pics and progress

Yum. This was the best looking bowl out of them all.



I got the mangled remains of the mixture screw out with an "Easy Out" and stripped the carbs down the rest of the way. I have a new screw coming along with a few other bits. I'll be replacing all the soft screws with allen screws. I plan on doing a few more cleaning cycles then it will be time for reassembly.

dirty old bowls

Did some more in-depth testing. Cylinder 1 is dry, all four plugs have a good spark. So, I pulled the carb bank and the bowls are full of nasty brown filth. Time for an over haul. While I'm at it, I'm going to replace all the vacuum lines.

Taking a break for lunch, I'll post more details and pics later.

*update but no pics yet*

Before pulling the carbs, cylinder 1 was dry (no gas). With the bike running, pulling the plug wire for #1 caused no change. Pulled the carbs, all 4 had dirty bowls and all four had gas. Why wasn't #1 getting fuel?

Noticed the previous owner drilled out the brass plugs that cover the mixture screws (EPA regulation bs) and the mixture screw was seated all the way down. Unfortunately, when they drilled out #2, they also drilled off part of the head of the screw. Ugh.

I'm going to do a 2nd cleaning on the carbs and see if I can get that mixture screw backed out and replaced. Yay, carb work, my favorite!

To sum up yesterday:

1. Got the hoist system installed using eye-bolts and rafters.
2. Started the day with a running bike, ended it with more problems.
3. Got gas in my eyes.
4. Had a nice vapor headache by the time I was done.


Oh yeah, I quit smoking too.

shakedown run/breakdown run

Went out for a short ride yesterday. Only made it about 40 minutes north before I lost power and then the bike completely died. Thankfully, I found a nice running trail to pull onto. Cylinders 1 & 4 weren't firing, both pipes were much cooler than 2 & 3. I called for a pick up and in the mean time, decided to start trouble shooting while I waited.

Turns out, I didn't pack my plug wrench but it didn't really matter since the chance of both spark plugs failing at the same time is pretty low. This narrowed it down to the coils. After pulling the fairing (not a simple job, it has to taken apart), I pulled both coil packs and cleaned up the connections. I hit the start button and all four cylinders came to life.

Not ready to trust the bike yet, I had my "support team" follow me for a bit. Thankfully I trusted my gut because about 100 yards from the meeting point, cylinders 1 & 4 died again.

So... This week, I'll be pulling the coils, checking the resistance, replacing plugs (with the correct model, these are a bit hot) and also repairing a broken connection on my heated grips.

Things I learned:

1. I need a camera that is small enough to carry because I wish I would have taken pictures.

2. You can do a lot of work with the Cruz Outbacker.

3. Better to happen than on my way to Canada!

one step closer to a better shop

After a quick ride to the gas station this morning, I decided it was time to clean up the garage. I pulled tons of junk out and into the shed, including the CB750 and chappy frames. All misc bike parts are now out of the way. There is still plenty of organization and rearranging to be done.

The garage is now home to only garage related items. (Except for all the dry wall and french doors or our room remodel.)







Too bad I don't have a before picture.

Feels good to have plenty of room to work on the motorcycles.

Watch your six!

Stacy @ Bolty.net has a great post about keeping an eye on traffic behind you while stopped. If you haven't checked out her blog, you really should. You'll learn something.


I've been bumped in my car while at stop signs and red lights so, I've let myself become a bit paranoid about it. I also keep my bike in gear while stopped, just like keeping a round in the chamber. You think you can react fast enough but chances are you can't.

Now, to be honest, there are times when I'll stay in neutral if I can see no one is coming up behind me. I live in Indiana, we have plenty of long flat stretches of road, so this is pretty easy to do.

running in the rain

Just got back from my first ride of the year. The rain was pretty mild and all my gear held up well. The heated grips were great. I wore my new Rev'it! Zenith gloves instead of my waterproof insulated Cortech Scarabs. The Zenith gloves are great, with one exception. There is a tab of leather on the left palm that is bunched up. Hopefully that will break in and become a non-issue. My hands were a bit damp but warm.

