Hmmmm

Well I got a new cell phone today, to be fair so did mom, its our 2 year anniversary with this current plan. I got this phone thats supposed to be military spec, so its a bit heavy, and a bit slow, but looks tough as nails, which suits me for I plan to ride motorcycles this winter!


I do wish I could get one of these:


But that's not to be =p In case you are wondering thats a 60s Dnepr. You can buy them just like that for about $3500. Makes me want to cry when I think about the 73 Triumph, 78 BMW, 05 Suzuki, and the 03 Royal Enfield I had in Phoenix... if these had been as easily gotten when I was out there from the source in California with the rebuilt engines.... well I'd have bought one, owned just that bike, and probably would have ridden the damned thing back to MA.

But... no, so fuck it and I should try to forget it! Its hard for me though, to forget about mistakes. Granted when we're counting the mistakes I've made, not buying a Dnepr is probably pretty low on the list.


I was outside looking at my motorcycle, I'll upload pictures of it in a few minutes as it stands now with the freshly painted gas tank, and I have to say for brushed on paint it doesnt look half bad!

I also think I may have figured out 3 important details.

1. The cable for the throttle, I actually found that in use with the junction box (which I hate) I might be able to use the clutch cable from a Royal Enfield! I need to make a new end to see if it will work... Its an interesting theory, I am a champion of doing things that normal people wouldn't think of.

2. I think I figured out where I am going to mount the rear two tabs for the new seat, using existing threaded bolt holes on the frame, I forget what was fastened to them before.

3. I think I figured out how to mount the oil cooler on the KZ1000 without the Vetter fairing.


See the big issue with the throttle cables is that the JRC carbs use Amal style cables, which is fine, except that the engine sits farther forward than it would on almost any other bike that ran those carbs.

I do have one hope though if I DO need to get new cables. The Moto Guzzi V65, one model DID run Amal carbs, and because of the engine design:

I think that there is a good chance that the cables off a V65 would fit my XS400.

Humph

Well... I'm sorta listening to The Diamond Sea by Sonic Youth, I say sorta because I'm watching a video I uploaded to youtube a few days ago... its just one of those things I guess.




I have done some work on the KZ1000. I wanted to fit the original Air Box, but have decided against it. Instead I am going to fit 4 pod filters, they work just as well and will be better for working on the bike. The Airbox is big, bulky, missing the top cover, needs a filter which costs 2/3 as much as the pods, and covers the battery - which means when ever you want to get to the battery you have to remove half the airbox and frankly it is just a pain in the ass, especially for a motorcycle built in 1976, you want to be able to get to the electric area. The rear end of the airbox can probably be used for a tool box.


As to the XS400, I have splurged (not much) and got some bits for it. The KZ1000 needed 2 more turn signal stems so I ordered 4 of them as I need 2 more as well, they are $7.50 each.

I also went ahead and got myself a solo seat, its got a steel plate and a foam pad that I have heard excellent things about, I have a couple friends with rigid frame bikes who have ridden several hundred miles using these seats and were able to walk away from their bikes without a hobble. Thats because instead of a little square insert in the pad there is actually a real gel pad over the whole pan. Paul told me if I got one he'd cover it nice - I'd planned to use Gorilla tape.... Also got 3" springs for it, figured there was a better shot of NOT smacking my tail bone on the frame.

Also ordered the 2 valve stems, that will give me time to work on the bike and Maybe, just MAYBE get the carbs right before I go ahead and put it all together, I mean I got electrical to do and the whole deal, I think doing the tire now would break my back. Also gives time for the front tire to show up!

So here's the seat, going to be fun fitting it and will have to coverup the electrics on top of the bike, but in the end everything is worth the effort:


And of course how can you forget the springs, I figure these will be easier to fit than the past springer springs I have used which were vertical and required you to get the nut INTO the damned spring. Boy Cam and I had a hell of a time doing that one night in Phoenix I think he was fitting a springer to the KZ1000 and I was fitting one to the Enfield... and man it SUCKED. So lets try these!




