It's that old classic, the Wet Dream. So much better than the 250cc, this is the full-on sport-bike-shredding 400cc version!!! Have those 'Blade riders quaking in fear, as they see you in their mirrors!!!
This description part is where you'd normally plug all the things the bike has, isn't it: MoT (er, last one expired in January 2006), Tax (been SORNed since about the same time), good condition (see pics...), etc etc.
So, what can I say about it? It's been a reliable hack for some years (since I bought her in '03, in fact) and has done me proud: There's no way this thing should still be running. (Er, don't take it to mean it does!). But it's really been a hoot - there's just enough power (27bhp, if reviews are to be believed) to hurl it's 185kg bulk up twisty lanes with gusto (well, momentum is everything!!!) and the handling is adequate (read: the pegs go down before the tyres give out). The brakes take some effort (no two finger squeeze here!) but do haul the thing down from 90-odd on a country lane - though they're not enough to pull a stoppie without standing up to raise the C of G...
So, why am I selling? (Or giving it away, if anyone'll have it...) Basically, I've several other old hacks, and this one isn't going to get the attention it so desparately needs. I had all these great plans: Strip the engine down, repair the leaking (stripped) spark plug thread, re-grind the valves, decoke, repair the head bolt that stripped the last time it was apart, paint the frame (after de-rusting, of course) in a nice bright red or yellow, and matt black everything else. And fork gaitors to hide the weeping forks and slightly pitted chrome stantions. It was going to be such a cool rat-bike!
Still, why would anyone want one? It's a bike that's capable (once running again) of so many things: Commuting at near 75mpg, of handling well enough to be fun, but not so well that it's into the silly-numbers game: The bike will let you know when it's on it's limit, unlike modern sports tackle which just deal with it and encourage you to be a bloody hooligan! And name me another engine that does 10000rpm with the oil off the bottom of the dipstick with one head bolt not engaging! (It only revs to about 7000rpm with a full oil level, less if it's not really warmed up properly!)
And on it's other face, it's a very capable tourer: Again, that 27bhp is good for all-day 75mph cruising, the handling is lovely & comfy on cruising trunk roads, and the saddle is wide & soft. The fairing is good for keeping the worst of the weather off, and you can walk after 6 hours in the saddle. Not to mention the heated grips (albeit held on with various combinations of inner tube and gaffa tape...). She's even been down to Paris, loaded up with kit... (Don't believe me? I've photos to prove it!)
So, the price:
And some pics, to tempt you even further. In the glory days, this is what she could be returned to:
Way back in January 2006, I started to dismantle her carefully, with a view to refurbing & improving...
And then work got busy, life got in the way, and generally things sat for a while... Now? More like this:
I'll grant you, there's a few bits missing. But I have it all - I think! Though some of it might, possibly, need a little bit of a clean. Or replacing! It's even taken on an attractive shade of green:
But the engine, at least, has been kept inside in a heated & humidity-controlled workshop (shed). At least that's in good condition:
Well, I'll grant you, there's the odd bit that might need some attention: The cam following thingie, for example, appears to be a little falling-apart:
And the cylinder & head might need a little cleaning up:
There's maybe a few slight signs of rust, as well. Alternator housing, cam chain, nothing serious... After all, it's been sat on the workbench like this for some years:
Oh, and the cams might need a little polish up. Though as she runs so well without oil, I suspect it would self-clean if you just started her up with some fresh oil in there!
And all those sensitive components: Carbs, ignition, HT leads, axles. That's been kept safe under the engine casings, where the spiders hunt at night:
Interested? Let me know on the contact details below, and feel free to come and pick it all up. I'm only interested if the whole lot goes, though, and if you really do want to do it up, then I can let you know what came from where (all valves & valve springs, for example, are safely filed in trays labeling which cylinder they came from, etc. It wasn't a careless strip-down, just a delayed re-building!)
Well, heart-torn as I was to be getting rid of this wonderful bike, it has now gone... Sorry!
Contact Details:
E-Mail: andy@wilde.org.uk