Hi from Nottingham - time for a change after 27 years

Hi y'all.

I've been running an '83 Katana 1100 which I bought in '86.  Recently, I've been thinking that it's maybe time for a change.  My mind was made up when the Kat went up in flames a couple of months back.  She's going to be off the road till next year, so this was the perfect excuse to look around.  

The idea was to find a cruiser to bob & I picked up a lovely 2001, black/white Volusia with 16,000 miles on the clock, for the right price.  When I got it home & started to look at what was staying & what was going to be junked, I decided that for the time being, I liked it just as it was (minus the horrible engine bars & pillion seat).  So a good clean up later - (those horrible tank badges just had to go as well ) - a couple of hundred "getting used to it" miles, & I'm loving biking again for the first time in a few years.  Hardest part is remembering that I don't need to try & overtake everything in front of me, but to sit back & enjoy the ride.

I've decided that it's staying as it is - apart from a pair of Whitewalls, maybe get the wheels powder coated (they're a bit tatty), relocate the number plate to the side, re-jet the carbs (it has straight thru pipes, fantastic sound - need setting up), remove the PAIR valve set-up, replace the standard bars with flat/drag bars in black - but apart from that, it's staying as it is! 

All the bets to you all - Dave

 

Sounds like a good plan - although I am doing the opposite with the bars in mu case. I want to be sitting a tad more upright - so looking for a decent bars with a better pull back....

If you have a pic - would be nice to do a before and after.....

G

Welcome to the site! Shame about the Katana - I think they were such awesome looking bikes.
I'm sure you will love working on the intruder though!

Hi Dave   Sounds like you've got a good vision for the bike 

 Dave

Hi Dave, I'm not far from you in Ilkeston mate, and I also have just purchased a 2001 in black and white !!! mine has all the extra's though i.e screen, spots crome covers etc etc.....thinking of white walls too !!

Jim.

Hi - well I've just tried to post a couple of photos as a "before & after" but apparently I can't post external links for seven days - so I'll have another go next week.

Jim - probably closer than you realise.  I'm at the top of Toton Lane in Stapleford.  Have to meet up sometime & compare chrome!!

Sound like a plan mate, I was thinking of popping over to stabbo tonight as there's a good band playing at the Pavillion.

Jim.

 katsd .... If you're dumping the engine bars and they're any good, I'm after a set 

Welcome my friend sounds like you have a bit of good visioin

Hi Jim - is The Pavillion still standing - don't think I've been in there since '90, usually head for Horse & Jokey.  Give us a shout & we'll meet up.

Twojobmick - the bars are off & look OK to me.  If you want, I can send you a snap of them.

Soon as I can, I'll post a snap - any suggestions welcome.

Hi Katsd,

 

Keep it shiney side up

katsd I'm in Derby myself if thats near you also for advice or such plus I'm an ex honda rider & have a Velo also. Been riding since before i was born mate lol! 

Hi Peter 

Thanks for the offer - I'm going to be picking everybodies collectiove brains over the next few weeks.  The 800 is so different from everything I've had before & I'm a bit unsure at the mo.  So please be patient with a newbie!!

katsd wrote:

Twojobmick - the bars are off & look OK to me. If you want, I can send you a snap of them.

 Yes please mate ..... what are you after for them ?

Hiya Twobob, not sure what the protocol is for this sort of thing - I assume that using a private message is the correct way?  At the moment, I don't have access to that facility, so unless anyone can tell me what I should do without breaking forum rules, I'm a bit stuck.

The bars are two separate pieces instead of one loop.

No idea on price, I'll have a good look later as I'm off work for a couple of days now

katsd wrote:

Hiya Twobob, not sure what the protocol is for this sort of thing - I assume that using a private message is the correct way?

You can either PM me ( when you're enabled ) or my phone number is 07506 042799 if you want to text / photo message me mate. Your choice

OK - I'm going to run them through the bench polisher tomorrow & see how they come out.  Then I'll try & send photo to your phone.

 Sounds awesome! I also would like to see some before and after pics, Good luck!

katsd

Tine to get some pics up me reckons katsd !!!!

Jim.

Hi Jim - pics have been posted but Mr Intruder moved them over to the gallery page.  Mines going in the opposite direction to yours - just deciding what's coming off next.  Disabled the PAIR valve last week which has killed the backfire on over-run, just ordered the full removal kei from Mocc.  Discussing with my tool man about cutting the pipes level, probably around the axle line & then slash cutting them.  Still toying with losing the big fenders & going for the full stripped-down look.  I'll have to take a ride over & have a look at yours sometime - I came back from Alfreton through the top of Ilkeston yesterday, you'll have to let me know where you are

Hi mate,
Just catching up with this post again, yeah defo on a meet up mate, be a nice comparison with mine as the bad cop bike and yours with the strip down look !!!

Jim.

Hi Jim

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner - things have been a bit hectic.  Concerts, bike show, my 50th birthday party etc.  Starting work on the back end soon, finished early next year, we'll make a date then.  All the best

Glad you have re surfaced mate, no worries mate we will catch up at some point.

Cheers,

Jim.