IndyCruz

It's coming back!

2011-02-16T12:34:00.001-05:00

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Cabin Fever

2011-02-13T18:17:00.003-05:00

Finally got tired of waiting for my shed to unfreeze so I cut a hole in it. I pulled what I needed out and put everything in my pool room. Back to BUILDING!!! Lets get this R5 put back together and running before the big thaw!

A spot of warm weather

2011-01-25T08:53:00.001-05:00

Just leaving warm weather in California to come home to unmotivating cold. But I did leave with energy to start building again. I know it's cold but I will make something work! Came across and RD350 in Long Beach , real clean but never got the chance to meet the owner.

Maybe this is a sign I need to get my ass in gear and get riding again soon. I'll be back in the shed as soon as I get back!

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Location:El Manor Ave,Los Angeles,United States

Tuning = Time

2010-11-08T16:17:00.002-05:00

Once I had finally decided on a setup for this bike I can really start to tune this thing. Made my own filters too. I have been stabbing in the dark at his CL with all the little problems it has had. The closer to a good running bike I get the easier it is to find more problems. Once I get good gas flow I can move onto carbs. Once the carbs aren't flooding or sticking I can move onto spark and coils. It's always a process. And if you don't follow the systems natural order you will always be running in circles. With huge problems comes huge patience. I sealed the tank in a very very cheap way, vinegar and left over sealer from Wolf. The petcock (we need to change that word) is no longer clogging thanks to the sealing. The carbs are only sticking sometimes so the engine is getting gas. Check recheck and smell the plugs for clues on how the bike is running or not running. Now I'm working on the spark and ignition system. New points and maybe new coils, still workin the process.

Lets get a ride in!!!

2010-11-06T13:44:00.002-04:00

We got to get a ride in, no matter the weather. It might be 60 I heard.

Grrrrrrr

2010-10-31T21:38:00.001-04:00

Looks mean....and it's loud

In and out

2010-10-23T14:25:00.001-04:00

A bike is very sensitive to intake and exhaust changes. When I cut the mufflers off big difference. When I put a 2 into 1 tail pipe on big changes. Right now my best setup is no air filters and 2 into 1 tail pipe. Runs great but loud! Might try pods and a better baffle next. Let's see what's cheap and avaliable.

O, and does this man bag make me look gay? Random picture of me at VMD on the Church of Choppers blog

-- Bam! From My iPhone

0 to 60 in seconds...

2010-10-18T12:52:00.001-04:00

Couldn't get the bike to run much longer than 5 min. Almost gave up for the fall but got a funny bug up my butt to cut off the muffler.

Runs great! Only downside is it is louder than any Harley I have ever heard. I had so much rust on the muffler it ran like junk. The exhaust system is very complex and sensitive. If anyone wants a lecture I read physics articles on the idea. Kind of amazing system. Planning on designing a 2into1 system with one orignal muffle that I will be taking apart and cleaning. Anyone ever heard of cleaning out a muffler in a grill??

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Another learning build

2010-10-13T12:11:00.001-04:00

It kind of sucks when all your best efforts are never enough. When it 30 years of engine does not want to run 30 years later it take a lot of patience. Especially when you have little time to work on it. I have to keep in mind it's going to take a lot of work and research. The bikes down but I'm not done. Keep going! Try again! Soon, but not yet.

Flooded bike = confused

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Long awaited disaster

2010-10-01T12:21:00.001-04:00

It all came together with no problems. Took her out for a quick spin and...poop. I missed one small little step. I thought when it first happen I broke a timing chain. The kick start turned over too easy. After a tow and a tear down it was the two bolts that hold the timing gear to the cam, sheared in half. I learned what shouldered bolts were meant to do in school but I just missed seeing that one of the bolts was shouldered and needed to be in the right hole. I guess it's a somewhat common problem. O well. One bend valve and bolts, which are kind of hard to find, later I might be back in business. One small problem I'm stuck on now is the left intake valve I took from another motor seems to have way to much clearance with the tappet. Gotta figure that out and back on the road before it snows!

-- Bam! From My iPhone

I sure am taking my time!

2010-08-19T06:46:00.004-04:00

Before I do what I did last year to a bike I wanted to tear down this engine to check everything out. The CL's motor are so as easy to break down as a 15 year old girls self esteem. I found a little bit of carbon deposit on the left cylinder so a lapped the valves with a nifty little tool that makes lapping as quick and painless and a back alley....ooo too dirty

Well, how bout some pics...

The job went easy and with some good results. I'm now waiting on cleaning the original carbs in the new Media Blaster and maybe some new float seats. In the mean time I am going to make some side covers.

JunkYard of Bikes!

2010-08-19T06:09:00.004-04:00

Every once in a bit I pull out one of the many bike laying around and work on them. This one is a CB750 with a locked motor. If it dont work PB blast the shit out of it!!! With a little bit of leverage and a hammer anything can happen. It took a bit of work but it worked. More to come on this after I get my CL on the road!

Thanks to Jason, Tyson and Masaru for riding by and watching the dogs battle!

Who wants a bike night!?

2010-07-29T13:34:00.001-04:00

Need something looked at? Or maybe something tuned? What about just showing off your new bike? Get it!! Come down and do something! I'll be tearing down my CL top end to check everything out and man handling a CB 750 motor. Come watch me make a fool out of that motor!

Location:2115 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana 46202 United States

Putt putt......

2010-07-25T06:13:00.003-04:00

In the long run, I should have waited on the carbs. The VM30's were brand new when I bought them for the R5 but this bike really needs CV carbs. Constant Velocity prevents the engine from stumblin right off idle. I was also having a problem tuning the Mikuni's because the jets are measured in cc/min and Keihin measures in drill sizes. I also found a bunch of calculations to do to determine jets. Its a basic principle but to many unreliable in the engine. Its best to get the thing on the road listen to what she's sayin and read the plugs. Trying to get the bike as close to stock first and running is always a good starting point too. Then mess with it.

See ran, but like a smoker on a 5 mile jog. Im gonna wait until I can get new jets in the Keihin's

I have seen a lot of bikes with extra long cables and I'm likin them. They just need to be routed a bit better, not just up and around. I put mine around the headlight. I junked the headlight bucket too. The naked bulb looks simple, it just vibrates the shit out of the beam might need to fix that. And I through on a couple nostalgic pieces and wrapped the top tree with leather.

