I love this bike!

I totally love this Norton Domiracer. A true marriage of classic cafe racer approach, modern running gear and well proportioned aesthetics. (Shame that it only has 80bhp). It makes me more than ever determined to eventually transform my SD into something like this, I'm not that interested anymore in keeping it looking like a well prepared, carbon SDR. I want a unique bike that has more character and style but rides the same and is just as capable.

I really need an aluminium tank and lose the tank fairings, a low down, side exiting exhaust, a smaller single seat and rear light design and a single round headlight.

You know what they say; you can take the designer out of Shoreditch but you cant take the Shoreditch out of the beardy hipster coolcat.

I know. I'm a total aesthetics whore who is always lead by poncy views on style. It's my undoing and it ruins my life all the time. I can't even buy a dish cloth or an envelope without agonising over the way it look or the materials it's made from. I probably need therapy.

I appreciate the aesthetics of this as well.

As stated elsewhere, I'd have plunked down for a Commando by now (assuming they were available in the US), if reports on the product weren't so depressing.

On the matter of 80 HP - plenty adequate for such a machine IMO. Makes gobs of mid-range torque, and that bike is certainly track-worthy. In the right hands, it would be a suitable weapon to shame many a SS rider.

While not quite as appealing, this is growing on me (in the same way I like Guzzis with more sporting intentions for what they are):



Proportions aren't quite right - like the tank is too large, tail cowl too small (relatively speaking), and not enough open space around the engine - ? That airbox is ridiculous appearing (no doubt driven by some Euro/EPA mandates) - and would have to go. Well, I'm no industrial designer ... Again, just doesn't seem quite right ...

I love that r9 thing as well, except for the typical bmw price tag. Speaking of guzzi, if only they could put an 80hp motor in the v7 racer. I believe the stock number is closer to 50.

Looks great to me though. Edit: it's actually 43hp!

I've had thoughts of piddling around on a royal enfield continental gt.

Here's a hand made aluminium RC8 tank.

Kind of angular, won't really go with the round headlight...

Here's a very rough, Photoshopped image of my SD chassis with low exhaust, RC8 style ali tank, carbon seat unit, clip-ons, round headlight and spoked wheels.

Just a thought, without the high mount exhaust you have room for a nice oil tank under the seat.

What is that behind the rad and I front of the coolant reservoir ?

As Will said, get rid of all the cluter and expose the LC8 motor for what it is.

An addition thought about the radiator. I saw a nice aluminium black anodoized radiator guard this weekend on one of the dirtbikes that went on a ride with me.
It really cleaned up the sheetmetal material of the radiator.

IMO these things only work with an aircooled motor, radiators,hoses,fans etc just look crap whatever you do.... gotta have fins mate

I know I would have a lot of work to clean up the engine area. It's one of the big challenges in this. I agree that air cooled looks so much better but I want to keep the performance and bike the same as current. I had an air cooled Ducati 900 for years and it just wasn't in the same league as the 990.

Anyway, you have to call a spade a spade, I still want an SD, just with some homage to old style cafe racers. If I wanted genuineness I'd just build a BSA gold star replica. At this stage, (fantasy stage), I was thinking about getting the oil tank chromed, but the idea of making a new one out of aluminium and fitting it back where they used to be is a really nice idea. Don't know about the mechanics of this, would there be any issues with running long tubes back to a remote tank, is it simply a header tank with a fill cap?

That thing behind the radiator is a Stebel horn. It's the only place I could find to mount it hidden. The compressor part is down next to the battery with hoses running up to the horn.

As for the oil tank it has been done on another model, don't see the difference where it's located. Dry sump tank. Only difference I can see is that there is come sort of valve on the feed side of the adv/Sd tank to keep them from wet sumping the engine. Don't think the low tank se/sm have that. Powercell did one http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495592

Thanks for posting link. Powercell was a very competent person, I seem to remember him developing a large capacity Ali tank for his Adventure bike. Or it may have been a composite one ??

I had a look this morning. If the oil tank goes to the rear it would make the whole front end cleaner and let you see the front cylinder so it will at least look like a V twin as it should! There's little other crap under the radiator. I think that I would also relocate the water header bottle and make that in aluninium while I'm at it.

