The 49 Mile Ride #13

Lucky 13. That was this year's 49 Mile Ride put on by Pete and Kim Young. I have been trying desperately to get the pre-unit done each year and this was the year! I was originally going to trailer it over the bridge, but I finally just decided to ride across. I met up with some buddies for a morning coffee and then we rode over. I had no real issues except some clutch slipping at higher revs and a kickstand that dropped down. We pulled into the Boat Club by the Giants stadium and I began my rounds. Amazing how many people approached me about the bike, knowing how long I'd been working on it. I got a few kudos from some old timers. It felt great to finally be there on that bike.

My biggest issue of the day was the clutch cable slackening. It had happened before on a test ride, and this time it happened just as I was going over the top of Lombard St. I almost rammed into another rider. I had to shut off the bike and coast down that crazy twisty street. At the bottom I readjusted and had a bunch of riders stay back with me while I fixed it. Much karma! The only other problem was some black smoke coming out the right side. Not quite sure why I'm running rich on that side. At Twin Peaks the weather took a serious downturn for cold and windy. I decided not to press my luck any further and headed home with no issues. I rode with my buddy Doug on his Triumph chopper. At one point we just looked at each other and smiled big shit eating grins at each other. What a perfect moment. before heading over


Next 3 pictures courtesy of Pete at Occhio Lunggo






Next 3 pictures courtesy of Paul at The Vintagent


the only picture I took


I'm going to re-torque and adjust what's needed and move the seat a little. I'm going to take a little break from bikes and try to get back into art for a bit. Then onto finishing some other projects and then the next pre-unit!

When dreams become reality

At long, long last!

Pumpkins and Smores

Had some good family time this weekend.














Lori also figured out why Max calls pumpkins "Nani."

Don't get no simpler

Wired

Black Plate Motorbykes

I started a portfolio blog dedicated just to my motorcycles and work I've done for others.  It's a little rough around the corners and still needs fleshed out, but I think it's a good representation.

Black Plate Motorbykes

Grandpa Friend's Sketchbook

Mom sent me my Grandpa's sketchbook from 1934 when he was 13 years old. Here are a few selections. Both he and my Grandma Friend left this world in the 80's. My mom's mom left us when I was very young in the late 70's, and her dad died when she was young. Never really got to know any of them.

Pumpkin Mania!

We, and about every other couple we know with a kid, hit the pumpkin patch this weekend with Max. He absolutely loved it, especially petting the donkeys, lambs, and goats.

The Final Push

Had to tear the pre-unit down to do final push. It needs to be done in 17 days, preferably less, to make The 49 Mile Ride in San Francisco.
Final cloth wiring.
Finish welding exhaust mounts and brake mount.
Finish/polish all remaining bolts.
Make license plate bracket.

And an unexpected motor repair. I put the crank oil seal in, spring out, as per manual. Apparently the manual is wrong. Need to pull rotor to get to seal and replace, spring in. Gonna be a busy 2 weeks.

CB350f

I picked up some side work and did a complete tuneup, clutch, sump repair, and some fabrication for cb350f. Converted it from a nonrunning caferacer to a Cafe Tracker, as the kids are calling it.

Organization only cost me $40

Just picked this up, my tools are finally off the floor.

Puddle Maker

I suspected my timing was off due to my ghetto rig way of attaching the degree wheel. I borrowed a homemade toolmade off this drawing:
http://www.gabma.us/tools/DWA.pdf

My hunch was right, it was firing at about 34 degrees. I redid it at 37 degrees and it runs great. Loud as a banshee! I only have to do final wiring and a license plate bracket and I'm done!!





I don't have a GoPro so this is the best I could do.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Such a clever title. I hooked the Tympanium up to the alternator wires yesterday with some temporary wiring. The Typanium came with the bike all those years ago, but the stator is brand new and I replaced the rotor with a working used one since mine was hosed. I wasn't sure if anything was going to work, but my headlight lit RIGHT up! That's a relief. I can now do all the finish wiring, including a kill switch for the magneto so I don't have to use a wrench to ground it anymore.