My racing friend Mike Woolaway is building top end custom bikes now at Deus Ex Machina. When he called asking for some help on this project I said yes. We took a set of Ohlins dirt bike forks apart, sent the tubes out for anodizing, shortened them to fit this bike, then re-sprung and re-valved to fit the bike and rider. Here’s what Deus Ex has to say:

THE SEVENISH

Kinda, sorta, maybe the seventh bike to roll off the rack in Woolie’s Workshop, The Sevenish is the latest bike that’s been brought into being by Deus Ex Machina’s US Motorcycle Design Director, Michael Woolaway. A bit about the name—Although the total number of finished builds out of Woolies Workshops numbers eight or nine, this bike has the very distinctive “007 Woolie” stamp pressed into its steel skeleton, meaning it’s a full frame-up, Deus Ex Machina manufactured, custom build: about as Deus as a bike can get. Combine that with the fact that the build was commissioned by motion picture helicopter pilot Fred North, who just happens to have done aerial film work on several Bond movies, and the name The Sevenish finds clearer focus. Don’t let the wishy washy nomenclature fool you, though. The Sevenish, much like its owner, is incredibly precise in its purpose. And it is without a doubt incredibly fun to ride.

It’s a full competition dirt track set up that’s super light and handles extremely well. It’s planted. The seating position is very forward, right at the base of the tank. There’s a lot of ground clearance. The tires are dirt track racing spec. “The Sevenish spins up the tire accelerating in first gear, loves to back into turns and slides into stop signs. It’s really really fun to ride,” says Woolie. With only about two-ish people in the world that can attest to that, we’ll take his word for it.

Woolie’s Workshop would like to extend a very special thanks to:
-Ed Sorbo at Lindemann Engineering
-James Elliand at Rizoma USA
-Pierre Vallaincourt at Works Performance

I valve Ninja forks with 15weight oil so you can fine tune your damping by changing to 10 or 20 weight oil.

But getting the oil out requires the forks to be upside down and this is best done with the forks off the bike. For $50 I can go Old School and add Fork Drains so you don’t have to flip your bike to change the oil.

The $50 price applies when you have me rebuild and re-valve your damper rod forks for $300 for a total of $350.

For these 300 Ninja forks I also cut the stock springs to get the rate this rider needs for $75. So the total for this job was $425.

Check out Terry’s Black Bird shock. Rebuilt with air valve added. Re-valved. Re-sprung. Note the nice spacer to make the standard size spring fit the funny size shock.

Dave called me yesterday with a problem, he took apart a shock that had been worked on long ago by LE and some of the parts went flying across the room…

Shocks have one way valves to separate the compression and rebound adjustment. This is Dave’s photo of the rebound check valve that goes in the top of the shaft. He has the parts in the correct order all he has to do is weld the top piece in so they don’t fly out again.

Can you see how the spring will let the oil force the washer up so it can flow past the tip of the needle. Going the other way the oil will force the washer onto the needle stopping the oil.

I was happy to answer Dave’s questions and it sounds like I made a friend. “You’re the only one who gave a damn, so you get my vote for all referrals. “

Glad to help.

This just in from MG:

January in SoCal means the beginning of the roadracing season. This year, my 18th of road racing, simplicity is the watchword. I’m not trying to improve the motorcycle, but to improve my riding and keep my skills sharp. And I like Bruce Lind’s idea of doing track days within the context of a race, surrounded by racers on the track and a full cornerworking and medical crew at the ready.

This is my street SV650S with race bodywork, Lindemann-modified suspension: stock forks and a GSX-R shock with new dogbones. The engine, brakes, etc. are all stock – it still has the stock exhaust with a slip-on! All I wanted was a bike that handled well – if it is stable and confidence-inspiring, my riding will have a solid platform from which to improve.

It was a good day at the track – every time out I went faster. I enjoyed my riding and I brought home a trophy. Not bad for 13 days into the New Year – Michael.

If you’re the kind of guy who saves the box your Fox Shox came in, then I’m the kind of guy who will open it carefully and send it back to you. Terry’s Fox Shox had a part come loose inside and get damaged but LE was up to to the challenge.

This brand new Penske 2-Way for a ‘05 – ‘10 (maybe as far back as ’97) Triumph 1050 Speed Triple was a mistaken order and it needs a new home. Retail is $895. Your price is $800.  Sold