I have also started to prepare the Z650 now that the GTR is more or less done. Battery has been charged so next job is to check the tappet clearances and then balance the carbs.

The only picture I have of it is this old one in black and white.

After this I built a BSA Rocket Goldstar from parts but alas I have no pictures of this one to show.

Then came my first Japanese motorbike, a Suzuki GT550 two stroke which I even rode all the way to the eastern side of France one summer.

After a while I decided to try  my hand at respraying and it ended up looking like this,

I rode this for about 3 years and then traded it in for a Honda 750 K7,

I kept this one for a couple of years untill it was stolen by some lowlife. To replace it I got another Honda but this time  the model 750 KZ,

This was the last one for some 15 years as it was sold on the birth of my first child to help purchase a larger form of transport.

After these 15 years I dropped lucky at work one day and found that the guy I shared an office with had a Kawasaki Z650 F4 stored in his garage that he had not ridden for 18 years. After a bit of persuasion he sold it me for a very reasonable price and so I began to enjoy the open road once again. The bike had not been touched in all this time and so I arrived with the trailer on the back of my car to collect it. The tyres were flat and it was covered in dust and cobwebs. On the trip home the other cars were giving me lots of leeway as the cloud following me was impressive. On arrival at home I took this photo of it,

The Bike was complete apart from the left hand side panel but had some minor scuffs and scrapes that I dealt with during the first major overhaul and rebuild.

As of now I have got it running and have used it for the past two years.  I found many parts for it on E-Bay and replaced the missing side panel and the one remaining with a pair of second hand ones but had to have the badges made at work by CNC machine in solid brass which I then painted to match the original.

At the moment it looks like this,

Slowly I am finding the bits and pieces neccessary to restore it to the original condition just as it was when it left the shop. The hardest thing is going to be finding an exhaust system for it. I may have to go aftermarket for this but we’ll see. One problem has been the mirrors which have a tendancy to fold back at speed but I have just replaced them with a pair from a Kawasaki ER6 I got off  a mate.

Once word had got out at work that I was interested in old bikes (I do not like the new styles of bikes today) I was given another old bike that another work collegue had bought for spares for his daily ride and did not have the room to keep. This is a Kawasaki GTR1000 that he said needs the main bearings changing. After stripping the bike I found that it was in fact a pressure spring on the clutch that had collapsed and was causing the  noise the the mechanics at his garage assured him was the crank brgs failing. I’ll still put new ones in now that it is split but I am certain that they did not need it. He had robbed some of the bike for damaged bits of bodywork etc to use on his bike but these can all be replaced. As the bike cost me nothing I can afford to spend a bit on smartening it up.

As it was when I got it,

and from the other side

At the moment most of my energy is being spent on this one which is why the 650 which is running is waiting for its makeover. Once this is rebuilt my wife and I are looking forward to some nice long weekends away cruising the countryside here in France.

Just after christmas I picked up another GTR 1000.

From this one and the other I have built a runner. Today 11/03/2009 I took it for a test drive around the block. It seems to be OK although I have the impresion that the front end is is a bit soft. I’ll have to recon the other forks and see if they are any better. To be continued

Now she looks a bit more tatty but one day I hope to get her back to this state.

Some more pics:

The first model I built in this medium was the Billing Boats Viking ship but no pictures were taken of this before it was damaged beyond repair during a house move. The next model was built as a present for the parents of my wife Isabelle and was the Billings HMS Bounty 1:50. This was completed over 20 year ago. I have only one phot of this vessel in my possesion and it is shown below;

It was my first attempt at a 3 masted vessel and although I am still proud of it I can now see were improvements could have been made. At about this time I also started to collect as much information I could about HMS Victory after  receiving as a present from my wife the book by C.N. Longridge on his build of this ship. I was hooked. Plans from various sources were purchased and books were bought that explained everything about the period of Nelsons Navy. This is still going on today with the intention of one day building this ship to the best of my ability. In the meantime I have the Heller 1:100 kit that I will build as well. A great site for all things to do with this kit can be found here http://www.pete-coleman.com.

Back to my little history next came a gift for my wife, a typical Breton vessel although not a real vessel she still likes it as a reminder of her families roots being of Breton descent. This was again from a Billings kit and is the Marie Jeanne a Tuna fishing boat from around the turn of the 20th century at 1:50;

After this I thought I would try my hand at Radio control so bought the robbe kit of the Antge at 1:20;

The enjoyment I got from building this led me to try my hand at scratch building my next ship. I scoured the plans services for possible models and settled on the MFV Eillen at 1:24 from the Model Boats plans service. This came out as shown below;

During this time we were visiting France most summers and most christmases to be with my wifes family. On these trips we would visit marine museums and I would scoure the newsagents for modelling magazines. On one of these trips I came across a magazine called Modele Reduit de Bateau. Inside was a construction article of what would be my next build. The Gwen Mor at 1:20. This is a vessel typical to the French Atlantic coast from the fifties and was presented by an author who in France is now very well known M J.C. Chazarain. It was love at first site. So I duly ordered the plans and subsequent issue that dealt with this model and construction commenced just as we decide to move to France definatively. This disruption caused a lull in building but after 2 years the boat was finished. Below is a picture;

Once in France I continued buying this magazine and not long after another article by the same author was published. This time another fishing vessel but from an earlier period of 1900 - 1920. The Red Atao at 1:20. A Breton lobster fishing vessel. Again I was smitten so obtained the plans and commenced construction. Then ill health stopped all work and it would be some years before I recommenced her. At the present time she is slowly taking shape and some pictures are included below;

Originaly this was meant to be a R/C model but I have decided that she will now be static so although the placement for motors etc is done they will not be installed. Currently I am installing the deck beams.

At the time I again began to build my model boats I decided to start a project I have had in the cupboard for some years. This would be my next masted warship. Again it is by Billings but I have had the kit for over 20 years. At the time I bought it I had also purchased the plans of this vessel  from the French Musee de La Marine. This is the French La Toulonnaise at 1:50. Currently the hull is planked and the deck is laid. I now have to mark out and cut for the masts and gratings etc. Photos to follow.

I have opened this site to present my pastimes and pleasures to you and hope that you enjoy your visit.

At the moment this site does not contain very much but will be added to  with details of my bikes, models and car and anything else I decide to share.