Having been inspired by the ongoing projects on here thought i'd join in on the fun and share my forthcoming ups and downs with getting my old MT500 sorted for the 2011 'King of the Castle' motorcross race at Farleigh Castle in the summer!
Background
I first built this bike back in 1994 from a box of bits. The frame was black, swing arm and forks silver and the tank and plastics sprayed light blue to match the acerbis plastics i bought. I later added the 350 disc front end and fox shox at the rear. 95 and 96 saw me and my fellow MTers (Shaun yellow and blue, Hodge black and gold, Jack black and orange, Gwyn Red, Arthur white, Chippy Red) make the trip to the Isle of Man TT races including every green lane on the island, fantastic fun and memories shared by all!
I then used her every day to commute to work 1996 to 2000 in all weathers and she never let me down once... true testament to the robustness of these bullet proof old bikes!
In 2000/2001 i regretibly sold her to a chap in Southampton, money needed for doing up an old house!
All was not lost as in 2008 i managed to get myself and old MT350 73KL29 and restored her to as new condition, I was blessed with many new parts making the rebuild fairly straight forward, some of you may have seen her at the Stafford show 2010..
This bike also got me in touch with Simon who kindly relieved me of all the spares i no longer needed as i'd finished my 350 project and would never ever need another Harley or Armstrong spare again! How wrong i was!! Simon also introduced me to the fantastic MTRC and the delights of this forum! I hope all of you who benefitted from spares from Simon made the most of them! And can i now have them back!
In the summer this year a mate of mine emailed me a link to flea bay saying, 'is this your old MT?' It was! Some of you may have seen her!
I couldnt sleep that night, shall i buy shall i not!! Needless to say at 3am one morning in the summer i bought her back for Ă‚ÂŁ800!
Now reunited with my trusty old steed, its time for another rebuild. Thankfully the fox shocks were still there as they make the back end actually work like a motorbike! They are off being rechromed and serviced at the mo. The frame is at the sand blasters and engine in a hundred pieces in the utility room! Thankfully Sportax (Who i can only asume bought it off the chap in Southamton) fitted a Delorto Carb, new piston, new clutch and a 670 cam! Nice one!
Sportax then sold it to a chap in Devon who had every intention of reconditioning her but never did, who then sold it back to me!!Now to take some pictures and hopefully upload them for all to see......
