850T Cafe build

[JoeW]

I have been quite busy this winter with customer jobs but, I managed to make time to build a bike of my own. A couple years ago, this bike came into my shop
It didn't run at the time, I went through the carbs and fixed an issue with the gas cap and it ran pretty well. It was a little over carbureted with the 36s on it but, it was better than when it came in. After the repairs were done, the owner asked me to sell it for him. I listed it in several places, dragged it to a couple bike shows, including Mama Tried last year and didn't get any serious offers. Last spring, I made him an offer and he took it.
The bike had real potential, 320 mm rotors with 4 piston calipers, new PHF 36 mm carbs, that tank! I know I could make something nice out of it. So, down it came, I detabbed the frame and sent it to powder coat, the engine came apart and I made a few upgrades:
89.5 mm Venolia forged high dome pistons
Cast iron liners to match
3.01 lift cam
1100 Sport 10 spring flywheel
Ported the heads with matching intakes
I had a Bub Hyper System stashed for just a build like this.
I went through the trans and final drive
stripped the wheels and sent them for powder coat
chrome plated the spoke nipples and polished the spokes
I also had a set of Marzzochi shocks that I stripped, powder coated and rebuilt




My friend and master metal worker Craig Rodsmith made a front fender, seat pan and rear sets for me...



The next step is to add this tachometer and have Craig make a LeMans 1 style fairing for it

I'll post more pictures soon

[canuck750]

 

beautiful

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

[twowings]

Nice job!   

[siabeid]

That is beautiful. To my eyes, the seat pan and tank combo are perfect.

[Turin]

Nothing wrong with that. Extra points for giving her extra go to go along with all that show.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

That is a damn fine job Joe!  That's the state of nick I wish it was in when I nibbled at the previous incarnation! You've got a really cool bike there

[NCAmother]

Awesome, I like the rear sets a lot!  I'm doing an 850T as well and I'm a little baffled with rearsets for the T.  Great job!!!

[Groover]

That looks great, nicely done!

[JoeW]

That is a damn fine job Joe!  That's the state of nick I wish it was in when I nibbled at the previous incarnation! You've got a really cool bike there

The price tag would be a little higher now.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

The price tag would be a little higher now.

I bet it would!  Hope you enjoy it! 

[80CX100]

Very sweet looking!

I normally don't like the red frames,,, but the way you did the lower main rails in black, really sets the bike off,,,,

That's a very nice gauge choice,,, only realized it had MPH as well, when I looked at it a second time, it should look real tasty when it's on the bike, nice simple lines on the whole thing,,, I've never seen those short Bubs before, props, very nice!

[Bucky]

 

Impressive work Joe....

[kidsmoke]

That's a beautiful bike.

[lti_57]

Beautiful looking Bike
I admire peoples talents there is so much of it out there
 :1:

[JoeW]

The bike is close to being finished. a few minor details to iron out. Last Monday I got it on the dyno at a local Indian dealer. I was looking at my air fuel ratio and it seems to be spot on. The only trouble was above 4000 rpm it would misfire, the higher the revs, the worse it got. I blamed it on the new tach but, it still missed after i disconnected it. I did a horsepower pull and even with the miss, it made 52 bhp at the rear wheel at 5500 RPM. After that, it missed so bad that the power fell off.  Later in the week I found that the main relay was losing contact because of the vibration. So, it wasn't just one cylinder, both were shutting down. I replaced the relay and rubber mounted it. I'll get there again next week and see what it does, I'm hoping to get into the 80s.







private image share

That gap in the lines around 4500 is when the ignition cut out.

[Rick4003]

Super nice build Joe! Post a video with the bike when you're done!  

If (and now i'm getting into stupid little details here) I should point out one thing that would make the bike just 1% cooler then the rear hump should have been slightly higher in the front so the hump would mirror the slope of the tank.

But again, super nice build. Can't wait to go home and play with mine :) Got lots of small projects for it

-Ulrik

[NCAmother]

Great Job, Joe!!!!!
I'm building a 850T cafe, I have the same speed hut tach, could you show me how you mounted it? Thanks bud!!
NCA

[Simon_London]

Lovely bike.

Couple of questions

1. Those high dome pistons..... are you using standard 850T small valve cylinder heads? If so i am surprised the valves clear the piston. Is there a significant increase in compression?

2. Did you bore out the triple trees to accept the Marzochi forks or are the 35mm rather than 38mm?

Thanks

Simon

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

2. Did you bore out the triple trees to accept the Marzochi forks or are the 35mm rather than 38mm?

Forks appear to be the original Guzzi forks, rear shocks are Marzocchi however.

[Blueboarhound]

Looks good 

[thomas]

Hi

What makes the '1100 Sport 10 spring flywheel' better than a lightened original? Fine splines? Even lighter? How much of a conversion is it and are the timing marks the same?

regards
Thomas

I have been quite busy this winter with customer jobs but, I managed to make time to build a bike of my own. A couple years ago, this bike came into my shop
It didn't run at the time, I went through the carbs and fixed an issue with the gas cap and it ran pretty well. It was a little over carbureted with the 36s on it but, it was better than when it came in. After the repairs were done, the owner asked me to sell it for him. I listed it in several places, dragged it to a couple bike shows, including Mama Tried last year and didn't get any serious offers. Last spring, I made him an offer and he took it.
The bike had real potential, 320 mm rotors with 4 piston calipers, new PHF 36 mm carbs, that tank! I know I could make something nice out of it. So, down it came, I detabbed the frame and sent it to powder coat, the engine came apart and I made a few upgrades:
89.5 mm Venolia forged high dome pistons
Cast iron liners to match
3.01 lift cam
1100 Sport 10 spring flywheel
Ported the heads with matching intakes
I had a Bub Hyper System stashed for just a build like this.
I went through the trans and final drive
stripped the wheels and sent them for powder coat
chrome plated the spoke nipples and polished the spokes
I also had a set of Marzzochi shocks that I stripped, powder coated and rebuilt

[JoeW]

Hi

What makes the '1100 Sport 10 spring flywheel' better than a lightened original? Fine splines? Even lighter? How much of a conversion is it and are the timing marks the same?

regards
Thomas

Thomas, The v11 sport flywheel is about 6 pounds, It's a direct replacement with no modifications needed. Other than the weight savings, it has 2 additional springs than the original, they are slightly smaller but add more pressure. i was worried about heavy clutch pull, the Sport uses a hydraulic actuator but, it's not bad at all. You need the flywheel, pressure plate, springs, ring gear and ring gear bolts. The clutch discs and divider plate are the same as the 8 spring setup.