so it was just a mock up


Aprilia Rs caliper before stripping. came with master cylinder as well


stripped paint, washed remainder off in sink afterwards


after primer


neon orange all the way



just for the heck of it i'll post some pics of my Rs for some of you to look at





now has a gianelli system on it as the standard on as pictured split


i'll post more bantam related pics when i have them, finishing the caliper today

going to the opticians today so they can sign that off as well, then just need the course and join the vmcc

all for now
Zak

lovely bike Zak! I have an idea for my first bike i will just add a number plate holder on the back of the seat and put some indicators on and a headlight through the fairing to my first/ second bantam! its a cracking idea! A road legal race Bantam!

LOL, Zac, that pile of bits looks just like my first bantam back in 73, i picked it up in January and raced it for the first time in March, it wasn't finished properly and was as rough as a rusty nail but it got me on track(and in a ploughed field i remember).

Tim, good luck riding a bantam at 16 on the road lol. even if you get it registered as a 50, insurance will kill.

Mick, luckily the first race i will (hopefully) be competing in is Mallory, unless the schedule is different next year, so i wont end up in a field luckily i've also got a bit more time to finish it got the optician's report completed today, just need the course now and then i can submit my lisence forms

Nice One Zak,
Hope the bantam comes along OK. You will be able to get some of your cash back by putting the unwanted bits back through Ebay! had you sorted a barrel out with Brian White whilst you were at lydden. the iron barrels are V/hard to work on and limited with what you can do without some seriously major surgery!
What you doing for the crank as well? fast 175 engines all appear to have small fly wheels but you can still do reasonable with the modified large versions.
Good luck with the build, and hope we get you out at Mallory!
Alan
PS: nice pics!

Hi guys,

With the license forms it says i need to have a club official sign it? Does this mean somebody from Bantam racing or someone from the VMCC's Racing section? I've nearly completed the forms now. Did all of them today apart from the eyesight and medical. Need to get passport photo. I have photocopied my birth certificate. Hoping to get the Bantam from Andy next month. Beter ring him up later and sign the deal. Good luck with your forms Zak.

Tim

P.S. Zak, when are you taking your competitors course?

me and my dad are still debating about the crank, we found one in his box of bits from "back in the day" which i've got to measure up. we've got a machinist who's going to make the timing shaft and press/balance the crank.

yeah all the loom and stuff is going on once i've finished building. i've been finding bits and peices to sell to fund the build lol.

no i didnt sort a barrel out at lydden because i couldnt find him, however i now have a contact number and will be phoning when i get back from minehead as i get paid the day after

Alan a question for you, the optician said that as he doesnt know much about the form he just signed for me, he doesnt know if i'll need special glasses or whether i'll be fine without glasses, i noticed you wear yours while riding and the optician said that i may need special frames? are yours normal frames or polycarbonate???


Tim you dont need medical unless one of the boxes were ticked yes. and that will be vmcc official

cheers Zak! I was debating with my Dad when shall i get my medical form done with the doctor. All i need now is the opticians.

Tim

haha s'all good, if you read the super small writing it says you dont need it if you ticked no to all boxes.

Hi Zak,
No problem with wearing glasses, and they do not need to be anything special either as they are protected within the helmet. You need to get your vision corrected to be sure that your long sight is good, I do not like contact lenses so have a set of glasses for riding and then have a less powerful set for when I am off the bike. I can see bacteria at four miles with the riding set! but can not read a book with them!
Check out the ACU hand book, the only time it becomes a problem is if you want an international licence, with a restricted clubmans then there is no problem at all.
Cheers,
Alan

cool thanks for that my visions pretty good with glasses, they're mainly for reading/computer use. i can see fine without them, but on the form i didnt score a minimum of 6/6 by like one mark on the uncorrected, but was 4 over minimum with glasses

Leave your glasses in your toolbox.
Then you will out brake everyone

Hi guys,

All is sorted out now. In a month or two im going up to Ron Haslams Racing School. Riding their CBR125s. Dad says i need to work on my gearing because it is quite sloppy. Has anyone from the Bantam's tried Ron Haslam's? It looks good to me but is it good in the skin?

cheers,

Tim

i havent been as i can just submit my cbt certificate, i will be booking a track day after i get my license though.

you will still need the course at rugby house

I new that already Zak but thanks for pointing it out.

Hi Tim,

I have done Ron Haslams race school on the CBR 600 and that was excellent, if the 125 stuff is of the same standard you will be fine

James

Hi zak
my flywheels are full size and you seen how well that goes
also michaels as well
I would stick to standed ones but change the conrod
I am running a seadoo conrod out of a wet bike

very true. the one in the shed is a motorcross crank, possibly out an early yz 125, it's always a backup as i want my flywheels as close to original size lol

what you think of the pics?