Manky Monkey Motors

Hi. Have,nt been around for some time....only dropping in occasionally to see how other peoples builds are going. Well, now its crunch time. Its time to try and get my project running this weekend. A mate of mine is going to wire up the motor and see if it fires up ok. Theres no indicators or lights rigged up just yet. This is just to test that the motor is ok.  It has changed a little bit since this last photo. 

The KN air filters have gone. I have made a flat style air filter of my own design which I hope will work. Also, the tank has gone, and I hope to make my own twin tanks. Also, the mountain bike shocker for the seat has been junked. There was to much lateral play in it, which was making the seat rock from side to side. In its place is a home made leaf spring , which looks great and is more firmer than the bike shocker. I will try and get some photos of the new mods on here soon for merv  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

This is the base of the right side air filters

Mesh added

The air filter sponge is fitted, then the top goes on.

Fitted nice and snug under the top frame rail. ;D ;D

Will post some more pics tomorrow.

I loved the cut outs in the tank with the air filters poking through, but I guess the airbox will be more practical. Nicely made. I'll be interested to see the leaf spring cos I'd considered using a cut down tractor seat one on Tazet's trike. Indicators suggest you might be MSVAing this?

Heres a pic of the leaf spring. Its made from 3 strips of 40*3mm thick stainless steel. At the moment its quite firm......I think if I cut the 2 inner strips a bit shorter it should make it a bit softer.  The 2 brackets hanging down near the center of the saddle will be cut off,as they we,re made for the shocker.

This is the right inside part of one of the tanks. Only tacked together,but I think the shape is ok.

An overall shot. I think the battery box might go as well....or be made as small as possible.

Those carbs are at an extreme angle, near on down draft, is there no float chamber on those?

Yes there is float bowls on em. The engine and carb set up is completely standard....they are at that angle. This is what caused the problems with the air filters clashing with the frame. On the standard bike,the air filter box sits half way into the back end of the tank between the frame rails.
Any way, more importantly.....ITS ALIVE....ALIVE. Very noisy with the open exhaust,but it fired up and ran. Well chuffed with the guy who sorted the black art of lectrickery.
     

Hurrah! Well done chaps.

How do I go about MSVA then. Do I need to do more work on it first before they inspect it  ie fit footrests,brakes, lights and indicators ???  All confused but excited at the same time  ::) ::) ::) 

I honestly don't know -I've never had a bike tested. I'm waiting for someone to do it cos I'm building a hardtail chop myself! Most people just don't seem to bother re-registering custom bikes, even though they've usually cut the original frame in half & added new sections. I figure there really can't be much to test so it'd probably just be the positioning of lights & stuff & a decibel limit.
Didn't Blair put a chop through the MSVA a while ago?

Yeah.... but I,ve built this frame myself so it will need a vin plate.

Mr Kapri's our resident registration expert, but several forummers have put trikes through the BIVA. I'm assuming the process will be similar.

is it just the pic or is it very low? looks like the frame will hit under hard braking?

MSVA for bikes is the same as for trikes. The vehicle has to be finished enough to ride on the road. Lights footrests exhaust etc. and must comply with the MSVA manual. Paint is not required but that's about it. For a VIN you used to be able to make up your own or you can apply to DVLA to allocate one to you.

Ok thanks for the advice, so I can carry on now making my bits n pieces for it. Digger.....the frame is low, but the tyres are completely flat at the moment. I think once the new tyres are on, and inflated, it should raise it a couple of inches. Dont know at the moment which way to go with the tyres. I was thinking of using some of those old retro styled rubber.....or maybe trying some big trail bike knobblies on it. Wheels are from a kwaka gpz 1000rx and are both 16 inch.   

Hi. While we,re on the subject of tyres....where would I be able to buy some of those old style tyres from,and would they be available for 16 inch wheels.  Also, the footrests....do they have to be folding,or can they just be like a solid welded fitment for msva. 

Forgot to tell ya.......Met up with a guy on facebook, whos a friend of a friend from when I was at school. He's into hot-rods and the whole custom scene, but most impotantly, he's built his own big spray booth in his garden. Big enough to spray his own v.w transporter in with plenty of room. He's been round and looked at my build and offered to prep and spray it for me.....all he wants me to pay is the cost of the paint.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 

Cool!
By old style tyres I assume you mean crossplies? They have to have the appropriate speed rating for your vehicle but apart from that I guess you can use them.
You could try North Hants Tyres in Aldershot, Hants for car crossplies & Jackhammer Speed Shop in Farnborough, Hants for car & bike ones. Both have websites.

Don't think there is a requirement for foot pegs to fold on bikes but check the MSVA manual.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/366046/msva-manual.pdf

Tried the engine again, and only firing on 3 cylinders. Took the plugs out and supprisingly the three thats firing look a nice biscuit colour, so it looks like those pancake style air filters are working ok. One of the spark plugs is completly dry, which suggests to me that theres no fuel getting through.So, the carbs are now off and ready for a stripdown and clean.   