I have discovered that you can buy new sidecovers for certain more awesome motorcycles than mine. So I'm going to dig around and see if anything I know you can get fits in any shape or form, then at some point either pick up a new or used set, for example:



Last but not least the gas tank, this will be much later down the line, and I'm going to have to glue these on, but to cover the former badge spaces which are pretty ugly and I don't want to bother with Bondo and then repaint, THEN add badges, I'd rather just get these and cement them over the brackets. So at some point I'll get a pair of these for the tank:





I'm as excited about this bike as you possibly can be. It may not be my "style" but you know what? It has allowed me to do a lot of little things, and its going to allow me to do a few more things I have always wanted to try - like a sidecar, as well as winter riding. Its ugly, its a rat bike, but you know what? I love it, I absolutely adore the poor old machine.


Now... I'm going to leave for a bit, I am feeling incredibly hammered.

Update on Old Venerable

Well I had written this long entry in txt format which I'd planned to post, but a ton changed as I worked on the bike today, so most of that post is now out dated.

I need to get 2 new throttle cables, air filters, and some Jets. The bike is SO close now... oh and I also need to get ummmm valve stems for the tires today.

I painted the swing arm, the gas tank (which I have no picture of right now), mounted the tail light, changed the handlebars, and partially made a new sidecover for the left side of the bike using cardboard and gorilla tape.... It will work, its the best bet for now. Might do something better soon, but that requires money and a trip to Home Depot. This is just an idea of what could be.

Ignore the rear wheel in the following pictures, its the front wheel off a bike I no longer own, its just there so I can roll the bike around.

I just had a thought... brb....

I said brb 4 hours ago. First I checked to see if the Norton front wheel would fit in between the front forks of the GS550 I have in the basement (they do), then I took a bath. I'd intended to soak for 20-30 minutes and get out. I just woke up. God I'm still tired!

House Jazz

I am listening to a clip of music I call "House Jazz" it gets that because it reminds me of a Jazzy Blues, and it was stolen off a House MD episode, to be specific towards the end of Season 6, Episode 10 - The Down Low. A GREAT episode, and incidentally one of the leads is played by an actor who was in "Empire Records" as well as "White Squall" among other things, I had quite an interest in him when I was younger, hahaha

I've been working on the motorcycle a LOT. I'm just trying to get it on the road as soon as physically possible, but safely. I need to get the new jets from as it turns out "Brittech" in Southbridge might have them. I need to get valve stems before I can put the tires on. I have to make a strut before I can put the tire on. I have to have new flanges made for the Carbs to fit the head - THAT is the big one. I could probably bullshit something up, but I'd prefer to have it done 'right' which requires the help of Paul or Chris. I also have to finish wiring the bike, and take the side stand off.

It sounds like a lot, but it's really not so bad.

The MAIN thing today is to get the new valve stems, and to finish making that strut. I cut out the spacers LATE last night. So today's task is quite simply drilling 2 holes and making 1 hole bigger. Once that's done I can re-attach the swing arm, and then if I go and get the valve stem.... forget it - they are closed today and tomorrow. HOWEVER I think I might just have a wheel that can go in there until we have the correct rear wheel done up right hahaha. Sweet. Good thinking Jack! I'll use the spare front wheel I had from the Suzuki GS550. That SHOULD work.


Alright.. sooo.... This is as much for Brent as anyone - since he can't remember what the bike's tail looked like before...

THIS is what it looked like when I got it (more or less):



And this is what it will look like when I'm done (envision a license plate below the light as well as turnsignals somewhere, and that brick of a tail light on the plastic:





Now one of my earlier points to Brent (in person) was that when they designed this motorcycle they tried to make it look like it had a Rigid frame, seen here:



They did everything they could short of putting a V-twin in the bike to make it look more American, but this is like the rough sketch of the Jap American knock offs you see today (many of which are better motorcycles than Harley builds). What I mean by rough sketch is that they got SO much of it wrong. Thank god too, I'd probably have hated it if they got it all right.

But because they did a mono shock, I can't afford to replace it, and because they made the swing arm look like a rigid, I see no issue with making it a hard tail to save money. I'll just paint it black, and I bet you $10 some idiots (on bikes) will think its some custom addition to the frame. hahahaha, well if they do, so be it, its not my fault.

