Getting re-jigged
Moto Morini gets Motoliner fix
QUICK RECAP: a while ago I bought a ‘classic’ Morini Camel 500 Mk1 at auction for too much money. The new bike (I already owned another) was a non-runner with apparently light accident damage that was last taxed in 1985. I attempted to get it sorted for my son to ride to the TT in 2017 and having failed to meet that deadline decided that it really needed a full chassis strip down, which happened last Christmas. Pulling the bike apart revealed the crash damage was worse than I’d hoped and some badly bodged repairs (so it’s been crashed twice). Time to get the job done properly. Last month I took the rolling chassis, with an engine fitted, to Maidstone Motoliner where Tommy Palmer put it into their jig. Here’s what was wrong: bent headstock; bent subframe; bent swingarm plate; bent rear engine mounts; twisted front engine plates and bent footrest mounts which had been badly repaired. Tommy took the job in his stride, he’s seen much worse than this. The bodged footrest mount was cut off the frame and rewelded in the correct position. Heat and pressure were used to straighten the rear engine mounts. The rest of the damage was cold bent back to its correct position to get the wheels in line and the chain running true. You never know if an old bike has been crashed once, twice or ten times. Getting it checked before stripping it down or starting to use it makes sense. I’d like to get my other old bikes checked too (a basic checkover at Maidstone Motoliner is about £150). The Camel frame is straight and has gone to G13 Powder Coating to be painted red. Then we can start bolting it together. Ready for TT 2019? Well, let’s not rush it.