Hi Hornet glad you are back at it , i built my own frame as well but it was 3 years ago since i did my msva test so ive forgotten quite a bit although im almost ready to do it again with my current build

for the chop there were several things that had been be , firstly you can either make your own as Olds says or the dvla will issue one , you will have to get this hard stamped onto the headstock and then get it inspected by a garage , they will sign the letter the dvla give you , cant remember if they stamp it with the embossed stamp like they did with old mots

once thats done you can apply for the msva

the tail light must be central and all lights to be E marked

the side stand must retract once passed a certain point and must be held in the up position " cannot be flopping about "

if you cannot  fit a steering lock you will need to fit an electronic imobilser . this can be a simple toggle switch , the type you can remove the red key from . fit this to the negative side of the batter ... a chain and padlock are no longer accepted

the noise limit from memory is 99 Db the reading is taken at a certain rev range but i can remember what ... mine just passed

oh and it must have the manufacturers name on it ! , i made my own but stuck a sticker on it so he asked if i was the manufacturer ...erm... yes i said

no sharp edges . petrol filler to be flush.

they did do a brake function test , but i cant remember them checking the disc thickness or rotation

other than that i dont really remember it being that bad and the tester i got was pretty fair and understanding

this is mine with a tank protector on , this was to hide the height of the filler cap, also the tail ligts are fitted to a temp carrier frame , this was for the test only
 
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/bummer2220/IMG_1245.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/bummer2220/media/IMG_1245.jpg.html)

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/bummer2220/IMG_1244.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/bummer2220/media/IMG_1244.jpg.html)

hope that helps
 

Sorry about the delay...I have,nt been on here for a few weeks. Cheers blair and olds for the info. My tail light is central, but mounted to the seat. I,ve started to make my tanks now. The filler cap and neck is from a suzuki ts 185. Its not quite flush,so I might have to put a cover round it like you,ve done. Also, I intended not have a tacho fitted to it....just the speedo. I will have to put some photos on here soon, maybe at the weekend when I got a bit of time.

This is how it looks at the moment. I,ve cut out the old filler neck from the TS 185 tank and welded it into the tube.

These tanks are,nt finished yet, but I think it will look pretty good when its done.

 8) 8)

 8) 8)

Very different and funky, looking forward to seeing the finished job!

Why would you need twin rocket launchers?? ??? ??? ??? ???

coz twos always better.
looks great. following with interest  ;)

I gotta leave the end blanks off for the moment. I still have to drill the bottom,and I need to leave the ends open to get all the swarf out. I like rockets any way.

Done some more on the bike. I,ve been trying to work out some footrests/rearsets....Not gonna have any forward controls at all. The tank may have to be trimmed down a little,as the bars are turned,the yokes are getting close to the tanks. Any idea if there is a minimum angle of degree where the bars can be turned before they foul on anything. Cheers

Hi guys. Still working on the project, only bits n pieces at the moment. Made a few alterations, still mutating it even further. I will put some photos on when some real progress has been made.

Wondered how you were getting on.

Very interesting build..praps I should post some of my chop?

YUP

Stix

like that very much  ;D

Hi. Project is still ongoing. The tanks are finished...speedo and idiot lights fitted...footrests fitted...headlight fitted. I am also taking it to a very local transport show. Willenhall is having its 1st transport show on the 12th of june at the park, which is just around the corner from where we live. I,ve contacted the organizers on facebook and posted a few pictures of the build. They said I am more than welcome to bring it down and enter it into the motorcycle area of the show...as there will be other projects on show as well. I am going to push it down the road and into the park....its that close.
I have even been trying some paint just on the frame. Its only brushed on to protect it from rusting even more ( I have to keep on scotch briting it every month to keep the rust at bay). Will post pictures closer to the date of the show, and during the show. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Always a buzz to be able to show the rest of the world your handiwork for the first time. Looking forward to photos of it at the show.  :)

I changed the exhaust as well.The mark 1 version was to awkward to tighten up. The new one is much easier to get off and on. Pics to follow soon

I spent saturday afternoon rubbing the rust off the frame and generally tidying it up getting it ready for show today. You can guess what happened. Raining all morning...so ended up NOT taking the bike to the show. Vehicles are suppose to enter between the hours of 8.30 and 10.30 AM, but it rained most of the day here, so no show for me. I bought some of those little paint tester pots from BnQ to try some colours on it. Ideal for experimenting instead of going in and making the wrong decision on colours.

The paints only brushed on for now, but I think this army green suits the frame well. The mudguard and tanks will be a bright silver.

I see some holes ? ;D

Similar colour to my XS650? Suits the slightly Steam Punky look of that bracket.