You say to yourself ...

[Cato]

Able to move things on a touch now that stuff's arriving and coming back. I got hold of a seconds XR55/Slabby seat unit as I thought the lines would be somewhere near what I was after and I'd be able to chop it about as required.

Some initial cutting of the skirts and I like the way it's shaping up. I'll need to wait until the arm's back and the wheels are assembled before I do much more with it so that I can see the overall shape of the bike but it looks good so far.

 

[Cato]

It's moving along now, rims and hubs done and back together, spacers done for the swing arm and front wheel, bottom end of the engine's built up and in the frame. Still a ton to do, but progress at last.

 

[Cato]

 

[Cato]

How it started, how it's going. It's exactly three months since I picked up the Dresda frame. Making real progress now.

Well on target for the weight too, it's a shave under 125 Kgs as it sits.

 

[Cato]

Back into some of the little jobs, first up the sprocket carrier. Original bearing size was 17 x 47 x 12. Changing the spindle from 17 to 20 meant a new bearing was required, but 20 x 47 x 12 isn't available as a sealed bearing. The easiest option then was to open up the bearing housing by 5 mm and use a 20 x 52 x 12.

When the bearing arrives I can then build it up, make the wheel spacers and get the rear wheel set. Once that's done I can check the chain run and see if I need an offset sprocket, then get the chain and sprockets ordered.

 

[Cato]

Finished making the lower rear engine mounts on the Dresda. I'll need to sort out some rear sets before I decide on what and where for the kick stand.

 

[Cato]

Absolutely no reason for this photo other than the sun came out.

That's about as far as I'll get with it before I take it to Stafford in a couple of weeks. I'll be up on the balcony with OSS, so if anyone's going say hello.

 

[Cato]

Thought I'd resurrect this 18 months on.

There has been a big pause due to the workshop move, family stuff, getting the business up and running etc etc. It was stripped down again for storage (currently on the racking) which has given me some time to consider the engine choice.

I came to the conclusion that an air cooled 1100 was the wrong choice for a number of reasons but the main two are the weight of the engine (95kg) and the fact that they're more about low down torque than high rpm hp. Several options were considered, top of the list were RF900 and GSXR but they' be a huge amount of work as they're down draught heads.

I have finally settled on an engine which ticks all the right boxes (IMHO). Suzuki, light, capable of 100hp, compact, fuel injection, liquid cooled, and low mileage engines are readily available. A bit pricey, but about half the cost of a full build on an air cooled 1100. It's getting a GSX8R parallel twin.