About a year ago, after a couple of frantic text messages, a drive to Peterborough and an exchange of cash, I found myself with an ex CCM Dual Sport 604 engine. The initial idea was to transplant it into my MT350 in the same way Apophis had done his.
After a bit of thought, and Bunker saying at the Uttoxeter meet "nice bog standard 350 that" I decided to keep that bike the way it was:
That left me with an engine and nothing to put it in! At the same time Digger had taken possession of a MT500 project bike from Bunker with the intention of getting it roadworthy for his brother to ride. He got it to the stage where it ran and didn`t really need much more time spending on it when the said brother started to lose interest.
After short negotiations and the proviso that he stored it for me while I convinced the girlfriend it was a good idea I found myself pushing it home. Only half a mile, but I was knackered when I got home.
Let me introduce Scruffy:
The photo`s don`t do it justice - it`s a lot worse than it looks!
First job was to strip the bike down to it`s major lumps and get to work on the frame. I had a couple of pm`s with lowuk to get the general idea of what I had to achieve and then set to with the cutting disc and welding gear. Firstly modify the frame for the starter motor to fit:
As per lowuk`s advice I sourced a MT350 front engine mount and modified the frame to suit:
Next was the issue of fitting a larger battery. After much searching I settled on a battery destined for a Yamaha R1. It`s dimensions were just right, all I had to do was make it fit. The original mount was too low so I chopped it out and fitted a new one about 30mm higher along with a new battery tray:
I then realised that the front engine guard wasn`t going to fit as I`d lost the upper mounting hole when I modified the frame:
I decided in the end to mount the primary filter on the frame behind the kick start, very pleased with how it turned out:
There`s a bit more work to be done to tidy the frame up and repair little bits and pieces and then it`s off to the powder coaters. While it`s away I aim to get the engine serviced and painted, the wheels sorted out and order any parts I shall need to get the rolling chassis back together.
So far so good but slow progress..........
Stuart