My riding pants, AGV Telluride, are great. The only issue I have is the shell is not waterproof. Instead, they have a removable wp liner along with a quilted liner. So, my butt felt wet but wasn't. I'll end up spraying them with some TechTron or Scotchguard to fix that. Under my riding pants, I'm wearing SixSixOne Bomber shorts, which are mesh with soft padding in all the needed areas. They fit well and definitely will dampen a fall.

Still riding on my crappy tires but going slow and safe, it was no problem. Only had one wiggly moment on a tar snake/rain groove.

It was damn good to be out on two today. I woke up saying to myself, "I'm going to ride today, no matter how short.".

defeating traffic sensors!

Thanks to Gymi, I now know how to trip red light sensors. Normally, I give it a cycle and then make my move if it hasn't changed. Give it a shot, Unk says it works for him.




Taking a queue from other moto-bloggers, here's something fun for Friday:

Tom Waits cover of "I don't wanna grow up!"

progess

When we were stripping my bike down to do the heated grip kit, we found out my fuel valve doesn't shut off in the On position (should be vacuum activated). Which means, I didn't really have a reserve setting. I pulled the valve apart and found rotten gaskets and a missing piece. "That's yer problum rite there." With some replacement parts, it's functioning like normal.

I also modified the grip kit so now I have a plug connection between the switch and the harness. It will make future fairing removal much easier. So, with heated grips on the left fairing, I added a power outlet on the right to keep things balanced and have a spot to charge my phone and or ipod.

After mounting the tank, I fired up my bike for the first time this year. It was damn good sound. Now, I have to cut the fairing for the new additions and mount them. Still a lot left to do but we have time and the weather is getting better. It won't be long until riding season is upon us.

TA Moto Gear!

Check out the latest post from TA Moto. Now selling shirts!

Tax check come, tax check go...

Got our State return today. Within an hour, it's damn near gone. I have a butt-load of moto related gear coming in the mail. Tires, rain gear, gloves, gaskets, grips and other fun stuff. The Federal won't be as fun to spend but at least we're killing debt with it.

The tires I ordered are Kenda K671s. Like these:



I emailed a few people from ADVRider who have used them and they all had positive things to say. Plus, for $68 each, kinda hard to beat that deal. I don't expect to be dragging a knee through the twisties. I want reliable traction in all weather, good tread life and a good price.

I'm still gathering info for the ride to Cananda. I'd really like to stop someplace and camp in Michigan then do the same along Highway 17, north of the Soo. There are a few peninsulas along 17 that look like prime spots. From what I've read, as long as you aren't close to the road, on someone's yard or in the way of boat loading, you're fine. Socially accepted stealth camping. Spend $50-$100 a night for a hotel or $0 and wake up looking at the lake. I'll take the lake.

I've read horror stories about the black flies, so that's going to determine when I go. The Mrs goes back to school in August, I need to go before then so I won't have to worry about a dog sitter.




A day or two of that would do me well.

More drooling...

I sat on two of these today.




I think I'm gonna start playing the Idiot Tax (lottery).


The F800GS looks like a tall, wobbly pig but in reality, it feels very light and comfortable. The riding position is very natural to me, unlike the Kawasaki Versys and Suzuki DL650. Both felt too high and visually front/top heavy. I'll keep an eye on the BMW Demo Days this summer. I might have to take a GS out for a spin.

It really is torture to go into that dealership but I'm always glad to stop and look. By the time I can park one of those in the garage, there will be plenty on the used market.

changes...

You'll notice some links have disappeared from my sidebar. The 7plus8 blog is now strictly motorcycle content. There are two new links, TA Moto USA and TA Moto Blog.

The TA Moto site is a group effort by mutual motorcycle friends to provide a great resource for gear reviews, ride reports, tips/tricks and general motorcycle goodness. There is a blog and an official website. Over the next few months, we'll be posting more in-depth gear reviews and some ride reports on the site. We have some big plans for the site and the future. Track days, Bike Nights and the Indy Dealer Expo.

You'll see some of my motorcycle content repeated on there as well.

Today would be better if.....

Today would be better if I had a dirt bike. Something small like an XR100 would be perfect. Throw on the carhartt suit, some armor and hit the abandoned streets. I'll have to keep an eye out for one this year. Would be handy for the coming zombie apocalypse.

Moto Fun Day!

We took the CB970 in to be run on the Dyno. The results should be back
later this week. After the drop off, we ran to the Ducati Dealership and
drooled over some fine Italian motorcycles. They were all pretty damn snazzy.

