Here's some pic's from around late '92-early '93. They're of the Wicks 80, A TZ350G Maxton and an aerodynamic 125 we called the Ensign. It was as British made as we could get it.
The 125 Mike Norman and myself made from box section steel tube and plate aluminium. I had to fold the ally plate and spot weld the frame tubes in place. Mike was in charge of the bike's dimensions, the jig and final welding.
We fabricated the box section for the swinging arm too, but got it welded by my mate in an engineering shop up the road.
Mike made the handle bars and we used a Tony Foale book to design and make the rising rate linkages for the rear suspension.
We even made the axles, fuel tank, footrests and all spacers.
Only things we didn't make were the TKM engine, Dellorto carb,Ceriani forks, DeCarbon rear shock, CMA wheels and Dunlop KR364 tyres. I think my mate in the engineering shop made the yokes?
The ignition was Motoplat. I had to go down to Bexley in Dartford to get it programmed for the different curves.
The TKM 125 kart engine had a reverse cylinder, cassette gearbox & dry clutch. Ran a Dellorto flat slide carb.
The exhausts were designed by a Professor that Mike knew. I had to then make flat cardboard tapers to the diameters of the cones. Had to cut and route them through the chassis. Then make the sectors for the cones out of cardboard for templates for the steel sheet. There were three different designs.
Mike's mate Bob had worked for a company called Nelson-Burgess that I think made exhausts for cars. They ended up fabricating the chambers from the templates I made.
Bob was a rep' for one of the motorcycle industry suppliers. Ended up getting us some sponsership for plugs, oil and chain lube,etc.
The fairings were designed by some students from the University of Hatfield. I had to ride the Wicks 80 around some taxi-ways next to the runways at British Aerospace in Hatfield. They taped loads of pieces of cotton over the bike and me.
They then filmed me riding the bike from a car at the sides, front and back. I had to keep slowing down each time we accellerated as they couldn't keep up! The 80 was good for around 125mph!
They then analysed the film and ran designs through the most advanced software they had at the time to make foam plugs for the fibreglass moulds.
I went to Enfield or East Ham to get all the resin and carbon/glassfibre to make all the moulds and fairings. Some place in Barnet anodised the ally plating black.
We fitted mechanical anti-dive via rose joints and a rod to the lower fork yoke. This worked very well on the 80.
I think we even dished the wheels too. We'd done that on the 80.
We did a dyno run and a few Mallory test sessions. We ended up in the Motor Cycle News as they were there covering some BSB team test at the time.
Unfortunately, during practice at Mallory for it's maiden race meeting. I ended up getting blown off it going into Gerrards while passing some four stroke multi's and singles. That cross wind is pretty bad across the lake just there.
I was desperately trying to hold it up on my right knee but couldn't manage it. Mick had a right go at me!
We had to adjust the fairings after that and remove the wheel dishes.
The project ended up fizzling out due to lack of funds. Mick and myself started getting on each others nerves too, which was a bit of a shame. We kissed and made up in the end though!
It was an education, but ultimately a mistake on my part to follow that route at the time.
Still, you live and learn.
Last edited by Chester362 on Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:18 am; edited 2 times in total