A Labor of Love; aka building a Rocket III Speedster

[Claviger]

So I got the bike off the trailer today and washed it down of the remaining salt. Threw the stock rear rim on so I can roll it around and it rolls easily and true, so...the trans/clutch/output all seems to be just fine.

Forks/Triples seem just fine as well.

On further look, the shifter/left peg mounting rail took the biggest hit, then when it bounced and landed on the right side, the Kawasaki ZH2 bar took the vast majority of the right side hit, thankfully they built a very strong bar and it bent (a lot) without folding, soaking up most of the energy. So much force went through the bar that it bent the M8 bolts used to clamp the bar haha. All that deflection though, was energy not going into more expensive pieces.

I'll get to the engine removal soon, too **** hot to start today.

PS: It's either going to be Busa forks or stock legs with upgraded cartridges. The only one that really interests me but is very cost prohibitive is the new ZX10 forks. I have no interest in anything branded Ducati/KTM/Aprilla/Guzzi/MV Augusta (or beyond the RIII, Triumph).

 

[Claviger]

So here's the primary damage:

Shifter side foot rail "slightly" tenderized.


Shift mechanism got a good "customization", now abstract art!

Whole engine shifted about 1" to the right in the back and about 2" in the front.

Steering damper got whacked by the engine, pulling the nutsert 1/2 way through the steel.


Brake side rail got pushed up some, but was mostly spared by the ZH2 bars doing some heavy lifting.

 

[Claviger]

Somehow....the radiator seems to be usable?! The mounts bent not the Radiator itself, another beneficiary of the ZH2 bars.

 

[Claviger]

First replacement parts have arrived:

$19 for a Roadster rear axle....a steal of an insurance policy


Fortuitously found these long out of production carbon headlight buckets for sale on eBay, they're immaculate, clearly they've never been installed or seen the sun:





They appear to be vaccum formed or 2 part bolt-together metal mold construction using prepreg, they're very light and very rigid.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Amazing ! I like your re-build concept. Good luck with the engine being OK. Happy to see some progress.

 

[Frans]

on that "wacked Steering damper" image, is that frame weld broken?

 

[Gerald]

on that "wacked Steering damper" image, is that frame weld broken?

Looks like just some extra tall weld beads.

 

[Claviger]

on that "wacked Steering damper" image, is that frame weld broken?

Lighting trick, frame is beyond saviour anyways though, the engine mount points have all been bent.

 

[1olbull]

Really good to see you have jumped right back into the mouth of the LION!

 

[Claviger]

Current Status: Waiting on other folks, specifically, my trailer hitch. Seems odd, but for some reason no one actually stocks hitches for Mini Roadster, like they weren't meant to tow or something....

Everyone's most hated status...