freelancethink

removing and installing the rocker arm assembly on a husqvarna sm 610

2012-02-16T02:11:00.000-08:00

This is the first of many videos I am making on how to wrench on a Husqvarna SM610. Feel free to voice any questions, comments or concerns you might have.

Variations on a theme:

Blood, sweat and fear
When to push
Husqvarna SM530RR

Check out the February 2012 issue of Friction Zone Magazine

2012-01-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

for my latest article on supermoto commuting. http://www.friction-zone.com/

best of 2012 Dakar

2012-01-17T23:20:00.000-08:00

Variations of a theme

How 2011 Dakar winner Marc Coma stays in shape

interesting angles aboard a Husqvarna SM530RR at ALS Supermoto Track

2012-01-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

Variations of a theme:

World's best supermoto track

Supermoto drifting

Friction Zone Magazine's first supermoto cover

Ducati 1199 Dyno

2012-01-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hot off the internet presses, here is a Ducati 1199 Panigale in action. The noise is so gentle its more reminiscent of a sewing machine on full tilt than a 195 horsepower V-twin.

Variations of a theme:

1955 Ducati 125 Grand Prix

Bevel Drive Ducati 350 cc Scrambler

Keira Knightley Ducati commercial for Chanel

How to make an Imola Ducati

2012-01-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

Variations of a theme:

Flat track more better

How to build a race motor

Kickstarting a vintage motorcycle

Icon's High Plains Drift 2.video

2012-01-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

Variations of a theme:

Ducati Multistrada versus Pikes Peak

Harley Davidsons bobbers worth owning

Supermoto possibilities

Graphic Art.Street Style.Highland Park

2012-01-10T01:28:00.000-08:00

Everything about this bike seems purposeful and genuine, even that puddle of gasoline that pools beneath the carburetor.

When builder and owner Dave Loredo isn't designing graphic art he is teaching himself how to weld and his first project was to turn this 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 into a hardtail cruiser.

The seat is made from four pieces of leather and a metal seat pan and supported by a spring.

The rear fender and its supports look good but it would have been nice to see a lip at the back of the fender to complement the lip on the seat.

The spring front end looks good and it's good to see one being used on something other than a 70s Harley Chopper.

Flowing lines running across the bike-Frank Lloyd Wright meets Shinya Kimura.

A comfortable seat is necessary item for a hard tail motorcycle.

Everything flows into everything else, even the utilitarian turn signals look natural.

The plastic sheathing looks like something out of Star Trek and the chrome air filters are a nice touch of taste.

Dave was able to make this bike with some help from El Diablo Motorcycles

Related Articles:

Shinya Kimura

San Fransisco Style

What it takes to be better

things that caught my attention yesterday

2011-12-30T01:10:00.000-08:00

common cents

2011-12-27T23:29:00.000-08:00

I had to stop the crankshaft from rotating to remove the flywheel from my Husqvarna SM610. The problem was that I lacked the tool needed to stop the crankshaft from rotating so I removed the right hand cover and jammed a penny between two gears. I first penny was destroyed but the second penny held on long enough to remove the flywheel. There's nothing common about sense.

january 2012 issue of friction zone magazine

2011-12-25T02:17:00.000-08:00

This is the January 2012 issue of Friction Zone Magazine using my cover photo and article. I want to thank Amy Holland, Brian Murray, Scott Churchill and PRS photography for making this issue possible.

Below is the photograph I wanted to use as the cover photo. Read the February 2012 issue for my follow up article on how to use a supermoto as an urban assault vehicle.

Variations of a theme:

Supermoto Possibilities

World's best supermoto track

tijuana tugboat. mexico street style

2011-12-21T21:24:00.000-08:00

Riding in a taxi through a sketchy part of Tijuana, I saw these motorcycles outside a KFC restaurant. I had never heard of a Honda CG 125 Cargo but they come with 12 hp, 7 foot pounds of torque and sell for $2000 USD brand new.

The bike even survives a crash pretty well, which means you can buy a used one for almost the same price as renting a scooter in Mexico.

the only thing

2011-12-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

I need right now is a Triumph Street Triple with enough gas to make it a Mexico Monday.

no vespa. street style. the mission district. san francisco

2011-12-19T01:01:00.000-08:00

Try putting this Yamaha RZ 350 LC back together drunk.

25 years later and the bumble bee colors are still sharp.

You can tell the Kenny Roberts edition by the autographed headlight fairing and prebent front brake lever.

