A Bike is Born

Mark introduces his first project - a 1942 Harley Davidson WLC motorcycle which is an ex military bike. Mark plans to civilianise the motorcycle and give it a complete restoration. Whilst stripping the Harley, Mark discovers some writing in the primary chain case, which reveals something about our bike's celebrity history. The gearbox is stripped and explained, and Mark begins to strip the engine.

The stripped engine is rebuilt. The cylinder barrels are painted, and there’s a bit of valve grinding, and the carburettors are fitted to the engine. And of course, it's packed with Mark’s wit!

The newly powdercoated frame is revealed, and the engine and gearbox are fitted to it. Mark repairs the badly dented primary chain case with a spot of metalwork. The bodywork is assessed and prepared ready for paint.

The maze of the wiring loom is tackled, we see expert sprayer Danny Boswell, paint the Harley in it's new colour, which is later revealed. Mark fits the lights and bodywork to the frame.

Mark fits the last of the bodywork and adds some chrome to brighten the Harley up. After final tuning, Mark goes for a ride with expert Harley rider Joe Sylvester to learn the ropes

Mark introduces his next project - a 1970 Triumph Bonneville. Mark strips the bike down to its frame and discovers that our British bike was built for America. The bike appears to be someone’s unfinished project, which poses the question, will there be any pistons in our engine?

Mark completely dismantles the engine, strips the wheels and refurbishes the brake drum. The frame is shotblasted, and Mark embarks on a spot of welding.

Mark reveals the completely painted frame and begins to build the forks which are not as straight forward as Mark hoped. Alec Jay, expert wheel builder, respokes our wheel and Mark starts on some bodywork.

Mark rebuilds the engine and fits it to the frame. The rocker box and heads are built, along with the gearbox. The 1970 Triumph's paint job is revealed in traditional Astral red and silver. Mark attempts to recover the seat.

The bodywork is fitted and brightworks. The finishing touches are made and Mark starts her up for the first time. Mark takes his Triumph Bonneville out for a ride.

Mark introduces his next project - a VW Lowrider Trike, often described as low, wide and dirty! To start off his project, he demolishes a VW Beetle to obtain the parts he needs. A large delivery arrives at the workshop and a very special manual is found. The base of the trike is built. On the road, we meet the Miniature Motorcycle Sidecar fraternity and see what it is like to ride something smaller but just as powerful.

The 1600cc VW carb engine is fitted to the trike along with its transmission. With the aid of the Manual, Mark tries to figure out the complex wiring and fits the clutch and brake cables.

Mark fits the fuel system and discovers a problem with the bodywork after dressing up the engine with a bit of chrome. Air Brush artist Steve Mohacsy shows Mark how to to jazz up the paintwork on his flash trike.

Mark fits the lights and the clocks. He has a problem bleeding his brakes. Mark tests the timing and starts to fit the bodywork. Mark can't resist starting her up and hearing what she sounds like.

The trike is fitted with leg protection bars, the rest of the bodywork and given the final touches. Mark and Petemate go out for a test ride and suss out the locals reactions!