Fabio Zanovello sent me these pics of his Bonneville Special. Wow! Another fantastic machine from Italy!
He writes (in Italian):
Ciao,ti invio foto della mia special..spero ti piaccia..è un po diversa
Fabio (Italia)
Which appears to translate to:
Hello, I send you photos of my special .. I hope you like .. is a bit different
Fabio (Italy)
Yes! I like it VERY much! Or (with help from google)… Sì, mi piace molto.
I’ve recieved a LOT of great material form Paul zuniga (AKA:GrandPaul) in a short period of time and I’ve been so busy that it’s taken me a bit of time to get it sorted out. I’ll start out with the first bike he sent me. An outstanding custom Norton monoshocked special.
Paul Writes:
I came across your site through a link from PipeBurn.Com. I’d like to submit a couple of my Norton Monoshock projects for you to consider on your site. I have been into classic bike (especially Britbikes) for over 20 years, and have been restoring old bikes for almost 5 years now as a business; http://www.bornagainbikes.com is my web address. I am a forum moderator on TriumphRat.Net & TriumphTalk.Com (classic & vintage sections), and I host my own classic, vintage, and customs forums on Delphi (links in my signature). I ride with CMA (Christian motorcyclist’s Assn.) and the BIR (Brit Iron Rebels); wierd mix, I know.
Anyway, here’s the poop on the bikes-
Blue bike:
Ever since the first time I spotted a pre-production Photoshopped picture of the proposed “New Norton” in 2001, I KNEW I had to have one. Kenny Dreer was in the process of acquiring the worldwide rights to the Norton name; he came up with the new design for a horizontally split “wet sump” engine, started building a couple of test mules, and started taking deposits for the first 100 “signature” edition bikes. My goal was to have one!
Well, I got tired of waiting for the new Norton, then heard Kenny was selling out the whole operation to some dude in Great Britain; so I contacted Kenny and made a deal to buy some of his leftover VR880 stuff. Sometimes you just end up in the right place at the right time; it turned out Kenny still had most of the 951 prototype bike, so we made a deal!
Kenny sold me several ONE-OFF components from the ORIGINAL prototype bike including the monoshock swingarm, “tight tuck” headers and carbon fiber primary; he also sold me the Blue fuel cell/gas tank, boat-tail seat & sidecovers, a set of FCR carbs, and most of the major components to build a VR880 engine including a freshly rebuilt high-end Baisley-built head & Spyke electric starter.
My plan was to take a ’75 Mark III Commando frame and adapt it to accept the Dreer monoshock swingarm; The adaptation proved to be a bit tricky, but using AutoCad, I was able to come up with a simpler shock top mount setup than the relatively complex horzontal layout that was on the original prototype bike. For the front end, I decided to go with a modern inverted fork, and was able to source a nearly new complete ZX6 front end locally. The hardest part of the build was taking a Dreer VR880 front hub and sourcing the appropriate bearings and spacers to accept a modern 1″ axle and 300mm full floating brake discs; Buchanan’s did the lacing up to the drop-center rims. I decided against using clip-on handlebars because I intended to put some miles on this bike as a regular rider, and my back can’t handle the boy-racer ergonomic position with clip-ons.
As anxious as I was by this point, I decided to install a complete running 850 e-start engine and build the VR880 lump later; I took a friend up on his offer for an engine and rear end, which I needed for the disc brake rear hub assembly. I then fabricated an electrical panel and hand-wired the bike to mate the classic charging system & lighting with the modern Sparx electronic ignition and UJM thumbswitch controls; the big-amp battery to crank the e-start is hidden under the seat’s hump. A set of Clubman racing reaset footpegs were installed, using an earlier model right-foot-shift outer tranny cover & shifter shaft. The rest of the project came together pretty quickly and the results are what you see here, my take on the “modern” Norton Commando”
Bike Specs:
Engine
Norton 850 Commando Mark III, vertical air-cooled OHV pushrod twin, dry sump
Kehin FCR 35mm flat-slide carbs mounted to 33mm intakes, matched to head
Norton 850 Mark III primary system & electric starter
OEM Norton 850 engine covers, oil pump, transmission & clutch (Sureflex clutch plates)
Chassis
Norton 850 Commando Mark III frame, modified for upper monoshock mounting
Dreer Custom fabricated monoshock swingarm with “big bearing” conversion
Isolastic eng/trans mounting subframe, modified for e-start and swingarm bearings
Kawasaki 636 Fork yokes, stem turned to fit OEM Norton steering bearings
Mark III vernier isolastic mount system with Taylor top steady & Eads front steady
Wheels & axles
Excel rims (2.5” F, 3.5” R) laced with Stainless Steel spokes & nipples by Buchanan’s
Custom built rear axle & spacers for OEM Norton Mark III rear hub
Kawasaki 636 front axle with custom built bearings by Buffalo Bearings
Dreer VR880 dual disc front hub & rotor spacers, with custom built axle spacers
Metzeler Lasertech tires: 100/90×19 Front, 120/80×18 Rear
Suspension & Brakes
Front: Showa 41mm fully adjustable (compression, rebound & damping) inverted forks
Rear: KYB fully adjustable, gas charged reservoir rear monoshock
Front: Dual 4-pot Tokiko calipers, 298mm Brembo full-floating rotors, Nissin master cyl.
