So I've had this bike since November 2011. I've done a fair amount of work already, so some of this will be catch up. I'll fill this in slowly and catch up to the present.
The story goes like this: Found in on craigslist down in Drain, OR. Yes, that's a real place, outside Roseburg. It would Barely start, but in fact started. The carbs were pissing gas all over the place, and it wouldn't stay running. Tank had a few dents, cracking dull, gas stained original paint...but man I love that patina on the old graphics and badges. This is what inspired the name "Dirty Gold".
Turning over, and spark was good enough for me though. $900, loaded it in a trailer and brought it home.
Here it is on day one in it's new driveway.
Got it home, and started assessing what was what. With my very limited knowledge I realized it needed short list of things right off the bat.
- Exhaust, farthest right pipe was cracked at the muffler and aluminum taped back on
- Seat. Wasn't original anyway, and badly sun bleached/dry rotted.
- Carb clean or rebuild
- Remove superfluous ugly bits..mirrors, turn signals, etc.
- Tires. terrible dry rot
- Get headlight working
Photo of the cracked exhaust
Just for grins I got new plugs, Uni filter to go in stock box, new battery, and an oil filter.
So I went a little nuts with it, and got it to here and realized I needed some professional help with carb work, stuck brake caliper, and exhaust installation.
I did lots of internet cruising and debated getting the MAC 4-1 black headers/exhaust. Then I found the stainless steel exhaust that Lossa sold, and he had one left so I jumped on it. I'm still confused as to the origin of these pipes, I've also yet to ask Lossa either. some say Chris @ MotoGPWerks, Carpy, whatever. Lossa was selling, I was impulse buying. In retrospect I'm in love with the pipes look and sound. I do believe I could have gotten them for less than $500 + shipping. Live and Learn.
After making all these rash decisions, I was on craigslist hunting CB parts and found Doomtown Motorworks here in Portland. Run by forum member Paulages. He was super helpful in scrapping my thoughts of pod filters, and encouraged retaining the stock box. Loaded the bike on a trailer (and in a few boxes), and dropped it off the have the exhaust installed, carbs ultrasonically cleaned, brake caliper un-stuck, and just a general tune-up (carb sync, etc.) Paul did the work, and limped it home. Ran great in the shop, and then crapped out twice on my ride 2 miles home. Lesson learned on always checking the petcock. Rookie move, that won't (probably will) happen again.
Here's what it looked like when I got it home.
That's all I've got for now. I'll put together my wish list of upgrades on this project in the next post, as well as document the 2 parts bikes I grabbed, along with 3 boxes of new/used parts.