Motu
10th November 2004, 21:15
Time to clear out the shed,this is first up.About 1975/76? Maybe the best of the first Jap trials bikes,it cetainly was the best looking,designed by Don Smith who did the first Montesa Cota,you can see his hand in the KT.I've had it since the late 80s and rebuilt it sometime then,roughly...then just used it to keep my hand in at trials,one should always have a trials bike at hand I reckon.
Deciding to get back into trials,doing the twin shock class,I gave it a good spruce up.Rebored and a new piston,first oversize,actualy it's a Honda piston,properly modified to suit,new crank seals went in at the same time.The bottom end is perfect,these things only use 2nd gear most of the time and run at low speeds and low load.New inlet stub,and air filter elbow,and I made a new filter element out of UNI sheet to keep the dirt out.Had new fork springs made and new seals of course at the same time.The seat was reupolstered,new brake shoes front and rear,but they don't work too well,maybe a skim on the front drum will help,it has a decompressor,so it can still be slowed if need be.The rest of the running gear is pretty good,just doesn't look it.I have only done about 10 trials after this work,so it's only just run in,if that.
There is a good KT website with manuals and parts book,Fred in Wellington makes lots of parts and sells them to KT riders - he supplied my piston and inlet stub and filter connector,he makes lot's of other stuff too.I have one side cover,but they fall off,they are only for looks...and no ones looking at you in a trial.Pity about the tank,but it was what was in the gun,they were painting a Monaro at the time.It was a fully prepped tank and the paint is hardened 2 pot,but it has been badly damaged by fuel,strange that - maybe it was the aggresive synthetic 2 stroke oil I was using then,the paint just melted.No oil pump,I took that out and run premix like all proper 2 strokes.
The bike is far better than it looks,this bike has been set up to compete in a trial,it's no heap of shit rat bike where nothing works,and it's no fully restored but unriderable gem.There are still things to do,but that's half the fun,making the bike suit you and your style.I've seen total dungers you couldn't ride that need heaps of work go for $500,so am looking a little up from that mark - if you want a taste of trials or want to enter the relax sport of twin shock trials,you wouldn't find a better starter bike,90% of the work has been done for you...all you have to do is paint it green!
Deciding to get back into trials,doing the twin shock class,I gave it a good spruce up.Rebored and a new piston,first oversize,actualy it's a Honda piston,properly modified to suit,new crank seals went in at the same time.The bottom end is perfect,these things only use 2nd gear most of the time and run at low speeds and low load.New inlet stub,and air filter elbow,and I made a new filter element out of UNI sheet to keep the dirt out.Had new fork springs made and new seals of course at the same time.The seat was reupolstered,new brake shoes front and rear,but they don't work too well,maybe a skim on the front drum will help,it has a decompressor,so it can still be slowed if need be.The rest of the running gear is pretty good,just doesn't look it.I have only done about 10 trials after this work,so it's only just run in,if that.
There is a good KT website with manuals and parts book,Fred in Wellington makes lots of parts and sells them to KT riders - he supplied my piston and inlet stub and filter connector,he makes lot's of other stuff too.I have one side cover,but they fall off,they are only for looks...and no ones looking at you in a trial.Pity about the tank,but it was what was in the gun,they were painting a Monaro at the time.It was a fully prepped tank and the paint is hardened 2 pot,but it has been badly damaged by fuel,strange that - maybe it was the aggresive synthetic 2 stroke oil I was using then,the paint just melted.No oil pump,I took that out and run premix like all proper 2 strokes.
The bike is far better than it looks,this bike has been set up to compete in a trial,it's no heap of shit rat bike where nothing works,and it's no fully restored but unriderable gem.There are still things to do,but that's half the fun,making the bike suit you and your style.I've seen total dungers you couldn't ride that need heaps of work go for $500,so am looking a little up from that mark - if you want a taste of trials or want to enter the relax sport of twin shock trials,you wouldn't find a better starter bike,90% of the work has been done for you...all you have to do is paint it green!