We met the owner of the dealership and talked to him for quite some time. I never knew we had track day training classes locally. The price seems pretty fair too, $160 for a single day, $250 for two. That's something I'd definitely like to take part in. He also told us about a few bike nights around town that we had never heard of before. I think in the past, I've been too blind when viewing the motorcycling population in my town. While we are overpopulated with squids, "bikers" and cooler than you guys, we seem to have a hidden section of regular riders and touring guys.

I have to admit, I really do prefer the BMW, Triumph and Ducati dealerships over the others. It's different inside. No skulls, flames or bad metal music. Sit back, have a cup of coffee and watch a race on TV or wander around and drool over bikes. Sign up for ride days, try on gear you can't afford. It's cool.

I know they're selling that "vibe" and I'm a willing customer.



Out of all the Ducs I saw, nothing has dethroned the F800GS from the most wanted list:





The GS is also tied with F800ST



and of course the K75s




Crap... I'm think there's a pattern going on here.

Trip idea....

So we (the TA Moto group) are meeting this Friday to discuss some ride ideas for this year. One destination is Nova Scotia, an awesome trip but not one I can make due to funds and time off. I've never stepped foot onto America's hat (Canada), I've flown over on my way to Alaska. Yesterday, I looked for the quickest way to the land of maple syrup and hockey. Looks like I can run the super slab up to Sault Ste Marie and be there in two days if I take my time. From there I can rip up Trans-Canada Highway 17 to any small town I choose. Roughly 840 miles from Indy to Terrace Bay, Ontario.

(Just using Terrance Bay as a distance marker, I don't know anything about the town.)

I have no rough idea of when this could happen. I was thinking about leaving on a Thursday, stop somewhere in Michigan and enter Canada on Friday. Head for home on Sunday.

Anyone want to take a trip to Canada? Gymi?

Yamaha XJ600 SECA II : Kimpex Heated Grips

After the cold run to Nashville, I wanted to have heated grips installed before spring. I picked up the Kimpex heated grip kit from Aerostich. They still have the fragile ceramic resistor but for $29, it's a great deal for broke riders like myself.

The install is pretty straightforward if you want to take the chance to drain your battery if you forget to turn the grips off. So, I took advice from Canyon Chasers and used a distribution block and relay. By tapping the rear running light, this will turn the relay off when I shut the bike off. No worries about a dead battery. Canyon Chasers have a great wiring diagram. *EDIT* This diagram is not correct. The relay will work but it's not the right way to wire it. Here's a correct picture:





My install is slightly different since my switch (on-off-on)has an LED. From the distribution block, I ran a hot and ground to the switch and split the ground off for the switch and grips. The hot feed runs to both the LED and the grips. All of this is protected by a 20v inline fuse between the battery and the relay.

Parts list:

- Heated Grip Kit (duh)
- Black and Red wire (18ga)
- Inline fuse (20a)
- 12v automotive relay
- 8 pole distribution block
- 4 pole jumper (split in half)
- soldering supplies
- shrink tubing *
- zip ties (plastic and metal)
- trusty electrical tape
- spade connectors
- 3 position switch (on-off-on)

* sizes for wire and 1" or larger for left grip and o-rings

I've read a lot of people saying the clutch side stays colder due to the added insulation of the throttle sleeve. The fixes range from a few wraps of electrical tape, friction tape or shrink tubing. It took me a while to track down tubing larger enough to fit over the throttle sleeve but Fry's Electronics carries large sizes that will work. You can also cut small rings and use it to secure the elements.

So, remove your old grips (knife, air pressure, magic or whatever you prefer) and clean up the bars. Measure and cut a piece of shrink tubing for the left side and shrink it down from the control side out. Now, remove the backing to the element and wrap it around the bar. Take 3 of the shrink rings and slide them over the element and heat 'em up with a heat gun. Be careful not to melt the element. Easy, huh? Now do it again on the throttle side but make sure you have enough slack and flexibility to roll the throttle from closed to wide open.






Now that the grips are on, let's wire up the back end.

Crack open your manual and find the hot feed for the tail light. Make sure it's not the brake light or you'll only have heated grips when you hit the brakes. If you're positive you have the correct wire, cut it, strip it back and solder your relay feed together then shrink wrap it. The feed wire goes to terminal #86 on the relay.

