No doubt about it – Gurty is an ambitious project.

I don’t have a confirmed date yet, but I need to be ready for sea freight to the UK sometime in early 2023.

Come hell, high water, or ruptured ducks, I’ll need a reliable set of wheels ready to go on that boat.

I originally estimated that the timeline to complete Gurty would be tight, but probably-maybe-kinda do-able.

However, experience has shown that announcing your plans to the universe is tempting fate to caca on them.

Hence, it’s healthy to have a strong plan B.

Lucky I did, because my workumstances (i.e. everything in my life not bike-related) have been conspiring to restrict the amount of time I have to work on Gurty.

Also, external factors – such as the Engineer’s availability to inspect and certify my work – are proving challenging from now until early January.

Finally, I have been playing with video on my RubeTube channel – while this is a very enjoyable process, it is also a huge time sink.

My plan is to start multimedia documentation of these builds, but I have to get better at it so I can keep my work rate up while still maintaining reasonable quality.

Where there is doubt, there is no doubt, so I’ve had to make an executive decision.

Hence, Gurty is on hold, and this is Violatrix – a 2006 ex-Superbike I brought and converted for road use in 2008.



After being used for local riding, she was shipped over for a road trip around Europe in 2011.

From Port St Mary to the Nürburgring to Zagreb to Madrid, she never missed a beat.




Somewhat surprising considering she was built and tuned to race spec, and presumably ridden hard for her entire life prior to my ownership.

This is how she sits today, or rather, yesterday.




This is how she sits today.




Please excuse my rough mock-up – I had a couple of beers the night before, and forgot how to angle.

Anyway, since it’ll be relatively easy to get her ready in time for shipping, Violatrix is, once more, unto the breach.

So, I’ve started with some basic modifications to accommodate my various needs – mainly comfort, as I am far too old, fat, and slow to be contorting myself into the boy-racer crouch any more.

The last time we dynoed this bike, she had 173 horsepower at the rear wheel.

Obviously, more power isn’t really required.

But that doesn’t stop me wanting it.

However, that would probably involve doing some serious engine growcaine, and ain’t nobody got time for that.

I also want to replace the HRC ECU with an after-market jobbie to enable much greater tuning capacity and traction control etc.

Again, not enough time, so all that is a job for another day.

Preparation for this trip will be limited to:

· Re-coating the frame and swingarm – this will mean that I’ll need a Blow-Worth™ big enough to clean them up (what’s a Blow-Worth™ I hear you ask? About tree-fiddy. I’ll see myself out…)

· Re-wiring the street accessories, including the lights, indicators, horn, GPS, and heated grips (my antique bones get brittle at low temperatures)

· Having the forks and shock serviced – this is a job I’ll out-source to a couple of local fellers I’ve used before

· Re-making my home-brewed sub-frame and modifying the tank cover and front fairing a bit

· Servicing the brake calipers, replacing the braided lines, and re-fitting the thumb brake

· Fitting new clutch and brake master cylinders – probably Brembo, depending on deals

· Coating the wheels and brake rotor carriers, and fitting new wheel bearings and tyres

· Doing a thorough service and valve-set


If I am set back with any more distractions, I’ll forego the bodywork mods, and just focus on the basic maintenance tasks to make sure she’s ready in time.

She may be rough, but she’ll always be ready… maybe.

Credit where its due – the below bikes are my inspiration (original sources are included below each picture).


https://www.bikeexif.com/custom-honda-cbr1000rr


https://www.bikeexif.com/cbr1000rr


https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/201...ese-collector/


https://www.fireblades.org/threads/evo-blade.132576/


https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bik...nicolas-petit/


https://www.shanebaxley.com/baxmotomk3


https://www.artstation.com/marketpla...rcycle-concept


https://www.autoevolution.com/news/t...53.html#agal_5


Admittedly, many of these bikes are renderings, and, as such, would not necessarily be capable of existing or functioning in the real world.

Nonetheless, they all have features and design elements I find both aesthetically and practically appealing.

More to the point, I’m comfortable I can build them in such a way that will make Violatrix better for this mission.

A few simple little jobs to fit in amongst my other projects.

Easy when you say it fast.

C3M.

 

Great write up, good luck with your upgrade / modifications and can't wait to see how you get on.

Whereabouts in the uk are you headed?

 

Hi Al1040,
Just after I posted the last update, I received some unfavorable news on the bike shipping front - I'll share that with the next major update.
As to where I'm going, I'll be picking the bike up in Felixstowe, and catching the ferry from Manchester to Douglas.
The return leg will be similar, but I'm not 100% certain on my international flight dates yet.
Once I lock them in, I'll know how much time I have, and where I can go in the UK.
Cheers,
C3M.

 

Well, my TT and project plans are in complete disarray.

My mum died three days ago – while still coming to terms with this, we are trying to organise her funeral in the lead-up to Christmas.

We also have to take care of dad and get him set up in a new place – there’s no way he’s going to be able to live at their old place by himself.

Getting either of these things done would take some time under normal conditions – who knows how long around this time of year.

The day after my last update, the shipper announced that that he would be loading the bikes on the 31st of January 2023.

Originally, there was going to be a container-load leaving from my home-town, meaning that I would have needed to deliver the bike to my local port in the last week of January 2023.

This original schedule was tight, but do-able.

Due to lower numbers of bikes being shipped, this is no longer the case, as there isn’t enough demand to justify a local container.

I will now have to deliver the bike to a port in another city a thousand kilometres away by the same date.

Long story short, I don’t think I’ll have enough time to be able to get Violatrix ready and delivered in time to make the loading deadline.

Too many moving parts

Too much uncertainty.

Too much risk.

I rang the bike shipping bloke a couple of days ago and told him I wanted to defer the TT trip until 2024.

I’ve got too much going on.

And, to be honest, I just can’t get my head into the game at the minute.

Mum’s death is not entirely unexpected, but it still hits hard.

I’m trying to find the words for her eulogy, but they won’t come.

I’ve already given one this year – I’m not sure I can do another.

But, I’m going to have to.

I miss you mum.

C3M.

 

Ah, man. Sorry for your loss. Having it be somewhat expected may lessen the blow, but it is still a blow nonetheless. Take care of yourself and those still around as best you can!

 

Sorry for your lost. You have a load on your shoulders right now. May you find rest in your mother's memory.

 

Sorry here too, keep you head up and our thoughts are with you and yours.

 

Thanks Doc.I trust that you and yours had a safe and happy holiday.

C3M.

 

Thanks Hamlin6.
We managed to get mum's funeral arranged before Christmas, and I've had some time to reflect since getting home.
I haven't been able to focus well enough to do any work prior to today.
But keeping my hands busy is an excellent way of calming my thoughts.
I'm gradually getting back into the groove.
More updates will follow shortly.
C3M.

 

Thanks Al1040.
Hopefully you and yours have a safe and happy holiday as well.
C3M.