I reckon a lot of you out there in Reader-Land that we at Desperate Dans only build trikes, Wrong, Remember Patna's Z1300 we took to Malaysia (final Part to be published soon)? We own Challenger Frames, We build loads of bikes. This one started the same as Ratnas. with a fax. My contact one John McKenna, from Dubtin wanted a bike building for his mate, Simon McWilliams. He wanted a showpiece to attract people to Simon's restaurant 'Marx Brothers II'. Once again, out of several companies he contacted, we were the only ones to bother rephing. He wanted the bike styled the same as a Swedish Harley he'd seen in BSH. This bike is a dead ringer, tapart from the power unit) right down to the 'Wishbone' frame. There was only one major problem - no donor parts. We embarked on a rummage around the breaker's yard, John having specified Z13 forks, spoked wheels and a CB750 Honda engine. He also specified 20" over tubes. I tried a couple of firms in England. Silly prices. In the end, I 'phoned 'Forking By Frank' in the USA. 'Ho problem' said Mary, my American contact. They arrived on time, they fitted, and the quality was superb. Now for some wheels. Ever tried buying a pair of spoked wheels these days? Nigh on impossible. Eventually I found a pair of scabby QS850 ones.
Let the building commence. Once we had a basic rolling chassis, I 'phoned John and he and Simon leapt on a 'plane to come and take a look. Flav picked them up from Luton airport. The look on their faces when they first saw it was reward enough. The big bag of dosh John gave me was pretty nice too. I could begin shopping in earnest. Not just one, but two Honda motors were located. One in Wales and one in Leighton Buzzard. The bike had been subjected to all the final decisions by Harpo and Groucho (sorry, John and Simon), and serious work commenced. Fucking weeks of it. The object was to get it ready for the Waterford Show. Alas, it was not to be, the main problem being obtaining niggly little parts. During the week before the show, i spent three nights sleeping in the workshop and ended up suffering from total exhaustion. The workshop 'phones were unplugged - on a bad (?) day, i can get 100 calls. I didn't want disturbing. At the same time as I was finishing the bike, I was also involved in putting the finishing touches to the Mercedes box van we'd bought to transport the Honda and Captain Penis to Waterford (ie fitting a Rover V8 in it). An 18 hour day wasn't unusual. Two days before the show, we still had no wheel rims.They're very rare 36 spoke ones. My last phone call was to flagon's in London. They had the last 36 spoke 500-16 in the country. 'We'll be there in an hour' I said, 'Don't sell it!' One of the lad's missus's was 'phoned. 'Get down the shop now!' She arrived complete with baby and buggy. 'Get on the train and go to London. Here's the address, here's a cheque. Don't come back without them!' After a train and tube journey across London, she arrived at Alf Hagon's place. She was treated with concern and courtesy. Three hours later she was back on the train with baby, buggy and two fully rebuilt wheels, resplendent with polished stainless spokes. Firms like this are few and far between. Try them!
Unfortunately, as I said earlier, time was against us. The bike was fully built, but as we torqued down the camshaft at about 10pm Friday night, half a dozen 6mm threads stripped. We set off on Saturday afternoon in the V8 Mercedes. It too wasn't quite finished. No silencers, and to change gear I had to reach through a hole in the floor to select drive. No tax or MOT either. No time. However, it went a treat. 600 miles first time out. 10mpg (Gulp!).
At Waterford, John and Simon were able to see just what they had paid for. Towards the end of the build I had received many 'phone calls asking for progress reports. I'd been pretty vague, saying 'It'll be there'. They were pretty gobsmacked, even though it wasn't yet running. We put it in the show and were told wed won a major prize, but I withdrew it, explaining that it didn't run. The judge told me the trophy was for what we'd produced from many unrelated components and the standard of finish, whether it ran or not. We couldn't accept it though, it wouldn't have been fair. Still, next time. It's running now!
The great thing about building this bike, was the fact that John McKenna knew exactly what he wanted, down to the last detail. The nasty bit was interpreting it into heavy metal.
OWNER: Simon.
DESIGNER: John McKenna.
BUILDERS: Desperate Dan's (0525 383461)
ENGINE: Honda CB750. FRONT-END: Z13 Sliders; 20"
overstock tubes; GS850 front wheel & discs; billet ally wideglide; twin mini-Bates; concealed fork brace; twin pot calipers from unknown 125; Honda speedo drive.
REAR END: GS850; modified Honda 750 sprocket; 500-16 rim.
FRAME: Handbuilt, one-off 'Challenger' with 'Wishbone' front tubes. All wiring concealed in frame. Rake • radical! All moulding in steel - no Filler |
