Spritepost 13

Incase you were wondering what is happening with the Sprite, we decided that the engine should return to its original 250cc capacity so the engine is now back out of the bike.

An iron barrell has kindly been donated to the project by Wal Fox and a head, piston and carb manifold has been purchased from Steve Gollings at Villiers Service (01384 265797)

Alan Nicklin has kindly agreed to have the engine and carry out modifications to the porting and the cylinder head.

Whilst the engine is apart we will put a lower second gear in the gearbox so that we know the engine is how it should be right from the off.

The only other thing on the bike that I had concerns over was the front forks, the lightweight MP's didn't seem to have the travel or the action of the forks on my Cub and as I had some new forks on order with Alan Whitton (Marzocchi internals in AJS/Matchless lowers) I have decided to put the front end of the Cub onto the Sprite. This will include forks, mudguard and muguard stays, brake anchor and brake plate.

It should lift the front end a fair amount and give a little more ground clearance too as the Norton forks are 31 inches long.

I will then put the new forks on the cub and have a new brake plate, brake anchor made up as well as adapting the forks to take the yamaha mudguard and stay.