Archive for the ‘two wheels and a motor’ Category

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How much will it cost to make my old motorcycle roadworthy?

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

It goes something like this…

I have a 19__ (insert moto brand), that I need to get on the road. How much will it cost?

Write that question a couple different ways and you will have what I am asked most often. Roadworthy to me and roadworthy to you, may be very distinct. Here are some essential things you need to consider when getting that old bike on the road. Most of this stuff is easy to accomplish at home with some patience, a good reference book or two, and asking questions in an online discussion group for the make and or model of your bike.

Tires – $150 to 300 – shop
You have two points of contact with the road. Make them count. Are the old ones in good shape, do they have tread, are they dry rotting? And, since they are your only two contacts with the road, don’t be a cheap ass.

Cables – $20 for each cable – DIY
They may work for now, get the new ones anyway and keep your old ones as spares in your tool kit. Did I mention you should get a tool kit?

Chain – $50 to 120 – DIY
Check the side to side stretch and make sure the rear wheel is adjusted so the chain has the proper amount of slack.

Brakes – $40 to 120 – DIY for some
Excluding disc brakes, drum brakes are not hard to do. Follow your manual or a Haynes guide. While your doing this check the bearings on your wheels. Most often modern sealed bearings are cheap and easy to install.

Oil/Fluids – $12 to 50 – DIY
Get that bike warm and drop that ancient oil. Does your bike have a gearbox? How about the oil in those forks?

Fuel Lines/Gas Filter – $10 to 20 – DIY
New gas line and an inline gas filter. Once you start running about on that old beast, there will be old gunk stirred up in that tank – use a filter.

And all this, still does not get into making the engine run reliably.

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Procrastinating with Google Books

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

When you get a chance you need to dig into google books, it is one awesome way to waste an afternoon.

I have been busy trying to get the online store up and running and my main method of procrastinating has been google books…

My main British bike support while I was starting was George Parsons in Lambertville, NJ. George was an awesome guy, I would show up for something little and end up spending the afternoon talking to him. This is one thing I found in the AMA magazine(just scroll up a little). George was an interesting character who always had a story, when i can dig some more info about him up I will definitely post it here.

Down the road from me was Stan Myers. Well, Stan did not like me showing up on a BSA or Triumph, but his son Carl was very cool and helped me out a lot. Stan used to race for Harley (and I believe Indian). Getting Stan to talk about his racing past was difficult, but the pics on the wall and the old Indian Scout that was stripped down to nothing gave you a glimpse (and Jack would fill you in with some details). The only links I could find in the American Motorcyclist were when he was racing BMWs. Possibly my favorite result is where his name is in close proximity to an Ariel ad. He did not like British bikes, but from what I remember he particularly disliked Ariels. Hopefully next year I will get to tag along with the Delaware Valley BMW club on their fall ride up to the Poconos and try to pull some history out of him.

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Looking back

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

scooters at the garage

A little over 21 years ago I bought my first bike, well bikes. For under 350$ I ended up with two Honda CL350s a leather jacket and a helmet. A few months later a 1979 Triumph Bonneville replaced those two.

A few years go by…

A quick change up to a BSA Royal Star (500 twin). I also pick up a BSA Hornet rotting away in someone’s shed and sell it for parts.

Year or two later, BSA = tuition for a semester.

Somewhere a Honda MB5 (50cc) showed up. Then one day I decided to buy a Vespa, and ended up with a GS160. Soon after comes the Ariel KH and the BSA Sunbeam.

Don’t forget the CB77, the V90 and the Primavera.

Oh, did I mention the B44 Victor Special?

Well, I still have the Ariel and the leather jacket. The B44 is going to be in the hands of a friend in a week or two.

Looking back, you start to realize what you want to be doing versus what you are doing.

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The Whimsy Coefficient

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

parson 5

People question my love of arcane and ancient motorcycles. To understand my obsession ask yourself what you think would be a more enjoyable afternoon. Strapping your self in a brand new 4000$ titanium bicycle dressed in spandex, or taking a jaunt dressed up all dapper on a three speed? If you pick the three speed, you know what I am talking about.

Sure, I could buy a new motorcycle. It would work, need little attention, and be reliable. If I did that, would it really be the same? Is it about hopping on two wheels and driving fast or getting there in style with a smile on your face and a sense of accomplishment.

My Wife’s Grandmother used to tell stories of driving their Model T around and having to stop and throw the floorboards in the ditch when they started melting their shoes. To me that sounds like a blast.

Where is the joy and excitement in ultra-reliable bikes? I rarely will take a bike if I actually want to get there anyway.

This is the Whimsy Coefficient.

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2 for 1

Sunday, September 10th, 2006

Lately I have had decent luck with bikes. Finding ones I want, having them actually running, and then the rally hit.

Well take any 39 year old bike out for more then 100 miles and something will happen. The first two days it was the belle of the ball (1, 2, 3, can’t find the others).

The ride on Sunday took it’s toll. Earlier the tail lamp running light went out, no biggy. Somehow during the day in the bulb one of the leads running to the filament melted and joined the lead for the brake lamp. This scenario drained my battery.

Time passed and I had not actually gotten on any of the bikes for almost the whole summer (I call that a mix of bad luck and being able to walk to work). Then I get a call from Larry. He would like to know if I could take a look at this BSA someone wanted to trade for a scooter. Well, as it turns out it is one I have always admired, a 1968 B44.

Good luck returns, I have the BSA and Larry’s customer has his scoot. We are all very happy. Now i am in the process of removing two bikes from the collection.

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