I must say i'm very impressed with the quality and workmanship. That's gone into the ongoing projects I've seen.
So i thought i'd add my pathetic attempts at building a bike form scratch....
So there i was a few months later getting bored with no bike to play around with. So i had a look at what bits i had lying around and thought. I know lets build another bike. I have most of the bits. I just need a frame.....Yeah right.
So the search began for a suitable frame from the era. P&M's and XR69's are like rocking horse do do and now totally out of most peoples (including mine) price bracket. I really wanted an F1 frame but thought a magnum would be okay. After looking for months for a z frame. All the ones i'd seen were for suzukis. This Martin frame popped up on fleabay. You may remember it. I knew nothing about them so did a bit of digging and then bought it at what seemed a fair price.
When it arrived it looked ok at 1st glance. The swingarm was bent and there had been a repair done near the rear shock mount.
It wasn't until i tried to fit some crankcases that i realised sommat weren't right. None of the engine mounting points would line up without considerable force. So i could slide the studded bars i made through the holes. As the old original swingarm was bent i had to fit one we had lying around off an old Team Glam P&M (which also turned out to be bent). Made all the spacers for swingarm and rear wheel and fitted it all.
Then i stood back and marvelled at my handy work. I then realised the frame was totally pissed. As the headstock and rear wheel were about 2 inches out of alignment. Bugger
So i called the seller and told him the problem. He seemed to take it well and agreed to give me some cash back on the basis that i got it repaired. Which he later denied agreeing to after i had the work carried out. In hindsight i should have asked for a refund.
I decided i needed raise some more funds and have a drink
I took the frame to ABBA (not the pop group). Where he told me what i already knew. It was bent £75 please kerching. He said he could straighten it for a fee. Which worked out more than i paid for the frame. So i said ta da.
So i took a trip to Motoliner in Kent. Glad i did. He is a top bloke. And straightened the frame for half the original quote. He did say it was a total bar steward and had to get his dad who taught him to help. As it was the worst one he'd ever done.
We do need some photos though 
