Have ridden a few trials now. All is going really well. Have got the breaks working better. As there are no springs in the front shocks, (saves 3/4 of a kilo!!) I've played with the "spring rate" a bit, and now is really good, way better than they were at standard. Nice and plush at the start and progressively, stiffer to the top. How this works is set the pressure by the minimum required to just return the forks to fully extended while bike is standing at rest without rider, (mine is 3.4 bar). The oil volume sets the fully compressed pressure/force, (less air volume when extended (i.e. more oil) = greater rate of force increase, i.e. compression).
This has been a really enjoyable project with a great result (lots learned and a ridable bike), hope it inspires you to have a go in some way.
Setup phase
Have had stiffer springs fitted, increased dampening by 30%. rear is almost right.
A bit stiffer at the top end and will be good. I've now added small springs inside the main ones that push on the shock bump stop and engage for the last 10mm shock travel, (the last 35mm of wheel travel) seems to work a treat.
Steers really well, still good for drop-offs. (Was concerned about that) Nice and tractable. Easy to balance.
Breaks; (should be called drags) typical drums. They actually work ok, I've been spoiled by discs.
Clutch; A real mans clutch...Heavy. I last about three laps, need to relearn the old ways! Very difficult to make lighter, will need significant mods, so for now its cement pills and harden up.
Motor; Smaller dia pipe and twice as long, with as much off the flywheel as possible. power is nice and smooth, with very good low down pulling power. accelerates as good as ever.Its a balance between flywheel and pipe.
Photos recording the progress made on 'doing up' a long abandoned Montesa Cota 349 Mk 4 from about 1982/3. This bike originally came out of the back of a barn as a bunch of tatty bits.
Panda TC 220, an Italian bike build in smaller numbers for the German and Italian market.
engine: Franco Morini, 174cc,
gears: 5
weight: 76 kg, with only little gas,
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