So, the relay has power, now run a hot feed from the battery (with the inline fuse)to the relay (terminal #30). From pole #87, run a hot feed for the distribution block. Run a ground from the negative battery terminal for the distribution block. You should have one pole left on the relay, #85. This is your relay ground, run this to the negative side of the distribution block.

Take the 4 terminal jumper and split it into 2x 2 terminal jumpers. Unscrew the terminals and hook up your hot to one side and your negative. Use the jumper to connect two terminals, one one each side.


It will look something like this:

++|--
++|--

I don't have a picture of my block but it's really simple, just use common sense.



With your relay tapped into the negative side of the block, all of the poles should be used. Now, run a feed from the block for both hot and ground up to your switch location. Route your grip wires and connect one from each to the ground and one from each to the hot. It doesn't matter which one you use, as long as you have one from each grip going to the ground and the hot. The hot lead splits into two wires. One has the ceramic resistor, this is your High setting. Hook it up to the appropriate terminal on your switch. Hook the other up to the Low. Secure the resistor to your frame with the metal zip ties. Make sure nothing will come into contact with the resistor.

If your wiring is all either shrink wrapped or taped and your switch is hooked up, it's time to test them. Do it now, before you put the grips on. Start with the Low setting and then switch to High. Do you have toasty digits? If so, good job, now clean up the wiring mess, make sure all your connections are covered, mount your switch and put your grips on. If you don't, go back and check your work.






I haven't put my grips on yet, since I'm having trouble tracking down 135mm grips. I'll post that adventure when I can.


I apologize for any errors, I'm beat from working in the shop since it's about 20 degrees in there. If you notice something isn't right, let me know and I'll fix it. If you have questions, let me know. I'll gladly help out.

*update*

Thanks goes out to Stacy from Bolty.net for pointing out I had the terminals hooked up incorrectly. I corrected the post, now I just have to correct my wiring.

85- Ground
86- Power for the relay switch
87- Power Out
30- Power In

I was also too worn out to give credit where credit is due. Here are all of the sites that I used for tips, tricks and inspiration:

Canyon Chasers
Bolty.net
VFR Discussion
DucatiWiki
Weendoggy.com (for the relay diagram)

parts is parts

I got my 3 position rocker switch in the mail from Eastern Beaver in Japan. If I can pick up a set of grips (looking at Pro Grip 714s), a relay and distribution block, I can get my grips installed this weekend.

The laundry list of to-do items:

- install heated grips
- replace fork seals
- oil change, plugs and air filter
- new chain & guard
- replace gauge bulbs
- check valve clearance
- paint headers
- install mirrors
- new tires (Kenda K671)

That should get the scoot ready to roll out this spring. In addition to the maintenance, I'm trying to make budget friendly choices on luggage and a few other pieces of gear that I still need.

success!

The pup is doing well. She was pretty doped up last night and really laying on the hurt puppy routine.

Got the furnace working and it seems to be pushing air better than when we first moved in. It might have been dying for a while. The parts were cheap too, the motor was a very common model. When I walked into the parts store, there was another guy carrying a filthy blower motor. Must be that time of year!

injured pups and burnt out blowers

We took the dogs out to play along the river. It was tough keeping them away from the frozen edge of the river. Wiener broke through the ice twice, thankfully it was close to the shore but I had to climb down and help them find a way back up.

Once they were back up the bank and frolicking around we continued with our winter hike. Ruby was tearing up a hillside and started limping from her back right leg. As we called her back we saw fresh blood on the snow. Not a few little drops but bright splashes as she came back. It pooled under her leg from a good sized laceration. My ex-EMT brain jumped into action. I pulled of my t-shirt, wrapped her leg and put pressure on it. The bleeding slowed and we turned around to get back to the car. As the bandage loosened, I ripped the draw cord out of my wool hoodie and used it to secure the shirt.

Halfway to the car, she started favoring that leg pretty badly. Time for the fireman's carry, which only lasted about 50 ft until she got too wiggly. We made it my Grandparent's house and got the bleeding stopped with some improvised materials. We thought it was all under control until the bleeding started again. My shirt looked like evidence in a murder trial. The towels in the back seat looked terrible too.