Next, can I keep the tail light from ripping out everytime I hit a bump and gettin the carbs to run with cheap pods.

From Ground to Road

2010-07-21T16:04:00.008-04:00

Heres the story...

The write of the CL350 is a quick one but I figured it would be interesting to read. Maybe it could help anyone, with a 350 or not. Its got a lot of patience and trial and error. Regardless its

neat to see a bikes ground to road progress.

Like I said before a buddy of mine gave me this bike a couple months ago. Most of the parts were there but it showed 29 years of aging. I

started with the tear down and for a bike with only 7000 miles of it, I figured the engine would be fine. The only thing it needed really were rings, points and a little electrical work.

With an easy bike to fix I focused on the aesthetics. I wrote down a bunch of ideas and came up with you have seen in the past couple posts. A lot of people have told me I have a steampunk style. Look it up if you need to, its 40's gears and tops hats meets futuristic apocalypse. I was tired of wiring harnesses and ripped it out of the bike and planned out a new way. With everything I needed to run the bike on a table I mapped out a way to run the wiring around the engine with pipes. It turned out better than I expected.

I had been working out of my parents garage for ever and finished my shed at my place, hauled everything over and started putting the CL back together again. Should have I put my new VM30's from my R5 on and tried to kick it over??

Sorry, I got to make this story a little interesting. Ill post more in a couple days

Shes a runner

2010-07-07T13:17:00.002-04:00

It has begun. Another bike that breaths like the others. With only 7000 miles to the engine it seems only like a baby, but had been stuck in a 29 year sleep. It awakes after a key turn and the lights glow. One swift kick, gulp and roar. Shes a runner. Small tweeks and fine tunning till its just me, her and the road ahead.

Basically, it runs...

Garage Night

2010-06-24T10:31:00.001-04:00

Come one come all! Got the night off from work and ready to party. Fire, bikes and dudes. Not dudes like a sausage fest but dudes like a sittin round the fire talkin bike stuff. 2115 N. Penn back yard. 8ish

Location:E 21st St,Indianapolis,United States

Garage Night

2010-06-17T23:56:00.005-04:00

This is actual pre Garage Night but you get the point

You have to have dogs fights to make it a real awesome night.

Jason basically stole a GS550 for the country and we turned it into a running bike in one day. Next step is to make it less... stupid. Its a great bike and a seemingly solid 57,000 mile motor, but we have to do some small mods. Lower the already 8 foot tall bike and smaller seat. Then this 5foot 5 man could reach the ground. Great buy Jason!

Thanks for comin out and stopping by for any amount of time and any Thursday guys. I'm just still trying to keep the spirit alive. We made a lot of rides last year and we need to keep it going.

Coming soon!

June 18th- Chicago Shake Down

June 19th- Mods vs Rockers

June 26th- Ton Up Michigan

I wont be able to go to these but just a mention.

Will be going to Vintage Motorcycle Days all weekend!

JULY 9-11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Driving out to Ohio to visit some friends and skating either the 8th or 9th and riding to MidOhio.

The Weekend Ticket is $35 and camping is $30 for a 20x25 foot space. We will be squeezing! At the door cost is more!

COMECOMECOMECOMECOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.

The CL is coming along too. Pictures of seat tank bars battery box..... I'm two clean carbs away from riding. Plus the legal junk but soon!

Cookin Carbs for lunch

2010-05-27T14:45:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to clean these CL carbs with a little hot water and lemon juice. Man they stink! We will see what happens!
-- Bam! From My iPhone

I see you.....

2010-05-24T06:44:00.004-04:00

I see YOU!! Its kind of weird that I can see where you are when you visit my blog. I can see the advatanges to this but only a few. More creepy than anything.

With the summer really shinning now, we all are coming out of their house for a little sunshine. So more bike nights and BBQs! I am going to start gathering events in the MidWest and posting as many as I can. If you hear about an event or know one send it my way. We are going to get this community moving and riding!

Bike Nights

2010-05-23T04:54:00.001-04:00

As soon as the shed is done... Every Thursday, I hope. It will be just a chance to meet up and talk shop. And check onesickrace and rickless life for bike night updates too, if you didnt already know. Show your ugly MUG!!

CL Teaser

2010-05-11T18:25:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to give you a little taste of my progress. I have been working 3rd shift for a week and all im doing is eating shitting working and kind of sleeping. But everyonce in a while I get a chance to tool around. A full write up is in the works soon.

-- Bam! From My iPhone

The perfect start to a day

2010-04-30T11:36:00.002-04:00

A good cup of Joe, who ever that is, and motorcycles. I have always enjoyed waking up early and getting a big jump on the day. I have a gasket kit for the CL350 and can't wait to put it in a fire it up. I was talking with a fellow Harley rider and he was saying how amazing it was to get out on the road and ride, but how expensive it was to change the oil and replace the gaskets just for the oil filter. $140 and he replaced the oil himself! That is why I am a sucker for Jap bikes. I spent $40 on a whole engine gasket kit:) and you can make anything from a antique store look good on it. Newer bikes tend to have to have new OEM parts or aftermarket parts made for it. I love the simplicity. It also make you a bit more creative being able to use grills from old stoves or leather from thrift stores or just random things from a 50 year old garage. Harley use to be like that. The first Harley was made is someones backyard garage. I do value there craftsmanship. Just not there design anymore. Im to little of a guy for them now. Gotta love them little twins.

-- Bam! From My iPhone

My creative outlet got unloaded...

2010-04-24T11:58:00.002-04:00

I got a whole day of no interruptions to unload my current ideas into metal. I get this chance every once in a while and it was been well deserved. I wanted to finish the top of the bike, headlight, tank, seat and tail section. And I thought it went well.

O and we got a new dog, its learning Japaneses

Its name is Yama(ha)

案ずるより産むが易し。

2010-04-19T23:12:00.004-04:00

Correct me if I'm wrong Tyson but, fear is greater than danger... But it literally, giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it.