It's a pretty busy instrument cluster and handlebar switches for a two stroke.

San Francisco model with an extra loud horn and a disc lock stock.

You can't not look tough in gold rims and rusted expansion chambers.

Other Yamahas:

RZ500

NonKenny Robert RZ350 LC

things i would like to see more of on modern motorcycles

2011-12-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

Powerful twin sport bikes with quality suspension.

Girder front ends and removable caps to access the valve adjuster.

Minimalist petcocks and rubber pads flanking the gas tank.

Kickstarters, bevel driven camshafts and crankcases with intricate castings.

Exposed valve springs and ignition bits.

Variations of a theme:

1951 Vincent Black Shadow

KTM RC8 1190

Amarok Racing with Hossack front end

a motorcycle with three swingarms

2011-12-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

The owner of this bike was sleeping in his van when I stopped by to talk about the swingarm that was attached to his front axle. Attaching a kawasaki swingarm to the front axle allows him to tow the BMW motorcycle behind his Volkswagon Bus.

Unlike convention telescopic forks, this Earles fork rises under braking and was designed primarily

for use with a sidecar.

All he has to do is unhook and lock and teather the trailer hitch in place.

The leftside mounted kickstart on the opposed twin BMW is pretty grand.

Variations of a theme:

fake BMW GS 800

supercharged BMW motorcycle

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10 or BMW S1000RR, who would you rather?

the only harley i ever wanted

2011-12-17T23:22:00.000-08:00

In 1960, Harley Davidson bought a 50% stake in Aermacchi Motorcycles. By 1974, Harley Davidson owned 100% of Aermacchi Motorcycles.

Tony Foale did some interesting work with putting four valve heads on Aeramacchi 350cc and leading link forks.

The 350cc seem to be a popular vintage road racing motorcycle alongside bevel-driven single cylinder Ducatis.

Variations of a theme:

Ducati 250 cc Mach 1

1955 Ducati 125 Gran Prix Dustbin

Bevel drive 350 Ducati Scrambler

argh 6, street style, wish i had one

2011-12-16T00:49:00.000-08:00

Too narrow of a focus, bad riding posture, squidish following, boring design and annoying sound.

Premium suspension, light weight, powerful, accessibility to parts, heart stopping brakes, 150 horsepower.

It's a constant battle and I would love to have one but it would probably be my third motorcycle. The case savers are a nice touch.

Previous street styles:

Highland Park Twin Cam Rat Rod

San Fran Two Smoke

2011-12-14T22:42:00.000-08:00

Thundering through the Columbia Gorge on a 2008 Harley Davidson Street Glide, I was bobbing and weaving through turns until the Sex Pistols’ “Holidays in the Sun” begins playing over the Harmon Kardon stereo. Then I decided to cruise.

At slower speeds my thoughts drifted to Harley Davidson’s blend of new and old technologies. Cradle frames matted with air-cooled, pushrod engines with two-valve, hemi-combustion chamber heads are nothing new. At the same time the Street Glide’s fly-by-wire throttle linked to sequential port fuel injection and monitored by a Delphi engine management system are revolutionary.

Up ahead, a series of chicanes erases moto-philosophy from my mind. Braided lines and 4-piston brakes slow the bike an appreciable amount before accelerating through the left hook corner; floorboards scratching the ground.

The Street Glide is a luxury model of Harley’s touring line and pulls like a Massy Ferguson tractor from off idle to the bike’s 5500-rpm rev limiter. Hard acceleration being crucial to maximize inadequate ground clearance.

Despite a 63.5-inch wheelbase, the Street Glide counter steers effortlessly as we tack back and forth like a sailboat in low wind while cartridge front suspension and an air rear shock soak up the rippled pavement. My 155-pound frame didn’t compress the suspension enough to establish a proper ride height and I was always riding on top of the bike’s 4+ inches of travel. Granted, the suspension is adjustable but I had little time to delve into personalizing the suspension and instead headed right for the desert.

A loitering deer necessitating pulling in the cable-actuated clutch and I was surprised by the ease of the clutch pull. The doe dives back in a thicket of junipers and I heal-toe shift back into sixth gear. A dash light illuminates signaling sixth gear and the 96-cubic inch (1584 c.c.) engine sings a sweet note into an intermittent breeze.

Conifer tress and wild sweet peas pixelate the hillside in hues of pink and snippets of Mount Adams are found in the distance. In the bright midday sun there is little glare on the gas gauge reading half full and I decide to break for gas before continuing through eastern Washington. After filling the six-gallon tank with premium gas some quick math reveals the bikes was averaging 35 mpg.

