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The Alan Baker Katana (Read 13903 times)
Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #15 - 03. Apr 2007 at 06:24
 
Hi All.
Here is a post on behalf of Cushla, Alan's Widow, which explains a few things. She has been to the site for a look, and loves what you guys are doing, as well as the kind comments! I have attached a shot of Alan in better days!
Cushla:
Alan was my loving partner for close on 12 years. We were to be married two weeks after he passed away on Christmas Day. When this wonderful big chap of mine died on Christmas Day 3 years ago of Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma with me at his side, I decided early on that I would finish this wonderful dream he started but didn’t finish. In all honesty I am no “biker chick” I am a speed freak in cars, with the tickets to prove it, but when I saw Alan (AB) ride he was in some way part of his bike a dam good rider fast, at times reckless but always in control. A tad obsessed he would regale verbatim about what and how the many corners were taken, what close shaves (I suspect there were many) why the “tossers” didn’t understand him and his biking mates on the roads, he thought he was king, I let him go, it was the glazed look and passion he got when riding which was the ultimate. In all this I was very fortunate to find the right man for undertaking the job of re-building the “Katana”. Craig Smith (Smithy) who was at school with Alan and who as it happens is a man possessed about bikes as Alan. I always knew I had the right man for the job, he was passionate about the bike, and when Craig came over for the bike parts with his mate, from Alan’s workshop that was the start of something special. The parts were hidden in every crevice that you could imagine, Craig and I were staggered with how much Alan had. Alan would often go off through the weekends and cart back trailers of parts and pieces, which he would often hide away down at my mothers in her triple garaging. She conspired in this with glee and lashings of banana cake after Alan’s pillaging. It was unfortunate that Craig could not use many of these parts as they were damaged beyond repair and I will never be able to thank Craig, and his side kick, Seddo enough, (I saw how Seddo had to drill those holes in the brake discs hole by hole) the never say never attitude, I know throughout this journey there were difficult times, my objective was staying on the side line chivying Craig along. Thank you to all the sponsors, without their support it would have been so much harder. I can remember Alan with a glazed look when he spoke of Ohlins…. So thank you all for the tremendous and patient support, it is more than Alan would have hoped……….here’s to you AB and Craig it is a dream full filled it was and is something special…  I will always remember this as Alan’s last and best remembered ride………….
 
     Cushla Allison-Baker.  
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Al_Baker_with_mighty_GSX1400.jpg
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Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #16 - 11. May 2007 at 01:06
 
Got the exhaust!! Thanks Bill! I have posted a heap of photos of this in the air cooled section, but here are a few. It is a work of art!! Cheers, Smithy.
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Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #17 - 11. May 2007 at 01:08
 
And one more!
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #18 - 11. May 2007 at 07:59
 
It truely *is* a work of art. Fantastic!
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MadKirks
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #19 - 13. May 2007 at 23:10
 
That pipework  beau-ti-full....... Tongue
 
Superb....
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FOREVER TRUST IN WHO WE ARE..........
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Craig Smith Smithy
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To race is to truly
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #20 - 13. May 2007 at 23:14
 
Yeah it is sweet! Hopefully we will have the whole bike assembled and running over the next month or so. More photos will follow! Cheers, Smithy.
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SIGGI_the_HUN
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #21 - 25. May 2007 at 23:08
 
Never seen such a collector:
neither coupling the two outer vs. the two inner cylinders. Nor a "rotational firing" design.
 
How does this Yoshimura-style arrangement of pipes support the filling/scavenging of the cylinders?
 
Regards, Siggi
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Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #22 - 27. May 2007 at 23:27
 
Hi Siggi.
 
I have no idea how they work. All I know is that every time I have used a genuine Yoshi exhaust, I have gained horsepower and had a better spread of power through the dyno curve. They also weigh next to nothing, so it is win-win!!
Cheers, Smithy.
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SIGGI_the_HUN
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #23 - 29. May 2007 at 22:23
 
Cheers Smithy.
If you find something out, report here, please.
Looks like Yoshimura has command of the whole claviature:
(pic from Canadian Fred´s project thread).
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Yoshimura_Ti_AMA_exhaust.jpg
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Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #24 - 29. May 2007 at 23:18
 
Will do Siggi. Must have a look at that Canadian Fred Project!
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Craig Smith Smithy
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #25 - 28. Jul 2007 at 08:53
 
Just a quick update on the Alan Baker Katana. With my business, Pro Weigh going bust, things kinda stopped for a while. To add to the hold ups, I am now off shore working as a technician for a diving team in Qatar, so won't get too much done for 2 months. The good news is that the engine is all assembled minus the clutch, and sitting on my workshop bench at home waiting for me. Thanks heaps Jason Voice who built the motor for free!!
 
The frame and a dummy engine is at Post Classic Bike building genius Dave Morley's workshop. Dave is going to re-route the titanium exhaust which fouls the after market swing arm, and make a support bracket for the can. I was too scared to chop into that Ti pipe myself!! Thanks Dave.
On my return it will be all go hopefully, fitting the new engine, wiring the bike, and running it up, for a launch party sometime this summer (NZ time).
 
I'll post pics when I get back. Cheers, Smithy.
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GS Pan
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #26 - 29. Jul 2007 at 14:31
 
Sorry to hear about your business Craig, I hope that is not going to put an end to your racing Huh
 
Mark...
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Too old to grow up!!
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Craig Smith Smithy
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To race is to truly
live. The rest is
just waiting

Posts: 466
Gender: male
Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #27 - 29. Jul 2007 at 15:49
 
Thanks Mark.
No I managed to keep the bike, although being offshore for 6 months out of 12 will probably stuff up the schedual a little and make championships a little hard to win!! I will keep doing it, but it will be on a smaller scale. Can't keep away from the track. It's like a drug!! Cheers, Craig.
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NZStreetfighter
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #28 - 07. Aug 2007 at 03:47
 
Awesome looking bike craig, hopefully I will get to see it out on the track this summer.
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GS Pan
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Re: The Alan Baker Katana
Reply #29 - 07. Aug 2007 at 17:21
 
Craig, you still using the same email address as I need to pick your brains again Wink
 
Mark...
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Too old to grow up!!
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