• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

My 98 Bird

  • Thread starter flak monkey
  • Start date
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flak monkey

Guest
After selling my Vmax I couldn't really decide what to buy next - while the max was good fun, I just wasn't getting the use out of it due to it having a lot of bare polished ally which was a nightmare in the wet. It'd got lots of modifications etc, as I normally have custom stuff. This is what it looked like, and that's my other toy lurking behind it (1000s of hours of work in the resto of that one)

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I decided that I wanted to do a bit of touring next year, probably 2 up as well. And also wanted something I could use all year round for commuting to work. Looked at a few different bikes and finally settled on the Bird.

Picked up a '98 with 29k miles on it fairly local to me for a shade over ?2k - got a reasonable amount of history with it. It was completely stock except a double bubble screen. Needed a few things doing to tidy it up so I made a start on them today.

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Did the obligatory oil and filter change. Plugs were done 1000miles ago according to the receipts I've got and Iridium ones fitted.

The exhaust had a hole in the collector, so I got a stainless one off a 2000 bike. Swap was pretty simple, most of the header studs came out with the nuts but all came undone easily which was a relief. I hindsight I probably should have bought new studs and nuts too.

IMAG0513_zpsa393cc89.jpg


While I had the panels off I noticed that one of the engine mounting bolts was broken, looks like it was being held in by the side panel. A bit odd - all other mountings were fine. The remnant of the bolt was jammed in the engine - only one thing for it, drill it out and fit a new bolt. So I machined up a bush to fit in the frame hole to guide the drill otherwise it's very easy to miss the centre of the bolt and damage the engine cases.

Making the bush took all of 5 minutes on the lathe, I made it a tight fit in the hole in the frame and drilled out the broken bolt with a good drill (I always use Dormer ones). Retapped the hole and fitted a good quality bolt with a new spacer.

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flak monkey

Guest
Swapped out the stock rear indicators for some super bright halogen ones. Same wattage as the originals, so no issues with the flasher relay. Got some mounting hole covers from Jaws.

IMAG0516_zps1543482e.jpg


Next job was fit the Viper carbon cans - bit of a nightmare to get them aligned. Also waiting for some more stainless clamps for the pipes to arrive. Sounds better now @tu*

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Also fitted a scottoiler - easy job that one. The bike had a new chain and sprocket set on it not many miles ago. Trouble is it's been sitting and the chain's got a few tight links in it, so I'll be changing that tomorrow.

IMAG0517_zps533139cc.jpg


Tomorrow brings another load of jobs..........
 
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flak monkey

Guest
I had 'em in my draw of parts and thought I'd see what they were like. ISTR they came off the front of my old kit car.

I'm still not convinced the cans are lined up, need another look tomorrow to make sure, but they ain't far out.
 

Me!

Utterly retired
Club Sponsor
Has that volvo fell thru the garage floor?
 

sr71caspar

B̶a̶n̶n̶e̶d̶
Club Sponsor
Good drill? Dormer???

You don't know how much you don't know.


Agree with lumpy about the indicators, I reckon clear or smoked lenses and chrome bulbs do the job.
 
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flak monkey

Guest
Nope, I know feck all really.... well, I thought the Walter Titex carbides I had in the drawer were a bit overkill for a weedy old bolt :whi5tl:

Not decided on the indicators :dunno:
 
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flak monkey

Guest
One step up from Chinese shite 8rfl@
 

Dickiebird

Registered User
I had 'em in my draw of parts and thought I'd see what they were like. ISTR they came off the front of my old kit car.

I'm still not convinced the cans are lined up, need another look tomorrow to make sure, but they ain't far out.

I had exactly the same problem when I fitted them, David. You think you've got 'em spot on , but when you look again sometime later they don't look quite right . I found that banging your head on a brick wall helps !!! 8rfl@
 
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flak monkey

Guest
Decided the fork lowers could do with a tidy up. Stripped the front wheel out, cleaned them thoroughly with degreaser and a stiff brush. Rubbed them down and gave them a coat of etch primer then 3 coats of black. Looks a lot better now.

IMAG0518_zps4648b1fd.jpg


IMAG0519_zps702c7ac2.jpg
.

Also swapped out the chain for a new DID Xring one.

So it currently looks like this

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Got a few more jobs to do yet.
 

Me!

Utterly retired
Club Sponsor
Yes yes yes but.....
Why is the volvo lower than the garage floor ?
 
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flak monkey

Guest
Yes yes yes but.....
Why is the volvo lower than the garage floor ?

'cos it's the tailgate of my old one - broke it a couple of years ago and still ain't ditched all the parts.... :whi5tl:
 

noobie

Clueless in most things
For the fork legs I would add some helicopter tape just on the fronts

Apart from that all the right bits have been done but I would add hid to the dipped at around the 5-6k brightness rating.

Agree with lumpy on the rear indicators, anything other than stock always looks a bit pants and rarely stands out to the driver fastly approaching your chuff.

The bike looks nice and a fair price
 
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flak monkey

Guest
A trip to Jaws and now it has a HID

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Before:
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After:
IMAG0544_zps96d20888.jpg
 
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flak monkey

Guest
I'd got the tell tale rattle at around 3.5k rpm of the cam chain tensioner on the way out. Ordered a new one from JAWs and got it fitted on Monday - nice easy 15min job. Now rattle free as it should be @tu*

Got a few other little jobs to do including finishing the liberal application of ACF before winter sets in.
 

ceoils

Registered User
need to put the oil pipe on the chain oiler UNDER the seat bracket maybe...or seat will crush it.
nice looking bike
 
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