Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Thanks everyone. The swingarm I made it out of 50x25x3 box. A little heavier than I wanted but it is very ridged. Other than that weight loss was important. The shocks are YSS. Can’t remember length but irrelevant because I moved the shock top mount forward and down a little. Shorter Yamaha/Honda front end, raised rear gave 25.5 rake 95mm trail, along with some chassis stiffening and raised engine 20mm
Probably about 1000hrs I’ve put into this build.
The most satisfying thing is the way it handles. Quite bloody well. And I am 6”4 112kgs
Poor little thing
No street bikes in my class come even close at club racing days. I won the series first year out last year
hands down. But at the big national meeting I couldn’t keep up with the TR500s and the Norton manxs (new ones) but with a lighter rider it would probably be even. There are no active racing H1r or H1 in New Zealand. Except mine.
I do enjoy racing this machine. Fun. Which is really all it’s about

Did you do anything special for brakes? It must be quite a handicap with drums only or is that what everyone uses?

It is quite a handicap especially with my weight on it. The rear brake is stock. The front brake is the only mistake i made on this bike as i couldve gone brembo PO8s calipers i think they are called. first used in 1972 on Ducatis. Or lockheeds used on stinkwheel GP bikes of the day which most serious racers use here.
I used a triumph conical front hub which a mate offered and the first corner is good but it suffers serious fade and i have done every modification known. Even enlargened the air scoop to try and cool it better. Lets face it, nearly all pre 72 brakes were rubbish and under racing conditions......
I have considered discs but it would mean basically a whole new front end costing in the region of 5K.
There is two good things about the front brake. One, it is a very light front wheel and two i get to take the piss out of triumph with my racing mates.

I did warn you about that brake before, of course!! But the build overall is sensational, and puts my efforts in the shade. I'll have to head over there soon to check it out!

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"One day, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." : anon.

Yes i think you did. i think a few did. Only thing left to try is another lining from Vintage brake. Ive already got the one he recommended in there, but i see there is another for racing.
Timaru southern classic festival end November is the best race meet in the south island. 3 days camping, racing, bar b q and drinking beer.
Thats the best time to come. Thats the meeting we all work towards in the south. And the Burt Munro.

awesome job on the build and your success racing it, great pictures also

Sorting this front brake is a dead end. So I am going to bite the bullet and go twin front disc . Brembo
F08s on basically stock front end, stock discs and a lighter triple tree. Stiffer springs, emulators
Ali rim. All within the rules.. Should’ve done that in first attempt.
Will have to race as is for this season. Rnd1 this Saturday

Note that your front brake 'fade' is a large percentage of drum expansion, making the brake lever come in to the bars. No easy way around this with a drum other than cooling efforts. Some of the lost 'grab' will be the linings now don't contact the drum at their ends because of the large diameter increase, does not match the curvature you machined on the linings to start with, and you lose friction contact area.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.

Good luck on Saturday - is it worth the extra weight going twin disc?

it is after the first time you pull the brake lever on a hot drum and it comes to the grip with nothing happening.

And I would guess the Brembo calipers of the era/design were not that exceptional, so one would need dual discs.

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........