'85 LeMans remodel, again

[mgmark]

I finally got to where I could get the yellow Lemans on the lift for its turn. I want to have it back on the road again for this season. In its previous incarnation it was a LeMans I styled bike, (see my avatar) only to discover my hands and neck don't like clipons anymore. Dang this getting old stuff!

So this time the bike is going more retro, more 750S type style, with wire wheels. I sourced some Verlicchi swan necks for the 40mm Cal 3 forks, and laced up a Borrani rim to the Cal front wheel to match the rear. It has the short 70s swingarm and related bits to get the rear wheel centered under the fender, V7 Sport rear flip fender, tank and seat, and T tool boxes. I'm using early style gauges also. In the past Stein Dinse sold straight frame extensions for the late 80s LeMans to replace the upswept frame rails. I was lucky to find some used. I powder coated the frame on this bike, the first time I've tried it. I like it. So far I have all of the big pieces hanging, still need to build a wiring harness, connect up the brakes, all the small jobs.

I want to remove what is left of the original blue finish off the rocker covers, what hasn't been sandblasted off from road miles already. Any ideas?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151193458@N06/albums/72157678897049850

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hard to believe that was ever a Le Mans 1000! 

[Scud]

Just looked at your flickr link. So the same bike has been a red LeMans, a yellow banana, and a stealthy black standard - all under your care? And this will be her 4th iteration with you?

Looking forward to the next one.

I've been happy with powdercoated valve covers (sandblasting included). But that can be a slippery slope, because you'll start looking for more stuff to powdercoat.

[mgmark]

Just looked at your flickr link. So the same bike has been a red LeMans, a yellow banana, and a stealthy black standard - all under your care? And this will be her 4th iteration with you?

Looking forward to the next one.

That's the magic of Tonti frames; you can build then into anything! Same great bike underneath, just a little more user friendly as I get older. It will have green stripes, but I chickened out on the green frame.

Thanks for the powdercoat tip on the valve covers. I might try to do some polishing on them first, but they could wind up being powdercoated for durability.

[wirespokes]

I believe the valve covers are anodized, in which case, take them to an anodizer and have them stripped.

Then anodize them clear if a bare aluminum look is desired.

[SED]

I believe the valve covers are anodized, in which case, take them to an anodizer and have them stripped.

Then anodize them clear if a bare aluminum look is desired.

Oven cleaner will strip anodizing.  Probably any lye solution would do.  Did it to the alloy rims on my Ariel.  (and some purple bicycle components back in the day)

Cool looking bike!  Never fond of the bent banana look of the later Tonti LMs so it's cool that it can be changed!  How much was involved?

[canuck750]

That's going to be a very sharp looking bike!

Liquid rust remover will take of anodizing and if that fails Eastwood Automotive sells powder coat stripper in a 1 litre bottle.

Jim

[Tobit]

I had the rocker covers on my LMIV bead blasted plain.  The shop doing the work commented on how tough that original powder coat was.

They've been plain for many years and add visually to the bulk of the engine.  JMHO.

I like your current iteration of the LMIV.




Tobit

[mgmark]

Thanks for the pics of your rocker covers Tobit, I like that look. It will help lighten up the appearance of the bike.

So with the warm weather I finished up the wiring harness, mounted turn signals, and I've done a couple of short test rides around the block to get things adjusted to fit me. I can really notice the difference with the lightened flywheel I installed when I replaced the rear main seal! The bike seems more lively now.

I did run into a snag with my style choice; the left tool box cover interferes with the carb and so will not open when mounted on the tool box. There is not enough room to "adjust" the toolbox further back far enough to clear. I might have to look for some V7 Sport style covers to fit the boxes, or if all else fails fall back to the LeMans 1 type side covers I have leftover from the red bike. I really like the idea of having a functional toolbox though.

[mgmark]

Cool looking bike!  Never fond of the bent banana look of the later Tonti LMs so it's cool that it can be changed!  How much was involved?

