They are never finished BUT.......

[Cutter]

A complete bike at last, check the blog for pics....:thumbsup:

http://chickenshackducatiproject.blogspot.com

Edited to correct URL

[J.P]

link doesn't seem to work for me?

[Cutter]

Whoops - too excited to type properly..

http://chickenshackducatiproject.blogspot.com

Try this time - cheers!

[Scott1]

Absolute quality, been following the blog for a long time and I know how much effort you put into it, I personally can't think of a finer looking Monster. The new seat looks really good and the paint job and the cans really look the business.

Hope the ride goes well.

[Cutter]

You are very kind - only I know all the crappy things on it that still need sorting out LOL.
Seriously, biggest mistake was not going to a specialist bike powder coater. It's flaking here and there, which I will try and touch up with smoothrite (with proper primer) I see a strip down in a year's time or so to get it re-done....

But other than that once I have the forks done to match rear shock (need to save up for FTR or MCT set-up), and replace leaky oil strainer crush washer - fingers crossed it should all be OK.

[utopia]

Looks really nice.
The new seat suits it much better too.
The tank is classic loveliness.
I'm not too sure about the exhaust can brackets though. Full marks for effort, but I'm a little worried that they only have one mounting point at the frame end. It looks as if the only resistance to them rotating on the mounting will be the tightness of the single bolts, and I don't think this will be adequate. The weight and length of the cans, combined with jolts from the road surface, will put a high load on the fixings and I think the cans will tend to drop, putting strain on them and the headers and probably causing deformation, leaks at the exhaust ports or (worryingly) cracking of the cans themselves. I think you should redesign them so that they fit to both, rather than just one of the footrest mounting lugs, thus triangulating the mounting so it can't rotate.
Unless I'm missing something from your pics.
The method of making a test bracket from thin sheet is a good one, but you could use stiff cardboard for an even quicker mock-up if you do redesign them. I would strongly recommend that you do before taking it out for a test run and damaging your exhausts, which look lovely and far too nice to risk spoiling.

Great work though, great result and brilliant project blog.

[J.P]

If that turned up at the Arrow Mill Weekender next year I'm pretty sure you'd walk away with a few awards. Looks very nice indeed.

[slob]

Sweet, hope I can see it in the flesh soon.

[Cutter]

J.P Well - hopefully when fettled I can start coming to some UKMOC events at last!

Utopia - you've got me worrying now. The exhausts seem very secure and the brackets welded on the exhausts themselves are steel and pretty chunky. The brackets I have made and used to connect to frame are 5mm thick ally. Admittedly they are secured by one bolt, but in the original designs two bolts hold a much heavier system and much heavier foot peg arrangement. And of course the manifold takes a lot of the weight. I appreciate what you're saying though what with vibes, leverage etc .I shall have a think - thank you. Any other opinions on this very welcome.

[Cutter]

Nice one Slob - me too!

[Fugly]

Cutter,
I am really liking what you've done there! Well done that man :thumbsup:

the paint job and seat are superb, you are a credit to the world of modding :hail:

[Cutter]

I've spent two years wondering what would happen when I finished it and showed it to UKMOC. You guys are making me feel very happy and relieved.

I can't come anywhere near to some of the engineering skills amongst forum members, and there's a lot I will do better next time, but for a first time attempt by a botcher I'm a happy boy.

[rac3r]

Looks awesome! Love those exhausts too :thumbsup:

Oh and the chickens are cool as well :cool:

[Cutter]

Heh heh cheers! Newsflash - having booked MOT for tomorrow at 9.30am, the front brakes are now stuck on with barely any movement in lever. They were perfect when I filled and bled them yesterday - thought it went too easy. I know there is something on the forum about this - saw it yesterday. Searching now...

[Cutter]

So I just bled at the master cylinder valve and they are OK again. Bit wierd. It had been standing in hot sun all morning... I think I need to bleed at the calipers too to make sure and be safe. Can't be stuck calipers because it freed off as soon as I used master cyl. bleed screw....

[the_adam]

Can I request a picture with the chicken riding the bike? ;)

Really like what you've done there, that seat's a big improvement on the brown one too :thumbsup: Just a minor concern, you've got one set of footpegs but 2 seats - in my experience MOTs really don't like that, might be best to get hold of a cowl for then. Exhaust brackets don't look like they'd be a problem to me but I'm no expert

[Cutter]

More good advice - will take a cowl with me! Cheers mate!

[Mark Taylor]

Well done cutter, your bike looks really fresh - clean lines & very tasteful, I like it lots. hope you have as much fun riding it as you have building it - Cheers - Mark.

[gary tompkins]

Looks great - especially like the pipes

The hanger should be ok but a triangulated mount would be better. I also think it would look better black to blend in with frame - kinda jumps out at you at present. Louigi did a really cool mount on his bike where it was hidden behind the cans. Made it look like there was no hanger at all.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/6198426605_408dfb6824_z.jpg

[Cutter]

Thanks chaps! Ooh yeah that is smart isn't it... how the 'ell does that work then?

Yeah agree it stands out a bit on that side - other side not so bad as it runs behind all the brake malarky. I meant to profile it a bit to make it thinner in the main central section. Might still do that at some stage...

[gary tompkins]

You can just see a plate (black) behind the footrest which sweeps down between can and swingarm

That has another angled strut on it that picks up on the can, that I think had captive studs in the sleeve

[Albie]

Good job and you know my email addy.

[littlejimmy12]

very nice, all the mods done correctly. Nice and subtle, enjoy her

[crust]

I've spent two years wondering what would happen when I finished it and showed it to UKMOC. You guys are making me feel very happy and relieved.

I can't come anywhere near to some of the engineering skills amongst forum members, and there's a lot I will do better next time, but for a first time attempt by a botcher I'm a happy boy.

It looks belting, top work. Park it between Max's bike and mine, you'll be fine.

Bwahahahahaha, seriously, you've not nothing to worry about, we're not all Capos or Katos.