I have been doing a lot of planning for this bike, cutting, creating failing and starting over. I'm really excited and not to worried about screwing up. Should I keep this tank? Should I make the headlight bucket this way? Who cares! I can always change it or make something different. Don't be scared to try things. Screwing up is a part of learning. I want to try a battery-less system for this bike and know one really has a great way to do it. But enough reading a research has lead me to believe anything is possible. Even if I don't make it battery-less is will get a small battery. Whatever, we will see.

I found a lengthy service manual, very very detailed. Let me know if anyone whats a copy! It explains detailed measurements and electrical explanation. Very helpful in creating your own electrical system. Or even just testing everything on the bike. And some really cool old exploded views of the bike. And a finger print or two in grease from whomever owned this manual in the 70's.

I am planning on getting the bike to running condition and them simplifying the shit out of the wiring. Head, tail, neutral light. Hey, I still like neutral lights.

Crusing right along

2010-04-11T14:55:00.006-04:00

The only thing holding us back is money. So I manned up and worked 40 hrs a week for a bit. But I still get some time to build. Soon I will be working a little less and have more time to build. But here is a little progress for now...

As usual I start looking for inspiration. Found a bunch of random photos of ideas and weird things in general. I am going to run all my wiring though copper pluming, and might try to make a battery box out of the pluming too. I really like the wood and steel look to, maybe a wood triple tree cover?

Im pulling out a favorite builder of mine for this build. Shinya Kimura "back to basics". Inovation and creativity is the only way this guy thinks. He had an article in Feb Cycle World and it was amazing. If you ran into me I probably ranted about it. But the April issue had people really bummed about his designs. "quit drilling so many holes in parts", "complaining about "metaphysical, pseudo-Japanese Kimura history" and "draw the line between genius and madness" comparing The Who and Shinya!? So I voiced my opinion to Cycle World to show people like creativity and not just changing a seat on a Harley and calling it custom. And Im not blaming CW they are just the messenger.

You be the judge...

A couple more CL350 ideas...

So I started drawing in my little journal and forming ideas. Im also working on a energy transfer magneto I found an artical on from OhioCafeRacers.

A lot of useful things on here. Even fork tube sizes for just about any bike.

The PeaShooter

2010-03-29T17:04:00.001-04:00

I saw this very cool old HD called the peashooter on BIKEEXIF. Thought I would share.

http://www.loudpopvoyager.com/post/224933023/1928-harley-davidson-28s-racer

- Bam! From My iPhone

CL3 to the 50....

2010-03-26T15:11:00.003-04:00

Thanks to my good buddy from HS I picked up this 71 CL350. It has 7100 miles on it... Igot it for a steal, well I guess it can be considered stolen, it was free. His family has some unfortunate history with motorcycles and he wanted it to go to a better home. So already I have big plans for it! Just recently my buddy Tyson and Tyson built a CB350 with some CL parts and it looks amazing! So I might use some of his ideas and innovation to make mine.

Here it is on its trip home. It all fit in the back of my Jeep!

I already started tearing stuff apart. And fucked some screw heads, just for fun. F them screws in the A. Ill just replace every single screw head with allen. For a 7000 miles engine I was not surprised when everything was clean, just a little gunk. And the $million$ cam ten was in great shape!

Oo, and I got new bubble goggles.

It looks pretty ugly just sittin stock.

MY MAN CAVE

2010-03-18T21:39:00.001-04:00

The IndyCruz garage is framin up. Nice little 6x12 shed with fold out walls for an awning. Soon to come, back yard bondfire and building sess...

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Its forming a few ideas...

2010-03-18T00:19:00.003-04:00

Garage Company Customs

I found this company on BIKEEXIF the other day and its pretty neato. I love the tank on the XS650. Its a CB160. Nice...

Tomorrow, 60 and sunny

2010-03-15T21:07:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow will be amazing. I'm going to build a shed if anybody wants
to help!

40 Degrees and more warm days to come!

2010-03-04T17:50:00.004-05:00

Still hammerin alongon this tank and it seems to actually start looking like a gas tank. Thanks Kip for the bit of knowledge, I have been keeping to the hammer and torch. It does take a long time but it involves more hands on bending. Lots of hammer makes though. I'm thinking I will smooth out the tank with bondo in the end.

Then I took the bike out in the sun photo a little fun in the sun. I went into Cycle and talked to Rob about putting a XS650 motor in this XS750 frame and it might be harder than I thought. I need to redesign a swing arm with chain adjusters and new mounting for the engine. It might be easier to get a 650 frame and engine in one. Rob says that could be around $300. Nice.

Thanks to Hutch I now am the proud owner of CB350 wheels. Lets see if I can make them fit on this thing.

Its been a while....

2010-02-26T13:35:00.002-05:00

I have been playing around with gas welding a new tank. It is going really good right now, but I think I need an English Wheel for professional quality... I think I will make one.

I took a CT50 tank for most of the tank and started adding sheet metal and hand forming the rest of it. Clamp and gas weld the peices together. I blew through a couple times but that can be fixed. I will continue and update as soon as I figure out what I'm doing next.......

Tim doing some welding

2010-02-26T13:34:00.000-05:00

flickrSLiDR.

Riding Positions

2010-02-15T19:31:00.002-05:00

Take note...

I really need to get out of my warm garage and into the cold...

A Blast from the Past

2010-01-22T05:04:00.005-05:00

All the way from the 50's,
its short and funny
and kind of fucking ugly...

I like what they were going for but,
it took engineers only a day
to made this tank and tail out of lumpy clay...

Ooo the original Manx,
what a lovely piece of machinery,
I would ride it and possibly pee...

I just like this one lots...

Links to the site with tons of original pictures Motorcycle 20th Century Blueprints

One Headlight Bucket in the bag

2010-01-10T22:55:00.004-05:00

I finished the headlight bucket with random bits of metal laying around my garage. All put together with my gas welding too. This gas welder is a very universal tool to I bent, cut and welded everything. Unlike a MIG welder you have a lot more control with heating specfic areas and controlling what gets hot and when. It might not make sense but it helps a lot when welding thick metal to thin metal, a lot. If you can dream it, it can be done. :-)

I dont really know what I was going for, but I think it looks pretty damn cool with the rest of the bike. Maybe a rustic Mad Max bike? Any clues?

Look to the east...and feel some WARMTH!

