Motorcycles and Other Stuff

Details

2012-03-01T19:27:00.002-08:00

Pirelli MT16 for the Montesa

2012-02-29T18:47:00.002-08:00

I have been making a little bit of progress on the Montesa every night. The chain guard was bent and needed some hammer and dolly time. After some sanding and paint it turned out like new. Then I put the new Pirellis on the rims and made a few more adjustments.

After taking this picture, and looking at it for a while, I decided to install some Renthal bars and lay the chrome ones aside. Then I slipped on some new Scott grips. They are grey and white just like the Montesa.

I think it looks better.

Akront rim will ride again.

2012-02-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

I made a post about this wheel a while back. I had welded the holes that somebody had used to screw the tires on. I sanded it then polished it a bit and then decided to give up, I thought it was too rough to save .

Well, as usual I refused to give up. Yesterday I grabbed it off of the shelf, sanded and filed some places, sanded some more,and polished it. I polished the hub and brake assembly, re laced it with some stainless steel spokes and voila. It looks great. I probably have far more time and effort than this wheel would cost., but I think it is the original wheel and I wanted to keep it on the Montesa,
I have been working on the Montesa about 3 or 4 hours each night after finishing my regularly scheduled work day, and it is starting to pay off.

I can't believe I'm not done.

2012-02-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

The Montesa project just keeps going and going. A few days ago I found out the front axle I had, wasn't the right one, so a new one has now been made and installed. That was after I swapped out the old fork tubes for the NOS tubes I bought a few months ago. Then the sprocket, the sprocket that is laying on the stand had to be drilled full of holes to match the original piece.I mocked up the fender and bracket and made a few different size spacers, so the bracket will clear the frame. I think I have the correct size now installed. After I did all of that I stood back and wondered how much damage I will do the first time I crash. Maybe I should buy an old CR250 and keep the Montesa at the shop.

The Showroom will be open soon.

2012-02-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

I spent a few hours on the retail area at the shop this week. I have to finish the main logo that will go behind the counter, and a couple more things, but it is just about complete.

Planning My Escape

2012-02-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

It was raining, dark and 40 degrees last night. I was at the shop and decided to go for a ride. First ride of 2012!!!!

Old School Cafe Racer is on the door finally.

2012-02-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

I figured it was time to put a sign on the door. I wanted a logo, so I started sketching and came up with this one. It is now the official trademark of Old School Cafe Racer. I will be using it on some shirts and garage jackets too.

Amal fabricado en Espana

2012-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

This was the carb for my Montesa 63M, it has had a pretty rough life, but it was all there.

This is the after, it shows some wear but I like how it looks.

Super Bowl in Indy

2012-02-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

We had a good time in Indy tonight. Looking forward to a great game.

Together Again

2012-01-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

This might take a while in the cleaning tank.

I need to press a couple of new bearings into the cases and the Montesa engine will be together again.
Maybe someday I will actually finish this project. I am building this one for myself, so I wasn't in a big hurry, but I don't think I can wait much longer.

Stay Tuned for More

2012-01-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

I have been busy preparing for the next few months. I have been working on a logo and a retail space. I have wanted to do the retail area for sometime but just haven't made it happen. I hope to have it underway soon. I have a few parts out to paint and a few others in the works. So stay tuned, I will be posting plenty of photos soon.

Did I mention my first love was a midget?

2012-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

Now that is b-e-a-u-tiful.

I keep my feathers numbered just in case of such an emergency.

2012-01-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

This engine has been in pieces for a while. I'm glad I tagged everything, it makes it much easier.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Last year was a good year. I took a couple of good rides and finished a few projects. I made 106 posts to this blog. I had hoped to average 2 per week and just barely made it. I hope I can make as many in 2012 and have better photos of Motorcylces and Other stuff.

Thanks for looking
Bob J.

1985 Indy Mile

2011-12-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

When I saw this at the Barber Museum it brought back some good memories.and a few sad ones. In 1985, Brian Taylor and I rode to Indy to see the Indy mile. It would be the last ride before Brian left for the Navy.We arrived early, about 8 am, and we were the only ones sitting in the grandstands, when a security guard told us to get out of the stands and back to the pits. We didn't argue, we went to the pit area. Since I was riding a Honda we went to the team Honda tent, where they were setting up for Ricky Graham and Bubba Shobert, we started talking to the mechanics and asking some questions. They told us to grab a couple of chairs and we ended up spending the whole day there.

A few years later I was in the Air Force stationed in Monterey CA. During the USGP races they would ask for volunteers from the Air Force to help at the track. Brian was in the Navy stationed at Long Beach so he came up for the race and a couple of my friends from Indiana came out also. We had a great day, we were allowed full access to the pits and just about everywhere else. We were hoping for a good finish for Bubba that day and had checked out his bike before the race. The race went pretty good, I don't remember where he finished but I do remember the crash on the cool down lap.
A few more years passed and I stayed in Monterey after leaving the Air Force, I was working on a project in Salinas and ate lunch at a little grocery store/deli on River Road . They had a picture of Ricky Graham on the wall and a guy working there told me Ricky stopped in from time to time and that he had gotten his career back on track. A few weeks later I stopped in and he told me about the fire.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shop, not a creature was stirring.........

Cafe Racer Under Construction.

2011-12-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

Looks good from behind.

New gas cap. I have been wanting to do the flush cap on a cafe racer.

I have the basic design done,now I need to make the oil tank and the under seat pan for the battery, etc.

Mark is also working on one of his creations and I will post a few photos of it once it starts taking shape.

Cafe Racer Frame

2011-12-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

I finished up the engine and now it's time to start on the frame. I will be making several custom parts on this build, so I started making some patterns and doing some measuring of parts today.

XS650 Finds A New Home

2011-12-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

It needed a new home, so I took it back to the shop. As much as I like the Honda CB750s, I need to build something different. I think the XS650 is a great looking motor. I am looking forward to the next 3 months and working on some of my personal projects.

Fresh CB750 Engine

2011-12-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

I usually build the engine last, but I wanted to get this one done right away.

Montesa On Again

2011-12-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

I was discussing a couple of upcoming projects today, and decided to finish the Montesa before starting the XS650 project. As usual a CB750 cafe racer is being built as well.

Top tube is the original, bottom NOS.

Cafe Racers Going and Coming Soon

2011-12-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today was a busy day for cafe racers. The red cafe racer was picked up and on its way to Arizona, and the next cafe racer engine is being reassembled.

This was my favorite one to date. Hated to let it go.

Blasted Parts

2011-12-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

Just finished bead blasting some parts. Getting ready to buff and repaint.

I checked the cylinders and they are as good as they get. Then I checked the head, these cb750s are known for weeping a little bit of oil, even when they were new. It was a bit out of tolerance, so a little was taken off and now it is perfect. The valves pulled 100% and now all it needs is new valve seals.

The surface on this head is better than factory original, thanks to better machining equipment. I think I will put this finish on all future heads even if it is within tolerance.

Next Cafe Racer Engine

2011-12-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

Pile O Parts ready for cleaning and inspection.

This engine has so few miles on it, splitting the cases would probably be a waste of time.

I will replace all of the gaskets and seals and some fresh paint and it should be just fine.

Honda RC-E

2011-12-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

I know this is an electric bike, and the sound is as much as the visual part of a motorcycle, but since the first time I saw this, I thought it looked great. Besides I didn't have any good photos of my projects to share today.