Kiwi Moto3 Pledge Me.

[Katman]

Not wanting to sound like I'm having a moan (but I'm sure it will came across like that) but it's rather disappointing that after asking for donations and receiving 5 and a half grand things have been rather conspicuous by their silence ever since.

Seems that a $100 donation now isn't worth the reward that was on offer during the Pledge Me campaign.

[Brian d marge]

Ive been getting regular updates , the bike is coming together and is looking good
quite excited to see it run and hope it pans out

I donated a bit as well

reminds me

Stephen

[Shaun]

Ive been getting regular updates , the bike is coming together and is looking good
quite excited to see it run and hope it pans out

I donated a bit as well

reminds me

Stephen

My guess is Steve has just been so focused on the next stage/s after fund raising that he has not had a lot of time to update the supporters in general.

[Mental Trousers]

Steve had it on display at Taupo for the last round of Vic Club. Still had work to do on it but all the major (expensive) stuff was sorted. Just things like the gas tank had to be cut and shut and other bits and pieces. Looked to be coming together nicely.

[Shaun]

I wonder if Steve would like the idea of a 61KG rider on it for the TELEVISED round at Wanganui this year, now that would smoke my tyres

[Brian d marge]

My guess is Steve has just been so focused on the next stage/s after fund raising that he has not had a lot of time to update the supporters in general.

My guess is...house husband ship .....has stopped him dead in his tracks ...hahahahahaaa

Must send him the part , Ive been a bit slack meself !

Stephen

[steveyb]

Hi all.
I noticed this thread, so thought I'd best reply.
All people who made donations and provided their contact details have been put on an emailing list to which I have been sending (perhaps not so regular) updates on progress.
If you (Katman) are not getting updates please email me your contacts. My email is available on Moto Academy NZ website.
I have also sent out IMD250 caps to all those that I understand to be waiting on one and shirts will be underway as soon as I am able to get them done and paid for (the latter is the hard part).
More regular short updates are available on the Moto Academy NZ website.
Perhaps a PM rather than a public announcement might have been a bit nicer way of asking what is going on....

Progress to date:
The bike is about 95% there. It is up at Cycleworks right now having the exhaust pipe and muffler made and fitted. Our calculations for this first iteration are pretty basic and not the full monty that Wobbly Pipes will be able to do when/if we get a hotted up engine, but based on the standard SXF pipe, our calculations and the restrictions of fitting to the actual bike, we should be in the ballpark.
We have done a small amount, so far, of 3D modelling and some Finite Element Analysis (courtesy of Stephen, Brian d'Marge, in Japan). I have ground to a bit of a halt with the 3D modelling due to driving about the place going to race meetings and funerals and writing job applications and working on the bikes, but will get back into it. We hope to 3D scan the frame and swingarm and FEA the hell out of them.
The fuel tank is proving problematic and Craig at MotoMetal is working hard at welding it up after I fucked it by having it sandblasted. You live and learn. I have made up an airbox, but we will see if we actually need to run it or not. Might get away with just a filter pod.
The Honda NSF runs 415 chain, the SXF runs 520, but with the gearing that we will need we cannot run 520 with a large enough front sprocket (it will take out the clutch actuator). So we will change to 415. This means having the SXF spline cut into the 415 sprockets. They are at the watercutters (hopefully) having this done early next week.
Have secured (well have it but unfortunately not yet paid for it, hope to recitify that soon) a Suter slipper clutch courtesy of Race Supplies (Bear with me Kev!!). Not fitted yet until paid for and when we start racing in earnest. Should be OK without for initial testing.
The frame and swingarm are all nicely painted in KTM (Traffic Orange) orange, paint courtesy of Resene Automotive and all our painting has been done by Stuart (Pretzel) in Ashurst (does Craig Shiffif's stuff too).
The fairings are all getting a sprucing up and new paint scheme, retaining the Ford Bionic (blue) and white colours.
We have the Ohlins TTX36 rear shock and the new specification KSS/Showa forks up and running and Aaron Hassan has been testing these over the latter part of the winter. Robert Taylor and Dennis Shaw at KSS have worked magic with the OEM Showa forks and now they really work. Our TTX36 and fork specs are unique to the IMD250 and in some ways superior to current Moto3 specs.
Glen Orwin is ready waiting to do some testing and we will hopefully be testing a young rider from Auckland (currently in Hyosung Cup) on the bike in December with a view to him racing it in 2013. We have tested a second young rider, much less experienced, but all the fundamentals were there, so if they are keen we will whip up a second bike.

See you at the track soon I hope.

[Katman]

I have also sent out IMD250 caps to all those that I understand to be waiting on one and shirts will be underway as soon as I am able to get them done and paid for (the latter is the hard part).

Thanks for the reply Steve. I do appreciate it.

Any ill-feeling would have been avoided though by a simple email outlining that the shirt offer had not been forgotten and was still in the pipeline.

Good to hear that progress is still going well on the bike.

[steveyb]

Hey that's no problem.
I realise that in some cases PledgeMe rewards have never materialised from some other projects, but we have the designs done and shirts chosen ready to go when we can.
I am really hanging out to sign a rider or two for the summer or next year or to get a job which will take some pressure off.

Also hanging out to see if this thing will actually work!!!

Fingers crossed.

Cheers.

[steveyb]

I wonder if Steve would like the idea of a 61KG rider on it for the TELEVISED round at Wanganui this year, now that would smoke my tyres

If the bike works that would be interesting, BUT, I am having Xmas away in Northland with the family, so will not be going anywhere near Whanganui.

[Brian d marge]

Hey that's no problem.
I realise that in some cases PledgeMe rewards have never materialised from some other projects, but we have the designs done and shirts chosen ready to go when we can.
I am really hanging out to sign a rider or two for the summer or next year or to get a job which will take some pressure off.

Also hanging out to see if this thing will actually work!!!

Fingers crossed.

Cheers.

Having built one or two bikes , Im guessing there is a gremlin hiding somewhere , but that’s what testing is for haahaa

btw , there is a wheel sitting in my lounge ( with disk)

Stephen

[Robert Taylor]

I would like to state that it has been a real pleasure working with Steve on this project. Its also given us a bigger insight into getting the best out of 125 suspension and we have made solid progress with that. These classes are vitally important and certainly people like Steve Bagshaw, Steve Ward and Kevin Goddard ( anyone else Ive forgotten ?) put an enormous amount of effort in to fostering young riders. Many of these riders have gone on to become top runners in the larger classes.
Steve has really stuck his kneck out with this project and anyone prepared to offer any level of support will be valuable for him.

[Hugo Nougo]

Thanks Steve, I haven't seen the project in the flesh yet but the updates and pics look good, the cap arrived in time for me to wear it proudly at the Phillip Island GP.

[Brett]

Is there a thread somewhere that someone could point me to that outlines the terms of reference for the project? Ie what is being built and to compete in what?

Edit - never mind, I just found the pledgeme page.

[Shaun]

If the bike works that would be interesting, BUT, I am having Xmas away in Northland with the family, so will not be going anywhere near Whanganui.

Thats a shame Steve, best chance to internationally display this baby. Anyhow, if you ever want an an old light weight test rider, get in touch, it would be an honour to be involved in this great effort


PS, if I had any money, I would be helping you with it