Oil tank relocation would have to come with exhaust relocation. The space left with the high level exhaust gone would mean there was enough room for an asymmetrical design that partly sat next the the opera half of the rear shock and came through the frame to sit above the rear cylinder.

Or, I was thinking that you could design a singe seat unit where the fairing section behind the seat was the oil tank itself. But you'd be carrying all at weight high up and not in the best position, (although maybe lighter than the high level silencers so maybe OK).

An aluminium tail tank with oil would not be real heavy. It would not be as heavy as the stock tank. I would keep the oil tank separate from the gas tank. You want cold gas, not hot. As for the oil lines to and fro, you could add cooling fins to the lines to help cool the LC8.

If you can't fix it, feature it.

I am with ya Bic on building your next bike to keep the performance you have in the SD.

I like projects my self, and I am having a heck of a time with thinking about my next bike.

The SD is a hard act to follow.

Before I got my SD, I was eye balling a Guzzi to café out.

We all know (or should know) it will NEVER be as good as the SD, no matter how much money you throw at it.

Here's my cobbled together photoshop image with the oil tank relocated to under the seat next to the rear shock.

I like it. shows off the engine to be a V Twin better.

Would a smaller oil tank and more regular oil changes be an option?

As for the Norton

The black one is what they should have built.

Something smaller than this rad treatment would clean up the radiator.


This

As far as oil tank placement goes really isn't bad and would show off the V twin, leave under the seat for small 12cell...

More shots of the flat tracker.

http://www.rolandsands.com/wp/2013/08/0 ... 90-tracker

Oh! I'll take one of those black Nortons, please!

Rolands flat tracker has some really clean, modern lines on the gas tank, rad cover and rear section and will be really hard to beat, to my eye.

This bike was in Portland over the winter, but I got snowed in and could not make the meet.

It was a heart throb when I saw it in some photos of the meet. I knew it was special, and it is.

This flat tracker is the most appealing bike as of late in my mind.

To top this, add the electric super charger to cut the lag time before the turbo kicks in.... or not......

Best rad cover yet on Rolands 690...that's something to study

Well was at the Brisbane motorcycle expo today. .. was a toss up between the bike. .. The bimota tesi 3d, the 1290 sdr and the bmw r nine t... Guess who went immediately to test ride the bmw and order one. .. I get it in June.

It is the first bike since my current sd (which I will be keeping) to excite and blow me away to the need of purchase.

Can't wait

Dealership in bris has a dedicated demo. ... come down, have a ride and catch up

Here's where I am with my late night/drunk photoshop bollox.

Hard to get a balance between the modern facetted/stealth KTM aesthetics and an old school cafe racer look. Aluminium finish on the tank will help considerably. That's my next step -alomg with a more facceted seat unit. And I want to design a really classic KTM tank badge in the style of the BSA badges.

standard rad ? or a bespoke jobby ?

Had a DB32 for a while - never did learn the knack of starting it and the kickback was enough to shatter an ankle or throw me in the air.

Should have kept it but then I also turned down a Black Shadow for £3,000 around that time...................................

Hey! I see progress...nice tank...your on to something now...Woot!

Front fender need to get smaller now to balance with rear/ smaller tyre.

Before I saw what you did to the tail section...which looks cool..I was thinking the stock R solo seat has some mighty fine lines.......just sayin'

Lookin' good M8

Had a TT500 Yamaha single lung. Took a while to sort it out. PO installed a larger carb, free flow air cleaner and exhaust to match. Trouble was the carb slide needed trimming so it was not choked to death. So I spent plenty of kicks starting it, or trying to start it.

One time my bud, who I bought the bike from was watching me trying to start it.
It kicked back and sent my knee into the handle bars.

He thought he made the correct move selling that bike.

Dutch posted up my concept on "The Bike Shed" and so far today it's got over a thousand likes so can't be that bad for a first attempt.
https://www.facebook.com/BikeShedMotorc ... nt_count=1

What are the pros and cons about these ideas?.......

Option 1.
Replace the high level exhausts with a low system, either one silencer or twin exit both sides. With the room created under the seat/subframe fit a replacement for the existing oil tank and open up the clutter round the front of the engine. (as illustrated in my concept). I know the tank will be smaller than current but it will be OK, maybe just require more frequent oil changes.

