Well after a small 3 years in maintenance, its finally a goer. Two spark plugs that look clean and beautiful almost like they had just come out of the box. Admittedly a few things got in the way like house, family, and eating, mowing etmc, or life as its know in some parts. Its been a fun journey back in time, a lot of measuring and tinkering and two rear head complete rebuilds due to the legendary porous head syndrome. A trip down memory lane to a time of simple electric generation, when all you needed was power to ride your bike in the dark if you were brave. Praise be sent for the cure coming 24 years later in the form of the ST2 Alternator rotor.
What came in as "Can you just give it a quick tune, others have tried and failed, surely some brave soul must be able too", has rolled out the shed door under its own steam. 3 times I've hit the bitumen now, each time just tweaking fuelling. Unlike SS's I have ridden before from various years, she is indeed a creamy smooth beast, stable with nice rounded punch, unlike the unleashing of rabid wolves of the 851. Very firm planted machine, especially at 100-130mph. And quite happy to just go along at 40-50mph. A bit of work to get up and down the mountain, but definitely not unpleasant labour when you know how to ride the torque. No longer set up to tear arse around race tracks, but with a quick re-machining of needles and change of cams, certainly ready for the task, its demonstration and classic ride days will be a pleasure for the owner. I must admit I wasn't too keen on it earlier on, but now its working as advertised, it wouldn't be too bad of a thing to own, just a pity about the price tag.
So next the S2 gets some new bits and a change of clothes, so the power that was built in all those years ago can finally be released with out the clutch slipping ( just never managed to be able to afford a dry clutch). With splash of 1963 250 single race bike building along the way just for kicks.
All the while the 851 sits ominously beckoning for its next chance at freedom. Possibly a track day in early june.
