Those of you who read 100% Biker magazine may have seen the project bike we've been putting together for the 2003 season. (If you haven't seen it yet you will soon). As with all projects we've had innumerable problems to solve, and without the interest and generosity from people like Nick we'd have never got the project off the ground. Right when everything was going pear shaped and we were well and truly stuck, Nick came galloping through the fog like a Knight in Shining Armour, offering to help out by loaning us a spare GS750 motor for the project bike.

Nick builds and rides his own bikes, and his FJ streetfighter is one of the toughest street bikes I've seen in ages. Here is his story of the bike and how he came to build it:

It all started one day in my old garage when a mate offered a deal on a lathe for an engine he had. I said yes straight away and that's how it began. Johno build a prototype one off Harris Magnum style frame, then Woody and me grafted on a back end from a GSXR-M. Then we needed some other bits. I got the original wiring, carbs and collector box off my mate with my old lathe. Bob at Powersport in Bradford supplied the back end and monoshock when I struck him a deal on two GTR1000 blocks, surplus to requirements after a clearout in Nickland.

I intended to build something that I could race each year at the Bulldog, the top event on my annual calendar. My attempts at building a bike for the road was way off, seeing as the only two goes I'd had on the thing had ended in tears. First time I ran the engine for 20 minutes in my garage then the clutch basket let go. The second time was only two days before the Bulldog when I fell asleep while working on the bike. It jumped into gear and smacked into my bench vice.

Jenny, my "Garage Widow", was 100% behind me getting the bike ready for the Bash. Not only did she make me endless spliffs & sarnies, she helped me build the bike too. Jenny and me fitted the the engine and frame together. Within three weeks of starting the bike was on its wheels and wired up ready to run. The paint scheme was done on behalf of The Seaside Syndicate in Westport, Holland. For the 2001 Bash the bike was ready and looking quite shiny.

Tigger from Bikersweb (Dr. Rod's daughter) caught me on her camera as I was pratting about in the car park, two hours later me and the bike were on the internet (famous at last!). I managed four decent strip times to say the bike was on its maiden voyage and the only mishap had been a 95mph weave on the motorway. Oh, and Dez pinched my Jack Daniels - SOD!

Back home I started to get the bike ready for the 2002 Bulldog. However I took a good look at the bike and decided it needed a new front wheel and tyre. That would mean new discs and a wheel spindle. Then the headlight and top yoke had to go to take the new risers and bars. New paint and lettering followed, plus a hugger, two ART cans and another clutch basket and plates. Suddenly I was skint again - see my bank statement now consigned to the shredder. I wouldn't have made the 2002 Bulldog without help from Jenny and some tyres kindly donated by the Turner brothers via Chris in Holmfirth. Lovely blokes them farmers! I managed to get just one decent run this time as the back tyre gave up at around 100mph. Ah well, back to the drawing board....

Saturday came at the Bulldog and it pissed it down. When it did eventually brighten up I joined the growing queue of bikers determined to get a couple of runs in, and was well made up when the President of HA Holland told me how much he liked the bike and paintjob. He has since photographed the bike and invited me to Holland. As soon as funds permit this is one invite I won't refuse!

For the 2003 Bash I'm planning a change to a monoshock rear end and a general tidy up, but since I taxed and tested the bike I'm now using it every day. My favourite road experience was sitting on the tank in third gear practising wheelies over the speed bumps - then bursting the fork seals practising stoppies. Come rain or shine in the swamps of Yorkshire the bike doesn't get switched off very often - nuff said!

Tech Spec:
Frame - Nick & Johno, Harris Magnum 4 style in steel.
Forks - Syd, FJ1200. Twat. (It says here...)
Engine - FJ1200, solid mounted with EBC Kevlar clutch. Offset front sprocket.
Front Wheel - FJ1200 from Johno (love 'im).
Rear Wheel - GSXR750M Slingshot.
Yokes - B&I Engineering (01484) 511534.
Headlight - Aprilia RS125.
Bars - K Steels £2 special.
Tank - FJ1200 cut down four inches by Johno.
Seat Unit - Baby 400 Blade by Dave The Rave.
End Cans - Stainless TL1000 by ART.
Rear Hugger - Giftshop Gary, Essex (diamond geezer!)
Rear Shocks - Showa Monoshock dampers with Montesa 346 springs.
Swingarm - 1996 GSXR750M, modified by owner. Stainless work by Provalve.
Wiring - Yes, by owner. (Not one of my neatest - ongoing!)

My most sincere thanks to the following;
Jenny, Ju, Shorty, T-Cake, Goth, Tony, Grizz, Woody, Baz, Buell Mick, Mohawk, Big Tony, Ginge, Spider, Rew, Tony Archer, Mitch Holland (R.I.P.), Dez (R.I.P.), and Heath (R.I.P.). To everyone who supports 81, me, and what I do I thank you from inside, you know who you are. Support 81, you know it makes sense.

And remember - it's not why we do it, it's just what we do best!

Words: Dirty Nick. Photos: Dr.Rod.