Yeah, but mounting the gearbox at 45 degrees gets me back into a situation where the chain-line is raised and my preference is to try and keep the chain-line as low as possible. That Humber illustration is a corker though - and it's exhaust has some minor similarities to what I have planned on the DECOLINER.
Speaking of which...
FITTING DECOLINER's EXHAUST
These latest photos show work proceeding on the bike's exhaust system. I've posed the parts loosely on the bike for these pics and I'm not yet certain if the tail-pipe's length will be cut down or not. I'm pleased with how the flexible part of the system allows me to curve the pipe to compliment the lines of the TRM tank.
I started by cutting off the manifold's flange then removed an inch from the manifold so it didn't foul the motor mount. Because of the manifold's tight radius bend, access space was tight and I didn't want to risk getting a bad weld bead that would prevent the fixing bolts snugging down correctly (which was exactly how the Chinese welds were on the factory-fresh pipe!!!) so I re-attached the flange using silver solder. Next I removed a small amount of material from the tail-end of the expansion chamber so one collar of the flexible stainless Polylock pipe was a snug fit into it. Incidentally, that 400mm long x 32mm dia Polylock pipe was sourced from a UK eBay seller. Custom-made and delivered within 48 hours at a cost of £14 including postage. That's surely excellent service and a great deal in anyone's opinion.
The 35mm dia. tail pipe was an off-cut I had lying around from when I built my replica Morgan 3-Wheeler a couple of years ago. Moral: never chuck anything. And by sheer good luck, the fish-tail end cap was a tight interference-fit into the tail pipe. Worth me saying the fish tail is nothing more than one of three alternative nozzles supplied with my hot air gun. Always think outside the box, right?
Baffles...? We don' need no stinkin' baffles...
This afternoon I'll re-paint the expansion chamber section of the exhaust. Then when a couple of brackets I've ordered from eBay arrive, I'll be able to attach the exhaust system permanently.