OW31 vs TD3

Over the past few days, I have been tossing and turning over the overall design of the bike. About a year ago, I was resigned to just throw the bike back together the quickest and easiest way possible, just to get it on the road again. But now, after combing over my inventory of parts I've been collecting, I'm having second thoughts...

The real kicker was when I (again) realized how heavy those OEM cast wheels are compared to the wire RD350 wheels I bought a while back. I bought those wire wheels for a good reason and it would be a cryin' shame not to use them.

Okay, well, as long as those wire wheels are back in the scheme of things, now I have to think about rear drum brakes! Dammit! I had already started shopping for pads and brake master cylinder rebuild kits. Now I have to figure out a new setup of rearsets that work with the drum brakes.

I was already shopping for fiberglass parts to do the OW31. I might as well switch back to the TD3 concept again. I found this stunning TD3 replica that uses Mead Speed fiberglass parts. I do believe I found my new inspiration for design.

Other news is that I did get in contact with my local engine builder. I was just happy that he was alive and agreed to take the job. He quoted me $1100 just for labor, which includes rebuilding the crank and honing/boring the cylinders. I would have to buy parts out of my pocket and this doesn't include blasting/repainting anything. I emailed back giving him an idea of my configurations, including mating the Daytona head to the jugs, which could need some decking. Still waiting for his reply. There's still the engine building in SF that I need to get a hold of- I guess his old cell phone number is defunct, as the SMS messages are bouncing back.

So moving forward, I've suddenly run into a small rash of extra cash- I've been unexpectedly working a shit ton of overtime recently (I've worked 23 hours over the past 2 days), plus I get an unexpected bonus from work coming in early March! I might start working on the forks and perhaps buy some build kits for the front brake system. That seems to be a good reasonable start. I'll keep you posted on how things go....

Suspension Research

I got the day off today, so I have been emailing the engine-builders and pipe restorer. I'm also poking around trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my suspension.

I would really like to install emulators in the forks. There are a few choices, but I'm still trying to figure out what's going to actually work. I know that the Harley crowd likes to use Ricor Intiminators, but I don't think they have a model that works with my RD. Then there's Mikesxs, but I don't think they have a size that fits the RD400 either. Then there was one...

Race Tech has an excellent product. I have used their emulator before on the SV650s that I took to the track. They kind of invented the concept (and own the patent on it). It was straightforward and easy to install. And it worked like a charm. The only issue for the RD400 is that in order for the emulators to seat flush against the damper rods, some machining has to be done- I believe there's an inner lip that keeps the devices from sitting flat. It's about $200 for the emulators and another $110 for springs that match my weight and ride style.

As for the rear shocks, I do believe that I will be going with some Ikon shocks (formerly Koni). They only make one model that applies to the RD400, but it's a good one. I emailed Nils and he informed me that on it's lightest preload setting, the springs should be fine for me.

Now, I have to get back to today's task at hand. (No, it's not the Valentine's Day thing- my wife is sick, so all dinner reservations have been called off. I'm just going to smoke some burgers tonight instead.) For some reason, the brake lights on my Harley won't turn off! I bought a new front brake switch, but the last time I tested, it wasn't the rear switch nor the front switch!! Weird. Luckily, when I tested again today, I successfully isolated the issue down to the front. Yay! Now, I just have to solder the new switch in and stitch that puppy all back together!

Back From the Dead

After a very long break, I'm starting to get the wheels turning in my head again about getting this bike back together. Right about the time I last contributed to this blog, I was finishing up my prerequisites for getting into x-ray school. Life just got way too busy and intense- I had to completely abandon the RD project.

I did get into a radiology program- there basically went another 2 years of my life, working at hospitals basically for free, working my ass off trying not to get cut from my program. Immediately upon graduating (like literally 3 days after getting back from a celebratory vacation), I got a job shooting x-rays at a small urgent care clinic in Berkeley. Then two months later, I began work with an MRI company that kept me busy for the next four and a half years! Most of my employment there, I was working an average of 55-65 hours a week! Crazy busy (and tired), but the money was good. I finally quit that job and now have a much more mellow, manageable job working for Kaiser as an MRI technologist.

But honestly the last eight years wasn't all work and school. I took some time off to travel a bit. I had other vehicle projects that came along that were just a bit easier to work with than this RD that is stuffed in a bunch of boxes- I built up a really nice SV650 and sold that. I bought a Mazdaspeed Miata and built that up to track form to race the local tracks (Laguna Seca, Thunderhill Raceway and Sears Point). I bought a nice little Harley Davidson Iron and pumped out that motor to 1250cc's. I bought a brand new Jeep Wrangler and built that up a little to take to the Rubicon Trail (it's still a work in progress). And currently I also have a 1974 BMW 2002 on jack stands in my garage, waiting for me to swap out the head gasket and water pump. I think projects just find me...

Anyway, I had an epiphany this week, seeing myself on the RD400 on the track, me in my full leathers. Much has changed in the past 8-9 years. I was once going to build this bike up to be a TD3 replica, but now I think I'm going to make a Kenny Roberts clone. I think it will just be easier to stick with the mag wheels instead of going with the RD350 wire wheels. The fairing might be easier to find as well as the saddle. Also I found out that Works Performance Shocks basically has gone out of business, so I'll probably be switching to Ikon shocks.

I have emailed my local 2-stroke engine builder. Last time we corresponded [barely], we were in talks of figuring out what to do with my engine. That was 2 years ago. I hope he's still out there (alive). If he's not available, I have another well respected dude out in San Francisco, but that's going to be a bit of a drive. (Hoping to find my first choice- he's only 15 minutes away.)

I fired off an email to Bruce at Motocross Pipe Repair in Vegas. I'm hoping that since it's winter, his work load will be light. I've been putting off getting these Factory Pipes restored for years. It's finally time.

With any luck, maybe the bike will be somewhat finished in rough form by the end of the year. We'll just have to see about that. This project has a way of making its way to the backburner :|   I do have two or three vacations lined up over the next 12 months, so don't hold your breath!!