Mki Restoration Complete

[demood]

Hi all
Here's a few pics of the newly restored bike bike:
http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/demoo ... 6.jpg.html
http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/demoo ... 5.jpg.html
http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/demoo ... 4.jpg.html
http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/demoo ... 1.jpg.html
Hope these links work!
Still one or two teething troubles as might be expected but I did take it for a sneaky ride up the country lanes and she runs great!
Chris

[acemorini]

Very nice Chris.

[settebello]

Hi Chris

Where did you get the seat resored?

Regards

Mark

[demood]

Hi Mark
I sent it up to RC Leighton in Birmngham
Chris

[hombre]

Very nice! Funny how they messed up styling right after this one (the MkII and so on). Was the entire engine black originally in the UK?

['It must be a .....']

Only the rocker, alternator, primary drive/clutch covers including the pickup one were black on the UK Mk1

[demood]

No the engine should be totally black.
In my defence, someone had already painted the engine black and it was just easier and quicker to leave it as it was. I just wanted it up and running for this summer.
I have no doubt that I will be retuning it to its correct colour at some point in the future. Maybe over next winter?
Apologies to the purists for now!
Chris

[hombre]

I was just wondering because I read somewhere that the first Camels have steel tanks in the UK as wel,l as mine doesn't unfortunately.
Great bike anyways, black cases or not...

[demood]

Thanks
yes I am very pleased with it. Still a few minor issues to sort.
This bike does have a steel tank. As far as I understand it, there was a period in the UK where fibreglass tanks were banned. The steel tanks were made locally (in the UK I think) but there does not seem to be much information about this.
Chris

[Ralph]

Fiberglass tanks were banned in the UK so there is probably truth in the tank thing,
anyway the bike is a credit to you excellent job.

['It must be a .....']

Hi, the only Camels with black painted crankcases, cylinders and heads were some very late MkII 500s (MkIII UK) and the 501s.
Steel Mk1 tanks are all slightly different to each other which suggests they were made indivdually: someone only just recently suggested that they were made in the UK which I doubt not only because of the fabrication technique but because in the late 80s I looked at an Italian import Mk1 Camel which had a steel tank.
Mk1a Camels (MkII UK) also had steel tanks which were all identical and production manufactured albeit in small nunbers.

They are great bikes and like you say I wouldn't worry about the detail, just enjoy!

[Tom]

Wow, another very rare MK1 beauty on the road! good job!

Tom

[demood]

HI Tom
Thanks
The bike has since been fitted with Sachse ignition and runs beautifuly.
Chris