SPONDON-JOTA BUILD DETAILS

This build took place between about May 2001 and March 2002. As soon as new owner Richard received the bike it was pretty clear it would benefit from a bit of work to tidy up the details and change the look a bit.

Richard settled on some wider 17" wheels, an Aprilia RS250 ducktail, big carbon high pipes and twin headlights for that "Italian Speed Triple look". My task was to put it all together and make it look like it was meant to be there.

Spondon Build Pics
Some of the parts procured and starting to work out what needs to be sacrificed. It took a while to convince Richard that various parts of his newly purchased unobtainium bike would have to be cut into small pieces in order to achieve the required result...
Spondon Build Pics
First step along the way, getting rid of the dreadful Laverda-style brake carrier loop in the swingarm in order to make room for larger wheels. A tag would be added to the frame later for a floating rear caliper arrangement.
Spondon Build Pics
Measuring up the wheels to work out the required spacers and offsets etc.
Spondon Build Pics
A bit of quality time on the milling machine, this is a spacer to get the sprocket in line.
Spondon Build Pics
Back on two wheels. The Spondon is looking much more purposeful on its new 17" rims...
Spondon Build Pics
Neat headlight bracket, continuing the style of the triangulated frame.
Spondon Build Pics
It took another couple of months to convince Richard that the back of the frame had to go in order to get the ducktail at the right angle without an unsightly 80's subframe hanging down beneath. A minute later and the way was clear.
Spondon Build Pics
Starting to build up the new subframe, with attachment points for the new ducktail, seat, muffler mounts, battery and electrics trays, etc.
Spondon Build Pics
Spondon frame + angle grinder = fun.
Spondon Build Pics
Everything was tacked into position with the TIG, then finally bronze welded as per the way Spondon built the frame itself. I think this was some threaded bungs being added to the frame tube to mount the battery tray.
Spondon Build Pics
The subframe coming together.
Spondon Build Pics
By now we can mount everything up and see how it starts to look. The pipes were purchased as bare cans and here I have started the tubulation to bring the pipes to meet the collector. You'll notice I had to cut yet more Spondon stuff off for these pipes - the pillion peg mounts meeting the same fate as the subframe.
Spondon Build Pics
Hanging tough.
Spondon Build Pics
Once all the nice stuff started to be added the old Spondon ones looked pretty dodgy, here are new ones on the drawing board.
Spondon Build Pics
Completed exhaust system. Front half went off for black ceramic coating while the rear section was polished.
Spondon Build Pics
We took the engine apart and found a dud main bearing, the crank seemed straight enough, so it was just a matter of changing this bearing.
Spondon Build Pics The rear engine mount was broken due to the poor way in which the engine is supported at the front in this version of the Spondon frame. The crack was repaired and a light but stiff aluminium front engine mount was made up to support the engine properly.