Where we started

1. Definitely worse than it looks

Drag it into the workshop and check it out. That's "drag" because the wheels don't actually turn. This is what is known in restoration circles as "Not A Good Sign". We ignored it. Also "Not A Good Sign" is a fist-sized hole in the bottom of the petrol tank. We ignored this too. The seat seemed to be there.Well, it was for a few minutes before the picture was taken - then it crumbled into a heap of vinyl shards, flakes of rust and a curious yellow-coloured dust that was presumably once seat foam. We ignored these signs too. The restoration was going well already.

2. Right hand side is no better!

The right hand side reveals more rust, more broken components, more weather damage. Those Japanese indicators are wrong (the original Type 477 indicators are distinctive and will need to be found). There is a small chainguard missing where the big chainguard meets the crankcase.

 

3. The engine looks grim

Looking into the crankcase reveals corrosion, leaf litter and much more. I have my concerns about how much damage we will find.

4. The back end. More of the same.

No good news here. Rust, seized bolts, corrosion. I guess we are lucky it wasn't sea water!

5. Left hand crankcase and exhaust

The header pipe is missing, the muffler is well beyond chroming.

6. The speedo reads 800km!

The donor of the bike tells us he acquired it from the original owner and this is the genuine mileage. The bike seized, the head and barrel were taken off and the bike was never repaired. We noted the bike still wears original Czech "Barum" tyres and there is virtually no wear. Is it possible a near-new bike was just left to rot? I guess we will find out.