Basket Cases

[FM350]

Looks like Shellys bike has modern front forks which is a good idea, and often cheaper than repairing 35mm OE..............

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

Chris, the KT forks are quite unique in design and I would like to keep/use them (1mm bigger in diameter chrome I can live with), changing the look of a nice old bike is not something I want to do!

Jon, Shelly has done a nice job on her bike, but the front end is a bit out there!

Fred, thankyou for the KT parts (turned up today), Steve said he will have to hone the bore a little more and he is happy it will be 100%!

http://kawasakikt.tripod.com/FREDKT.html

[Bully fanatic]

Hello Greg. Hello,hello hello,what`s going on here then. (English accent here) Have you forsaken your ocean liner anchor for a green thing. Shame on you. New parts as well. Shame on you. Graham.

[FM350]

If you want to keep the OE forks, then why not just have them re-chromed? If originality is an issue, this seems to be the only real option, unless you can find some good used parts?

[Greg Harding]

Shame on you. Graham.

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[David Lahey]

My latest basket case was a bit of a mystery when I first got it, but a couple of people on the Trials Central forums have helped identify it. From what I can gather it is a mini-Whitehawk TY175 frame kit, sold by Sammy Miller as a Sammy Miller Highboy TY175 frame kit. It is differentiated visually from the Whitehawk product sold by Mick Whitlock by having a Sammy Miller fibreglass tank that has a coffin shape like a Majesty tank. Whitehawks came with aluminium tanks with fibreglass covers and a quite uniquely shaped. There is also some conjecture that if it was a "real" SM Highboy, it would have a round section frame top tube, and it has a square section tube there. Totally clear??? Hmmmmm.... Well it's a cool little bike anyway and will be perfect for my kids to ride. Being a "mini-Whitehawk TY175, it is smaller than a normal Whitehawk TY175. It is quite a bit smaller in wheelbase than a TY175 (60mm shorter), and the motor is about 60mm higher than a standard TY175. The steering head angle is steeper than a standard TY175. I've tried to show the differences in the photos. I also noticed that the steering lock (side to side) is quite a bit more than a standard TY175, but have not been able to get a photo that shows this yet.
For the number people - wheelbase 1200mm with axle fully forwards and fork tubes set 20mm through top triple clamp. Swingarm is same length as TY175 item.

[FM350]

I dont think Miller ever sold Whitehawk frame kits? If the top tube is square ERW then its not Whitehawk or Miller, as 531 was used on the Whitehawk, and I think T45 on the main parts of the Miller.

Correction to the above............just spoke to someone who had a Miller frame back in the day and they did have ERW square top tubes! Seems strange that Miller would want to use ERW as its nowhere near as strong as HT round tube? Probably got the idea fro the Seeley 200 Honda, which was also built out of ERW square.

Tank seat unit isnt much like the ones sold by Miller in the past, and i would imagine is something thats more recently made. Looks a nice little bike and should ride quite well.

[Reinald]

Great comparative photos Dave. Wow something with a shorter wheelbase then stock and so much more ground clearance.
Its certainly going to be interesting, exclusive and not bad on the eye either. Perfect for those young Lahey's as they progress.

[Tee-Why]

Great to see the frame in perspective with photos David. I think you will like the challenge,it will be unique and sure it will be of your high standard of handwork, will watching the progress.

[David Lahey]

I dont think Miller ever sold Whitehawk frame kits? If the top tube is square ERW then its not Whitehawk or Miller, as 531 was used on the Whitehawk, and I think T45 on the main parts of the Miller.

Correction to the above............just spoke to someone who had a Miller frame back in the day and they did have ERW square top tubes! Seems strange that Miller would want to use ERW as its nowhere near as strong as HT round tube? Probably got the idea fro the Seeley 200 Honda, which was also built out of ERW square.

Tank seat unit isnt much like the ones sold by Miller in the past, and i would imagine is something thats more recently made. Looks a nice little bike and should ride quite well.

Photos of someone's Whitehawk showing square section frame tube