Option 2.
Completely remove the existing subframe and fabricate a monocoque oil tank that supports the seat unit and incorporates all the under-tray stuff to house the battery and stuff.

Option 3.
All of the above but also get rid of the mono-shock rear spring and remodel the swing arm to take a twin shock arrangement that bolts onto the monocoque oil-tank/subframe.

This option is primarily about aesthetics but I would not want to compromise too much on handling and suspension performance over current set up. Not sure how easy it is to slap on a twin shock and get similar results. Any feedback here greatly appreciated. (I'd be willing to get a pair of really good shocks for it and wouldn't be looking for track day performance, just not a crap one.)

We are assuming here that the oil tank design is well enough designed and fabricated to deal with the suspension forces going through it.

Option 1. The easiest and probably the best, but with a custom chromoly subframe to get a nice clean tail with an aluminium removable oil tank. This idea would lend itself better to future changes or improvements and will make getting the seat right where you want it. Keep in mind where and how you place the oil pickup and baffling if you like to ride the back wheel.

Option 2. Overly complicated and more likely to fail, changes that may be required/ wished for farther down the road may require scrapping the entire subframe. It's nice to be able to remove an oiltank for cleaning. Oil in frame, subframe not so much fun.

Option 3. Would be better with newly fabricated swing arm kind of like this but with shock mounts as required


This would also allow shortening the wheelbase if that was desired.

I still think the stock sm position for the oiltank is a good solution. Could be done nicer with a custom tank ...

Any thoughts on what the ecu etc will far like with the warmish oil tank near them or whether your modified tail will have room for them at all?

If you haven't bought a smoker this might be a way to go



More here
http://www.caferacerculture.net/2014/05/metal-slug.html

That's a nice bike!

Italian guy selling the Norton Domiracer contract is still in contact but I'm no longer interested because he cannot transfer the contract direct to me so I would have to let him buy it and then have it transferred to me but Norton won't honour any commitments to me and for 26K I think that's not on.

Anyway the hunt for a good H2 is still underway, went to see an H2c today which was cheap but tatty and a lot of not standard parts. It had modern Higgspeed expansion chambers which sounded absolutely awesome! Wow! I can't wait to own one of these bikes again. Want to run it on Castrol R for the smell too.

Tomorrow I'm off to see a guy who has a whole collection of triples, and early 1973 blue H2a, (really mint, the most expensive on my list), a couple of really early 1969 H1a s, a really nice brown and yellow 1975 H2b, and a tuned 1975 H2c with period cast wheels and Denco chambers. But my money is still on the Purple 1975 H2c up in the midlands in standard but mint trim. It just seems the right price, the right level of renovation and is the spitting image of my bedroom wall poster fantasy bike. We'll see.

Partition the bespoke fuel tank to incorporate the oil tank.

Ive seen this done with battery compartments.

Here is one for your wank bank Bic.

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 9530_n.jpg

Obviously I think it is a horrible waste of an RC8 but I know you old folk like this nonsense.

Finally bought one!

It's a beaut. Really clean, US model H2c imported a few years ago. Not over the top show spec, neither any rust or anything to repair. All original spec, nothing missing. Just an honest, good road going example. For a lot less than the going price. Well chuffed.

Have you ridden it yet??

Chasing dreams is often better than actually catching them up!! Still if it came at a good price you can always quietly reverse out at a later date

Enjoy.

Not ridden yet! Seen it today, heard it, touched it, pored over it, payed for it, photographed it. Get it in a few days. Thinking about it a lot!!

I will have to wait less than the guys waiting for a 1290! Ha ha. And I think that combined with the 990 I will ultimately have more fun. Anyways, made my choice and I will live with the result.

Whoa, congrats! That is beautiful. Reminds me of Grape Ape for some reason...

Nice one

We'll need some video when you get it.

Edit
Is it missing a front disk?

Happy birthday mate,

"Happy birthday mate, "

Thanks Bic...was thinking about you yesterday at the Vintage meet. Got photos of a really sweet BSA 650 that I would love to own. Forest gre....excuse me...british racing green tank, alum fenders, clubman bars, nice polish job.....sweeeeeettttttttt.

