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Gary. Out of pure interest, is that a 550 motor in your 500 chassis?
What Exhaust system are you planning to fit?I'm at the very start of my 500 ownership - trying to cost stuff to get some sort of handle on expenditure well before I start throwing money into the pit.My 400 rebuild was my first ever & tbh it's real value today compared to what I spent is what supermarkets call a loss leader. I don't begrudge the cost as it was a life saver during lock down. I very much doubt I will ever part with it as it's a very personal specification.The 500 will be a very different story when I get going - at least I think it will.lol
Quote from: gary123 on September 20, 2022, 08:30:37 PMCheers Roo, where are you.South Carolina in a place called Estill. For 7 weeks so hurridly chasing goodies around. Currently needing the exit pipe size for a 550 F2 so I can get the right end can Im after whilst out here. Saves me about 175 quid if I can pull it off in my luggage again The actress said to the bishop.............sorry! Lucky you, spent many happy years in the deep south. Dont miss the grits though.
Cheers Roo, where are you.
Yup, I’d say the average cost/value/pleasure/satisfaction/achievement/enjoyment equation is net zero. However the cost Vs value equation always seems to be in the region of 20% loss for us mere mortals. It really depends how brutal/fastidious you are during the build, the initial base bike purchase cost and access to ‘spares’. A complete engine refurb for example rarely costs less than £800-£1000 (seals, gaskets, chains, rubbers, shells, guides, case cleaning, rebore, pistons, rings, paint, clutch, head work, goo...). Add £1k for exhausts and another £600 - £1000 for a good or very good paint job and the writing is on the wall. That’s before we get into chrome, seats and ancillary items. Now if you want concours…..£££££. The route to a good value build is really dependent on acquiring a cheap, straight and substantially complete machine, ready access to a stock of spares, a good outsourcing network and a willingness to trade skills and goods. Me, I’m a convert and in the future will buy the finished article with evidence of work done so I can focus on riding and a little tinkering.I justify the overspend with foolish notions of the ‘depreciation’ I’d suffer buying a new bike and call it evens after a couple of years.And what do you do with your money?. I just blew £1500 on a 10 day blast through France and Spain. Great fun and great memories, but a £1500 overspend on my 550 is tolerable if it gives me a few years of pleasure.
Nice work Gary! Just a joy to see another saved from the metal shredder. I do think that this bike restoration game should be prescribed out of health and historical interest. It’s definitely a tonic. Had the 550 out yesterday for a 30 mile round trip before the rain came and it never fails to make me smile.
Quote from: Sesman on September 21, 2022, 08:22:35 AMGary. Out of pure interest, is that a 550 motor in your 500 chassis?No def a 500, least it was till trigger rebored it. The reason the drum bolt is missing is cos it wont change gear with it in .Ive done the walk away and ave acup of tea for now.