Anyways, I'm done for now. Gonna take a nap and wake up around 3, there's not much I can do now that I can't do in 6-8 hours.

Yamaha Springer?

Though NOT at all my usual sense of style...

The Yamaha is more than likely going to become more of an old school Bar Hopper than an old School Cafe Racer. AND NOT because I like the looks, but more because its the most affordable way to get the damned thing on the road right.

I have fit the JRC carbs to her, I'll need to re-jet of course, but its a small price to pay for carbs in new condition (literally small price)



If you remember (and here's a pic if you don't) what the tail looked like, it was... interesting:


Well not anymore, I fit the Suzuki GS550 rear fender, and have cut the stock tail light plastic out of the old fender cover so that I could fit the stock tail light here:





Now... here's where the springer side of things come in - and this is what I mean:


A cheap shock for this bike is over $100 - oh the joys of the Mono-shock suspension *fuckers* I could BS it with a pair of cheap Emgo duel shocks, then just use one, but then it'd have the suspension of a pogo stick.

The cheapest solution to the warn out suspension is to just remove it. Buy 13ish inches of gas pipe, drill 2 holes in it, put it where the rear shock currently is, and get a spring seat for it. I found one (shown in the picture) with a gel pad and steel pan for $70 - which is from the same company thats going to sell me my new jets and air filters.

I need this style of spring seat because the frame is flat. Thats right... I have a sloped back bone for a useless tank, and a flat frame where the seat should go. Those FUCKERS. BUT the frame Does slope at the back, which is why I can't just use the Norton seat. I'd have to cut tabs off the Yam frame AND the Norton seat just to see if it fit - which I'm not doing. I actually plan to use those tabs to mount my rear turn signals.

Also the seat to handlebar height won't be quite as bad as it looks, I am only lowering the seat height about 3" and by putting flat bars on it I lowered the handlebar height about 3" so ironically I've gained nothing.

That's unfair. The bike is going to be pretty sweet, and should be done pretty soon.

Actually I might have steel pipe that would work.... *goes off to look*

Goodbye Norton

I just posted the Following on Craigslist.

I have for sale, best cash offer come and pick it up, motorcycle parts. Royal Enfield Parts: New high compression alloy 500cc Piston, Distributor, Mikarb, Alloy barrel, new crank cases for kick start, cam gears, head with 3000 miles, crank shaft with 3000 miles, push rods, timing cover, 2002 Enfield frame with forward engine plates and swing arm, also a rough primer coated enfield gastank - no dents. There is also a straight 1967 Norton Slimline featherbed frame that was set up for as a Triton frame with a 750 unit engine, bare frame with swingarm, there are two Atlas gastanks one is original cherry red paint with tank badges the other is rattle can red with Triton stickers - the original tank is clean inside, the rattle can red needs bead blasting but is solid. There is also a 67 Norton crank shaft, oil pump, barrel, head, crank cases, AMC 4 speed gearbox. There are also 67 Norton road holder forks with fender - front wheel NOT for sale, rear fender NOT for sale. There is a brand new Atlas seat for sale, Atlas oil tank is also for sale. There are 150cc Honda Dream front forks, a 70s or 80s Husqvarna frame in rough condition but straight (no swing arm), and a set pair of rough 82 Suzuki GS550 front forks with brake caliper.

Everything listed is for sale. If you want a picture of something tell me, its best offer, cash in hand. Someone will do good on the Enfield parts, I Do know what some of the Norton parts are worth, the bike had been in the family since 1967.

Let me know.

It is harsh to think about, I mean the Norton was Dad's Norton,


But god knows how many times I have gone through the "Restoration" figures and its just crazy money that I don't have, and the parts take up space that I won't have. I am doing this so that there will be room to keep the Ducati


So yeah, I'm working out the idea to be smarter, and also quite frankly the only way I'll ever not sink STUPID money that I don't have into the Norton is to part with its bones. Just saying that brings tears to my eyes, but its the right play. I love dad, I cherish his memories, but I have been clinging to this absurd notion that if I hold onto the bones of the Norton I still have Dad, and well, I already have him.

Anyways, thats it.