2010-01-09T13:30:00.005-05:00

When ever I feel the chills
I look to the hills.
Where sun shines and warms fuckin everything east of Missouri!

I'll insulate the shit out of my space
and wrap up my face.
I'll bundle up like Randy in A Christmas Story.

It kind of rhymes...

I dont really hate having to layer up to work on anything, but I think its just a lack of motivation. We all have it but we are working through it. Browsing on the Internet and looking at things we love, and that are warm. So here are some more to get us off our arse.

All the way from Australia at Deus Ex Machina

And a bike Jason Lee owned and was bulit by Lossa Engineering

And how about another one from Falcon Motorcycles just for fun. Well its in progress but it should look cool.

Stumble upon and keep stumplin'

2010-01-08T02:54:00.007-05:00

Its really neat to meet new people and find out new things through people and similar interests. Its just a lot easier to find these things through the internet, but not quite as genuine. if you cant find it something on Google try spending some time on these blogs and in magazines. I started on Jockey Journal... Here are a couple.

Garage
Dice
Falcon
Berry Bads you might have to translate if you are not Tyson :)
Vanem
Bike EXIF
and of course onesickrace :)

I have came across so many different and interesting items. Falcon struck a chord with me and even though bobbers are not my style I can absolutely love their design.

And some love from Japan

And Texas, I think...correct me if Im wrong Lee

And maybe in my near future... CL350

Hand made first T!

2010-01-06T15:23:00.002-05:00

Im starting to get back into the XS750 with a little bit here and there. I tried my hand in hand made headlight brackets. First I hacked up a pipe to rough dimensions and cut a gap in the tube. This was they can be tightened to the fork tube. Then I made two brackets to weld to the tube for tightening. I clamped the two rectangle pieces of metal on top of each other and heated the piss out of them. All I had to do them was shaped them on a same diameter pipe with a bad ass hammer (pictured below). Then you have perfect shaped brackets. Drill the holes and weld them in place. Ugly but it works. Next I want to make the headlight brackets that attach to the these tube brackets. Im going for the bad ass look maybe...

Welding in slooooo-moooooo

2009-12-28T22:07:00.003-05:00

Wow... Slow mo welding. Pulsed arc fillet weld then Spray arc fillet weld. Both with MIG welders. Last is MicroTack welding 300 A 200 ms Ss 3,0 mm, with a computer tig welder with High energy density. Bla bla bla, it just looks awesome.

First welding in a bit with oxy/acet

2009-12-28T03:48:00.001-05:00

I tried my luck with Oxy/Acet welding today and I thought without a filler rod I did alright.

Thats how we roll

2009-12-28T02:32:00.003-05:00

Wow... we might get screen panned to death if we keep riding the way we do. But damn, we look bad ass.

Thanks to The Return of the Cafe Racers

Holidays.....

2009-12-26T18:27:00.002-05:00

I dont have a lot to say about the holidays except Im 10 lbs heavier and one gas welder richer :-)

One of those looks at the past...when it was warm

2009-12-15T18:41:00.005-05:00

I was driving home and I remembered why I love motorcycles...

It some of the simplest things that make simple people happy. We don't need a lot and we can get by with a warm bottle of beer and some friends. Without ever realizing it, its that common road we drive down everyday, that on any other day its common but one night when out of routine and in pure chance its not common. It happens when it clicks...Comfort on the right, relaxation on the left and the sound of meditation underneath you. The sun has just set and dusk is setting in. The corn fields on both sides of the road makes you feel as if the corn and the horizon had had a meeting on matching perfect symetry. Even though the hedlight is just big enough to illuminate 6 feet in front of you it does the job and gives the surronding area a somber glow. Every ounce of the weight that holds you down lifts slowly and the feeling sets in. You don't want to move or think, just be.

Sorry, I got a little carried away. I remembered one night coming home from riding or garage work somewhere and this happen. I was kind of hard to describe but it kind of was like that. And that is why I love motorcycles. A simple 300-500lbs of metal and plastic can do something like that.

Feel free to get it all out to, its a therapy session to fight off the WINTER WIZARDS!!!

Im makin some changes...

2009-12-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

Sorry the blog has not looked right in a couple of days, but soon...

門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む AND 十人十色

2009-12-11T13:13:00.008-05:00

The Japanese have always had great sense of design without the pollution of big and better ideas like the United States. Not to say bigger and better is so bad, but not everyone's style, especially someone who weighs less than 160lbs. A minimalistic idea leads to interesting ways to design and shape. Less is more and efficiency is king.

The environment makes our characters. And different strokes for different folks. The Japanese sayings for the day. In good old US of A our lands seem endless and so do the possibilities. We build things to be bigger and better than the last builder. V8, V10,W12. I'm not saying having one of the biggest motorcycles in the world is a bad thing, just not my style.

But a country that has ideas based on efficiency and minimalism is more my style. Because of Japans size and limits in area the Japanese have learned to live with what is enough not what is best. Harvey Levenstein, author of Paradox of Plenty made very compelling observations about American and there need for greed. The idea of Paradox for Plenty is also know as a resource curse. It states that a country with an abundance of natural resources tends to have less economic growth and and worse development outcomes than a country with less resources. All I need to do is look at my own habits. When I am broke I spend way less of things I don't really need. But when money is in my hand, its over, eBay, eBay, eBay.

When suburbia overwhelmed America, these things really started to take over. As we moved further away from or stores and walking became less of a routine we started making our big weekly trips to the supermarkets. Things in general started getting bigger. So did our ideas.

Japan is 4% the size of America, which makes Japan about the size of California. They have to live within every means possible. A couple companies in Japan have seen this and are doing the right things to make this normal in Japan. Muji says: We would like our customers to feel the rational sense of satisfaction that comes not with "this is the best," but with "this is enough." "Best" becomes "enough".

Well I think my point comes down to lifestyles equal design styles. So I might start buying more Japanese motorcycle mags. Thanks Tyson.

No Harleys here

The girl on the bike kind of makes you want to read this lengthy post:)

Shots in the Dark

2009-11-27T17:23:00.003-05:00

I'm learning a little perspective drawing. Its kind of fun going back to school...

I have been doing a lot of drawing and planning...because I'm broke. I make up an idea for a gas tank and put it on to see how it looked.

