1987 ATK Restoration

[dcarver]

In 1987 bought a kit ATK from Horst Leitner in Laguna Beach, IIRC.

Raced MX from 87 to 91 on that bike.

Bored and stroked the XR600 to damn near a 685, IIRC.

Of course, found the weak link, 2nd gear, layshaft.

2nd gear layshaft was 3 or so rockwell points softer than mainshaft..

and the shafts were 'walking' due to case spread.

I was rebuilding the tranny every 5 or so race weekends..

and got tired of it, bought a 91 KX500 and the ATK sat, apart for years..

To continue the story and the resto project..

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I hope some old skool MX racers from here will appreciate the effort to restore this bike..

..and the challenges involved too.

 

[RadioHowie]

At least you got yer money's-worth outta them fancy-schmancy digital calipers.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

It's the ride, not the destination. Go for it man.

 

[madmike2]

am I crazy?

Wellll...yes...but I digress....

We love you anyway, Don! :wackosmiley:

Hugs 'n' kisses.

 

[exskibum]

am I crazy?

Stupid question.

Do we really need to answer that? Has this not been definitively decided, proven and ratified on numerous occasions already? Or are you just fishin' for responses from among the newbies, Don?

EDIT: ****, I didn't see madmike's post on there -- must've had the window open too long. I guess great minds think alike.

 

[dcarver]

Project ATK is getting closer and closer to being an bike actually worthy of abusing in the dirt as all good dirt bikes should be. Today got her 'lifted' off the suspension to remove forks and rear shock. I gotta say Thanks to my bud Gupster for building the bike rack and lift.. I'm getting to old to be crawling on the floor like the 'good old days'..

Front forks and rear shock ready for Independent Race Shop, San Luis Obispo, CA.

1989? CR 250 cartridge forks. Supposedly the 'ones' to have. After IRS gets done with them, I'll have a better idea of what they 'really' are..

Yeah, it's a bit scary to put a 5k dirt bike up in the air with a 17k HD sitting underneath. That's why I have the big turnbuckles and custom jack under the ATK.

And TieDowns too!

The exhaust is another issue I don't know what to do with.. The rear tire hits, it needs be spaced about 3/8" away. I'm considering just building a new system from scratch and be done with this headache.


Naked, the forks are rear shock are both leaky. I hope severe corrosion hasn't eaten at the internals.

Back in the day, I had RaceTech do the work. Hopefully, IRS can do a good job locally for less money..

When done, this bike must be able to handle severe abuse, run reliably, and handle great. I have another motor for her, it was the race engine, which I'll detune, rebuild, and stab into later. Just because she is old school does NOT mean it can't work.

 

[bluejag]

Nice write up Don, it's projects like this we can all relate to as most of us are of similar "vintage" that said it does bring back memories of our earlier days when we rode what we could get our hands on ...good ,bad , or ugly we did'nt care and when your ATK is done it will run (and ride) like they did in the day and you will not be expecting anything like we have today as that would not be the goal of the project "make it like it was" that leads me to the question... How does the skill level of the racer's of the past (with such anitquated machines) compare to that of today with such high tech equipment/resources at their disposal. you gotta give them old guys props do do what they did (with what they had !~!) Jag

 

[FJRay]

Looks like you cleaned the shop.

 

[dcarver]

Nice write up Don, it's projects like this we can all relate to as most of us are of similar "vintage" that said it does bring back memories of our earlier days when we rode what we could get our hands on ...good ,bad , or ugly we did'nt care and when your ATK is done it will run (and ride) like they did in the day and you will not be expecting anything like we have today as that would not be the goal of the project "make it like it was" that leads me to the question... How does the skill level of the racer's of the past (with such anitquated machines) compare to that of today with such high tech equipment/resources at their disposal. you gotta give them old guys props do do what they did (with what they had !~!) Jag

The racers of today are much better than from 'in the day'. Advanced training programs, evolution of the species, modern dietary knowledge.. Yes, some of the old dudes would do well, as they had raw talent, and would benefit from today's knowledge and techniques. I can speak to the difference between the bikes... The old bikes had ****** suspension as compared to today, meaning you got bucked off more often. The new bikes, with vastly improved suspension, you don't get bucked as often, but at the higher speeds and heights these bikes are at when you DO get bucked, the pain factor has increased exponentially!

Looks like you cleaned the shop.

Ray, I got rid of all the kz1300 crap I had in there! :rofl:

 

[dcarver]

Got the forks and rear shock back from Independent Suspension. They are great guys, local, knowledgeable and fun to deal with.

First step, check steering head bearings for grease. There was plenty there, it was a waste of time. Kind of. The old grease didn't look like it was waterproof. The new stuff is.


Handlebars hanging from the rafters! Someday, a lift with up and down adjustment is in my future.


Hell, I even cleaned the fork gotors!




She's a purty thing!


Now that I'm getting closer to having a runner, I'm thinking more and more about rebuilding the 'race' engine.


My buddy Paul, his wife made this for me back in the 1980's. Said it looked just like me! I still have it and love it...

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