ever so close ...

... to finishing.

I'm getting all the little bits and pieces out of the way while I wait (still) for the front brake discs to arrive. As I wasn't going anywhere I decided to try to raise the tank slightly. This entailed cutting a couple of brackets and was actually a pretty straightforward exercise.
I've also aligned and torqued the rear wheel, Made a plate for under the seat to take the altmann ignition unit and another bit of electronicy thingy, bled the rear brake fitted the fuel pipes and filled the oily places with oil and replaced the filter.

The discs are all that's holding me up from getting a MOT booked. 

The delay means I'll miss the HDRCGB lakes rally this year. Pity, as that's the best one of the calendar!

two wheels again

I've finally got the rubber on the front wheel! The bike is now off the lift.

I picked up the front wheel on Saturday morning and then, with it fitted, I set forth on getting some of the little things which need doing. I tried wiring in the AMP connector I had bought for the ignition switch. It just wont go together and I don't know why. The wires are crimped to the pins but although the pins fit into the body of the connector they just wont click into place. I'll give it another go today but in case it doesn't go, I've ordered a three-way Deutsch connector.

I also had to spend a bit of time bending the bracket on the front mudguard. The spacers I had would have fitted but meant that the guard was sitting high above the tyre. It just didn't look right as the guard doesn't cover the full width of the tyre. So what I've done is cut one of the spacers lengthways and bent the supports out and more to a right angle where the fasteners bolt them onto the fork legs. Looks much better.

I feel as if I'm getting there at last. I'm just waiting for the discs to arrive.

Before that I've just got the oil changes to do then re-fit the pipes and fuel tank, tighten all the fasteners and I should be ready to go!

If it can go wrong ...

... it will!
I'm just back from the Ducati shop who had given me a half decent quote for my tyre and tube. They've got the tyre OK but the tube they were sent (not ordered, I hasten to add!) was the wrong type. They've got in a rubber valve one which won't fit through the hole in the rim.

To be fair to them, I wouldn't have known which one to ask for.

So now it will be next weekend before I get the wheel on. With a little bit of luck the discs and spacers will be here by then and I can get the wheel onto the bike. Though, with the way things have been with this wheel, I won't be holding my breath.

One thing I did see when I was in the ducati shop was a really nice matt black fuel cap which I think may just fit on my tank.

For now I'm going to have a go at fitting the deutsch connectors.

Amazingly the 8-way deutsch connector went together fairly easily and without a hitch. So now the speedo is wired up and mounted on the bars. I couldn't wire in the ignition switch as the only three way connector I had wont take the thicker wire that comes from the ignition. Got one on order so that will need to wait 'till next weekend. 
Tomorrow, after I wrap and fasten down all the wiring, I'll start to check all the fasteners are torqued up and maybe re-fit the exhausts.

Wheel's fitted ....

.... at long last. 

Now I just need a tyre and tube.

I put the disc on to see how it would fit on the calipers and have decided that the softail disc will work until I can afford to get the discs I want. So now I'm bidding on another on e-bay.

I've also wired up the ignition switch and the speedo, temporarily, to see if they, or at least the idiot lights, work. So, tomorrow I'm going to attach the battery.

Fingers crossed!