Plucking a canteen from the low-slung saddlebags, I sit on a curb and stare at the denim blue bike. Harley emblems are spaced inches apart from each other; clustered on the gas tank, mirrors, all six of the gauges and saddlebags. The bagger bike has a cropped/bat style windscreen, swept pipes and long saddlebags would be a pleasant sight to see in the garage every morning but at a 20+thousand dollar price tag, I’d be forced to get legitimate, gainful employment.

Tossing my canteen in the waterproof saddlebags, I fiddle with a trunk-style locking mechanism that requires some getting used to latch properly. The keyless ignition system requires that I only have the key on my person and I tap the started the bike snarls and shakes to life. Primary and secondary imbalances issues smooth out as I begin riding and regain the use my mirrors.

The Street Glide’s 92 ft. lbs. of torque mean these ponies want to run and when I look at the stereo face the reading 3:30, I remember an employee saying I was going to be charged if the bike was brought back after 5:00. Stomping on the rear brake I slow before U-turning and head back towards Paradise Harley.

It’s going to be close, as I have 90-minutes to go 90-miles and there will be traffic around Portland. Keeping the stereo screaming and the motor singing like a sewing machine on high, the Street Glide and I race against time in a desperate effort to avoid paying a small fee.

Crossing over the Hood River Bridge, the rear wheel chirps when traction is broken and regained atop the metal grading. I pay the 75-cent toll before using my right turn signal switch located on the right handgrip and heading west onto Interstate 84.

The sweating sun staring me in the face while I test the bike’s high speed maneuvering through traffic. Having spent too long in California, I pull out the lane-splitting card when traffic gets too viscous; the large, balanced bike is narrow enough to filter through beneath clotheslining mirrors and automotive fissures.

I am enamored with this bike; its big and nimble yet still feels comfortable after a 350+ mile ride. My only real concern is the price. Twenty large is a lot to spend on any bike but if you are in the market for a modern bagger than the Street Glide is the bike to ride. Brembo ABS brakes are available as a factory-installed option for $800, and while my model lacked the feature; anything that can make a 786-lbs. bike stop quicker is welcome.

Pulling into Paradise’s parking lot at 5:10, if I am going to be assessed a late fee then I’m taking the bike another day down California, if only to pay sales tax at some Mexican restaurant and keep on cruising to a Sex Pistols soundtrack.

This review was made possible thanks to the generous donation of Paradise Harley in Tigard, Oregon. They can be reached online at:

http://www.paradiseh-d.com/

If you liked this try these:

The ATM machine company that is now in the motorcycle industry-Hyosung GT650R review
Watts Up, Brammo Electric Motorcycle review

2008 FLHX Street Glide Sidebar:

smooth 6-speed transmission

sweet note that strikes a balance between being noticed and not too loud

bagger luggage was large and waterproof

Mirrors focused on little more than my gloves

Lack of ground clearance

Getting used to Harley’s turnsignals and locking mechanism on the saddlebags.

colors

Vivid Black, Black Cherry Pearl, Black Pearl, Deep Cobalt Pearl, Pacific Blue Denim (new), Pewter Denim (new)

chassis

Frame Mild steel, square-section backbone with twin downtubes

Swingarm Mild steel, rectangular tube sections, stamped junctions; MIG welded

Length 94.5 in. (2400.3 mm)

Overall Width 39.0 in. (990.6 mm)

Overall Height 52.2 in. (1325.9 mm)

Ground Clearance 4.7 in. (119.4 mm)

Rake (steering head) 26°

Fork Angle 29.3°

Trail 6.2 in. (157.5 mm)

Wheelbase 63.5 in. (1612.9 mm)

Wet weight: 786 lbs.

suspension

Front Forks 41.3 mm telescopic, cartridge-style damping

Rear Shocks Short, air-adjustable

Front Wheel 4.6 in. (116.8 mm)

Rear Wheel 2.0 in. (50.8 mm)

Wheels: Chrome, Profile Laced Aluminum Options

Front 16 in. x 3.0 in. (406.4 mm x 76.2 mm)

Rear 16 in. x 3.0 in. (406.4 mm x 76.2

Tires (Dunlop® Harley-Davidson Series, blackwall):

Front – D402F

Rear – D402

4-piston front and rear brakes

Engine

Engine Air-cooled, Twin Cam 96®

Displacement 96 cu. in. (1584 cc)

