Graeme,
You know that you can buy a "Vintage" C&J XL350 and rebuild a Bell Replica or you can buy a brand new C&J (he is back in business on a limited and expensive basis), or in England and possibly in AU they are building "Custom" C&J Replica frames that look identical to the old frames! Why is because there is some demand for them and they can make a living doing it. Will there be a demand for the "NEW" KSI frames? Probably a few and at Dick's age I don't think that he and friend are planning on making a retirement career out of it! These are "modernized" versions of the old bikes. Few of the old Fox Forks or the other trick fork sets out there so might as well either adapt something slightly newer or play with the standard 36mm forks of "The Day"... I like the newer suspension and don't have problems adapting it for my riding, which does not include Vintage racing as I could only do that a couple of times a year and even then traveling 300-500 miles to do it. I trail ride the woods and ride the open desert so am not class limited. Just run what I build and enjoy it!
Would enjoy an HL replica, but would put a 70hp TT686 engine in it rather than the older TT500 engine. Oh, and disk brakes! Want to see some Vintage Disk Brakes? O will add a photo of a Vintage dirt bike with disk brakes that I saw last week at the races. Yes, I also have the dyno charts for 70+hp 686cc Yamaha engines. Helped a friend tune his Yamaha roadracer many years ago and I built my Street Play bike with the same specs, but a little bigger carbs and stuck it into a 1989 Honda Hawk frame for the street. Was tempted to build another one with dirt suspension but we can only do so many projects and I already have too many! HA!HA!
Forks are probably too modern for Vintage class! But they are the classic Fox Forks. In fact the Curnutts would have more than 4" of travel also. Neat bike to watch out on the track since I had a Norton P-11 back in '68 that I loved riding the desert with!
Personally, I don't care that much for the C&J Hondas, as I stated. I liked the old KSI and corresponded with Allen in the Day but didn't buy one. I had already built my own before he built his. But I like the improvements that they have made with the new KSI bike. Anyone could build Replica Frames!
Swiss