Monday, June 17, 2013
A little history....
My first ever motorcycle experience was a Honda C70 stepthrough. I was 13 at the time and living with my Mum and Stepfather, my Sisters and Brothers in a farm house in Scone NSW. Up until then I had only ever ridden bicycles.. Once I got the hang of the semi auto Honda three speed gearbox I was hooked. I fell of, a lot! but my skills slowly improved no doubt helped along by the young boy on the property next to us, he the same age but growing up on the farm he was already an accomplished bike rider. His Dad bought him a new Honda XL100, and the first thing he did was cut the exhaust off at the footpeg, leaving only the header pipe basically. He used to ride over to our place by public roads, the local coppers never came out our way. He set off one night to come get me to go shooting and I set off from our place at the same time. He had a habit of riding at night with no lights on, so he could see any oncoming cars[or cops]and get off the road and hide until they went past. My bike wasn't registered either, and the lights were not working due to a shagged battery. We passed one another, in the pitch blackmissing one another by inches[no metric then!]avoiding what could easily haveended both our young lives. We agreed to keep it a secret, after finally meeting up at our agreed spot. He said he thought he passed something on the road, and I asked how fast he was going and he said he was flat out, lying on the tank in fourth gear. He was only a little guy so I reckon he was doing at least a 100 km/h. Scary stuff indeed!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Well, another chapter in my love of all things Motorcycling begins.
Having recently sold the VT250F to a good home, the hunt was on for something with more room for my fat arse....and space to stretch out a bit. After a very brief flirtation with a 1983 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere resurrection[aka the money pit]I realised I needed something with electric start[the Tenere was kick only]and with at least some weather protection[Tenere has none]and big enough to carry sufficient luggage for a two or three night away trip.
This was the Tenere, build number three for the Aussie market. Paid $600 for it, but soon discovered that bringing it up to roadworthy was going to cost a LOT of cash I simply don't have, so after spending nearly $1K on the front wheel rebuild alone i decided to cut my losses and find a new home for it. A member of the tenere.uk forum has bought everything I had, including many new parts. I have lost a considerable amount of money but I needed a motorcycle I could use in my work as a sub contract Courier, and the Tenere wasn't that bike!
Back to the Honda. It was sold ready for NSW rego, and had been in regular local use by the previous owner, who only sold it due to financial hardship. Must have been heartbreaking, only a bike enthusiast would understand. One look tells me it was looked after, bikes are not in this condition after 30 years in the Aussie outdoors unless they are cared for.
A little haggling on price was done, I collected it after a couple of weeks and took it for a roadworthy the same morning I picked it up. Air in tyres, fresh unleaded and away we go! The inspection station I used was about 10km from where I bought it, then another 15km or so back to my home. In NSW one is allowed to ride and unregistered bike to an Inspection point, to a repair facility for the purpose of obtaining a 'blue slip' then to the bike's normal garaging address. It gave a chance for a short freeway run to see how it went at 120km/h and I was very impressed.
Remember, this is a thirty year old motorcycle with 73,000km under it's wheels. It rode far better than I really expected, especially given the Brigestone BT45's fitted are well worn, with a 'flat spot' on the rear, and scalloping in the front[my TDM did this to it's front tyres too]and I have no doubt the already acceptable ride and handling will only improve with fresh rubber.
When I first got it home I set about giving it a proper once-over, the PO had only recently had it serviced with oil and filter, and new plugs. Chain and sprockets are also new, and it has been fitted with braided steel brake and clutch lines. The only issues with the bike is a faulty tacho, and a missing lock for the seat release. I can live without both of those, and keep an eye out for any that may become available in the future.
The previous two pix were taken after I gave the Honda a thorough clean, checking fasteners etc as I went. When I first bought it home the right sidecover was painted in rattle can black, obviously the original had been damaged beyond repair and the black one was from another bike. My brother Mick who followed me in his car when I first picked it up, and took it for it's rego inspection offered to repaint the crappy black sidecover to match the OEM one[thanks Mick!]and that is why there are no sidecovers fitted. The seat is off and being soaked in CT-18 detergent. Speaking of the seatcover, it is very old and faded though the base is fine. I've ordered a new reproduction cover in blue from the U.S. that should be here in a week or so. I'll have it fitted professionally when funds allow as I'm no upholsterer!
The eagle eyed readers may notice the battery is missing, it's a new one and is inside on the battery monitor so it will be ready for the Honda's maiden trip when it's registered.
Over the last week I've cleaned and scrubbed, polished the exhaust cans[it's LOUD!]and treated all the unpainted plastics with Vaseline petroleum jelly. Works a treat an doesn't run anywhere it shouldn't, like ArmorAll does.
The bike also came with an original Gearsack rack, that was very straight and only needed a clean with CT-18[love the stuff]and a soak with petroleum jelly to bring it up nearly good as new. I fitted the rack today with new stainless steel fasteners[already had a bag to suit]and repainted the centre and sidestands in gloss black epoxy enamel to prevent corrosion. I also fitted a strap on tank bag I already had, that fitted like a glove!
More to come later!
Back to the Honda. It was sold ready for NSW rego, and had been in regular local use by the previous owner, who only sold it due to financial hardship. Must have been heartbreaking, only a bike enthusiast would understand. One look tells me it was looked after, bikes are not in this condition after 30 years in the Aussie outdoors unless they are cared for.
A little haggling on price was done, I collected it after a couple of weeks and took it for a roadworthy the same morning I picked it up. Air in tyres, fresh unleaded and away we go! The inspection station I used was about 10km from where I bought it, then another 15km or so back to my home. In NSW one is allowed to ride and unregistered bike to an Inspection point, to a repair facility for the purpose of obtaining a 'blue slip' then to the bike's normal garaging address. It gave a chance for a short freeway run to see how it went at 120km/h and I was very impressed.
Remember, this is a thirty year old motorcycle with 73,000km under it's wheels. It rode far better than I really expected, especially given the Brigestone BT45's fitted are well worn, with a 'flat spot' on the rear, and scalloping in the front[my TDM did this to it's front tyres too]and I have no doubt the already acceptable ride and handling will only improve with fresh rubber.
When I first got it home I set about giving it a proper once-over, the PO had only recently had it serviced with oil and filter, and new plugs. Chain and sprockets are also new, and it has been fitted with braided steel brake and clutch lines. The only issues with the bike is a faulty tacho, and a missing lock for the seat release. I can live without both of those, and keep an eye out for any that may become available in the future.
The eagle eyed readers may notice the battery is missing, it's a new one and is inside on the battery monitor so it will be ready for the Honda's maiden trip when it's registered.
Over the last week I've cleaned and scrubbed, polished the exhaust cans[it's LOUD!]and treated all the unpainted plastics with Vaseline petroleum jelly. Works a treat an doesn't run anywhere it shouldn't, like ArmorAll does.
The bike also came with an original Gearsack rack, that was very straight and only needed a clean with CT-18[love the stuff]and a soak with petroleum jelly to bring it up nearly good as new. I fitted the rack today with new stainless steel fasteners[already had a bag to suit]and repainted the centre and sidestands in gloss black epoxy enamel to prevent corrosion. I also fitted a strap on tank bag I already had, that fitted like a glove!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)