Here’s how the finished side stand from the last post looks like. Much better than the previous one, now I can pivot the bike on it and don’t worry that it will snap.

After I had ditched the centre stand last year (or the centre stand ditched me, it’s still disputed) I got tired of jacking the bike up on pieces of wood every time I wanted to do some serious work on it. So I decided I need a service stand. So I went to the shop and bought… some square profiles 30mm x 30mm x 3mm and built one myself. While doing it I realised that now that I actually can weld a bit, I need to focus on the “keeping things straight and square” side of it. Mainly to have the patience to make jigs etc. I’m always rushing to get to the welding as fast as possible, when in fact it’s more like a finishing touch to all the designing, measuring, cutting, fitting which is like 80% of the work.

I ended up recutting and rewelding the thing a few times to get it reasonably straight. But it works like a charm!

I found a new spot for the crankcase breather and used a much longer tube, hoping that it will prevent it from spitting oil at all the surrounding elements like the air filter, battery and my trousers.

The final solution to the sticking rear brake was to buy a front calliper off a Honda XL600. It fits the mount right on, the only difference to the original is that the piston is a bit bigger. I might end up with a stronger rear brake, so what. I still have to make an adapter for the Honda CB600 rear master cylinder I’m using, cause it’s misaligned with the pedal brake a bit and causes problems.

You may also notice new rubber at the back. It’s the same as the front, the ever so popular Continental TKC80, in 140 size. I picked it up for 15 EUR, with 7mm thread left and a small damage to the tire bed. It’s no issue here, since I always use an inner tube at the rear. Otherwise the sand can get between the bed and the rim and I loose the seal.

Being at the arse end of the bike I also did some work on the fender. I cut it shorter and welded a light and plate bracket at the back of it. I also ditched the rubber flap I had there.

In the beginning I wanted to build a retro scrambler out of it, but I realised that with that square mid eighties engine, mag wheels, disc brakes and other details it will never look like it’s from the fifties. Now I want to stick to the sharp lines of that bike and emphasise them even more. I already have a crazy idea for the front light(s) setup, and more important, I don’t give a damn if anybody will like it.