Basket Cases

[Geoff Lewis]

Hi All. I have been working on my Fantic 240 over the last couple of months to try to get it rideable but I am disappointed with many aspects of the machine. The frames are flimsy for example and the clutch action is just simply awful. Or is it just mine? You can't get the exhaust pipe out without dropping the motor or taking the head off! There are many other design flaws which have had me shaking my head! However the brakes are very good and it turns well and having a plastic tank is great and I feel the bike has great potential so I will persist with it for the time being. In a nutshell it's no CZ but there you are. Hope you have a better experience with yours Greg.
Regards Geoff.

[Geoff Lewis]

Update on my Fantic, Just got the crank seals replaced ,kicked it once and started,got riding to test it and quite a bit of the kickstart shaft with starter still attached fell on the ground! Not having much luck with this machine! Replacing it means a complete engine strip down unlike the CZ which is a simple 15 minute job. I wonder if this is a common failure with these machines, perhaps someone has some experience with this issue.
Regards Geoff.

[David Lahey]

Especially for the KT250 lovers - there was a slight concentration of KTs being enjoyed on the terrific sections at the CQTC Queensland Mototrials Series event at Calliope this weekend. At the end of day one, both KTs were still going strong

[David Lahey]

Some more twinshocks at Calliope today - Kevin Gloss on his amazing AG bike, or more realistically, amazing Kevin Gloss and his AG bike. Second photo shows two of Kevin's family riding team

[David Lahey]

Peter Sampson on the only two-stroke Classic P65 at Calliope today, riding amongst a sea of Triumph Tiger Cubs

[David Lahey]

and the Tiger Cubs

[David Lahey]

There were two Bultacos

[Takhli44]

Picked up 2 "girls bikes" as they call them here. TY175s. Getting out of the Suzuki business and really enjoying the 175s. This will be my main ride.

2013-06-27 18.12.34.jpg (141.25 KiB) Viewed 5384 times

[Joe Henderson]

Dear Geoff,

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the wonderul world of Fantic.

The frames do look spindly. This is because they were designed to utilse Chrome Moly tubing...not cast-off boiler tube from the Red October cement plant.

The clutch is heavy ( "They come like that from the factory" as I was told by Roy Carey in about 1983 after a test ride. I went and bought a new 250 Ossa instead! ) but there is a simple cure to make it one finger light. Extend the clutch arm and cable mount by about 20 mm.

You CAN get the exhaust out, but it is a bastard of a job. Just as well it only needs doing once on the Fantic. Is replacing the exhaust and kick starter shaft a regular maintenance item on the CZs?

AAAAAAAH! The early forward kickstart shaft debacle.

"They all do that mate" Roy Carey again Circa 1986 or so.

The problem is a circlip or O ring groove that acts as a stress raiser. It was only ever a matter of when, not if.

This was fixed on later models.

Bob Wright used to have some NOS shafts, but they are no longer listed with a price on his webpage.

I dont know where you are going to get one.

This is why you get a later engine as a parts bin....like I did.

Having spoken to Gristy and asked nicely, I will be bringing all my Fantic bikes and bits to sell at Denham for the Classic and Post Classic championships.

I have " Too many bikes and they have to be culled" Lynn Henderson circa 2013.

All the bits will be boxed, priced and ready to be taken away to a better place.

Unlike myself who, after riding my first trial for 12 months will be wishing I was both in, and had achieved, a better place!

If anyone would like a fairly complete list - things are still surfacing- do not hesitate to PM me.

See you all there,

Joe.

[Gary B]

Joe,
What are you wearing at Denman ????
Are you going to try & get all other competitors to fall off their bikes from laughing till they couldn't stand on the pegs anymore (just like you did at Pacific park last year).

Looking forward to seeing your outfit.

Cheers,