Motorcycles

[Nader393]

I've never ridden a supermoto but they have always looked fun. Making the transition to sticking out the leg and purposely sliding the rear on pavement seems challenging to me

Sticking the leg out feels natural on slow tight turns, but sliding the rear on pavement is disconcerting. I race the 560 SMR on the big tracks in the Open Singles class, and I take the turns with a knee out like on a sportbike. Such a light bike on big hot racing slicks, the grip is tremendous, so no "backing it in." Though I've come close in hard braking zones for turn entry, since the front end dives so much (big squishy suspension) and the rear end gets really light.

 

[Duly Noted]

After 15 years riding a Vespa in NYC and having ZERO interest in motorbikes, I caught the biking bug big-time about a year ago. Now I'm gearing up to take 9 bikes (3 CB350's, 2 CB350f, a CB450, a CB650, a Nighthawk 450, a Nighthawk 650) with me when I relocate to Duras, France later this year, and open a vintage MC rental place in wine country. The budget only allowed for cheap and reliable Hondas to start with, I hope to add a couple of Brit bikes later as we grow.

 

[KamoteJoe]

Good luck on the new endeavor @Duly Noted ! I love the look of the old Honda CBs, that's quite a collection you have after just one year into the hobby. Unfortunately the one I purchased had a slew of problems (should've known by the cheap price grr) and I sold that to get a brand new Yamaha scrambler. If I'm ever up there I'm going to have to hit you up and take one those for a spin.

 

[Duly Noted]

Good luck on the new endeavor @Duly Noted ! I love the look of the old Honda CBs, that's quite a collection you have after just one year into the hobby. Unfortunately the one I purchased had a slew of problems (should've known by the cheap price grr) and I sold that to get a brand new Yamaha scrambler. If I'm ever up there I'm going to have to hit you up and take one those for a spin.

Thanks KJ, that would be great, bring some friends! I originally bought these bikes to flip, but Colin my business partner - the mechanically inclined one - came down with a brain tumour (he's on the mend now), then I quickly learned that NYC's $100+ an hour bike-shop rates were not compatible with turning a profit flipping bikes - hence the change of plan. Getting all the work done in Milford PA now, saves a bundle.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

After 15 years riding a Vespa in NYC and having ZERO interest in motorbikes, I caught the biking bug big-time about a year ago. Now I'm gearing up to take 9 bikes (3 CB350's, 2 CB350f, a CB450, a CB650, a Nighthawk 450, a Nighthawk 650) with me when I relocate to Duras, France later this year, and open a vintage MC rental place in wine country. The budget only allowed for cheap and reliable Hondas to start with, I hope to add a couple of Brit bikes later as we grow.

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Wow. I wish I had the balls or the vision to do this

 

[Nader393]

Took a pair of Ohlins shocks and made them fit my vintage race bike. Took a chance, took some doing. Had to swap out the upper mounting eye bushing, and fabricate a cleavis for the shock lower attachment point. None of this would have worked if I didn't already have a custom lengthened swingarm, otherwise the shocks would have been too long. Engine is out, BTW, for freshening.

Had to drill out the too-small bushing and swap in a larger diameter piece:

Machining up a set of lower shock clevisis out of 7075 aluminum (really good stuff):

Machining up some fine pitch coupler rod to attach the clevises to the shock rods. Made it out Gr. 5 titanium (even better stuff).

Installed:

 

[KamoteJoe]

The LA sunset looks great on my baby

 

[imatlas]

This is the spitting image of my first bike. A '72?

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[John Doe]

A '72 he says . . .

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

That's not nice @John Doe

@imatlas - If the plastic didn't clue you in, the fact that it has wavy disks front and rear let's you know this is a modern bike. Yamaha released it about 2 years ago.

 

[imatlas]

I’m talking about the green Honda from Duly Noted’s post, not the cheesy Yamaha.

 

[Bromley]

Just rode the MABDR from Tennessee to Vermont and it was thoroughly recommendable. Motorcycles are so fun. What a way to travel!

 

[gnatty8]

Just rode the MABDR from Tennessee to Vermont and it was thoroughly recommendable. Motorcycles are so fun. What a way to travel!
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Nice! You didn’t blog about it did you? Would love to learn more. Great photos!

 

[Bromley]

Nice! You didn’t blog about it did you? Would love to learn more. Great photos!

I didn't, but it went like this...

I had about 4 days available to ride from Tennessee to Vermont to visit family. I don't really like quick, straight routes, so I figured I'd follow the MABDR (a route from TN to Upstate NY on a mix of forest service "roads" and the backest of back roads). The people who created this route have created similar routes in other parts of the country as well. I believe they're best known for their Southern California route.

The MABDR passes through a lot of historic Civil War sites. It's probably a lot of fun to take your time and visit these places, but I only had 3 days to finish the 5-6 day ride, so I only saw the roads and gas stations.

My motorcycle is a small displacement dual sport-- a Yamaha WR250R. It's perfect for this kind of travel-- light, nimble, and reliable, but with enough power to get through stretches of highway. I wouldn't have been able to do this ride as quickly or easily on the kinds of bigger ADV bikes I encountered on the ride.

I rode from 8am to 8pm each day. The route goes through a part of the country that was much more remote than I really knew, so I was able to camp wherever I ended my day. My camping set up takes up very little space. It consists of a hammock, a light tarp, and a blanket. After the 5-minute set up, I would sit down each night and stare into the darkness until it was time to sleep. It was exhausting to push my personal speed boundaries for 13 hours each day, and so I slept very well.

I was surprised at how beautiful and grand the mountainous regions of Virginia were. Some areas had the feel of Montana. I had expected to enjoy the curvy mountain trails the most, but I ended up preferring the sections of the route that passed through the small towns. A lot in Amish country, as well.

If you're on the central East Coast, you're likely not far from this route. I'd highly recommend the ride.

 

[Nader393]

Assembling the refreshed Honda CL175 race bike head on my dining table. Needed new seats and guides. EDCO in Petaluma did a good job. Here are new vs. old racing valve springs from Les Barker at Vintage Advantage, and yummy Ti valve spring retainers I've had forever. Les machined them to fit the new valve springs.