1971 Triumph Tiger 650 restoration

Could this be the day? Some sunshine is, at long last, forecast. There’s no excuse not to push her out of the  garage for some photos, at least.  Because the beast is very nearly complete. Since last time, I have found and fitted a nice new timing side cover, reset the contact breaker timing and this time screwed in the correct oil pressure switch.  I’ve fixed ALL the oil leaks, making this a rare beast indeed — a classic Triumph that you can safely park on your favourite carpet.  I have refitted the nicely polished exhaust system, with brand new fin clamps and balancer pipe up front.  I’ve replaced the bushes in the shock absorbers.  I’ve painted the rear light cluster to the original grey and fitted it with the new indicators.  I’ve even splashed out on a ready-painted glossy black chain guard. Now I simply refit the fuel tank and give it a polish and, while I am at it, fit the new fuel lines and clamps too. Bagheera is complete and looking... well ...

Hello everyone, welcome back and a very happy 2021 to you all. While we  may have had even more free time than usual this Christmas -- normally perfect shed time -- my better half decided it was a good time to redecorate the bedroom. That is to say, it was a good time for me to decorate the bedroom. Or perhaps I say it was a good time for me to rebuild the bedroom.  So there has not been very much progress on the bike for a while. When I have been able to escape into the workshop I have mostly been cleaning things. Degreasing, derusting, wire-brushing, polishing (but not too much) all sorts of parts from footpegs to exhaust pipes. It is a gentle, pleasently mindless process and one that should not be rushed. Part 22... snapped. Part 25... busted. Part 26... loose. One material victory was repairing the kick-start mechanism. No more will it randomly let go and snap ones knee ligaments. Once I had bravely taken the gearbox outer cover off, the cause was very obvious. The kickst...