Fast forward almost two hours and we left the emergency vet to drop off the other dog while puppers got her leg stitched up. Throw the blood stained junk in the washer..."what the hell is that weird smell?" my wife asked. Smells like burning dust, mothballs and hot electronics.

Shit.

The blower motor on the furnace has crapped the bed. Looks like I'm not going to work tomorrow. Time to learn my way around a HVAC unit. With a quick call to a friend that does Industrial HVAC (the kind you fly in on a cargo chopper) and he says if I can fix a washer, I can replace a blower motor. Pull the old one, buy a replacement and install it. We'll see how this goes.

I'm glad we have our wood stove!

Trip 3

 

 

 

Nashville, IN Trip 2

 

 

 

 

Nashvill, IN Cabin Trip

 

 

 

 

cookin' digits

Guess who ordered a set of grip heaters from Aerostich... this guy! Thanks to a fellow riding buddy, I have some goodies coming from the home of the RiderWearHouse.

I have a lot to do to the SECA before spring arrives:

- Heated Grips
- Fork Seals & Fluid
- Tires
- Mirrors
- Paint Header
- Oil Change
- Valve Adjustment
- Factory Rear Signals

We're gathering ideas for a spring ride. So far, we're thinking about Red River Gorge, Hendersonville TN and Point Pleasant WV. Any suggestions? Hell, we could spend a few days riding around southern Indiana and I'd be fine with it. Need to get down there and meet up with Unk too.

Stay warm! Everyday, we get closer to Spring.

164.2 miles

Funke and I went out yesterday, enjoying one of the last nice days. We headed south to Nashville for some grub then head home. Thankfully, I had my hand guards installed (thanks DirtCrashr!) Without them, I wouldn't have made it much farther than a few miles. We tore down I65 and eventually to 135 which has some great curves and hills. It was pretty common to see flowers and crosses in those turns. Kinda unnerves you a bit.

After a while we hit Nashville and filled up on coffee and grub. Eating at restaurants is always challenging and a bit nerve racking for me, thanks to my stupid gluten intolerance. The bean soup proved to be safe and tasty. With full bellies, we headed out to hop on 45 towards Unionville where we met up with Funke's riding buddy.

Another cuppa joe at an amazing house tucked back in the woods and we were back on the road. By now, it's pitch black and a bit frosty outside. I tough it out and we navigate the twisties in the dark. We hit massive traffic in Bloomington and finally get out on 37 North. Control..., we have a problem. The faster I go, the more pressure my right guard puts on the brake lever, causing my brake light to stay on. We thought we had fixed this before we left. Now, it's night and really freaking unsafe.

I pass Funke and he tails me into another gas station. I'm starting to get pissed. My hands are cold, I'm hungry again and just wanna get home and warm up by the wood stove. I pull out my tool kit and start pulling off the guards. I can either try to secure the guard another way (no can do, forgot to pack my zip ties) or I can pull the wires for the front brake switch. With wires pulled, now I have to try to mount the guard again. All the while, thinking, "where the hell are my zip ties?". Oh, they're in my old tool kit that was packed for my CB750. Generous use of white electrical tape does it's job and we're geared up and ready to go. Crap....just like Randy in "Christmas Story", I have to pee. No more delays, I'll ride it out and stop when my hands go numb.

We make the rest of the trip with only one pitstop. The cold and hunger start to take their toll on my newly forming skills. Thankfully, the ride is uneventful. Once we're off the super slab, I start to get some feeling back in my digits. Wind guards and insulated gloves just can't cut it when it's 20-some degrees outside w/o calculating speed into the mix. I'll be adding heated grips and hard hand guards before the bike comes out of winter storage.

I know we got some strange looks ripping up 37 in the cold and dark. With my hands frozen into hooks, lips cracked and dry...I am alive. Aware of my existence, aware of the eventual dirt nap and everything in between. What an amazing night.

scratch and sting

First off, the Mrs found my knife in her car! So, I added a a pocket clip from one of the box cutter knives. Works pretty well.




So, the Mrs and I were thinking about getting a few chickens next year but I'm also thinking about getting a hive instead. Eggs are pretty cheap, honey is not. I don't want to do both because it will pretty much just be me tending to whatever we get. The bees seem a bit less involved and I could be the crazy guy in the neighborhood with bees. I could also rock a bee-beard.

