xpag6259's rebuild of Vlad the 34L

[Teneroma]

Every time I read about you guys rebuilding one of the original teneres I just kick myself as I owned and sold one of the 83 model one. That thing could wheel stand real good. Duh, duh, duh

[Mezo]

There will be guys allover the world reading this & saying "why did i sell my old thumper?"

Mezo.

[xpag6259]

I was confident that the location for the oil cooler would work, so had some sheet folded for strength and took to it with my right angle grinder. Got the bracket pretty right and then set about making up an air scoop out of an old (damaged, of course) traffic sign. I'm yet to make up a support bracket to come off the down tube reduce vibration.

[xpag6259]

While working on the rest of the bike, i have been chipping away at the fuel tank. Feel for dents, fill the dents, sand back, feel, fill, sand, feel and on.......
Today went an had some paint mixed up and put into rattle cans. Gave the tank its final etch prime before applying the high fill primer. Came back when it was dry and was surprised that the 'dent fairy' had visited the there were still dents to be attended too that didn't appear to be there before
I primed it. More sand, filling etc.

Because of the bike's intended use, I have decided on a Scotts steering damper. I researched and decided on an under-bar mount system from a company in the US called Highway Dirt Bikes. The hinging point of the Scotts needs to be exactly over the centre if the headstem. They no longer make one that fits the 34L and the closest they had was for a WR400 or whatever. I took it with the view of adapting it. I came up with an adjustable mount that would enable me to make the final adjustment when its on the bike. I drew it up and had my favorite job shopper knock it up.



Their bark busting/hand guard system is extremely good and the wind deflectors have folding in mirrors and LED indicators.


The complete setup was around $400AUD not counting the damper. We have a 10 month old French Bulldog that loves to sneak into my shed. This dog chews things. I now have a pock marked deflector. Luckily he didn't get to the LEDs! Her also chewed a new foam air cleaner into 10c sized bits. I now keep the shed door shut.
I keep calm by ......................

[Mezo]

Ive sampled most of them beers over the years Paul, nice idea with the oil cooler.

The lads have just set off from here half an hour ago so should get back to Vic Friday eve?? with the new 34L.

Mezo.

[xpag6259]

Back to the tank.... I hate bogging complex curved surfaces. Looks good and feels good until the sun hits it at a certain angle






My mate Wayne the signwriter applying the stickers


stickers on, waiting for the clear duco rattle can. It took about 6 coats before the stickers lost there sharp edge and melted right in the the clear. Very pleased for a backyard job........ pic to follow once I give it a polish.


my expensive Highway Dirt Bike hand guard after the dog got bored with it!

paul

[xpag6259]

I know its off topic, but at about this time a group of us (about 10) spent a couple of weeks in Vietnam. 8 Days on bikes, mainly xr250s and rode from Hanoi up a lot of back roads to the Chinese border and back again. We used a company called Offroad Vietnam who supplied the bikes and a couple of guides/mechanics who were fantastic. Highly recommend it. My wife came along and it was her first time as a pillion! She loved it, but says being a pillion in Melbourne would be too dangerous!!



I'm using a Scotts damper and HDB fat bar mounts. Had a mount welded to the frame, and my adjustible mount worked just fine.









paul

[Eric66]

The tank looks good even though the stickers (the red blocks at the front of the tank) are back to front. The rectangle block should be outermost and the funny shaped one inside, don't feel too bad as I did the same as well as Sven They seem to fit better but when you check the original you go "Oh Shit", any way I can redeem myself on Tenere number 2. That is going to be a nice bike once finished, congratulations.
Regards Eric

[Mezo]

Eric show a pic of what it should look like, everything im looking at is this way (the wrong way) seems everyone is making the same mistake, even a pic of a 34L resprayed tank on the HUBB is wrong.

Mezo.

[Eric66]

Now this is getting interesting, I have checked many photo's and it seems that they are all different
This is original and shows it the way Xpag and I have done it.

But if you look at Xpags photos of his other tank it is the other way although it might have had a respray, and on page 11 of Sven's resto he has a side by side shot. Fucked if I know!
Regards Eric