On the Lemans IV, it involved a LOT of frame tab removal, and cutting off/replacing the upswept rear frame rails. Otherwise pretty much just parts swaps between models.

[mgmark]

That's going to be a very sharp looking bike!
Jim

Thanks Jim. Your rear turn signal mount brackets worked perfect on there. I used your ideas from your V7 Sport resto for the Lucas signals.

Mark

[mgmark]

I've been doing some small things to the bike, short rides and adjustments. I beadblasted the rocker covers to remove the paint, it wasn't anodizing. That makes the bike look lighter.
I also mounted an old aftermarket 750S type seat I've had for a while. I like the looks but definitely feels different than the V7 Sport seat.
It is just about time to look for a bike painter.

Mark

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Very nice!

[canuck750]

Its crying out for a 750S type paint scheme :1:

Looking good!

[Groover]

Mark

I'm liking this direction! Nice job. Any chance you can show (when you get a chance) the Stein Dinse straight frame extensions? Also, do you (or anyone reading this) know if the V1100 California models 1998-2008 front forks and triples work on an LM4 frame?

[mgmark]

I'm liking this direction! Nice job. Any chance you can show (when you get a chance) the Stein Dinse straight frame extensions? Also, do you (or anyone reading this) know if the V1100 California models 1998-2008 front forks and triples work on an LM4 frame?

I can't really show the frame rail extentions now that the frame is powder coated. It looks just like a 70s Tonti frame in the back now. Basically they are turned aluminum solid round stock the same OD as the frame rails. There is a turned down section at the front that fits tight into the frame where you cut off the upswept tubes. Definitely a measure five times, cut once kinda thing! Once they go in they aren't coming out, barring slicing the frame rails apart to get them out again.

As far as I know the Cal 1100 has the same tall neck as the 90's bikes. I've never had one but they appear the same design so the triples should go in.

[mgmark]

I've been riding the bike a bit, geting the jetting better, it was too lean before. Must have been when I switched to the Bub Conti replicas. The thing still doesn't like to idle, spitting back, but these don't like to run much under 3K anyway. Man these 80s big valve bikes rip between 60-100! The roll on above 4K rpm is really something for a 30 year old bike.

So with the bike pretty much done I decided to do something about the too much black. I always intended to have the bike professionally painted in 750S stripes but haven't found a local painter yet. Yesterday I stopped by a sign shop and picked up 10 bucks (Guzzi content) worth of self adhesive outdoor sign vinyl and cut some stripes. They aren't perfect, but it gives me the right buzz looking at it now. Like the rest of the bike, it looks good from 10 feet away.
And I managaed to adjust the left toolbox back far enough for it to work. I'm happy with that.


Time to go riding before it gets hot out there....

Mark

[Groover]

Looks great Mark. That $10 striping work looks excellent from here! As far as jetting goes, could you possibly have/had the " European" jetting? I actually don't know what that is exactly, but supposedly my SE had that done according to the previous owner, which I believe he said it was a leaner setup, but then again pipes come into play too as you mentioned.

[Turin]

That looks great. A 1000S looks chunky by comparison.

[mgmark]

Looks great Mark. That $10 striping work looks excellent from here! As far as jetting goes, could you possibly have/had the " European" jetting? I actually don't know what that is exactly, but supposedly my SE had that done according to the previous owner, which I believe he said it was a leaner setup, but then again pipes come into play too as you mentioned.

I'm not sure what the jetting was when I got the bike; the previous owner had a bunch of jets with it he had drilled out instead of replacing so I started from scratch. The bike has K&N filters and Bub Conti replica mufflers on stainless Mistral headpipes and crossover. The mufflers are more open than the LaFranconis that were on it.
50/3 slide
K4 needles -middle groove
58 idle jets
145 main jets
AB266 atomizers, up from the 265 that were in it.