Yamaha XS400 & XS500

Alright so first of all the tire changer came today, which was pretty sweet:


I also got the two front turn signals mounted to the Yamaha, I have to sort out the rears:


I do have the wiring diagram for the lights:



==========

So I was at a local bike shop today and I stopped in to say hello to the owner, and to ask him if he knew if I needed a side stand to pass inspection. We got to talking old Ducati, Triumph, and Norton. We also talked about Dad a little whom he remembered. So I told him I thought about gathering the bits to put an Enfield back on the road despite their being horrible little motorcycles, but I say "I like 500cc singles" and he says "I have one of those" and we worked our way around to him offering it to me. Doesn't run, but I was all excited. Then he came to mention the name, and its not a single, its a parallel twin.

I actually had one before, and gave it away. So this bike is from the 70s its a XS500. Not sure of the year, but he says its been sitting in a crate for a long time, a bit rough, may be missing this or that... but really, a free bike, a bike I know and love. We exchanged information and he's going to dig it out for me to pick up in the next few days. So yeah, here's the basic plan:



Now thats a bike I can attach a sidecar to - because of the cradle frame. So I'm all excited, because I now have a "winter rig" in process.

The Great Escape?

The above is the scene when Steve McQueen (actually was Bud Ekins) jumps the fence on a Triumph towards the end of The Great Escape. I have various pictures of this dotting the wall across from me.

This one shows a few of the guys fooling around, I do love the bike.


These are somewhat dated pictures of my room, as I was just getting it together down here. Less of a mess now. But you can get a sense for what I like to do with pictures that interest me. Keeps the mind occupied.



Anyways, that scene from The Great Escape, that is one of the reasons I have less of a numb following of "modern" dirtbikes. Everyone has this feeling that you NEED a new bike to have some fun in the fields. Now while that Triumph used to jump the fence was pretty tuned, it was basically stock, minus some great shocks and springs. But you'll note the low pipes. The low chassis. I have no doubt that with some basic work I could run my XS on some fields, not with the tires I just bought, but you know that with the tire tools I am in the process of getting, that when winter rolls around I can get some duel sport tires.

At any rate, I'll be back later.

Life, Friends, Motorcycles

Well, Forrest just came by for about 30 minutes, it was GOOD to see him again. I hope to go hang out at his house sometime this week, see his old MG that he restored himself, listen to some tunes and just talk about life. He and I now share the "heavily medicated" status and the "bodies fucking out on us in college" status. He's younger, 20. I remember my dad telling me I needed to make "College" friends because when I was in my early 20s most of my friends were either from high school or in high school. So I befriended this guy (Forrest) in my English class, and then a month later found out he was 16 and it was one of those "FUCK!" moments hahahaha but hey, I tried!

Life is alright, I'm listening to a lot of music, and watching a lot of TV online. Smoking my fair share of tobacco - and then some. My room is clean, which is nice, though Matt complained it wasn't clean enough hahaha bastard =p

Various motorcycle parts are do to arrive today, namely the turn signals

Which I am pretty excited about because I downloaded (finally) the full 1982 Yamaha XS400 factory manual so I NOW have a wiring diagram to go by.

The wiring in the headlight and towards the tail is pretty chewed up. Melted connectors and weird splices. Thats what you get from an early 80s small engined Jap bike. But now that I have the proper specs, I'll know where to tie in what. I couldn't have easily re-wired the headlight bucket without the diagram. I won't be going crazy with nice new connectors, they'll be bullet and butt connectors, but they'll be mine - so I'll know what's going on.

See I had wanted to get old school Lucas signals:


But the ones I got which are designed for a Honda will work great, fit the stems so they'll bolt into current mounts, and well they have the LOOK of the classic Lucas signals. So that pleases me.

You know... its the simple things.

Also the new tires are on their way, the new tire mounting tool should be here soon - which will be great. Once I have the new tires on and balanced I can then install the chain. Between that and getting the engine all set to go, I'm pretty much golden. Then I just have to register the bike. I have some minor paint work to do, which I am going to use a can and a brush to do.


The idea is to clean up the places where there is surface rust, or where the bike is awkward looking. Like the swing arm is both awkward and a bit rusty. So if I paint it shiny black then in theory it should vanish into it's own.. It won't stand out like it does now with the black seat and tank.

