New Years Eve with family.

I spent time at home celebrating my daughters birthday with the family.
My Dad and I spent some time looking at 80 cubic inch Harley flatheads, and 1934 Ford pickups, and some of the stuff I have been working on.   Thats my idea of a great end to the year.

One like Dad used to ride!!!!!!!

こんにちは, あなたのバイクは最適です。

Hello Japan, 3 blog views today. Thanks for looking.


I hope my Japanese is correct. I meant to say Hello, your motorcycles are great.....

Shiny!!!!



 

 I spent some time this afternoon prepping parts.
 It always amazes me, how old parts can look so good with some work.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas...

Before and After



Fork assembly and brakes before.

 Every part is cleaned, inspected and rebuilt if needed. This bike showed only 15,000 miles on the odometer, but after 36 years it needs some attention.

This is the most time consuming process of a build. When I am finished with my builds they  look and run better than new.


After a good cleaning and polish. New gaitors and seals waiting to be installed.



Busy Shop



Final Inspection before delivery.



Assembly Beginning!!!!

Suzuki S32 Progress

Noah has been busy with a big project at school for the past few weeks,so his work on the Suzuki took a back seat, but tomorrow is presentation  day. He is ready to get back to his Suzuki and have it ready for spring. I think Noah has decided to go with red , instead of the black, and he saw a white seat with some red piping that he thought was cool.

The Honda CB400 Supersport tank and sidecovers went to paint today, oem red, a new gas cap and new decals should have them looking better than new. I think this will probably be Noahs first serious bike someday. He will probably be too big to ride the Suzuki for any length of time.

Ola Brasil

Sixteen page views yesterday from Brazil.

Another Cafe Racer Sold

I decided to list my 1974 Cafe Racer on Ebay today, and it sold in 3 hours 8 minutes and 2 seconds. That is  a personal best for selling something. I am always excited to sell a bike, but then again I wish I could keep them all. I guess I had better get busy and finish the one I am working on.

Important Parts Arrived

I have been waiting on some important parts and they arrived Friday.
New wiring harness, new gaitors for the forks, new spokes and plenty of other important stuff.
I am looking forward to starting final assembly of the latest build, as soon as some parts arrive from powder coating.

Old Photos and friends

I found an old photo of me and two of my closest friends, at LA county dragstrip,when we still lived in California. The rider is Brian Taylor, in the middle, I am the tall guy and John Eminhizer is on the other side of Brian.

I met Brian in 1984 on a ride to the time trials for the Indy 500. Brian has probably rode more miles than just about anyone I know. He has rode everything from a GS550ES,an original Katana, GSXRs,  a couple of Buells a full dress Harley as well as several other bikes.
I met John on a project in Carmel CA in 1990. John is the original iron butt. He rode a GSXR750 across the US about 4 or 5 times, and then did it several more times on a GSXR1000.  I think his personal best was Richmond IN to Flagstaff Arizona stopping only for fuel and a quick bite to eat. Slept a few hours and went on into Los Angeles. He called me when he got to Brians house and I couldn't believe he was already there, but Brian confirmed it.
I think we got that old GSXR, in the photo,into the low 9s, not bad for no budget and no idea what we were doing..

CB360T

Thanksgiving day another bike made it into the collection, a Honda CB360T. My nephew David, lost interest in it. He really does need a bigger bike, I think he is a little bigger than me, and I am 6'3".

I don't think I will be riding it too far, but it will be fun for short trips. Who knows maybe it would make a good vintage race bike with a little work. This could be the start of something good, I haven't been racing since 2002.

First motorcycle

My Dad always talked about riding his motorcycles in the late 40's and 50's. He rode just about everywhere, and when he talks about riding, I can tell he still enjoys the memories.

Dad fixed me up an old mini bike when I pretty young. We were trying to start it for the first time, but it wasn't cooperating. I kept asking Dad if it was getting spark, he would tell me yes and then I would ask again after another try. Well he must have got sick of me asking the same question, so he told me to hold the end of the wire. He pulled the rope. I didn't ask again. I can still see him laughing at the look on my face. I'm laughing just thinking about it.

It had a manual pull rope, no recoil. I would start it and tie the rope around the frame, pull on my purple Arthur Fulmer helmet, and ride it as hard as it would go.We lived on a dead end gravel road that was about 1 mile long, with some good curves and elevation changes, my own personal race track. I soon learned about road rash and how gravel becomes embedded in skin.