Weldin in the old days

2009-11-25T20:13:00.002-05:00

A little welding from 04 in college..stick to be more specific.

Inspiration and my Imagination

2009-11-17T12:55:00.005-05:00

Internet Mag

The Internet is a glorious place for intriguing minds.....Sorry I was typing, then stumbleupon happen, now I'm back. You find the coolest and stupidest things on the vast space they call the Internet.

Well, thats it...I just wanted to share a picture..

Mad Max and the Goonies

2009-11-13T20:43:00.003-05:00

This post is a homage to MAD MAX. One of my favorite badass movies of all time. The first Mad Max tells a story of breakdown society, murder and vengeance. The next film's tale is of a community of settlers moved to defend themselves against a roving band of marauders follows an archetypal Western frontier movie motif, as does Max's role as a hardened man who rediscovers his humanity when he decides to help the settlers.

Good Guys
Pursuit KZ1000
Black Mad Max Interceptor Ford Falcon XB Coupe, V8 351

Bad Guys
KZ1000
Z900
CB750
CB900
GSX1000
XS1100E
XT and TT500 Yamahas
And a shit ton of dune buggies

I would rather be on the bad guys side too...

AIS vs JIS

2009-11-06T13:35:00.005-05:00

JIS or Japanese Industrial Standard.

Have you very stripped every screw on your Honda or Japanese made bike. Well we are using the wrong tool. The Japanese have found a way to make our lives miserable. The wrong tool for the simple job. In Japan, American Standards do not exist! So get the right tool for the job!

I kind of sound like an adversitment but we all have stripped a phillips head or 20...Lee and I came across this last night and I wanted to spread the word.

Makin some progress...

2009-11-04T17:42:00.006-05:00

Still with snot running from my nose, I wanted to do something to this frame. Because of being sick and lack of I made some plans for what I want to do. I came across the 1923 Temple Anrazi. He broke the landspeed record at 108.41 mph with a 996 cc engine. Damn that's big for the 20's! And Claude Temple became the first man to do 100 miles in an hour on this...that's 100 mph FOR AN HOUR!!! Inspiring

I tooled around in the garage for a couple hours and made a springer seat. Welded on a support for the front mounting point and it looks professional, the only problem, the seat should swing open after taking off the bolts from the rear springs. This one does not... And I mounted the clip-ons and I like them. I think im going to strip the whole frame down to bare metal and leave it naked. Next step it to hand form a longer headlight to match my drawing. I have worked with fiberglass before and it is pretty easy, it just doesnt want to set in cold weather. Fuck Indiana winters.

Lets Get Psyched!!

2009-10-22T12:55:00.004-04:00

I needed a little motivation while battling the cold monster so I wrote a list...

Late nights in a garage = gettin shit done!

2009-10-22T12:21:00.002-04:00

I spent the last, i don't know how many nights, at rick and lees garage. I get a lot of things done with these guys motivation. It is really awesome working with this crew.

Longs nights and loads of electronics...

Pondering hard and welding bars.....

Renownes I found

2009-10-16T18:51:00.003-04:00

http://shinyakimura.blogspot.com/

http://www.chabottengineering.com/menu.html

Shinya Kimura, formerly known as the founder of "ZERO" or the so-called "ZERO Style" motorcycles,has launched his own workshop called "chabott engineering" in the city of Azusa, California in 2006.

http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/index.html

Custom shop in COPENHAGEN DENMARK

Working the XS

2009-10-16T16:05:00.004-04:00

Winter is here and I'm cutting everything that is near.... My next project is under way with my old XS. I also have been practicing welding. I made a hard tail out of this XS. Its lowered about 3 inches, but it makes a lot of difference. I also lowered the front end a bunch too. Haven't decided what to do totally yet, but I think its coming to me...maybe in a dream.

O and if you lower anything, you have to hack the kickstand. Completely remade the stand, awesome, and relocated the spring.

I'm diggin up history

2009-10-13T19:16:00.004-04:00

Look at me and my Yamaha, ahhhh. We are so cutie together. And look at my mustache!

I have been keeping my XS 750 in the back of my mind since I put her away. I just think of things to do to it. And I'm not looking forward to getting back into this engine. We never really had a great relationship :(

Look at her sleeping...

Shaft!

When I have nothing to do I clean

2009-10-13T19:10:00.002-04:00

I lika da way you look...

Welding a tank just for fun

2009-10-12T12:35:00.001-04:00

I thought I might try this to check my skills

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Random message from the frig

2009-10-10T14:28:00.001-04:00

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Forget it. I'm going choppin!

2009-10-07T21:32:00.001-04:00

I went to look at my XS750 today and drew up some plans for the winter. I found my old honda trail 50 tank too. I plan on lowering it 3 inches in the back and a couple in the front, rat style. It's because of all my Harley friends:) We will see if the engine still runs later...
-- Bam! From My iPhone

Well lets take a look inside of her...

2009-10-06T17:01:00.002-04:00

Well back to the board with my R5. I have been doing a little research and have come to the conclusion that my left cylinder went lean some how. I have found no indication of a leak anywhere in the case, but who knows. I never did a leak down test. I i hear it is pretty important. Next time...

Here she is spilling her guts after a long night drinkin.

This is some of the damage the piston left behind after it blew up.

Baby got back

Welding is the best smell in the world

2009-10-06T16:57:00.003-04:00

The boys and I did a little welding in the cold. It almost smells better than a campfire...

2009-09-29T01:59:00.002-04:00

Suzuki T500 post classic racer

Awesome

Speer Motorcycles

Blastin holes is rock n roll Mile 294.4

2009-09-28T19:23:00.005-04:00

Like Lee said "it looked as if he slammed his brakes on and i blasted past him". Blasted a hole in the piston, and all the debris ate the piston up like a fat kid on cake. I'm going through the troubleshooting to find the problem but my attention span is getting shorter. Maybe I'll take a short little trip and come back in a couple months....

My suspicion is a leaning of the gas. Since the carbs are brand new and I doubt the jets that incorrect to make that much damage. I took a look around the piston and ports and noticed the right side (still intact) had a nice coat of gas on the piston, piston rod and ports. The left side did not have a lot, just gray soot. So it something clogged the transfer ports...lean mixture. But WFT clogged it, and it ran for 300 miles before this happen.

