The bike is home and being run in before paint.

Rode the bike back from Bournemouth to Surrey Saturday to begin the run in process for the engine and to make sure all clearances are ok and there is no rubbing. Also gives the bike a chance to bed down. Once I am happy with everything the paint can begin, as well as some more extensive wiring.

Russell Mitchell gives my bike the thumbs up at the Bulldog Bash

Took the bike for its first outing to this year's Bulldog Bash. Would the local police notice the lack of horn, indicators, Hi/Lo function, front brake, legal plate, baffles, tax disc and speedo? Hell noooooo. Too busy drooling ha ha.

Passed 2nd SVA!

Well the bike passed the SVA at the second attempt, and just waiting for the registration documents so it can be insured and ridden. It will be in the custom tent at the Bulldog Bash in bare metal. Maybe see you there.

Failed 1st SVA!

Failed first SVA on a sticking indicator switch of all things, nothing else. Will have another go on Thursday. Will it get to the Bulldog Bash on time????

Just a few mods ;-)

Work begins on the SVA build

As you might know, any new build needs an SVA certificate to get registered. This involves making sure that the bike is not only safely built, but also meets or exceeds the regulations. Sometimes changes have to be made to make sure the bike conforms, and it isn't always pretty. However it can be 'tidied up' after.............

The bits are really on their way! Evidence!

All the parts for my bike will be at Battistinis Open Weekend this coming weekend, 27/28 June. Whether any of it can be assembled in time for this is another matter, as it only arrives at Heathrow on Thursday from Exile. But I can't wait to see the Accurate Knucklehead motor more than anything!

The workshop (aka Dining room) is ready!

My dining room has been converted to a workshop ahead of the arrival of the Exile parts and Accurate motor. I am very excited now that finally I will get to see all my bits and pieces and begin the process of a dry SVA, then dry running, and once everything is working and fitting perfectly, then I will pull the bike apart and sent the bits off for paint. This is probably the part I will document on here. 

As you might know, the HotRod sports a 200 front tyre, so standard bike lifts can't cater for that. I got the guys at the House of Sickboyz Customs (www.sickboyzcustoms.com)to rework the front wheel grip so I could use it for all my bikes, Exile included. A lick of red paint will see it looking new again.

How long does it take to build a motor?

If you look down the blog to my first entry, you will see that I placed my order on 24th May 2008. Yes, that's right, 1 week short of 1 year!! I have been extremely patient, already missing one summer, and now potentially missing another. Our summers here in the UK don't last that long, if at all, so I am really hoping Exile work fast to do the necessary fabrication relating to the motor and get all the parts over to me in the UK so I can begin work on the build. The motor is currently sitting on the test stand being checked for temperatures, compression etc, and will be shipped Monday to Exile's North Hollywood premises.