Gerald Gardebled's Beta Project
 
What a terrific bike! That's a Type I engine. Rare? Yes indeed.
This headlamp doesn't have a visor like later CJs.
There's that very special M72-style sidecar frame.
I like everything about this bike—especially the fact that it's an old one.
The detailing is extensive.
See how the toolbox is attached to the frame? This is the correct way to do it. The Type I engine is evident in this shot too.
Offset fuel filler.
10 km showing. Here you can see the fuse holder on the right. It's slotted for a screwdriver.
And that's Beta. What a bike!
September 20, 2004  
This is it gang—Beta's finished! Gerald looks more than a little proud.
Hey! That's Clay! He just moved down to Beijing. Well, he's actually about 40 km from the city but that's close enough. Welcome to CJ heaven.
Is this a sweet bike or what? It's the first and only correct, 100% Chinese restoration of a 1960 M1.
I'll bet Clay would like to take this bike home with him... but it's already sold. It'll be on its way to California pretty soon.
Gamma is already on deck for restoration. Meanwhile, I'd have to say that sidecar looks a little snug on Gerald.
A genuine tire pump. That has to be rare.
Clay again waiting for his chance to ride away.
Beta poses here with Alpha. What a nice pair.
Again, from a slightly different angle.
Good job, Gerald.
September 18, 2004  
This is the inside of Beta's Type I headlight assembly. All wiring is vintage type. The bulb holder is the small type from 1969.
The mechanical dimmer switch is activated via a cable. It controls the high and low beams and was used on all vintage Chang Jiangs.
Type I headlight assembly and the ignition key, same as those found on BMW R71s and Russian M72s. On the right side is the fuse holder. Putting the fuse there is a better idea than the current practice of locating it inside the headlight. The speedometer is a NOS Huangshan from 1980. They were used on all early CJs. Note that the fork upper plates where the handlebar risers are is a Type I. It has a rounded leading edge, not squared as are today's. It can't be seen on the picture but it has the part's serial number engraved on the bottom.
Vintage type wiring used throughout on the bike as it was during the original build period.
This is the first type of rubber footrest used on CJs. They last longer than what we get nowadays. These are from 1970.
The horn mounting and its wires.
A Shanghai horn as used on all vintage CJs. These were made until the late eighties. This one is from 1978.
The taillight is of first type and features a glass lens painted red for the brake light. The bottom is left clear for the license plate light. The rear fender is from the sixties. The taillight assembly has an opening on the right for the the wire. Notice the vintage type wiring routed on the outside as on all old CJs. The wires are out of the mud and dirt. They won't get damaged by the wheel as it happens sometimes on modern CJs.
The rear fender reflector, standard on all CJs at the time.
The sidecar fender taillight and its wire—also on the external part of the fender.
September 14, 2004  
This is the left rear axle retainer on Beta. The grease fitting indicates that this is an older assembly.
Here's the bottom of the left side fork tube. Nice paint work!
Buttoning up the forks.
Triple tree just about finished.
Most excellent!
July 8, 2004  
Grease fittings are found all over vintage CJ frames like the one being used on Beta.
This one is for the seat mount.
Aluminum fork tube flanges. (Modern Changs use cheap steel.)
July 7, 2004  
Beta's going to have a set of tapered Japanese steering bearings.
Here's one of the races—ready for the bearing.
And here's one of the bearings—ready for the race.
New grease fittings, something that isn't found on most newer Changs.
That just about does it.
It won't be long now...
June 8, 2004  
Beta's all painted now and being assembled. This is a pair of brand new rear suspension tubes.
Here they are installed without the externals.
Looks like a pretty good fit.
Hardware for attaching the sidecar. The castle nut permits the use of a cotter pin.
June 7, 2004  
Beta's sidecar sports a new coat of green paint...
...along with all the other sheetmetal bits.
 
It won't be long now...
June 5, 2004  
Beta's sidecar bucket is being prepped for paint. There's quite a bit of hand work involved, especially wet-sanding the primer and glazing compound.
The tank is just aboout ready for some green paint. There's that offset filler again.
These are pretty rare tanks, by the way.
The rear fender is also being prepped. This is a heavy PLA fender. If you could set this next to one of the fenders found on a lot of the more recent bikes you'd be amazed by the difference. The metal is thicker, it's reinforced and the hinge is much heavier duty.
The headlight bucket.
June 2, 2004  
Another view of Beta's freshly sprayed components.
This is the stage where one really begins to appreciate how the bike's going to look when it's done.
June 1, 2004  
Beta's wheels undergo paint spraying in the genuine vintage CJ green color.
Some of the smaller components.
And the full set of hubs, too.
The early M72 style frame. There's that distictive fender support arch that goes over the wheel.
And the bike frame itself. Beta is going to be an awesome restoration.
May 31, 2004  
Components from Beta. Look at the offset fuel filler on the tank.
All of these fenders are the real deal.
May 29, 2004  
Beta's restoration is progressing right along. Here's a detail shot of the sidecar frame.
A pair of genuine vintage fenders. These are excellent quality parts with thick steel and a very robust hinge on the reare fender.
An early M72 style frame. These are distictive in that the fender support arches over the wheel.
And here's the frame for the bike itself, also vintage.
May 9, 2004  
The latest on Beta. Here's the engine Gerald built for the Beta project. It's an early production Type I engine from 1960. It's fitted with a crank that was custom made in 2003 and patterned after one that's been out of production since 1972.
FAG bearings from Germany and 1993 M1-2 OHV short-skirt pistons were also used. These pistons increase compression and promote cooling. The rings are early-eighties OHV Type I—the best ever manufactured in PRC.
The jugs date to the seventies. The heads are 1970 NOS from PLA Factory 7436. The head gaskets are sixties vintage PLA-issue—solid copper. The distributor is PLAAF, 1969. The clutch disks are also NOS PLA-issue.
The generator is a Zu Guang from 1981. It too is PLA-issue. When the Beta restoration is finished the bike will be offered for sale. It will be the first 100% Chinese vintage Chang Jiang ever offered. It's a very early production machine and was among the first Changs that didn't include Russian M72 parts. Stay tuned!
February 10, 2004  
Let's see how Beta is coming along. Gerald has the engine and gearbox torn down. The engine is a 1960 Type I.
This is a genuine vintage machine, unlike many other so-called vintage CJs being offered on the Internet.
January 5, 2004