Question regarding very early 1200's

S

steve s

Junior member
Location
East yorks
Hi all, don't know if anyone has any knowledge of these early bikes, but I'm after some info regarding the primary drive cover.
I'm aware when 1200 production started they removed the 1000 marking on the cover, by machining a slot or indent where it was.
But mine has no slot, but looks like it's roughly re profiled, I had always suspected it had been filled with weld and roughly ground to shape?
It was suggested recently that mine had had a later cover fitted, which could well be true...
But I'm not so sure, I was told it was in original condition when I bought it over 20 years ago which is nothing to go on I know.

Looking around at what's on the net, it appears there are a few supposed very early, original bikes that have a cover like mine, ie look a little unprofessional and they appear to be very early bikes.. they all could of course have had replaced cases ?
Does anyone know if my suspicion is founded ?
The lower pic is my bike, the other is an 'original' condition found on a search.
If my feelings are correct only the 1st few bikes cases have treated like this ?
Screenshot_20220215-102901_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20220215-111544_Photos.jpg
 
Maybe it's been down the road at some point, and been welded up. What's it look like inside?

Your pic of the original bike is quite blurry, can't see if the dimple over the chain tensioner axle is present. This dimple wasn't present on early 1000 covers but appeared on all covers around the time the 1200 was introduced.

Personally, I don't think the factory simply removed the script from existing covers, I would expect dedicated covers to have been cast. First, smooth with no script, then the grooved cover because the other looked too "plain".

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
Maybe it's been down the road at some point, and been welded up. What's it look like inside?

Your pic of the original bike is quite blurry, can't see if the dimple over the chain tensioner axle is present. This dimple wasn't present on early 1000 covers but appeared on all covers around the time the 1200 was introduced.

Personally, I don't think the factory simply removed the script from existing covers, I would expect dedicated covers to have been cast. First, smooth with no script, then the grooved cover because the other looked too "plain".

piet
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input..
The casting is fine on the inside there's been no repairs that are obvious.

The dimple is something I was unaware of, I'm not sure where the dimple, when present is located I would love a little guidance on that please ?

Apparently the original castings all had the 1000 cast onto the curve, the early 1200s had it milled away. The later 1200s had a new casting that looks like the pics of mine.
I just wondered if the very 1st few 1200s where not milled, just welded and ground up by hand ? Because mine and a few early ones look like that's what's been done?
Thanks..
 

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The dimple near the lower edge, coincides with the primary chain tensioner pivot on the inside. Just visible below the brake pedal in your screenshot.

piet
 
Sidecover from one of the first 1200's built.

HTH
 

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Thanks all for your contributions, assuming the pic Gerald posted is as early and close in number to my bike (1005) ?.. then it blows my theory out of the water.
I'd seen a few bikes after the 100 or so had what was the 'normal' milled case.
It was just the 1st few I was questioning.
It just seemed strange that a few of the very early 1200s seemed to have the later plain cases.
Thanks all very much for your input.
 
steve s said:
Thanks all for your contributions, assuming the pic Gerald posted is as early and close in number to my bike (1005) ?.. then it blows my theory out of the water.
I'd seen a few bikes after the 100 or so had what was the 'normal' milled case.
It was just the 1st few I was questioning.
It just seemed strange that a few of the very early 1200s seemed to have the later plain cases.
Thanks all very much for your input.
Click to expand...
My 1200 #1007 has the groove machined in the primary cover, as shown in Gerald's pic.

HTH,
Alan 😊
 
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