Get this. A high school shop (West Linn, Oregon) teacher set the project up for some trouble kids. Turned out really nice. Will post some photos when I get this firkin Google crap figgered out.....company switched over to Google a few months ago and I don't have things sorted yet.
Was going to post you about premixing my DT1 Yamaha back in the day. I kept a bottle of mix on the bike and just poured in the correct amount at gas fills.
You are going to have to find some 2 smoke friends to ride with/ follow you. The smell is not so bad if you are on one to....like smoking fags. I don't smoke and I was living with my cous and his wife and my gal. They all 3 smoked.....the only way I could hang with them is if I smoked to.
My day had the habit and was getting migrains...doc told him to quit. Dad said how? Doc said you already had your last smoke. Dad quit like that. Mom did not smoke. Dad quit before I was born. His sister chain smoked and her mate was a tail gunner in WWII that was never found, but she waited anyway. No kids for her so I kept her company, sitting on here lap between here and the fag tray.. I asked what does that do for ya cause it sure is messing my eyes up.. Told myself I don't need any of that at an early age.....2 smoke mix...I can deal with that.....

Check this out Bic. Love that Green Bezzer.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Lin ... tos_stream

Love that beezer except I would up date the brakes and suspension,,,maybe the carb too....spark...
.just up date it as much as possible to make it good and safe.

Rode with the Vintage guys Saturday with my SuperDuke, to help herd stray cats and help to keep them running when possible.
Starting to feel like I need and old crock to tag along to do it right. Getting along with the guy who puts the ride on. He works on bikes too. I stopped to help a Honda 350 that stalled and the kid could not start it. Could not find neutral. Kick start. The owner was fumbling with it. and I asked if he need help, sort of. I grabbed the shifter with my fingers to find neutral and the linkage was all sloppy. I found it and he started kicking, but no fire. I pushed him down a small grade, not one pop. I pointed over to the chase truck / trailer and said there ya go. I get back to the main pack at a store break and talk to the lead rider and tell him about the rat trap bike that would not start. As crap was coming out of my mouth, I see the lead rider start to tense up and I realise that is one of his customers...Duffff...........
He just spent a lot of time on it but the kid owner does not know which end of a screw driver to use. I apologize as much as I could and things calm down. I tease the lead rider at another drink break and point to the bike on the trailer that just arrived by saying "Your steady income just showed up." He returned a slam to me yesterday after I told him I finally joined the club. He said "It only took you 30 years". I think I am going to like hanging with these guys.

That is a nice BSA!

Well, I registered with the two main UK Triples clubs/forum a few days ago and posted up a, "Hello from Newbie". One of them still hasn't activated my account despite being payed a years subscription, which isn't a great start, but the other seems to be better sorted out and I've already had a few replies and advice about the questions I asked. It so reminds me of when someone new comes on here and everything they want to know has been asked and answered a thousand times but you just need a bit of guidance as to where to look rather than have the piss taken out of you.

It's given me something else to do and I have to admit, it's exciting thinking about another bike other than the SD. There's just not much going on here any more with the 990, all the threads have gradually turned to the 1290 and so it's not that interesting to me really. I think it will be more when 1290 owners start to really pull their bikes apart and start to work out all the mods and overcome the problems themselves to create better bikes. So far it's all about bolting on factory bling and sending bikes back with warranty issues.

I spent three hours reading through H2 service manuals and maintenance advice. It's all on line now but I also got a used Haines manual for big triples and an original owners handbook from Ebay. I feel right at home with these '70 bikes, it's so GOOOD to have to dig out my feeler gauges, strobe light, spark plug files and gap setter. I can just about understand how to strip this H2 down to it's constituent parts in my head. It's one of the first bikes to have electronic ignition so there's no points but that's about the only sealed box on this bike.

There's so much chrome and alloy to polish and clean. These Seventies bikes were very bright, brash and pimp looking.

I'm glad that I'm staying with the 990 as my main bike, it's still got it and I just couldn't find anything else modern that I wanted more. But adding another bike that doesn't compete and offers something totally different is a great challenge that I'm looking forward to.

By the way,

The Italian guy with the Norton Domiracer is still e mailing me asking if there is a way for it to work. I've said no.