Royal Enfield Bullet

Well going into this whole thing I know that I'm really happy with the Yamaha XS400 because despite the fact that its not my kinda bike, it really is a sweet little machine.

However, I am pretty sure that at some point the poor thing is going to crap out on me. Then I have a few options, get another beater and fix it up, or have one waiting in the wings.

I plan to have one waiting in the wings, or fairly complete one waiting in the wings.

So over time, when cost effective, I'm going to sort out the Enfield. I can get everything I need for it (except the gearbox) from a company in India, brand new but much cheaper than any of the regular places, and actually straight from the factory. Engine parts I'll probably get from Hitchcocks as I'll want English made engine parts, but the rest I can get from India.

We're going to do it fairly right. I have discovered that for example you can get for the same price as the original wheels, you can buy brand new wheels with vintage half drums - complete with spindles, brakes, bolts, etc. So that's what I'll do.


I can also get new front forks, electrical, fenders, suspension, everything. Cost wise it will eventual work out to costing a couple grand. But, the end game is I'll get the bike that I really wanted, the Enfield I wanted to build originally (and kind of did, and should have kept) for less than it would cost to replace it and change the replacement into what this one could be.

So while I'm riding the XS400, I'll slowly put the Enfield back into place.

This is more or less the End Game for the Enfield:


Thats a 1951 350cc Model G with the big head (which would be dead last), the half drum wheels, a rigid frame (which I can buy but probably won't) but if I did, this is what the bolt on Rigid Frame looks like:


So yeah, the end game is to have the Enfield up and running someday, and when its rideable then I have a bike in the wings, and when it looks like the machine I want - when it IS the machine I want I'll retire the XS, assuming it's still alive at all.

Yamaha Parts

Alright, so I called up MAC and cancelled the 2:1 exhaust system, like I'd planned. From there I turned around, and as planned spent the money on what I should have in the first place. Much more necessary parts. Tires, the ability to change them, and some bits I have noticed I don't have in my little bag of parts. So here is the following explanation plus pictures of what I got:


First off the tires, I looked around for a while and ended up saving these two as what I wanted. I had Michelins on the 73 Triumph and liked them.

MICHELIN COMMANDER CRUISER STREET TIRES 3.00-19 FRONT

MICHELIN COMMANDER CRUISER STREET TIRES 130/90-16 REAR



Then from Harbor Freight I ordered (yes I know there is one local but shipping was $10) the tire changing machine, it was more than we supposed. You see its actually 2 in one, except its sold separate. The base is for changing car tires, thats $40, then the top for $50 is the motorcycle tire changer. This is what it looks like combined:



What I didn't buy, but will next is just as important, its for balancing wheels/tires - and also can be used as a truing stand if you have a dial indicator ($40):




=============Small Parts===========

Here's the end receipt for what I got in the way of small parts, it won't mean much which is why I also swiped the pictures and circled the parts:



The first one is for the rear brake, you see the drum is pedal operated and a rod goes to the break lever on the brake plate. I was missing the bushing that goes through the arm, and the nut that holds and adjusts the pedal. I also as it turns out was missing the spring that makes the brake want to unlock as it were.



Next on the list is the oil drain plug, some screw that goes in it, as well as the washer gasket. The bolt head is stripped and there is currently a large pool of oil on the floor of my garage under the bike. It could be coming from 2 places, this bolt which needs replaced anyways, or the filter bolt which I already have a new one waiting.



This one is pretty self explanatory, I am missing the bulbs for the brake light, so I figured might as well get them with the basket of bits.



This is the Clutch switch, its pretty mangled where it plugs into the clutch lever, so I wanted to get a new one. I'm not stupid and know to pull the clutch in before I start the bike, but you never know what some inspection guy might do... I figured better safe than sorry - so replacing instead of just bypassing the switch.


Last but not least, the screws holding the master cylinder cover on are pretty rusty, I'll probably have to drill them out to fix the front brakes, I wanted to have a new pair of them handy for after that.