It also could be a detonation, or a high temp problem or a weak piston? But I don't think any of these problems would cause a hole like this???

What a rainy week... more time in the garage

2009-09-25T18:54:00.006-04:00

After a nice little trip to Bloomington and a break down... I believe I have found a solution. Increasing the resistance in the primary coil circuit lowers the current. Let me spit some mad high school electronics on ya! They kind of look like power coated twix bars.

I also have been hankerin to fix my oil leaks, left and right... On the left side all I needed to do is buy a new neutral cover. Thats the little white triangle shape. But on the right side the leak is as sneaky as a fuckin ninja. I have replaced or sealed all the holes and joints on the beast. The leak is slowing but not dissapearing. A little leak never killed anybody.

My dad and I share the same passion for motorcycles Purdue and beer...

Back to the Garage

2009-09-16T20:46:00.005-04:00

I didn't think I would me away from my bike for too long. I did some reading and investigating on misfires. It either air/fuel ratio, spark or compression. The other thing that I have changed recently was the new coil. After navigating the vast seas of the "inter web" i kind of figured it was spark related, either timing or the spark itself. I took some pictures of what my bad point looks like. Sever pitting and burning. See the white bust on the point edges. These guys are only 200 miles old. Something is wrong with this picture.

I believe it has to do with the current flowing through the point. I read a couple of places that says 4 amps is the limit. With my sick math skills, 12volts=current*(1.4ohms) with the new coils the current is 8.5 amps! With the old coils the current is more like 3 ohms. That is the suspect, some new point, maybe condenser and an added ballast resistor to chill the current down.

I welded some neat brackets for the new coils too. I need to either write NOS on them or paint them black...

2009-09-16T16:48:00.002-04:00

Chris, Lee and I went for a ride. We did not make any friends...

Life can suck sometimes...

2009-09-13T17:06:00.001-04:00

A lot of good things have been happening for me for the last couple of weeks. A lot of riding, seeing friends and family and da finances. A bunch of us headed down to Bloominton this weekend and it was an amazing ride down there thanks to Hutch's amazing back road navigation skills. My R5 was running great after upgrading the rec/reg and new car coils. No prblems on the way down and not a lot on the way into the camp site and skate ditch...

It kind of started with a little pop here and there. Just thought it was a small backfire. Nothing big. It started happing more and more. It pulled me over away from the pack a few times, but changing plugs only put me behind a few miles. The problem never dissapeared. I have tried different heat range plugs, checking for air leaks, timing and even wrong oil gas ratios. Nothing. I spent some time cleaning the points and checking timing. Timing is good but the points look a little ruff. I though new points were a little more reliable.

I could spend an extra day or two in btown, looking for points that could fit or spending a few hours looking over everything, twice. But for some reason I just want to sit down and look at anything else than this bike. Life always has it's ruff time were hardware stores are close on Sundays and parts are no were near you. There is always someone willing to tow you back home for $90.... O well that's life.

You take a break and start over.

Passions will never die.

People will always help.

As I sit here besides the btown skatepark and rest I already want to figure out what is wrong with my bike, find another way to get home and make things better. I'll never give up.

Nuts to Butts! (new phrase I picked up this weekend :) )

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Chasing the Voltage

2009-09-11T02:35:00.003-04:00

I have been a little slow to keep updating here. I have been face deep in the bike and critiquing everything. Its a little stressful but it is rewarding in the end.

I bought a new voltage regulator/rectifier to upgrade the old shitty system. When I was waiting for the part to come in I trimmed up the bike a bit and cut some wires down, hence the picture and the problem. I was doing to much at one and did not make the connecting that it was a simple wire cut and thought it was the reg/rec. weeks later and new coils I found the problem and plan on not making that mistake again...

I added a few minor things like leather grips from shoe laces and a 6-pack rack. Im going to weld some little holders for the new car coils I got from accel and I will be on the road for a skate jam/camping trip this weekend.

GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE

Mile 1.2

2009-08-23T11:29:00.003-04:00

This is a little old and late but now I'm a vidlogger...

Party Time!

2009-08-17T19:29:00.001-04:00

Thanks a ton for everyone that came out and everyone that showed there support else where. It was a very fun night and I think I'll be able to get to the east coast with the beer you guys drank. :)

-- Bam! From My iPhone

A little tester run

2009-08-01T23:53:00.001-04:00

I did a little run today half packed for camping. But thanks to rain we did not go. It was a great ride though. We went on a run to see all the things I'm going to miss dearly, friends and food. We stopped here and there to see some people and just hung out in each others garages, just what I love. The CB400 is running great, just fouling the #1 cyclinder plug a bunch, went though 4 plugs. O well I'll fix it soon.
-- Bam! From My iPhone

Rember the CB400?

2009-07-29T20:11:00.000-04:00

After spending some time with the R5 I came back to the Honda to get it back on the road. I had to replace the battery after draining it way to many times and play with the carbs too. It was running ok and my dad and I sat there and looked at it and figured out it was running with a big restriction, the tail pipe! After taking it off it ran so much better. I found an old xs400 tail pipe and welded it on. Now it runs better than ever.

-- Bam! From My iPhone

July 23, mile 30

2009-07-24T22:38:00.001-04:00

For the first time I can say I put some actual mileage on the R5. I'm out with Chris and Justin and honing to meet up with Rick, lee, and Fred. The best kind of ride is with your friends. That is what I will miss the most about Indy. But I know I will meet more people on the road to ride with, and that is what I'm looking forward to the most.

The runnings pretty good. With new carbs it better run great. Now i need to do some tunning so I have been checking spark plug colors and listen very closely to the bike. A wet and black plug means I am running to rich. The carbs came with bigger main jets then the original, so I'm going to switch to the original jets. I also was think I need the play with heat range of the spark plug. I have noticed a ping coming from the head, this should fix it, I hope. I just need to spend a full day tunning. But riding is more exciting.

-- Bam! From My iPhone

July 20, mile 0

2009-07-20T18:44:00.002-04:00

Lack of sleep and not having a job took the the last bit of energy I had today. I feel on the couch with a piece of ham in my hand. When I woke up I had a flash of "why didn't I think of that before".