My Dads youngest brother always had motorcycles. One summer he bought a couple of Rupps. He let me ride them all of the time.I was moving up in the world. We would go out in the fields and woods near our house. I remember him talking me into doing some stupid stuff, and then laughing at me when I crashed.
After I rode the mini bikes for a while. I started begging for a bigger bike. I wanted a Kawasaki 100.
I never got the Kawasaki, I got something better.

Mom and Dad bought one of my Uncles used motorcycles he made them a good deal. It was a few years old but in great shape. It was a Yamaha 175 Enduro.

My first real motorcycle!!!!

Freshly painted frame with tank

Today was a busy day, but I managed to paint the frame for the next Cafe Racer. I couldn't resist setting the tank on the frame, just to see what it would look like.

I went with a GM gun metal grey, that should look great with the red I chose for the tank.

Tank and Frame

The frame for the next Cafe Racer has been sandblasted and primed. I can now get a good finished product.

After priming the frame I got back to the tank. After some final adjustments, I am ready to prep for priming and paint. The next time I post photos of the tank, it should be painted.

Engine tear down

After looking at the CB750 Cafe Racer frame closer, I decided to sandblast it clean.The paint that had been put over the stock paint was just too nasty and has to be completely removed.

While that is being done, it was time to tear down the engine so that it could be inspected, refinished and new gaskets installed.

I received my owners manual for the Montesa Cappra today. Jared from Southwest Montesa also found some original front and rear fenders and should be shipping them soon. Looks like this will be a busy winter at the shop.

CB750 Cafe Racer has resumed.

After several projects got in the way, I am back onto my next Cafe Racer.

I removed the center stand mounts, the air box tabs and then started cleaning the frame. I left the rear peg mounts, because I plan to have a seat for two up riding, with a custom tail section for solo riding. There have been several times I would have liked to take one of my kids or Tami my wife for a ride on a Cafe Racer, but I have never left the rear pegs.
This frame had been painted once before, and I it looked like the paint had been applied with a mop. After 3 hours of cleaning and sanding it is ready for primer. I plan to work on it all week and have a rolling chassis before Thanksgiving.
I also took advantage of the great weather this weekend and took a short ride, possibly the last warm ride of the year.

First page view from Russia

Today someone in Russian viewed my blog. I have been waiting for that to happen. I was a Russian Linguist in the Air Force, so I thought it was pretty cool.

Cnacubo

Progress on the Next Cafe Racer

I have made little progress on the next cafe racer, I have been sidelined by a few other projects and getting ready for the cold weather. I did finish fabrication of  a tank, which is always an important step  I have a little more work to do and it will be ready for some photos.
Several of the parts are ready to go to the powder coater, and a long list of needed parts is ready to be ordered.
I have had some time to make some drawings for this project and some others that I can start after finishing this Cafe Racer.
Another CB400F Supersport has found a new home in the warehouse also. I restored a blue one in 2009 for Mid Ohio vintage days, and sold it as soon as we arrived.
The CB400 Supersport has been one of my favorites bikes since the first time I saw one.
I hope to get the parts manual for the Montesa Cappra this week also. I need a front brake assembly, a kick starter, a front fender and bracket. The manual should shed light onto the exact pieces I am looking for.



Jared Bates from Southwest Montesa sent me some photos of a completed Cappra 250 MX. I can't wait to get mine together, hopefully I can take it to Mid Ohio Vintage Days in 2011.

Start em young

We believe in starting them young in our family. This is our granddaughter, Ashley and AJs little girl Annika.

Safety First!!!!!

Important Stuff, Family

We had a great week, our son Michael and  his wife Alison are visiting from Hollister CA.

Michael and Alison

It was a great time. We went ice skating, motorcycle riding, as well as a great dinner at Chez Nora  in a cool part of Covington KY after a day trip touring the Cincinnati OH area.

Noah tearing it up

Michael enjoying a little riding time at the house.

Rebecca is ready to go for a cruise.

Saturday was spent preparing for a party for our daughter Ashley and her husband AJ. We had about 30 guests for dinner and everyone had a good time.

This is probably the last big weekend before Thanksgiving, I think everybody had a good time.