It's all just day dreaming right now. Before we start another project, I need to finally get our garden going.

it's sad day indeed...

When I was in 2nd grade, my Mom gave me a Victorinox Hiker. I've carried that knife off and on for the past 24 years. It lost it at work a few months ago and thankfully someone turned it in. Today, I wasn't so lucky.

I'm obviously pissed but now I'm faced with a choice. Do I buy another Swiss Army style knife or do I step into the world of multi-tools? I have a few multi-tools around but they live in our emergency bags, so I've never carried them on a regular basis. I'm hesitant to go with another knife (I'll buy a replacement but probably won't carry it) since they're easy to lose. Right now, I'm leaning towards the Gerber Octane. It's simple and it has pocket clip!

cookin' in the sun, freezin' at night

I've been riding to work the last couple of days. Chilly in the morning, 70 by midday! The main reason I've been riding (I'm ashamed to admit) is because the waterpump in my truck decided to start peeing coolant all over the place Tuesday afternoon. Limped it home and started wrenching that night. Had to call it a night when I could see my breath in the flashlight beam.

Rode the scoot to work Thursday. After work, I strapped a milk crate on the back to haul home my water pump and anti-freeze. This would have been fine but I'm also on-call for work. So, in addition to my cargo, I was also carrying my laptop, work tools, and all the liners/layers from my morning commute in my backpack. I felt like a cramped pack mule. The load shifted my riding position forward quite a bit and made the ride pretty crappy.

Got the pump swapped out last night and had to research how to bleed the stupid closed cooling system. What a messy job.

Taking the truck tomorrow, need to give it a good test run.

In addition to the waterpump, I ordered parts for my Remington 597 and realized I lost a set screw for the guide rods! Ugh... After a bit of shopping, I found the right size by trial and error. (Remington doesn't list the size/pitch.) If anyone needs set screws, I gotta ton!

frosty

I got my riding pants last night and decided to ride to work today. Put some layers on, threw my work clothes in my backpack and fired up the bike. I left about 30 minutes earlier than normal, so traffic was very light. The ride was good and all the gear kept me warm. The insulated gloves work ok but my hands still get chilly. So, I'm thinking about doing this instead of heated grips or electric gloves. Seems like a good alternative to the slip on grips.

The weather should be nice next week but due to work scheduling, commuting will be unlikely.

Riding to work...a good way to start the day.

crosswinds and taillights

Went out for a short ride last night. Battled some good crosswinds and interstate traffic. The SECA gets tossed around pretty good but it also recovers from blasts easily. I had to get into a full tuck at a few points to minimize the effects and it seemed to help.

The air was chilly but my hi-viz jacket (TourMaster Transition 2) did great. I'll have to post a pic of it but be warned it's bright enough to see from space. Which means, drivers still won't see me but they'll end up with a spot in their vision like when you stare at the sun. My boots should be here today (Joe Rocket Sonic WP) and my pants (AGV Telluride) will arrive some time in the future. I'll try to post a few reviews if I get the chance.

new bike!

I picked up my bike last night.

1993 Yamaha SECA II XJ600S
w/ Yoshimura 4 into 1 and Corbin Saddle

It's a big change from the 76 CB750 I was riding off and on last year. Very light (450lbs curb) and pretty thin. You had to really make the CB lean, this leans over very easily. I'm slowly building up my confidence again and my situational awareness. I screwed up a couple of turns, ended up taking them wide and slow. The skills will come with time and practice.

All in all, I really like the bike. I'm adjusting to the foot position, it's slightly farther back than "standard".





I extended the Battery Tender leads and routed through the back rest hole in the seat.

updates!

Well, still waiting on the dough but I set up some test rides today. On the schedule was the 1993 750 Honda Nighthawk and the 1993 Yamaha SECA II. After waiting for call backs to confirm, we decided to set out and try to blindly find the Ducati Dealership.

About 2 hours later (we eventually found the dealership) the owner of the Yamaha called so we swung the car around and headed north. Not 5 minutes after the guy called, the owner of the Nighthawk called. He apologized for taking so long to call me back. Before I called, two guys showed up and bought the 'hawk. "No worries, congrats on the sale." I told him.