I have been switching back to my CB400 whenever I need a break from 2 smokin. It as been leaking gas out the overflow and not running very well in general. For some reason today it hit me I had set the float levels wrong. WTF. I do not have the manual on hand and was just using what I last used on the gauge, way wrong. Set them and the bike idles. Fuckin right. Now I figured out the after playing with the bike and kicking and kicking and restarting and restarting the battery is down the shitter. After that it should be cool.

Almost in the same moment I realized why the R5's clutch had not engaged. The f'in push rod was backwards and the end was not seating in the clutch rotation thing. Now Im going to get the cable back from CRC and roll out on that beast! Every now and again you have to step back and forget about it for a clear look next time.

O yeah, did I tell you I got the R5 tip top. See you out on the road.

July 15th mile 0

2009-07-16T10:34:00.000-04:00

Come to find out I'm becomeing allergic to houses. There is something in homes when I am in them to long that makes me hate life. Maybe it's the restriction of walls or cats or dust but now all I want to do is be outside, on the road.

So let me step back from my eairler post of getting the R5 running. It took a lot to get to that stage. I just wanted to hear the sound of it starting and post about it here. It's getting done to the final details and it's going well. The 35 year old electical is working. I needed to replace both the regulator and rectifier but that's normal. And I normally replace major parts with a lot of wear, points condensors, pistons, bearings, seals and chain. This stuff is older than me, and my knees needed replaced. I'm trying not to get stranded somewhere for not long.

What is happiness? As I get closer to leaving all of this behind, close friends, family, familiarity, I'm finding what give me comfort. It's like being I. A long relationship, eventually it gives you comfort and less excitement. It's not a bad thing but want more. When someone is in something for to long they either stay in it or realize there is more beyond the bubble you live in. If you raise a mouse in a room with only black and white striped vertically, the mouse will not recognize horizontal stimulus. Weird example but it shows if you stay a place to long it tends to wear on you. I never liked letting a place get to me. I always liked being out of my element. To me happiness is change and growing.

I have a couple things left to do on the bike. The clutch does not engage so I need to shorten the cable a little so wire in it reaches to push rod. I'm going to get some scrap copper from my friend Josh and make headlight brackets. The battery was draining fast than I could get on the bike. I did some simple tests to find the drain:
-First see if the battery is charging. It should read 13-14 volts running 2000 rpm+
-It was not and that told me the charging system was not working
Sometimes anything can be a drain, a grounded load, headlight.... To find it unplug everything and keep an eye on battery voltage as you plug things back in. As soon as the voltage drops you found your problem. Mine was the regulator. On the older ones they can be adjusted. This one was shot. I'm in the process of finding a universal/cheap replacement. All it does is regulates the charging voltage. That's the only minor kind of major problem with the R5 now. O, and it's missing a left exhaust baffel so it's fuckin loud.

Now just waiting on fenders, shortening the clutch cable and safer brake and clutch levers. I'll see you on the road soon.
-- Bam! From My iPhone

3 kicks...

2009-07-13T22:17:00.001-04:00

3 kicks and the R5 is alive! I have had bad luck in the past with first trys, but so far everything is turning out awesome for this bike. I won't get hopes up yet but I'm super pumped.
-- Bam! From My iPhone

An titch for the open road

2009-07-10T15:46:00.001-04:00

Out enjoying the sun, getting ready for the open road.

-- Bam! From My iPhone

June 25, mile 0

2009-07-04T11:43:00.001-04:00

It happens every trip, the excitment hits when you first come to the decision to start trip planning. Soon everyone knows about the adventure. It's great! Everyone is really excited about it. But it happens every trip

I have continued to build the bike I am planning on riding but small problems keep arising. Extra work not expected, Bmv taking to long and missing parts. Because of bad planning, I start eating into trip money, plans start changing and the trip keeps getting pushed back. For a trip that is meant for me to get away a discover, it seems more like a job.

I love talking to people about my trip but my conceitedness is catching up to me. Now I'm explaining why I have not left yet or answering the question when will I leave constantly. But it does not get me down. I have just started talking less about it, keeping a general date and kept truckin!

It's a destinationless trip, why worry about when I leave? I'm resourcefull as hell, it's going to be awesome. Got to keep worry free, this is not suppost to be a vacation. A vacation implies I will be returning to the same job, the same life. I want to return different, but not to different. Just more of a person.

I think were people went wrong is when English interpreted the word vacation. Vactin in Latin meant freedom from occupation. Now vacation means a break from....whatever, life, work, friends, Indianapolis. It's just a break. I'm taking an....experiance. Who know where I'll return or when. As long as I keep my mind right this will be amazing.

Nick

-- Bam! From My iPhone

Easy as.... fill in blank with anything easy

2009-06-30T16:47:00.000-04:00

Walked out of the BMV with titles, registations and plates. Easier than I though. You really just have to do research and talk to the right people.

Dads new toy, and my plan B

2009-06-27T12:33:00.000-04:00

My Dad has been looking for a nice cruiser for his collection. He
wanted to stick to Yamaha because of his history with them and there
reliability, not to mention all the Allen head case bolts:) he found a
couple S80's but as soon as he heard one his mind changed about single
cylinders. I came across this bike at Cycle Re Cycle posted on their
board and the next day he bought it. 96 Virago 1100. Nice bike and
easy ride.

I can't stop taking pictures

2009-06-27T11:57:00.000-04:00

I just tucked in my babies from a good days work. They are tired and
I'm exhausted. Sleep my...f'n bad azz bikes:)

New progress on the titles....kind of. If you ever need any help on
BMV stuff I have become an expert. No one ever seems to know the right
way. I have read court papers call hundreds of places and even asked
for advice on craigslist! I seem to have find the right way to do it.
It just comes down to how much I want to spend and how long I want it
to take. Sweet

Only if I could make a headlight out of a hat...

2009-06-27T11:51:00.000-04:00

I have been making some slow progress on this guy. But it's a good
thing to slow down and catch yourself. Taking a step ban from a
project let's you think and look at the whole picture. It can save you
a lot of troubles in the end. It can also make you change your mind
and never settle so be careful.

