Backyard Bike Build - Honda Transalp

27 February 2014

Backyard Bike Build - Honda Transalp

A Wemoto customer sent this story in about how he rebuilt his Honda Transalp - great job!

All white then

Here is a great and impressively detailed (check out his photos) bike rebuild story sent in by Balazs Lakatos from Middlesex.. It took him around six months. Starting in January he did the whole rebuild in his garden...yes outside in January....that's hardcore. Anyway here is the story in Balazs' own words:

Backyard heroes

I have always wanted a XL600V in mint condition, but it was easier to find one and rebuild it than source one in perfect condition, so that's what I decided to do.

Q Did you pick up the bike very cheaply?
A I paid 800 quid, later realizing that I had made a bad deal as it had a lot of problems which I hadn't spotted during the inspection before I bought it :(

In the frame

Q Where do you live and did you build it in your own garage or shed?
A Northolt, Middlesex and it was built outside in the back yard :)

Q Where did you source your parts from?
A Mostly from Wemoto, some parts I had to order from ebay and some of the fairings came from Austria

Q Did you have any interesting problems during the build?
A Well it took me two whole days to get the air filter box out of the frame, and I still don't know how I managed to get it back in! :D

Q What was the most difficult part to rebuild?
A To fit the right bolt to the right hole I think, next time I will have to label them :)

Q How long did it take you to re build the bike?
I started work on the bike in January and I finished in July. I don't have a garage so the weather was really against us during the strip down

Q Did you have any help?
A One of my friends helped me to take it apart, and another one gave me a hand with the painting

Q Did it work out cheaper building it than to buy it in its finished condition?
A I don't know really as I haven't found a similar bike in the same condition so I can't really answer that one.. (the overall cost was bit over 2.500 quid)

Q How do you feel riding it now?
Like riding a unicorn :)
I'm getting a lot of compliments from other bikers and that is a really good thing. It's great when someone appreciates your hard work.

Q Would you sell it now?
A Possibly yes, I want to buy a Varadero XL1000V. I wouldn't sell it if I was rich :)

Out with a friend

The following parts had to be replaced during the rebuild

:
-chain & sprockets
-mirrors
-both rims
-both wheels had to be professionally rebuilt
-all the wheel bearings & seals
-oil & filters
-windscreen
-clutch
-rear indicators
-tyres (Michelin Anakee 2)
-rear brake disc
-brakepads, oil & rubber parts
-steering head bearings
-seat & cover
-fork seals, bushes, oil & gaiters
-swingarm bearings, seals & shafts
-swingarm linkage bearings
-spark plugs, caps & cables
-valve caps
-rear light lens
-rear footrests
-engine cleaned & painted
-both rear fairings
-belly pan (second hand, not new)
-radiator plastics (second hand, not new)
-footrests, footbrake & gearlever rubbers
-exhaust muffler (second hand, not new)
-exhaust seals & clips
-brake & clutch levers
-custom reg plate (bike's name printed on)
-pro-bolt fairing bolts
-waterpipe clips
-light bulbs (Halfords Extreme Brilliance, 472EB H4, 12V-60/55W)
-speedometer (previous clock replaced at 32.000 miles)
-both CDIs
-regulator/rectifier (fitted to the other side of bike to avoid future overheating. Originally it was fitted behind the exhaust)
-battery
-ignition coils
-brake, clutch & choke cables
-thermostat (second hand, not new)
-bar ends weights
-manual chain-oiler
-tank pad
-topbox
-grips, handguard
-centre stand (second hand, not new)

All aboard

The frame, swingarm, forks, spring, rims and few more bits were powdercoated, and the fairing professionally painted and stickered, the rest was painted by me.

The road less travelled

Pride comes before a fall

Just when I had finally finished the bike apart from the paint job, I left it in front of the house on the road but the tarmac was so hot (it was last July) that the road melted under the side stand and the bike fell over!
Luckily the only damage was a broken lever, mirror and some scratches on the black (primer) paintwork.

A Hungary mile eater

The road more travelled

The white paintwork on the bike was going to be done by one of my friends in Hungary, so when the bike was finally finished and ready for its final paint job I jumped on it (still black at this point) and rode it back to Hungary - it only took me two days!
(first day I drove 800 miles next day 400 miles). The bike was working like a charm, no issues, I was delighted.

And there you have it, that's the whole story and if you want to see the rebuild in pictures, at every stage, check out the photos here :)

Regards, Balazs