The Notrun:- Restore or not? Help me decide.

So, I'm sending the tank and side-panels off to Beav of this parish to
get them painted. I need to:

Stop the clutch from slipping
Replace the fork springs
Probably rebuild the gearbox (it slips out of second sometimes)

So, I've got bits and pieces off of what is, basically, a fairly tidy
machine.

Question is: do I go the whole hog? I could get the frame powder-coated
while I'm about it. I could then go mad with painting and polishing to
get it really, really tidy.

So, do I bother? Or do I fettle what needs fettling, put it all back
together and just ride it?

Vote... NOW!

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart)
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Let's pretend you started the full restoration. it would probably take
you about 20 hours to strip it and faff about with it.

You'll then lose about 200 quids worth of vital bits.

It'll then sit around for 4 years until you get sick of the sight of it
and sell it for 450 quid.

So... if I was to offer you 450 quid now, less 10 quid an hour for your
time, plus the 200 quids worth of vital bits you've not yet lost then
you'll be in a better position than if you wait for the inevitable.

If I pop a cheque for 450 quid in the post can you mail it to me?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Tempting, but I think I can resist.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart)
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Do the mechanicals bits and if you really feel the need, the painting too.
I'd leave the rest as is. It _is_ a very honest unfuckedaboutwith example.
Just get it running/handling/stopping right and use it (often).
IMHO of course, as I'd be as likely to have another Brit as quick as a dose
of NSU after my experience with a T160.

JB

 

Voted, sah!

 

OK, maybe if I sweeten the deal with a crisp *new* 20 pound note 'cash'
as well as the 450 pounds payment.

Would that help sway you?

 

It's just that it says Kawasaki on the tank and not Norton.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Andy Bonwick

<rises effortlessly above>

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart)
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

<wavers slightly>

BTW, in your email you did mean tomorrow, yes?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart)
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Yes. I'll bring the turkey baster.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Jolly good. I'll have plenty of hot towels handy.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart)
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Do you want a working bike or a show queen ?
Personally I prefer to see a machine in tidy-ish working condition which
is properly representative of working bikes of the era.

 

Full fettle.

As it happens, I was offered a free "Commando-in-a-box" last weekend and I'm
not sure whether to accept it or not. Given that I'm pretty much a stay at
home bloke at present (the wife still hasn't got the use of her left hand)
something like a jigsaw puzle with a purpose might be the answer to be
losing my mind.

Or rather, what's left of it.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I've got an example of Beav & Son paintwork parked in my garage and I
would suspect that the quality of the work you'll get from them would
be similar.

And in that case, you can bet that the paintwork will show up the rest
of the bike something fierce, and the 'patina' on frame etc, the
slightly used chrome and all that will stand out more than sweller at a
Tory fundraising party.

Do it properly, you'll regret it otherwise.

 

This is what I'd do, and have been doing to the Guzzi.

 

I can do subtle and have done in the past.

 

Never, ever buy a bike in boxes. Free is good, though. And even a
Commando in a box is probably worth as much as £1500.

 

fix it and ride it. Make it too shiney and all you'll want to do is polish
it and look at it.

 

message

Very interesting TOG. I may be tempted even more now.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

That's best case, mind (decent paint and chrome, all there, etc). Any
bike in boxes is knackered because that's why it was taken to pieces in
the first place.

If it's complete fucked and a load of rusty bits with big lumps like
seat and tank missing, still £800-1000.