I'm starting to get close and this is when I make a lot of mistakes. I
can't get to excited to finish when I need to pay close attention to
what I'm doing. Meditation Time..."hummmm"

New seat for sittin

2009-06-24T00:43:00.000-04:00

I reupholstered the seat and added some butt cushion.

Copper Turn Signals

2009-06-16T19:32:00.000-04:00

The old furnace cut for a signal cover looks really awrsome with the
copper.

Copper is the new flat black

2009-06-16T19:29:00.001-04:00

I just went and picked up my parts from Burgees on 19th and the monon.
I asked then to copper plate these bad boys. I guess I'm the first to
ever ask this, they normally chrome the shit out of everything else on
cars. A bunch of really cool black guys and plating=awesome. Thanks
guys.

The Title Wars from Hell...

2009-06-09T15:13:00.001-04:00

So the BMV is clueless...they do not seem to know much about much. Everything about legalities in any state is so diluted it makes it difficult for anyone to understand. After 4 trips to 4 different places, I still did not get a clear grasp on what to do to title salvaged motorcycles.

The BMVs website lists everything needed for just about anything you need from them. But its vage and wrong, as I found out at the BMV. But the lady at the counter had no idea exactly what I needed. New titles, title transfer, salvage title or lost title, they were all the same to her...she has as lot and confused at the website. She must have wrote the site.

So I discovered I needed a CofO, certificate of origin from the place I bought it....yeah right. It is a furniture/antique/buy my shit store. So I went back and of course they have no idea. All I know is what auction they bought it from. If somehow I get the auction place a CofO or auction papers I could take that back to the BMV to get a title.

Marsh Auction is the place and of course it just looks like an abandoned garage. The door is unlocked though. There is a lady and her dog sitting behind a shitty desk. She has no clue what I'm talking about..."Here, call the guy who owns the place" she says. And of course he keeps records as much as the Pope shits in the woods.

Next step is to have an officer fill out an affidavit to prove the VIN number correct. Then I have to file out and send in a form to the BMV to find title history, then send a letter to the previous owner. The last time those bikes were even plated was in 1985. Im fucked....

R5 Engine working....half way

2009-06-09T00:53:00.004-04:00

I have been doing a couple other things for this bike lately. Tear downs, modifications, brakes, finding a copper shop to plate some stuff....Super pumped to get those back.

I had to rebuild the whole bike, including the crank. It helps to know every in and out of a bike if you are going to take it on a trip. I bought this crank on eBay, its an RD250 but it still fits...so far. Everything went together pretty smooth, no broken bolts or stripped screws. I replaced all the external screws with allen heads. Why would a manufacture use screw heads to build an engine. Fuckers

An easy way to clean a lot of bolts is peg board...shine bitches!

The engine is half way on the road. Now just waiting for the heads to come back from Lincoln. Thanks again HVC.

Good Morning!!

2009-05-31T22:22:00.000-04:00

I little breakfast to get the day started! Barge!!! (for you Z)

A little R&R

2009-05-31T22:19:00.000-04:00

1300 miles, 11 truck stops, 9oo cups of coffee, 1 campground and
Chicago... It was a well needed pre-trip to sent my mind up for more.
Not a lot of problems, but Iowa suck at keeping things open. I came
across 3 different campsites and 2 skateparks that were either closed
or did not exist. I got kicked out of DesMoines skatepark because the
pool drain had been vandalized. I guess I should not of jumped the
fense to get it. O well...

Trip to Lincoln

2009-05-31T22:07:00.000-04:00

A lot of these things alone the way. Maybe I could put one on my bike...

Trip to Lincoln, NE

2009-05-31T10:21:00.000-04:00

I drove out to Lincoln this weekend. Why you may ask? To talk shop
with the best shop in the business! HVCCycle had a lot of great advice
about my R5, and a shit ton of parts. I also got to ride their
competition race RD 350! Made the 10 hour drive worth every second:)
Thanks guys

Finished R5 Engine

2009-05-25T18:47:00.001-04:00

Half way out the door to the open road!

Bike day at Rick's

2009-05-25T18:32:00.001-04:00

A awesome Monday building bikes at Rick...Rad fucking day
I put my R5 together to see if it spins, it f'n does. Thanks Courville!

HVCCycle....The best in the business

2009-05-19T13:48:00.004-04:00

"HVCCycle (Historic, Vintage, Competition) has been open since 2001 by Brad Obidowski. After discovering the difficulty to find parts for Yamaha RD's he found it was easier to reproduce parts himself. And if they don't have it, they will find it, or make it for you!" (Paraphrased from Motorcyclist Retro Winter 08/09 pg. 41)

They specialize in reproduction, performance parts and restoration services. They also have become the largest supplier of Yamaha RD parts in the U.S., so I know they can be trusted.

One of the hardest to find parts and use are pistons. And when you find pistons the cylinder really needs to be sized and truly bored to meet that individual piston. HVC knows this and supersedes the standard. Including this renovation, HVC also does the following....

HVCCycle

2-Stroke Restoration & Performance Specialist

OVERHAUL SERVICES

BRAKE CYLINDERS AND CALIPERS
FORKS
GAUGES
CARBURETORS
PETCOCKS
ENGINE BUILDING
CRANK OVERHAUL
WHEEL BUILDING
CYLINDER BORING
RESTORATION SERVICES
FULL RESTORATIONS
POWDER COATING
BLASTING
PAINTING
DECALS
CUSTOM PARTS
SEATS
AND MORE

R5 in the Spotlight

2009-05-15T17:45:00.004-04:00

From Motorcyclist Magazine...The guy at the bar looked dazed, staring out of the 1975 Yamaha RD350 ad with bitter embarrassment. The copywriter's headline served up a little back-handed solace to wash down with that last swallow of beer from the mug in his hand. "Don't feel bad. You're not the first 750 rider to get blown off by a Yamaha 350."

This "Little Engine that could", made a statement in the 70's. Fast as hell and looked good as hell. It rivaled most four-stroke bikes of that time.

A lot of racers and riders had a lot a great things to say about this bike. The Japanese really made racing and riders think twice or three times about challenging a R5...

I can't wait to leave...

2009-05-12T01:01:00.000-04:00

View 350 Trip in a larger map

Graduates

2009-05-10T18:19:00.000-04:00

Bord as hell and we want to get ill!!!