-
I’ve gotten bored lately with all my airplane projects. R/C and my ultralight. Not giving up on any of it, just need something else. Motorcycles are usually a good diversion. So I decided to rip apart my TL. I’m going to do a JJ mod for weight loss. Dry, the TL tips the scales at 218lbs., if I remember correctly. Been watching lots of You-Tube on vintage trials, went to a recent trial meet here in AZ, so I have the bug again.
My plan is to take off as much weight as I can without compromising any strength in the frame. This bike was my first new trials back in ’75, and as the competition got harder, I looked for mods to improve its capabilities. Decreased fork rake, and an inch shorter swing arm were two mods that helped a lot. Didn’t do anything to decrease weight though. So this time around, with the afore mentioned mods, I’ll concentrate on weight loss too. I’ll also increase the cc’s with a big bore piston.
So this is where I’m at as of lunch break. Going to get it all stripped down today.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
Ready for weight reduction. Weighs 21.8lbs. in this stripped state.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
Couple shots I have of me riding a TL. This one was my friends bike and I was riding it while home on leave from the Air Force. It was also the bike I rode on my last trials a week before I went to basic training. I bought it from him later and sold it while I was stationed on Denver at Lowry AFB.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
It is not at the ski hill like it used to be but a few miles out of town on Jamie Jenny’s ranch. He has a beautiful rolling hills grass track. Anybody can enter the trials saturday and I think anybody with the correct bike can enter the Premier class Vintage Moto on sunday. 2019 was a tribute to Dick Mann and I got put on one of his BSA B50 framers. What a hoot! I also got to use a Bultaco in prestine shape for the trials. It is nothing like it used to be in town but it is still really special. Catered dinner with kegs of beer, cool old shit, cow shit, swap meet shit, fun time. And like I said camping at my family ranch.
Had to stop for a baloney and cheese samich. Got one side of the frame filled with lightening holes, cut of the rear fender hoop, and a few mount tabs for the side covers I won’t be using. Getting on the other side in a few. Also going to loose the lower frame cradles, and weld in some tabs for an aluminum skid plate.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
Swiss Cheese, or ready for church(you know, cause it’s all Holy). Frame was 21.8lbs., now 20lbs. Lost half a pound with just the holes. Bottom frame loops and rear fender loop was the other 1.2 pounds. Going to shorten the swing arm next.
Newbold, you wouldn’t happen to have pictures of the TL you modified. I’d like to see what you did with the foot pegs and steering rake. I modified the rake on my old TL back in the day. Can’t remember what the final number was. Stock is 26degrees. I hear the number 21degrees thrown around on another you-tube channel I subscribe to on a Beezer C15 unit trials. Also, you wouldn’t happen to have a MT/MR250 front fork and wheel laying around? They are 1″ longer than the TL, has a bigger brake, and heavier spring rate.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
Swing arm all cleaned up. Cut out one inch and re-welded.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
First pic shows my new lower foot peg location. Middle pic is the stock location. Last pic is some bracing to keep the peg plates from bending inward. I used pieces cut of the old rear frame loop. This should give me a better fit between pegs and handle bars for my 6’6″ height. It will also lower the center of gravity of the bike. Tomorrow, I’ll mount the peg brackets, then start mock-up with the engine and swing arm in place.
I'm at the age where "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.