Rear: 2-pot Nissin caliper, lightened & drilled Norton 280mm rotor, Nissin master cyl.
Cycle Parts
Dreer VR880 matched seat/tail, fuel cell & sidecovers; in Blue with Red & White pinstriping
Dreer ONE-OFF “tuck in” exhaust headers w/ peashooter reverse cone megaphone mufflers
RK 520 chain, Drag Specialties Aero 95mm gas cap assembly, CRG bar-end mirrors
Kawasaki 636 push-pull throttle & clutch lever assembly, Doherty HD cables
OEM Norton footpegs, center stand, oil tank, kickstarter
Electrical Equipment
Sparx 12 volt, 230 watt, 3-phase alternator, Sparx 3-phase regulator/rectifier, H4 halogen headlight
Sparx magnetic trigger electronic ignition, Blue Streak dual-lead 4 ohm, 12 volt ignition coil
Kawasaki 636 handlebar mounted lighting & accessory control switches (2005 spec)
Born Again Bikes hand-wired electrical harness system
AGM heavy duty battery, Barrel-type security keyswitch
Thanx for your consideration, I’ll add a link from my website.
-GrandPaul
Proprietor of Born Again Bikes Refurbs & restorations
Host of the Vintage Bikes Forum
I recieved these pics and a message all in Italian. I ran it through 3 different translation programs and sorted it out the best I could. It reads as follows:
Hello, I am Italian and my name is Carl,
I have built my bonnie in the style of an early desert racer which I have always admired. In 51 years, I have owned and admired many bikes including the ducati scrambler 350 and yamaha xt 500. I wish I had never sold them but I was young and had little money.
The changes are entirely handmade, the work of a friend and I in choice of details.. Exhaust, seat, handle-bar, headlight carried all the way to the stripped bodywork, I adore the bare metal.
Thank you for your site, great job for us fans
I’m sorry I do not write so well in english.
Here is the original message, If someone is fluent in Italian and can assist with the translation it would be VERY much appreciated. I’d like to learn everything I can about htis beautiful creation and pass it along here. I’m pretty sure some key information was “lost in the translation” so to speak. Thanks.
Original message cleaned up a little as follows:
Ogg: foto triumph desert sled ceva
Ciao, sono italiano e mi chiamo Carlo, ho messo mano alla bonnie per
renderla il più possibile vicina allo
stile desert del quale sono sempre stato un ammiratore, premesso che ho 51anni,
ed ho poseduto negli anni qualche motina sullo stile, ducati scrambler 350, yamaha xt 500, mannaggia a quando le ho vendute mà ero più giovane e pochi denari.
Le modifiche sono interamente artigianali, opera di un amico ed io nella
scelta dei particolari.
Scarichi, che sound, sella,manubrio, copripignone, faro incassato tre le
forcelle, ecc non me le ricordo tutte, a il serbatoio e sverniciato portato a ferro, adoro il ferro….
Saluti e sempre comlimenti per il tuo sito, grn lavoro per noi
appassionati, mi scuso ma non sò scrivere in spagnolo.
Thomas Leeming from Montana recently sent me this excellent Suzuki GT550 cafe racer / former racebike. I told him that I’ve always been a Yamaha RD400 and Kawasaki Triple fan but this Suzuki could definately sway me. Jush gorgeous.
Thomas Writes:
Thanks for the great web site. I recently completed this 1975 Suzuki GT550 cafe. Pipes by Omar’s. Electronic ignition. Battery, oil tank and electrics are hidden under the seat cowl. The older photo is from 1974 at Louden NH when I roadraced a GT550.
Thanks Very Much for the pics Thomas. Very Much Appreciated!
Will Hildreth has sent me some great pics of his Triumph stable. I have had a soft spot for the early T-Bird Sport for ages. I rode a first generation Speed triple for years but I had a hard time making the choice when it was parked next to one of these. The aftermarket 3 into 3 pipe is just the BOMB! Buddy of mine had one that’s on the blog already. I’ll post a link shortly.
Here’s a few more he just sent me. Beautiful!
Oh and here’s the rest of his rides. You’ve got great taste Will.
A new generation T-Bird
A Sweet Rocket 3
Well there might be a trend towards enduro bikes for a while. My recently acquired DR650 is cleaning up nicely and after some fun afternoon test rides playing in a few mud holes and such I now officially have the dualsport bug… BAD! This thing is a freaking blast! It doesn’t hurt that I almost stole it when I bought it. There was literally a moving van in the driveway when I got there so the negotiations nicely turned my way. Even when all the mods are done I’ll be in it for under $3k. Came with the IMS tank and a spare Corbin seat!