Fast-forward 45 minutes, we arrive at the SECA II. Visually, it's in good shape for a 93. The front brakes are out due to pads (the owner says he ordered them, just hasn't got them yet)and the shifter linkage is a bit loose. No leaks, oil smelled fine, chain and sprockets are good. Some minor scratching on the engine cases from a drop or two. Nothing broken though. The engine wasn't completely cold but it started right up and ran well. No valve chatter, no smoke.

Throw on the gear and hop on for a test ride. Man, this bike is narrow and light compared to ye olde CB750 SOHC. The throttle has a sharper power curve too. Out tooling around trying to get comfy, the posture is good but I'm not used to the foot peg position. It rides, runs and shifts great. No flat spots or stumbling problems. After opening it up a bit, the smile begins. I like this bike.

I pull in and tell the guy I have a few more to look at and I'll call him in the middle of the week and see if he still has it. (Try to hide the excitement) So, we'll see if it's still for sale. Next comes the barter. He's asking $1400, down from the original price of $1700. I'm going to offer $1200 and go from there. I'd pay his asking price but that's not how this works.


We'll see how things turn out.

I reached the end of craigslist...

I'm completely burnt out on internet bike shopping.

The BMW has been sold, which is cool by me because I had a bad feeling about it's mystery history. There are still a few SECA IIs for sale and a couple of NightHawk 750s. Both are still on my list of bikes to test ride. That seems to be the only thing I like that is somewhat new and within my price range (under $1800). The rest is all sport bikes, cruisers and MX bikes.


No more posts until I start test rides. I think I've far exceeded my whining limit.

BMW update and others...

I spoke to the owner of the BMW. He's the third owner, it's from California. According to him, it runs well and shifts fine. The only issue is a flakey rear brake light switch. Might need to be adjusted or replaced. He said it's been down so there's some scrapes on the engine case. Unfortunately, he does not have any maintenance records, so that makes me a bit uneasy. The rear shaft had the u-joint replaced 500 miles ago. All in all, I'm not hopeful about it's condition. I'll still check it out and take it for swing.

There's also a 93 Honda Nighthawk 750 for a good price only about 30 minutes from me. I'll check that one out as well as the SECA II.

Tired of internet shopping and research...I want to get on with the test rides.

another one to consider...

Found this 88 BMW K75 on CraigsList for around $1500, has 86k miles (is there such a thing as high miles on a BMW?). I'm not normally a fan of BMW but this bike has my interest piqued. Still digging the GS700E and the SECA. Right now the GS is in 1st with the SECA and BMW tied for second.

hmmm

I found an 85 Suzuki GS700e for a good price. The more I read about the GS series bikes, the more I like 'em. Plus, the insurance is a lot less than bikes like the SECA II. It also helps that it's white, for some reason I like white bikes. You don't see many of them. I think it would be a perfect do it all bike, let's hope I think the same thing after a test ride (and that it's still for sale when the time comes).

Looks like this one:

I need your opinion....

So... It will take roughly $1200 to finish my CB750. I have a choice, I can either finish this bike all at once or put that cash towards a running bike. I'm leaning heavily towards the purchase of something different. So, I need your opinions on the few bikes I'm considering.

1. another CB750 (F series)
2. 2002+ Buell Blast
3. Yamaha SECA II
4. Any suggestions?

I love the 750s but I won't be selling mine, so I can piece it together slowly over time. I like the simplicity of the Blast plus it's weight and size are a plus. The SECA II seems to be a great "do everything" bike. Once it gets closer to purchase time, I'll do some shopping and test rides.

What do you think?

better vid

A quick vid of Funky starting the CB970.

Still running great and getting easier to start as everything breaks in. In other happy news, I believe we have the 77 CB750K sold, just waiting on funds. Of course, now that I'll have cash for a running engine, I can't find one. That's how it always is.

Rise of the CB970

New videos to come.

"Official Ride Report":

The bike runs like a dream. It takes a massive leg to kick start it. As Ken from CycleXchange says, "Welcome to the world of High Performance.". Tons of power all through the throttle range, no leaks, no stuttering, did I mention tons of power?

One bike resurrected, one to go.

IT'S ALIVE!

A short crappy video.





Better video and some new pics to come.