Warming up for the ride to London. Freezing and misty 7am.

My favourite race bike of all time

Yes please! A load of Ducati Pantah engined TT2 replicas


1980's wannabe racer bike

And the real thing

Not much into custom bikes but this was based on a tractor and I quite liked it!


British built to order cafe racer. Seemed to be based on RD or TZ engine. Like it
Oh, there was no Superduke prototype at the KTM stand and I told them how disappointing that was and to pass on my disgust to KTM.
Rest of the show was boring and predictable. Too many clothes stands selling the same stuff.

Bic,

Nice looking bike. Have you ever considered powder coating the valve covers black. I think it would look pretty killer on your bike. Maybe some carbon cans would fit the bill too?

Has anyone powder coated their entire engine? Reckon and all black one would look pretty damned god.

If I ever had to do a lot of work on the engine I'd consider getting the casings made black - it's been a mission over the years to get rid of the silver and other finishes. I've got a subframe and engine hangers to be powder-coated when I get the time.

I used to have round Akros with carbon sleeves but compromised on the Evo's because they came with larger bore Titanium pipework. If I could think of a way to make the sleeves out of carbon I would but they are a bummer of a cross-section to try and fabricate. I was thinking of waiting for when I need to repack these Evo silencers and when I have the sleeve apart to take a casting of the internal shape to use as a male mould to form carbon weave sheet around. Then make a pair of sleeves over this. Having done a fair bit of casting and fabrication in the past my only concern with this is how to get the sleeve off the male mould - because it will not have a taper and so the carbon sleeve will not slide off easily. The only way I've so far thought about a solution to this is to make a male mould out of sections so that it comes apart in bits. In plastic injection moulding this is called a collapsable core and will let you get the inside part of the tool out of the moulded component even when you have an undercut.

Anyway, a project for the future when I have more time, ie. when my terrible-two twins are grown up and left home, in about 16 years!!!

You and I have the same taste in our SD's Bic. Mine looks identical to yours, minus the Akros (carbon Fm's), and the carbon bits. Keep it classy Bic.

Nice to see we are not the only ones paying stupid prices for RZ/RG 500's still cheaper than you will find here.
Great pics, cheers BIc.

at least you could express your disgust, KTM doesnt even bother to do shows here in the USA!

No Shit!!