all4A50s newbie experience

[Spend the day finishing stripping Zensen back, cleaning and polishing parts, drilling out the rear sprocket and putting it all back together. Great fun and learning curve of what is going where and with the changes I've made how I can run things better. But man I'm over the the smell of polish. Well worth it.

Check out the photo's. Will add more later.

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Inspired by CG125 Bucket Project thread in the buckets forum I have decided to strip the chassis back (apart from the steering head) and clean it up. With the engine is out it is the prime opportunity to do some serious cleaning and making the bike look as good as I can. It will give me a chance to get rid of all that annoying surface rust and paint up the other parts/modifications that I made for the bike but never did anything about painting.

I'll post photos later.

I've taken engine and new top end down to a local engine reconditioners, who after laughing hysterically at the size of the engine agreed to "give-it-a-go to make up a couple of brass bushes for the gudgeon pin and replace the replace the rods that the head and cylinder are bolted down with. The CBR125 rods are to long by about 21/2 cms. Apart from that it should all be good.

So more money to be spent then I hope it's all done and I will have a kicking little bucket. Currently I am ...

Well, bike stripped down, top ends off and I thought well lets finish the evening by seeing if I can fit the 150 piston before turning in for the night, and , no. It's rod is to big for the conrod hole!!!

The new rearsets are working a treat though.

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The new top end for my CBR125 bucket, which a it's head already assembled!! So now to the garage and time to re-build. I hoping this will give me 4 more HP.

I have also fitted new adjustable rearsets with folding footpegs. The non folding pegs of the old adjustable sets always were in the back of my mind and slowed me down. After the last meet where I crashed, but finally got comfortable on my bike combined with the new footpegs will well and truly put those thoughts to rest.

Well finished the season by coming off; Finally got the bike to where I am comfortable to ride her, started the last lap... second corner with bike on my arse, rear slick not scrubbed in enough, wet track and sliding we did go - broken rearset and gear changer and dented tank.

I realised tonight I finished in 7th place in my grade. This is the same place I finished in my first year of bucket racing and following year I won the grade. Let's hope it's a good sign.

Mods ...

Finally saved my pennies to get a Power Commander for Zensen (CBR125). So last night stripped the bike back ready to install it, only to find out it'll be here in 2 weeks (Doh). So I started to look at repositioning the muffler so it doesn't stick out as far. Now I'm rebuilding the header pipe and have started getting things ready to line up.

I've also just got rid of all my GSXR400's and the NT650 is gone for sale and I now actually have space in and around my garage.
...

Paul didn't work out (decided to join the air force or something like that) so Ikasu is being ridden by whoever is prepared to send some time working on her. Zensen is working out well, sith everyone who has ridden her have had a blast. I'm waiting to hear about 150cc big bore & exhaust kit. Handling wise she's fantastic with a lot more to give, she just needs more go on the straights.