Hey Darth..look what I saw today.

[DJ Down Under]

Yes I took heaps of pics showing all the rusty bits...just for you..:045:

DJ

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2138.JPG

[fganger]

Nice DJ, very nice.

Err . . . you mentioned pictures?:eusa_drool:

Frank

[DarthRider]

That's cool DJ!
Where was Burt's old 'liner displayed? She lived here for years after Burt died and was way over-restored. The guy who owned her died and I lost track of the bike. I heard she was back in New Zealand (where she belongs). Was she just visiting in Oz, promoting the movie, or does she have a new home?
I have a bunch o' pics of her too but I have to dig them out and scan them.
How did we ever get by with film cameras?

Dave

[DJ Down Under]

I liked the foot pegs...or should I say..Shin rests...:icon_eek: :icon_eek:

DJ

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2165.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2166.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2167.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2169.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2170.JPG

[DarthRider]

DJ -

Thanks so much for those Burt pics! I saved 'em all.
This illustrates the strange genius of this man...crude, rough, sloppy in places but always, "make do with little or nothing", "think about it", "stick with it", "innovate-create-make it better".
Look at that terrible gob-brazing job on the front fork lower. Then look at that incredible engine he built with his un-trained hands and un-educated mind.
In many ways Burt and what he did are more amazing than John Britten and people of that caliber. And I have the highest regard for John Britten and people of that caliber.

Dave

[Acacia]

A wonderfull treat to see those pics - thank you DJ.

I was wondering what the air scoop was- I guess cooling for the motor? What fuel was he running in that thing - something beside a little air scoop must have been helping.

I too noticed the brasing on the forks - and how much front suspension travel did it have - 1/2"?

Then the tires - I guess those were not the recut with a kitchen knife versions ?

That was a story and movie that did my soul good - right down to my socks! The real thing.

[DarthRider]

They made a much bigger deal out of the cut down tires in the movie that there really was.

Unless they were starting with old, rotten tires (like Burt was *supposed* to be doing in the movie) that was common, accepted practice in those days. The only real racing tires they had were road racing or flat track racing tires and they had to be cut down too to get rid of the tread. And they ran much higher than street or road racing tire pressures. You don't need tread at Bonneville but you do need to avoid heat. Tread wiggles & squirms a bit at speed and creates heat and likely tire failure. A big side-benefit of cut-down and over pressured tires is reduced rolling resistance.

There were different ways of doing it and I suspect Burt slicing away with a borrowed butcher knife was more for dramatic effect. All of them I ever heard about would start with a way of spinning the tire/wheel. Then they would use a food grater, wood rasp, course file, woodworking "draw knife" or, Jack Wilson's favorite, a carpenter's plane. Wetting the tire helped.

They could get very smooth, round tires with just enough rubber to cover the cords...just what they wanted!

Later of course they were able to get high-speed Bonneville tires, road race tires or drag race tires.

I can't tell what kind of tires are on the old restored/de-restored 'liner but I suspect they are recently shaved down vintage bike tires, then "aged" like they've done with the rest of the bike. That is NOT original rust & dust! I would imagine the tires were part of the project of "putting it back like Burt had it."
When I saw the bike in 1989 it was all chrome, nickel, paint & polish inside.
Much better the way it is now...before, it looked like an old race horse that had been stuffed and gold-plated!

Dave

[Deans BMW]

Here is a link to a bunch of Burts letters, very intresting.

http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/index.htm