The Helios Project (Aprilia RS 125 Rotax 122 Biaggi Race Replica)

[Jens Eskildsen]

Cant wait to hear it sing :smiling_face:

[Calum]

@jens-eskildsen You and me both, but we're a fair bit from that just yet.

[Calum]

I must say, I'm pretty disappointed with the casting flaws on this fairly premium carburettor.

Having properly examined this carb today, I've cleaned it up and noticed pretty bad flaws in the inlet tract.

I didn't take any photos, but see the flaws on the outside, imagine those all on the intake.

I read that polishing the inlet doesn't do anything (Graham Bell Two Stroke Performance Tuning), but he goes on to say, it definitely doesn't hurt.

I lack the motivation, skill or time to do this job properly.

But I did remove the flaws, which I'm pleased about. Gave the carb a decent clean and it's ready to join my engine.

@NINJA What's the casting like on your VHSB?

On my DT I run a VHSA, which was sold to me as "Blue Printed" So I quickly sold the one I already had and like a child bought that one. But to be fair, having seen the condition of this one, maybe the one I got on my DT was reworked.

[NINJA]

@calum I'll dig mine out and post some pics for ya, have to be on Sunday tho, as I'm out all day tomorrow.

[Calum]

@ninja Let down!

[declan]

@calum you are right though at first I was like wtf is this guy on about them I realised the price of the unit and I noticed the bad bits for the price I’d expect a way better finish on the metal are you sure it’s not a Knock off don’t mean to be a dick but it happens but I’m guessing you brought from pjs? I just realised it was not brand new you did a good job at cleaning lol.

[Calum]

@declan Yeah, it's stamped in the side as a VHSBLD which is what I wanted.

The thought crossed my mind.

To be honest with you, I can tell the carb is legit, I'm just surprised how bad the casting is.

This is the bike it came off.

As you can tell, it looks to have been tracked.

More importantly though, that body kit is on eBay.

It's a one of a kind, complete Carbon Fibre fairing kit.

You can't buy those, that's been specially made.

If you got the money for that, you got the money for legitimate carbs.

So no, I don't think it's a fake.

Now, that said, I don't actually like that body kit. But still impressive.

[NINJA]

@calum I actually like that kit, it would look much better cleaned up, as stated in the listing. Cost £800 new and he wants £500 for it now, that's some serious cash for a kit, but as a one off it could look really amazing. I would add some tasteful decals to give it some colour here and there, but other than that she looks damn sweet.

Mine is also a VHSB LD carb, I may have a bit of time in the morning to take a couple of pics. Dellorto carbs are all made in Italy I believe, so there quality may not be as good as other countries???

[NINJA]

@calum Here's my Dellorto, not a great deal of difference between em;

[declan]

@calum that’s a nice bike I personally like the kit Is there any tracks near you I did watch a video a while back of you track riding a yz 125 unless I’ve made that up lol

[Calum]

@declan Castle Combe is the closest track to me.

@NINJA Yeah, the casting on yours looks better than what mine was. I have sorted the flaws out, but still don't expect that for the money.

[declan]

@calum is that an mx track? What I was asking in an awkward way was will you be taking yours to a race track

[Calum]

@declan castle combe is a road track, probably too big for a 125.

To be honest mate, this isn't the sort of bike I will really ride. It's more about the buikld than anything else.

[NINJA]

@calum You bought it used yeah? Sadly the luxury of returning stuff goes out the window when your not the OG buyer. All part of the risk with secondhand parts. Judging from the photo's on the ebay listing, the previous owner was not a details man and just ragged the bike. As it looks well used in those pics, but hey-ho you roll the dice and take pot luck I guess? Mine will hopefully clean up good and with a trumpet polish and new top cap she should be good-to-go!!!

[Calum]

@ninja Shit, I ain't complaining. The imperfections have been buffered out. The carb has been shot blasted, stripped and renewed. It's in sweet condition now. Just I was surprised that there were so many flaws.

[NINJA]

@calum Have you shot blasted it at home???

[Calum]

@ninja Yes. But masked off everything.

[NINJA]

@calum What's your shot blaster like (pics pls) and how much was it???

[Calum]

@ninja When I'm next in there, I'll grab some photos. I only have a Sony Ericson W810i as a camera, so getting photos is a pain.

It's only small, and the compressor really lets it down, runs out of puff far too early. But I LOVE the finish you get on stuff. It does such a nice job, I would spend all day in there if it wasn't so noisy.

It could really benefit from a bigger compressor. And the gloves have worn already, only seen like 10 hours use.

[Calum]

Oh...My..God

Sorry for the bad photo but what a nightmare today was.

Was having issues putting that engine in by myself.

Dropped it a few times, ended up dropping it onto my finger.

The pain was unreal.

Get this though, after dropping the engine on my finger, I felt as sick as a dog.

I walked out the garage and sat on a bench outside my house. I kid you not, I lost complete vision in both of my eyes. Literally, eyes wide open, but there was nothing but darkness.

Eventually I had to knock on my own door to get help. Conscious throughout, but still couldn't see. After some time went, all I remember is slowly but surely my eyesight returning in both eyes. After 60 seconds, I regained vision.

You know what the worst part was, sure I could accept losing my vision to some degree, but accepting that I could never drive my Starlet, or RS but mainly the Starlet, with it being so close to being road worthy, that's what got me the most.

I don't even know what to do now, I'm kinda worried about the vision going again. But I am going to put it down to the pain I was in. My finger will go black in a few days that's a given.