Here’s a few pics after her bath. Still have some tweaking to do. So far new 50/50 tires, new handlebars, new heavier rear spring and lot more ghoodies on the way including 520 chain/sprocket, front springs, brakes, wheel bearings etc etc.. along with all the necessary maintenance stuff that you have to do to a bike when you dont’t know anything about it’s “real” history. Anywhay here’s how she sits at the moment but I think a switch to all white (with tasteful decals) my be in the offing. Too soon to tell.
Axel from Hamburg Germany has sent in a nearly perfect pair of Moto Guzzi. A cafe and a racebike.
Axel Writes:
I´ ve been building Guzzis for 14 years, specialized in modifying Le Mans models for street and track.
I would be very happy, if you would show my bikes on your excellent website.
Anyone interested in custom Guzzis, please contact me via my domain “www.roll-it.org” or call +49 40 81901891 / +49 160 6370483 (mobile).
Thanks for your effort.
Regards from Hamburg/ Germany,
Axel
I mean… DAMM! that’s nice!
NOTE: I don’t generally allow advertising on the site and very rarely post personal contact info from posters (even when asked to) but in this rare instance I am making an exception. Please don’t bombard be with link requests to every online do-rag store on the planet.
Update: I’ve corrected the post title to reflect the fact that this is a 550 and not a 500. Yes I knew that. I tell my daughter that rushing causes errors. I should take my own advice I suppose.
I love builds like this Eric sends in this outstanding garage built CB500 Cafe Racer. His solution to the spoked wheel / modern fork combination is something a lot of folks are looking for.
Eric Writes:
Hi Steve,
I cranked up the res on my camera and snapped some more pics yesterday afternoon; I hope these look a little better. I also included a pic that I took when I first picked it up just to give you an idea of where I started from.
As far as the mods go, I fitted a set of forks from a 2004 GSX-R 600, using a Harley narrow glide wheel which fit surprisingly well between the calipers; it was almost a plug-n-play operation. The rotors are 320mm units from a Hayabusa which required 10mm spacers underneath the calipers. The eBay front end also came complete with clipons & controls so I decided to go ahead and use them; the right control wouldn’t fit with the bar-end mirror so I binned it in favor of a Motion Pro throttle assembly and start/kill switch from an R6.
I cut everything off of the frame just aft of the shock mounts and welded on a hoop made from some old handlebars I had laying around; the battery & other electrics were mounted to the new rear hoop and hidden underneath the bumstop. All unneeded brackets & tabs were shaved from the frame before dropping it off for powdercoating. The rearsets are Tarozzi universals mounted to the passenger peg mounts. The rear wheel is a Harley 3.5×18 rim that I laced to the 550 hub with Buchanan stainless spokes.
I popped the top end off the engine and freshened it up a bit with a set of 59mm pistons and camshaft from a SOHC CB650 for a little extra oomph. Once it was back together, I laid on a few coats of Duplicolor’s engine primer & enamel. For the exhaust, I welded a pair of merged collectors to an old set of 4-2 headers and finished them off with a pair of repro Commando peashooters.
I’m a big fan of the DIY method so I’m fairly proud to say that with the exception of the cylinder machining and powdercoating, everything on the bike was “garage built” by myself.
So that’s probably a little more than you needed (or wanted) to know, but I hope it’s helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s anything else you need.
Thanks!
Eric
My kinda bike! Much appreciated Eric!
Everyone has a few bikes that they have a soft spot for. If you’ve been following this site I’m sure you’ve noticed that Moto Guzzi has a lot of allure to me. Another bike that I’m especially fond of is the Yamaha XS650. It’s such a timeless bike that I really don’t understand why Yamaha doesn’t still sell it. If you search this site you’ll fins XS650’s set up as fantastic roadracers, bobbers, choppers, vintage motocrossers, and especially flat trackers. I have no doubt that if Yamaha still sold a nice basic, shouldered rimed aluminum wheeled, XS650 that people would still be buying them and turning them into everything under the sun. I suppose that the Triumph Bonneville has sort of become the newer version of the older XS… which is probably why you’ll find so many bonnys on here too.
Anyway all this philosophizing was triggered by this latest reader ride. I’ve wanted to build one of these for years now and this picture may just put me over the top. This was sent in by Jeff Corcoran.
Jeff writes:
Here is a picture of my Dad and his project.He would really get a kick to see the picture on your site.The motorcycle picture of the day has become the regular topic of conversation between us. His name is Mick Corcoran of North Highlands Ca.Thanks for your time you have made a great site somthing to look forward to every day.
My pleasure Jeff. She’s a stunner! And Thanks Much for visiting!
Mario Spatarella sends in some pics and video of his tough looking scrambler. I love the pipe treatment and blacked out wheels.
Thank You Mario!
Here’s a nice Video.
Motorcycle Photo Of The Day 