Engine Torque 92.6 ft. lbs. @ 3500 rpm (125.5 NM @ 3500 rpm)

Fuel Economy-EPA urban/highway test 32.5 urban/ 45.0 mpg highway

Compression Ratio 9.2:1

Valve Train Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters;

two valves per cylinder

Bore x Stroke 3.75 in. x 4.38 in. (95.18 mm x 111.13 mm)

Fuel System3 Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

Clutch 9-plate, wet

Transmission 6-speed Cruise DriveTM

Fuel Capacity 5.0 gal. (18.9 L)

Oil Capacity (with filter) 4.0 qts. (3.8 L)

Transmission Capacity 1.0 qts. (0.95 L)

Gauges-air temperature, fuel, speedometer, rpms, voltage and oil pressure

yamaha 450 super single. craigslist deal of the day

2011-11-20T23:22:00.001-08:00

This is probably about as much fun as you cold have on a road racing track. I liked this bike when it was for sale a week ago for $7500. There is probably a lot of money that went into this build but it'd be tough to spend $7000 on a track only bike.

450 Supersingle Race Bike - $7000 (Los Angeles) Date: 2011-11-20, 6:54PM PST Reply to: sale-r9cgg-2713094368@craigslist.org
One of a kinda 450 Supersingle race bike based off of a 2008 Yamaha YZ 450 F. I personally built and raced this bike for the past 3 years. Runs strong and is a complete blast to ride. Bellow are the specs; more is included in the sale including spares, tires, and a roller starter. Money is still owed on the bike, so when sold that will need to be settled with the bank. Nothing shady or weird but i just wanted to put that out there to anyone who is seriously interested in the bike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLt-iQ2bnrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08_N-vbuH3I&feature=related

Specs: Frame and Engine: 2008 Yamaha YZ 450 F w/ Graves race ignition. F
uel System: FCR-MX 39 x 1 w/ stage one DynoJet kit. BMC air filter
Front End: R6 forks w/ Ohlins internals. R6 tripple w/ YZ stem. Ohlins steering damper.
Rear End: YZ shock w/ Ohlins spring.
Front Brake: Galfer Wave rotor w/ Galfer pads. R6 caliper. Glafer braided line. R6 master w/ CRG lever.
Rear Brake: YZ disc, caliper and pads. R6 foot master.
Front Wheel: R6 Rear Wheel: Galespeed Type R
Bodywork: Roland Sands upper, lower and tail. Catalytic Composite tank cover. Zero Gravity wind screen. Roland Sands bracket.
Foot controls: Valtermoto rearsets mounted to GPTech setback plates.
Exhaust: Leo Vince
Chain: DID 520
Rear Sprocket: AFAM 39T
Front Sprocket: Renthal 15T
Other: Graves oil overflow system, Graves chainguide, Supermoto Engineering front/rear sliders. * Location: Los Angeles

supermoto possibilities. adams motorsport track

2011-11-17T16:42:00.001-08:00

how i spend 19 thousand dollars-zaeta motorcycles

2011-11-12T00:42:00.000-08:00

Powerlet heated gloves.product review

2011-11-11T12:37:00.001-08:00

The gas station cashier took one look at me as I came in from the freezing rain outside and exclaimed, “Oh my God, are you alright?” However, once she grasped my hands and felt their electrified warmth, her concern was dismissed with a careless "Never mind." Hardly fair in light of the fact that I had just ridden 150 miles in sub-freezing weather and was near hypothermic, but thanks to my Powerlet Proform heated gloves, my hands were warm. Good thing too, since my destination was still 90 miles away.

Hot gloves

Constructed of premium top grade cowhide, the gloves were noticeably supple and soft to the touch right out of the package. Their long list of features include: double-stitching throughout, breathable and water-resistant liners, a face shield squeegee sewn on the left index finger to wipe away rain, and special form-fitting construction to allow for full heat coverage. They also boast molded carbon fiber in the knuckle and wrist bone areas for added protection. Finally, the gauntlet-length gloves are held securely in place on the hands via both wrist and cuff straps.

Getting Connected

Powerlet is best known for their power ports for small vehicles, i.e. motorcycles and ATVs. These outlets provide riders with the ability to utilize small appliances such as cell phones and GPS units while riding without requiring that the rider dismantle the bike to access the battery every time they wish to plug or unplug the appliance. Unfortunately (especially in light of the gloves' $169 price tag), they do not come with one of the company's power outlets—that unit must be purchased separately. There are three outlets to choose from. The first consists of a harness ($8) that connects to the battery via two O-ring connectors. A Y cable ($15) connects the harness to the gloves. The system provides heat to the gloves but does not allow the user to increase or decrease the heat; effectively running the system on high all the time.