Suzuki S32 Running and Ready

The Suzuki S32 started easily after a few electrical fixes, cleaning the carbs, changing oil and freshly mixed fuel.
My son Noah is helping on this one. He kicked it two times and it started, the look on his face was priceless, he plans on making it his first project. He is 10 years old and ready for his first build. He is going to tear it down, clean and prep the parts for the painter and chrome work.If anybody is acutally reading my blog and has any info on the S32, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Bob and Noah

Suzuki S32 Makes Podium

Actually it was a bike stand. Cleaned the carbs and tracked down some wiring issues. It is now getting spark to both cylinders. I like to get the barn finds running before we go too far, just so I will get an idea on the time and money needed  to finish the project.

I have a couple more things to check then I will try to start it tomorrow. If it runs we will tear it apart and start cleaning, painting and restoring.

1971 Montesa Cappra 250MX

I have just about filled out my winter project list. I picked up my first Montesa, I had been looking for a Bultaco Pursang, when I found a Montesa. Well at least it came from Spain..

I have been busy and havent had time to post photos, but I will try to catch up with some by the weekend.


If I actually get all of these done, it will be quite a different mix of bikes.
Next spring will probably get here too quick.

1. Another CB 750Cafe Racer
2. XS650 Bobber
3. Suzuki S32-2
4. Montesa 250MX

Suzuki S32

I wasn't looking for a Suzuki S32 but when I saw it, I had to have it.
I will definitely have this one ready for next spring.
I think it is best left stock.

Enough goofing off, I need to get busy on the next cafe racer.

Vintage Luggage



Mark needed some extra storage for his trip to Barber Vintage Days.
He figured it should look vintage, so he found this trunk and we made a luggage rack.
Mark had the skull and cross bones laying around so I welded it on for good measure.

I also wired in a power port for his cell phone and MP3 player, I know it is not vintage stuff.
I hid it in a surplus military pouch,so no one will ever know.

Look for him if you happen to make it to Barber this weekend.



CB750 engine

This is the engine for my next cafe' build. This is typical of what I start with.



This is a close up of a finished product.



Side Tracked by a KO

Progress on the next cafe racer was slowed this weekend by this CB750KO, I need to finish rebuilding the front end and get it back on the road before winter. I want to ride it a little bit then maybe do a complete restoration.
Another project, a XS 650 bobber can be seen just behind the Honda.

Mark Cash  my buddy for over 25 years, and I also made a custom luggage rack to mount a small steamer trunk on his Drifter for the weekend trek to Barber Vintage Days. It turned out pretty cool. He is going to paint it tomorrow and secure the trunk. Mark and I have been building stuff together since the early 80s,
I'll get a couple of pictures of it for the next post.

This was a cool find. New in the box Free Spirit 10 speed.
I think it might be a 1974. I assembled it and rode it around the warehouse.
I think the fenders and luggage rack make the bike.Its not visible in this photo but it has a gold detail strpe on the fenders and frame. My transport for future bike shows.

Post 4 That's how I rolled today. How about you?

I was leaving the shop and just couldn't pass up this photo op.

The frame for the next project is about ready for paint, and started disassemby of the engine today.

I will post some photos this weekend.

Post 3 The beginning of another Cafe Racer

Started another cafe bike this afternoon. Stripped a 1974 CB750 down to the engine and frame, all of the parts have been grouped and put in their bins. I will pull the engine tomorrow, clean the frame and cut all the extra tabs off.
I am going to leave the passenger pegs on this one, for riding two up.
The plan is to use a stock seat, pins and latch, and an another solo section with pins and latch that can be swapped easily.

Post 2

This is another CB750 I built for Mid Ohio Vintage Days 2010.

I plan to build one more CB750 Cafe Racer this year as well as a bobber based on an XS650.

Post 1

This is the first Cafe Racer Style bike that was built by Old School Cafe Racer. We had been buying a few old bikes, fixing them up, riding them for a while. We responded to an add in Craigslist for a Honda CB750 basket case, literally in about 10 laundry baskets. It was our first CB750 ever and we decided to make a Cafe Racer out of it.
I would have to say, I enjoy working on them as much as riding.

We are going to Barber Vintage Days in October. A couplo of my friends will ride and I will trailer a few items along with Tami my wife and our two youngest kids.I might let them ride in the truck part of the way. The motorcycle bug has bitten my kids also.

I will be starting another project next week, I will post photos and an account of the progress as much as possible.