Fashion Show? Marvelous Dahhling......

Previously on Wee Z: Holes had been created and filled, tanks had been zebra’d and ‘feckin’ scary’ seats had been acquired and discarded. Uni was back in full swing and Zedward was getting impatient on the lack of progress. Alas that may still be an issue....



So by now there were a fair few parts and ideas amassed in my bedroom and in my head. In between work, Rob and I (that’d be the brother again, aka Girl or Brother Bear depending on moods, both his and my own) managed to get out to the garden and unsheet the beasts. They had by now been luxuriating at the bottom of the garden in their new five star accommodation.

Past:

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Present:

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So the idea was to get the public houses off both bikes to allow them to fit under their duvet a bit easier. Then we’d trial fit some of the trinkets to see if they fitted and how on earth they’d look.
My brother and I hadn’t been getting on brilliantly for the last year or so due to various issues. Our communication had deteriorated to such an extent that although we lived with each other, both in Caithness and Aberdeen, that one of the only subjects that we could talk about properly and easily was motorbikes. Everything else seemed to link to points of tension and trouble. The fact that we could both go out and do something together, and arse around like we used to, was great. However it also highlighted how bad things were at the time and how far things had come. Nae good.

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So bits were pulled off. I’m sure the wiring will provide some interest later on... a rodents sleeping quarters comes to mind.

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So the bikes were dehorned. There was however a complication regarding the throttle and switch gear being stuck to the Pimpernel’s bar. The bolts clamping the two halves of the switchgear together were well and truly rounded and there was no hope of being able to get them out in the usual fashion. We ended up disconnecting the throttle cable from the still shiny carburettor and leaving it all together.

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Now this picture is a bit of a shocker. My brother is renowned within the family household for not being particularly mechanically minded, interested nor sympathetic. Tools are things that others pick up and bikes are there to be ridden and put away again. Very hot and invariably dirty; being totally acceptable adjectives to describe their retiring situations.


He is getting better in his elder years but there are many, many stories of such mechanical disinterest, they are however neither here nor there... Saying that, he did tell me over the phone recently that he’d noticed that he’d snapped three of his spokes in the back of his bmx wheel. That illustrates both sides of his reputation/nature; previously he’d have never noticed them....

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And to prove that that is not just in fact a well, but unsuitably dressed, “Vale crouch”...

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Impressive stuff but perhaps not for you young readers, I shall continue, but with the picture of Beeg Bob’s open mouthed gawp at such proof, resplendent and very firmly ingrained in my mind.




So to trial fit the clipons we had to remove the top yokes. At first it looked as if it would be an enormous pain in the American fanny. However, with spectacular mechanical abilities that young gentleman such as the two pictured and literated in these fine pixels, letters and punctuation are inherently possessed with, we managed to not take the entire front end apart. Skills.

Instead we loosened some bolts and used an old hammer handle as a drift and tapped the top yoke off. Luckily, as if those clever Japanese at Kawasaki Heavy Industries had always planned it, there was enough room between all the upfront fripperies and the top yoke to “get her oot”. Cracking. 

And just to prove I’m not being a sneaky geezer and filling your little heads with pig based pastries...

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Check my fine self.... or rather don’t. I have to admit that I find those pictures quite funny as I look a bit fat! Hand on heart I’m not! Vanity aside the yellow was removed leaving the white that we were after.... come on that’s not that obscure is it? Shirley!


So as with any real project there were then the necessary noises. Sadly Nobert couldn’t wait for the clipons to be fitted and made do with the headlight bracketry which was destined for another pile of rubbish...

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Once he finally got off we removed the old headlight brackets, fitted the new ones (another ebay purchase) and slipped on the delectable clipons. We then stood back, admired and I took a few photos just to prove how lovely they were.

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The Pimpernel was looking foxy and even Phoenix admitted that he felt his engine mount bolts getting a bit stiffer from the sexually charged site. A feat in itself as they already feel as if concrete, rather than Loc-Tite has been smeared on his spindles...




The task completed, it would have made sense to take things off and pack everything up. Dinner was calling and we had things to do. So instead we sat on the bike and made more noises.... 

Feel the speed!





The race beanie (wind tunnel designed) adds to the visual velocity I think.

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And cue cheesy grin and general elation.





Then it was the toeless Italian’s shot.





You can begin to see how small the bike is. Rob is about 6 foot 2 or so and I’m about 5 11”. Things may be cramped. Un-huge FTW.

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So finally when we’d become hoarse with all the noises we packed up and put the dudes back under their cover.


In terms of looks we were both quite pleased with the mock up. If everything goes to plan it will at the very least be very pretty, if perhaps unrideable! In the time that’s past Rob and I have started to mend some bridges. Like Zedward there’s still a huge amount to do, fix and finish but we’re hopefully on the right track. With that conclusion, update complete...



Next time on Wee Z: The conversation of Hughs, Tonys and Basils (sic(s)) is reignited.