Saturday, December 17, 2011

Friday Night Assembly! This engine was a mess!  Basket case engines are always the worst! Always beat to hell
This is how it looked when I split the case!Nasty!

The new project 68 Kawasaki W-2
Jim hooked me up with a Fiberglass tank for the Honda!

Friday, November 25, 2011

71 Triumph Cafe Trans


Finally got time and the bearing I needed to get the trans back into the 71.  71-72 are not known as being the best Triumph produced.  There is a few reasons for this most have to do with the trans.  In 71 Triumph developed the 5 speed trans for the 650.  When doing this the 4 speed also got a major change too, the removal of the cam plate plunger.  Using a design from BSA, Triumph decided to place a piece of spring steel as the cam plunger.  Not very smart.  Not only is it a bitch to time, it becomes weak allowing the bike to pop out of gear.  In 73 it was changed back to the pre71 cam plunger.  The new O.I.F frame design, also came from BSA.  71-72 has a higher ride height which also was lowered in 73.   The good thing about 71-72 Triumphs is the price.  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Craig's Sportster hard tail


Craig's sportster! Finally grabbed some shots with it in mock up.  This frame was some work!  I had this guy working with me doing most of my fab and welding.  At first everything was going good.  We told Craig we would build a hard tail for his bike.  No problem Right! Well next thing I know dude is going off acting like a idiot and starts eating acid again.  Now mind you dude is 40 something years old.   Next thing you know he's blowing me off and disappearing.  Great! I've lined up this frame job plus others and all we're my friends.  So with working 40+ hours a week swinging the hammer, then coming home to wrench on  bikes.  I was getting worried.  I'm a man of my word I don't screw people over.  After hunting down this asshole I had it.  My friends wanted their frames! I flipped I told the dude never to show his face around here again in a few choice words.  Then I do what I do get shit done!  I worked day and night to get caught up which hmmm. 6 months or so later I feel like I'm still behind.   I think the frame turned out great though.  I love the look of the single hoop frames.

Honda Cafe

Started building this over the summer.  Its on hold right now until the Indian and Triumph chopper are done.  The tank is off a 74 550.  The stock Honda tank is so huge, making the bike so wide.  I had a scrap 550 laying around and with a little work to the tunnel it was on.  The petcock has to be  relocated.  The tail section is half of gas tank from a 70's Honda enduro.    It worked out rather well and save a hell of alot of time compared to making one from scratch.  Still lots of work to do.

Got Rubber

Decided on the Firestone Deluxe! When I got the Indian it had a Goodyear Grasshopper.  I really wanted to run one again but no ones repops them for a 18".  I can't figure out way such a cool tire.I'm happy with the Firestone!  Its just good to see it getting to this point!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Indian

Its getting close.  Been working on it as much as I can.  Would love to ride it before the snow.  Need rear tire,  most likely a Coker Firestone, Man, not cheap!

Finally got our tshirts!!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

60 mph chain whip

While attending A.M.I, Bill and me decided to head out to the Cabbage Patch.  Its  a bar in the cow fields outside Daytona.  On the way back I was doing about 60mph.  Luckily for the engine
I was off the gas, it didn't break my case.  It was unlucky for my back! It hurt!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

jay hodge

One thing I love is when my phone rings and its says Hodge.  Jay is a ruler!  He is one of the coolest mother fuckers I've ever met.   I haven't seen him in a long time.   I love the talks we have.  God I want to go surfing!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Saved from the scrapper!


One thing I love is saving a little piece of history from the scrap pile.  A neighbor up the road is a scrapper. Every time I see his truck leave, I watch to see what it comes back filled with.  Mostly junk but once in awhile theres a gem.  Sunday I grabbed these. Both bikes date from the 40's I believe.  The mens  I think is a Monarch and the female is a Elgin.  It still has the the badge.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

30 D Frame


So the weekend never ended! Sunday I sold my bike.  Which ruled it gave me cash to move forward on other projects.  On Monday Billy and Peter showed up to the house.  There both from England here buying  parts and bikes.  Two killer dudes.  Had a great time selling and  bullshitting with them.  Well I sold them enough to give me some extra cash.  Well when I woke up Tuesday I looked on craigslist and holy shit there was the D frame i was looking for.  I had talked to Jeff in the past but lost his contact info.  It was fate.  I call said I wanted it.  Just one problem.  He was in Canada and didn't want to cross the border.  Well  I don't have my pass port or a enhanced license, so how was I going to get across.  He told me of the ferry that goes across at Marine City.  He told me, I should be alright crossing there.  So I grabbed the partner in crime Ronny and we jammed toward the river.  So we get there get on the ferry and this dude starts telling us we're nuts trying to cross with no proper i.d.  Ronny face was showing he was worried.  I was doing it I didn't care. I needed this frame! So next thing you know where in Canada.  Ronny wouldn't get off the ferry but I did.   Canadian customs were very cool.  As I 'm doing the deal the ferry leaves with Ronny on it.  Well Ronny had to go threw U.S customs by himself, dude was a prick to Ronny.  Which is funny cause Ronny don't like talking to people with a badge.  He didn't know if i was being held in Canada and I had the keys to the truck.  Sure he was a little nervous but With in 15 minutes I was on the next ferry to the U.S with a frame in my arms.  It was the best frame I've seen and for the right price.  I'm geeked.  That was also the first time I've took a ride on a ferry too.  Good day

wauseon amca

Man what a weekend! Ron & I blasted down there early Friday morning with the truck jammed with parts and bikes. Total do or die mission.  Finished packing the truck at almost midnight Thursday night up at 5 am ready to go. Met so many great people, became a member of the AMCA.  Got invite from Peter to the Isle of Mann.  He lives by the bridge in the village.  A amazing section of the race.  The week was long I got very sunburnt on my legs.  My legs never see the sun.  Like a idiot I was running around so crazy that I didn't take any pictures.  Not very smart on my part.  Sold and traded lots of parts.  Was hoping to sell my Triumph there but she came home with me.  On Sunday got a call for Matt, he wanted it .  So  Sunday i sold my bike.  Over ten years we have been together.  Man I sleep with the bike every night for a long time.  Was out of space in garage so I would store her in my bed room.  Tuff to see her gone but cash rules!  One of the coolest things I scored down there was a sidecar step.  I didn't know what it was off of but I knew it was cool.  Almost anything sand cast is cool.  Well when I was running around Ronny grabbed it for $10 off dude.  So glad he did when I got home I research and found out what it was. 30's Brough Superior  side car step!

Thursday, June 30, 2011


ake jonsson

Ake Jonsson racing with Jim and Dick in 1969.  Think this was the first year he raced for Maico.  Jims the skinny guy in the yellow shirt.  Every one thought Jim was b.s.ing them about Ake staying with them . Well heres the proof.  Ake is a amazing rider.  Dick was racing for Husky at the time.  The Robinson sport cycle van rules.


Monday, June 27, 2011

andy's t-120

not how a crank should look