The second system, the one being reviewed, attaches to battery and runs into the Powerlet Performance Controller ($70). This allows users to control how much heat is being applied to the gloves and limits the draw of electricity on the bike. The third system is the same as above except the Powerlet Performance Controller plugs into BMW-specific outlets and retails for $80. Plugging directly into BMW-styled sockets, there is no need to attach the harness to the battery.

The Powerlet Performance Controller has a knob to control the flow of power and determine the heat output to the gloves. An L.E.D. blinks slowly when the unit is on and more rapidly when it is placed on "High". According to the Powerlet, each glove consumes 13 watts of power during operation.

Installing the unit requires accessing the battery, which will vary from bike to bike. On my 2001 Suzuki SV650, the whole process took 30 minutes, but most of that was spent fishing the cord through tight places as it traveled from the front to the back of the bike. And because of suspension modifications I had previously implemented, the battery was relocated towards the rear of the bike and the Performance Controller's cable would not reach all the way up to the triple tree where I had originally intended to mount the unit. As a result, I used a hook and loop (provided) to secure the unit to a forward part of the frame, and added a zip tie (not provided) for piece of mind. Conversely, the wires going from the gloves to the temperature control unit were too long, which required that the excess be tucked into the tankbag. Naturally, out of sight meant out of mind, so the predictable result was that I left the unit on more than once. Luckily, this situation never led to a dead battery but it certainly illustrates the importance of mounting the unit near the ignition switch or in another easily visible location.

Installation out of the way, we come to the question: do the ProForm gloves work? Answer? You bet. The gloves apply heat to the top of the fingers, which indirectly heat the palms. Small adjustments to the controller translated into noticeable differences in warmth as my hands acclimated to warmer temperatures. While riding in 20-degree weather, I was covered in multiple layers of thermals, sweaters, and scarves, all of which worked to varying degrees. However, my hands stayed warm thanks to Powerlet’s ProForm gloves.

Powerlet calls the gloves “water resistance.” During a 60-minute ride through a Seattle downpour, the gloves began to take on water and the Porelle liner became soaked. I had the unit on high, both to maintain hand movement as well as in a futile attempt to bake off the water. Although the gloves eventually became drenched, so did my best raingear. After a ride over a mountain pass that included snow tracers whizzing past my helmet, I arrived east of Seattle with a frozen body—but merely damp hands. This makes it hard to fault the gloves—especially since they are only advertised as being water resistant. Considering how small the gloves pack up (both take up less space than a single winter glove), waterproof covers might be a good idea for those who ride a lot in the wet.

In the end, are the Powerlet ProForm gloves worth their hefty price tag? I say, "Yes." I used to feel that being uncomfortable while riding in inclement weather was an important part of the overall motorcycling experience. But as I ride more and more, the simple conveniences of warm hands or proper raingear allow me to ride safer as I focus my attention on the road instead of the cold or wet. Knowing that at least your hands will be warm might make the difference between whether or not you go for that needed ride on a sub-40 degree day. Simply put, the Powerlet ProForm gloves were a godsend in 20-degree weather and they would make a great gift for the year-round rider or for someone who has a motorcycle and somewhere to be on Christmas.

Gloves range in sizes from Small to XXLarge and can be purchased from Powerlet’s website at www.powerletproducts.com/

Gloves $169

Battery and Y harnesses $23

Powerlet Performance Controller $70

BMW Powerlet Performance Controller $80

325 ccs and 35 horsies.venice.street style

2011-11-11T09:59:00.001-08:00

Honda produced over 300,000 of the single overhead cam Honda CB 350 from 1968 through 1973. The high-mount exhaust makes this a CL350 and is the only difference between the CB 350 and the CL350.

Dual drum brakes means that you're not stopping anytime soon. The inline fuel filter will keep the dual Keihin carburetors free of debris and the petcock design is wonderfully minimalist.

The sparkling mustard paint scheme remains the best color choice and it's getting rarer to see a 350 that isn't painted flat black and cafe'd out. Kudos to keeping it real stock

orange you glad you bought a ktm rc8 1190. riverside california. street style

2011-11-08T20:13:00.000-08:00