XS Update

I ordered some parts for the XS, they should be the last parts I need besides tires. I think the best I can mention are the turn signals, I had wanted to get Lucas replicas, but I was already ordering the chain tool from Z1, so I figured I might as well get the signals from them too. I got ones designed for a Honda CB500. By all rights the design is pretty close to the Lucas signals, and they should be plug and play. I also should be able to use the mounting stocks I already have, which will fit the frame mounts I already have.


Besides the chain tool I also ordered a new tach and speedo cable as the ones on there are pretty much shot, the speedo cable IS shot. I also bought some fuel line of a couple different sizes. I found my dremal tool so I'm going to cut out enough of the air box so that I can mount some pod air filters in there.

Going to cancel the MAC exhaust. That money will be better served as a tire machine and tires.

I also have a line on an OLD Vetter fairing, not sure at the cost yet, but the woman I am talking to has a ton of them, a barn full, and this one has probably never been mounted on any bike. A raw fairing as she called it. She's unsure as to exactly what model it is, but it Is a Phantom, and here are two examples of Phantom fairings from when they were new:

It would provide me with the wind protection I want, as well as weather protection. It is a Vetter fairing that predates the Windjammer, but the design is such that you can have regular handlbars and will be able to move them to full lock in either direction. I figure spray it black, and I'm golden, maybe pin stripe it.

I'm in a hellish amount of pain right now, it struck pretty sudden, its traveling through my right shoulder and up into my jaw and also into my rib cage. If I didn't know better I'd think I was having a heart attack. So this is where I stop, I'll leave you with a song.

Yamaha XS400

So some time ago after getting the Yamaha I stripped it down a bit, in an attempt to begin to get the bike sorted out, there it sat wit no more put in than a gorilla tape seat for some months.



Today however I made some progress. The goal is to get her running as soon as possible. I had hoped to do more with it than I did today, but it was for not having been out of bed much, quite a landmark day. It helped that it was 85 degrees. So I stripped off the headlight which was busted, and finished the rear brake. I am learning more about the machine, and just what makes her tick, and how she ties together. Here she is with no exhaust, no headlight, no gauges.



Re-installing the exhaust took some effort as I discovered that it got bent from what I suspect was a previous accident. So the right hand bracket didn't want to go over the mounting stud. I used a dremal to grind away part of the bracket so that it would slide around the stud, leaving enough to clamp onto.

I also removed the old headlight ears that were bent from hopefully the same accident (they incidentally held the horn so I need to relocate that) and installed some cheap Emgo cafe racer style ones, and with them I installed the Norton headlight, which was previously on the 76 Yamaha XS500.



I have plans for certain parts of the bike that need re-worked. One of which are new side covers, I am going to make them out of cardboard and gorilla tape, the left side cover (which is missing) will have a vent. The right side which covers the battery will be insulated with rubber.

Jack is going to lend me his Lathe at some point as he's moving and needs some place to stash it while he lacks a place to keep it. I plan to make a new front axle for the Norton wheel that will fit the Yamaha forks when he does this so that I can fit it. Once that's done I'll have drum brakes in back and front, and it will save me the cost of rebuilding the master cylinder as well as the caliper. It will also free up room on the flat bars.

I also have to wire in some turnsignals soon.
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This last picture I took after I finished working on the bike.

Donno What to say

I'm here because its 4:41AM and I'm not asleep. It seems like a pretty good reason to be on the blog as opposed to not. It's supposed to 85 degrees today, so I'm planning on not being asleep again today. I'm going to get out and work on the motorcycle if it kills me. I mean really, it doesn't need a hell of a lot to be alive. I have all the parts.. well almost, I have to drive out to Shrewsbury and get the tool. I also need a bit of fuel line. I'm hoping that the carbs are clean enough.



That's the bike about a month ago. Note the gorilla tape seat. That rear wheel now has a solid brake working in it. The tires need changed eventually. The handlebars are now flat, and I have bare end mirrors installed. I'll be changing out the headlight sooner than later. There are a lot of little things that will need to be done before it will pass inspection. All that rust you see will have to go away.

Some stuff has changed since that picture. To give you a general idea, the bike in the bottom right corner, the older one with the box tail light - I sold that ages ago. The blue bike is gone, that was a buddies. The frame you see in the bottom left is my friends Harley Davidson.

Anyways, my hands are cold, and hurt a lot, so I'm going to bail.