The obsession continues....

[motosera]

There are currently 4 bikes in my workshop...

Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird - my main ride
Suzuki 1200 Bandit - my partners bike
Buell Softail Custom - the toy bike (video on my channel)
Yamaha R1 4xv - a project bike that im currently working on which belongs to a friend

For those who don't really know, building bikes (and cars) is what i do when I'm not working "for the man" so with winter approaching and more workshop time looming it seems fitting that this weekend there will be a 5th bike... a KLE500 which cost me the princely sum of 100 quid! Which is completely disassembled and has been for the past 14 (yes 14) years... It's going to be rebuilt into an offroad/hack/rat bike for something completely different and with a lot of custom made bits and pieces. If that's your kinda thing then there will be a project vlog series on that coming very soon. Or if not, a preemptive sorry for any spamming of pictures in the relevant area of this site!

Doesn't matter what bike it is or what state its in I cant help but get excited when another enters my lair!

Oh and I'm close to 400 subs... who will be the 400th?... Free stickers for whoever it is... (is that even an incentive? )

 

[HippoDrone]

Don't forget to add some pics to this thread as the build takes shape

 

[AlanSmith7]

" so with winter approaching and more workshop time looming it seems fitting that this weekend there will be a 5th bike... a KLE500 which cost me the princely sum of 100 quid! Which is completely disassembled and has been for the past 14 (yes 14) years... It's going to be rebuilt into an offroad/hack/rat bike for something completely different and with a lot of custom made bits and pieces. If that's your kinda thing then there will be a project vlog series on that coming very soon.

Good to know about your work. I will be waiting for the Vlog series of the rebuilt of your fifth motorcycle.

 

[motosera]

Don't forget to add some pics to this thread as the build takes shape

Will do! I'll make this a little mini build thread to accompany vlog episodes!

Good to know about your work. I will be waiting for the Vlog series of the rebuilt of your fifth motorcycle.

Thanks

 

[City Bob]

Any pics of your workshop?!! I love a good workshop.

How about a workshop walkthrough video?!

 

[motosera]

Any pics of your workshop?!! I love a good workshop.

How about a workshop walkthrough video?!

All in good time my fine gentleman...

Plans are afoot...

 

[City Bob]

All in good time my fine gentleman...

Plans are afoot...

Good good

 

[motosera]

 

[HippoDrone]

hahahah... awesome, you do like to take on a tough project!

 

[Pooley]

There's a reason the KLE has been in bits for so long! Horrid bikes!! Not a bad base for something custom though, given the parts availability on the 500cc lump that's been around for decades.

 

[Meifesto]

I would love to find a cheap ass kle.
Don't have that luck here i'm afraid.

But i have heard some nice stories off people who used those used for offroading etc.
(faintly also remember a youtube channel with kle, enduro riding in his "backgarden")

 

[motosera]

There's a reason the KLE has been in bits for so long! Horrid bikes!! Not a bad base for something custom though, given the parts availability on the 500cc lump that's been around for decades.

If it wasn't almost free I wouldn't have bothered with it. It's not going to set the world alight, but it's also a good project for my channel to show how to do various bits of maintenance on bikes as well as generally document the rebuild.

I really only plan on using it offroad on the lanes near home, not going touring on it

Among the parts were new uprated rear shock and fork springs.

I would love to find a cheap ass kle.
Don't have that luck here i'm afraid.

But i have heard some nice stories off people who used those used for offroading etc.
(faintly also remember a youtube channel with kle, enduro riding in his "backgarden")

I really want a KLR, but they are almost impossible to find for sensible money now. The KLE was a spur of the moment because it was so cheap.

The KLE will do for what I intend to do with it.

 

[Pooley]

I really only plan on using it offroad on the lanes near home, not going touring on it

Oh don't get me wrong it's worth tinkering about with, but bone stock, they are pretty pants at doing what they were designed to do. Luckily like you said you already have some upgrades to improve what Kawasaki didn't get quite right!

 

[LandyVlad]

Your OP doesn't mention the Ducati ?!

 

[motosera]

Your OP doesn't mention the Ducati ?!

It's gone back to it's rightful owner - it's a project I did for a friend, he recently dropped his '98 R1 off with me for similar treatment

 

[LandyVlad]

It's gone back to it's rightful owner - it's a project I did for a friend, he recently dropped his '98 R1 off with me for similar treatment

Oh I thought it was yours.

 

[motosera]

Oh I thought it was yours.

Nah, I do projects for other people, as well as for myself. Bikes and cars. Currently also building a Ford 460 which is going in a Cobra kit car - the car will be here soon to be completed.

The KLE500 project is for myself, 'bird and Buell are mine, Bandit is my girlfriends (which I rebuilt during lock down for her and gave it a snazzy paint job and engine rebuild, upgrade and dyno set up).

Other people's projects:
Ducati 996, Yamaha R1, DAX Cobra, Locost kit car. Done loads in the past - generally its people I know through other hobbies.

 

[LandyVlad]

Cool build me a Cobra and post it to me.

 

[motosera]

Well its back on its wheels...

2 more episodes filmed, a lot of editing to do...