Desert Monkeys

Lori and I and some friends hit the Arizona desert on some 2-stroke Yamaha 80's and had a blast. It was all I could do to keep my bike from bottoming out, even with a lift kit installed, so I was standing most of the time. My thighs are killing me! Now I REALLY want the '55 Triumph up and going AND a nice modern dirt bike to ride. I have visions of hitting the dirt parks on the weekend with Max soon. I need more dirt in my life.

Birthday Present

I had the CB's stock seat modified and re-upholstered in leather by the Haifley Bros in Phoenix. I wanted a cross between a Bates desert seat and a BSA hump seat. They hit it out of the park.


BR>
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Race

Merry Christmas!

Mac Max

Byron

Took a ride out to Byron with Douglas a couple weekends ago. I had been out there on the Triumpg and wanted to take a picture of this garage, but their was a gang of scary, fat, bald, white shirt wearing tough guys at the bar next door so I bailed. Only a horse tied up to the railing this time. As fun as a hard tail is, a swingarm sure feels good now and again.

Turkey Day Weekend

It's been a long 3 weeks and it's looking to be longer. Whatever bug attached itself to Max, he quickly destroyed with his strong immune system. I have not faired as well. I have been sick as a dog, a constantly evolving illness. Respiratory, coughing, sinus, lethargic... I'm a mess. I keep thinking I'm getting better only to get knocked down again. Poor Max has become a bit of a shut-in and tv junkie. I feel super guilty and try to get him out at least once a day before I want to pass out. I forget what feeling good feels like. But I still managed to get out and ride before the rain storms came on Friday. I've also got my computer back up and running with a new hard drive and operating system so I'm going through about 3 months of photos, and hoping to start updating a little more regularly again. *Achew* Eww, that's an interesting yellow...

Homemade Amal Carburetor Shorty Velocity Stacks With Screens: Take 2

Because it was apparently not metal, the window screen I cut out the first time started tearing so I came up with another brilliant idea and bought some cheap strainers. I think they came out MUCH better this time.

Hare & Hound Desert Racing 1967

Set aside 30 minutes of your life, you will love it.

Quicksilver

I had a Mercury spill in the garage due to a leaky carb sync. This stuff is pain to clean up. Took a paint brush, some gloves, carb board, ziploc bags, and some shaving cream to get most of it. What stinks most of all is when it happened it freaked me out and I jumped backwards hitting my CB750 gas tank off the shelf onto the floor, top first. My pristine 1976 tank now has some bad dents. I was just going to clear over it, now it needs painted. BUMMED!

The Cucurbita pepo Ruination By Pest and Spore

Our poor pumpkins didn't even survive a week thanks to rabid squirrels and mold. I tried my best to save one from a squirrel feast but it didn't make it.











that poor spider

F-Toys XS-1

Fairyland Halloween Spooktacular

Oakland's Fairyland put on their Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree Sunday and Max introduced the world to his pterodactyl costume. A whole afternoon of frantic excitedness, Elsa's, and healthy snacks.

Welcome to the House of Spooks!

Smith Family Pumpkin Patch

$10 a person got you full access to the whole place, a barn show (Jimbo Trout!), hayride, and a pumpkin! Best value in the Bay!C

Barons

Dick, who custom builds 1950's & 60's Triumph motorbikes - Londoner #44 from 1000Londoners on Vimeo.

Stay Put

Another one checked off the list. I've been running a temporary brake stay on the CB750 since I put the drum on. Max graced me with a good nap yesterday and I got the new stay made. I'm debating if I want to shave the fork legs or not, but I'm also still debating if I want to run some sort of fender. After I put some miles on it I'll make that decision. I do have to admit the front 4.5X19 tire makes the front end feel a bit heavy, something to get used to for some style points. The tread pattern is a little square, as well.






Slop that shit on, let the grinder smooth it out.

Bringing home 2 more strays

I've been helping Ted's widow sell his collection of bikes, the money going to his son. I made her a deal, and brought home 2 of his XS650s, a 1971 XS1B and his 1972 XS2. Also an additional drum front end and a bunch of parts to hopefully finish each bike. I actually sold him the 1972 a few years ago. He put some time into the XS2 and got it running and some nice new parts. My plan is to completely restore the XS2, as it is all there, but I think I will put the drum front end on, and paint it the Candy Gold color of the 1971, as I really like that color. The '71 I will probably make a nice custom tracker or scrambler. I've got enough projects to last a lifetime at this point. Just getting them on the road again excites me. I think Ted would be happy.

1972 XS2




The drum front end


Some dude rocking a gold XS1B in 1975




1971 XS1B, nice black pucks on the drum, nobody repops them.


Old Bates headlight, guess I'll keep it!


and the motor (and a bunch of other parts)

Torch it smooth

I had heard about using Meguiars Ultimate Black on a faded air box like on the CB750. I used it and it helped, but I had a lot of fading showing still. Plus after sanding 320-600 grit, it left a faded area. I decided to try to use a cigarette lighter to see if I could help refinish it. It worked but was slow. I then got more brazen and used a torch and it worked fantastic. You have to work fast but you can watch the surface change as it creates a slightly molten top layer. After it cools, use Meguiars again and it almost looks new. Depending on how crazy you are you can sand out all the scratches and then give it a like-new finish.