I have an alcohol engine in development for the bike . Probably next summer for that project .
Red ? That deserves an explanation . The frame was going to be painted because of 20 years plus of abuse so down to the metal it came . first in a hot tank and then by hand . I'll say this for Yamaha , whatever the paint or process what paint remained was removed by nearly a week in the hot tank . Commercial stripper wouldn't touch it . I had to resort to old fashioned elbow grease to get the remainder.
So where were we ? You wanted to know about red . I had gone the extra mile for a customer several times and he had access to powder coat . The original intended owner wanted red so red it was . A week after it had returned to the shop another customer shows up with the tank , painted rustoleum red .
The rear wheel shows up the next week in the hands of my machinist . The off side caliper was on my lift when I came to work days later .
Yet another customer heard of the project and donated some hoarded engines and goodies like the chrome engine covers and a couple piston sets .
Red it is save for a not very original but appropriate crossed tuning forks logo done in gold leaf destined for the tank . The one other embellishment will be a brass plaque in plain view . So many donated their time effort and parts to this build over the years that I can not in all good conscience let their efforts go unnoticed . Nearly 3/4 of the outside labor was donated . A fair half of the bright work was donated . The rear wheel complete was donated and created untold hours of modification to get it to it's simplest form here . The heavily modified front forks were returned to me after nearly 20 years by a fellow racer . The seat may need replacement even though it looks intact it belongs to a RD250C . A parts bike donated the tapered needle roller bearings for the neck .
An experienced Honda parts guru sifted through seals to get the rear axle assembly finished . A customer taught me 135 x 18 degree split point drill bit sharpening that made going through brake discs near painless . The Wheelmaster has offered to do the wheels . I know the wheels will cost me but just what yet I don't know . For those of you in my corner of the country that know Morrie and Jim I'm sure you'll understand that whatever the cost I'll gladly pay . Having done near daily business with Morrie for 25 of the 40 years I've known him I just don't ask any more .(yes I was part of the tide flat clientèle in the '70's ) I close my eyes , sign the check and have never regretted it . For those of you out here that don't know Morrie it's time you did . All those names and a few more will be on that plaque .
Okay so I avoided it till now I guess I have to answer . Yeah , it's red . Red and chrome to be exact . She wanted it red . Eventually she didn't want me, or the bike, but wanted the bike red . So red it is .
