I picked this up a month or so ago and took it for one ride, then tore it apart. The previous owners grandfather said he couldn't keep a chain on it. I also noticed a repair to the main frame tube where it meets the cross bar/foot peg bar. I assumed it flexed from the new 212 on it and broke there. I don't trust my booger welds too much and haven't really had the chance to pick that skill up yet. So I took it to a weldin shop in town and had him box the engine mount and replace the cross bar/foot peg bar with 7/8" thick wall tube. That should cure that problem. Future plans include a re-work of the seat bracket to eliminate side to side sway, front/rear hydraulic brakes, and plan to beef the 212 up pretty well. I already got a torq a vertor for it, 15t front sprocket and a 54t rear sprocket. that should tame the notorious thunderbird wheelies and give me some good top end. I am curious to see if the bone stock (as far as I know) 212 can pull 210 lbs of me around with that high of a gear. I want to keep the bike fairly stock lookin but with some mild tweaks here and there. Although I do have a cafe racer picture in my head of the bike that may happen as well, have to see on that one I guess. For now I'll probably rattle can the repaired areas, slap it back together and just ride it a bit while I see what I want to change on the bike. I didn't take any pics when I first got it but here's some from the for sale ad and also of the repaired area. I need to get busy with a grinder and clean the repaired area up and smooth it out a bit. This model Thunderbird did not have the seat shocks, from what I gather that means it's a early version (87/88ish)? However the brackets are there and when you take out the solid bars, the shocks go right in place. It had some sort of homemade seat on it but that will change here soon. So far I got the shocks, NOS number plate, a good used t-bird tank and a few other odds and ends. I plan to have some decals made for it that mirror the factory font/colors/style for the sides of the tank, tav cover and fenders. I need to find some pics of the original gas tank decals if anyone has one of these bikes. I usually go low buck on things but I really like this bike, so might go a little hog wild.
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