Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home

[Restoration Fan]

rb,
Great story!  Thanks for sharing that.

Ron

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

rb,
Great story!  Thanks for sharing that.

Ron

Indeed! I wish mine was as understanding.

[Restoration Fan]

Oh come on, Don.  You live the rock star lifestyle.  The only one who might have it better is your dog. 

Ron

[Stev-o]

rb,
Great story!  Thanks for sharing that.

Ron

Indeed! I wish mine was as understanding.

+1..well written story, rb. My story is similar to yours, got out of bikes during the early marriage years and missed it (boating filled the void). Then when I wanted to get back into it, the wife was against it for safety reasons.  Well, we know who one out on that one!

[rb550four]

StevO ,
  When it comes to this kinda stuff, it's just better that we get to do it. We all resent the ones that tell us that we can't do what we love. Even if they think it's in our best interest or  because it makes them nervous. We're only on this earth for such a short time ,we have to do things we love, just to get even with all the stuff we don't like to do. It validates our existence .
   In my case, I'm not off somewhere else doing who knows what with a bunch of stray cats. I'm in the garage putting together the next bike, going for an occasional ride when I can. I'm in earshot of her beckoning call, what could be better than that? Right?
    I love vintage Hondas (and this has always been a good selling point at my house) and not Harleys. If I did , the cost of my collection would have left us in the poor house ,dressed in black leather chaps with no a$$es, Boots with buckles so big a Pilgrim wouldn't where them, and a dirty bandanna collection that would stretch a closeline down to my neighbor's house. Of course all the antique furnishings in the house would be traded off for anything that is black and orange with HD on it....Oh the HD bar stools , the giant black wallet with 2lbs of chain  cause it don't fit in your pockets, the empty HD oil cans on the top of the refrigerator as a memento from the last oil change, and the overweight, haven't seen a bar of soap in a week kind of new friends that come over any time of the night to drink all your beer and piss on the bathroom floor.  Yeah baby, it could be that kind of life. But it's not..... because I like Honda ,and you meet the nicest people on a Honda.
   There is no pirate clown persona to live up to here,  we still lead a normal unassuming life  the way we always have . I know  I'm happier with bikes then I was without them. And she can still go to the antique shows with her friends any time she likes. It's all good isn't it?.

[Stev-o]

Agreed!

[rb550four]

  So , we 're expecting our first real taste of winter to come blowing in tonight. It's hard to believe considering it's 63 degrees now. Took the day off and took my favorite 650 out for it's last ride this season...it was just the right thing to do. On the way out I spied  my fave 500 looking all sad that it didn't get to go out too ( they seem to act like dogs sometimes), so I gave it a little rubbin' behind the headlight ears and stroked the seat a couple times, before I locked the door told it "I don't want to find any oil on the floor when I get back. Good girls."
   My wife thinks it strange to feel connected to a machine, I don't know ,maybe. But I'd wager there are a few of us that have a  connection and do similar things. Yes?

[Stev-o]

   My wife thinks it strange to feel connected to a machine, I don't know ,maybe. But I'd wager there are a few of us that have a  connection and do similar things. Yes?

If you're a betting man, you would win, rb.  Wives just dont get it.

[rb550four]

 It's snowing and the bikes are put up. Nothing to do and I just found this.

Even when things were simpler. Who wouldn't want to be a tester?

[RAFster122s]

The guy who took a spill going through the water might have thought about not being one when recovering from that spill.

Wonder what the lives of those motors were?  Recall hearing stories of long distance trips in early cars where bearings would need to be replaced on side of road on bottom end of motor, they would drop the pan and change them on the side of the road, refill the oil if not dry sump and continue trip.  Bearings didn't last back then.

We dropped 30 degrees for daytime high between Friday and Saturday ...but snow only was seen at high elevation mountain altitudes and not a lot of snow.  Stay warm and enjoy the sight.  Barn, work area should be warmer with work on it recently I hope.

Do you have any photos of the 650 work you had underway?

David


David

[rb550four]

   Hey David,
  I was wondering how long those engines  lasted too. I didn't see any oil seals or gaskets in the assembly process. No torque wrench. just a 3 way tool, a screwdriver and a hammer. Simple engines that most common men of that era could deal with on the side of the road.
   I was thinking these test riders was hardy bunch testing those machines everyday like that. You could tell that they loved to ride, between the jumps and trying to kick them sideways round the bends, these guys loved the job. I would imagine they would be the ones to beat at any track on race day.
 
  I have no pics of the 550/650 nighthawks swap or the Wing refresh. It never got underway, even though last spring I was chompin' at the bit to get  going on them.  Fact is , I fell off the wagon last May, and it's taken me  a while to get back on it. I don't touch bikes if I drink, never.   I'm sober for 38 days now and wanting to get out there and get these projects started .  There will be pics when it 's happening.

[RAFster122s]

I am glad you are doing better and have the 38 days and wish you many more to add to that.

Yeah, I was amazed at the mosquito fogger startup until broken in I presume?  Or was it always that way until warmed up enough...  yes, those test riders had it in their blood and they were having fun.  Riding a motorcycle is a very different experience from a bicycle. First MC I had really opened up a whole new world and something I still enjoy.  A convertible with the wind whipping through your hair is very enjoyable as well, but not too many convertibles accommodate my torso height. Unless reclined a lot I am looking above the windscreen or the top frame of the windscreen is blocking my vision.


Hope you and family enoy a great Thanksgiving and early winter.  You know it is your thread, you can take it to any topic or direction you wish.

David
David

[Restoration Fan]

   My wife thinks it strange to feel connected to a machine, I don't know ,maybe. But I'd wager there are a few of us that have a  connection and do similar things. Yes?

I couldn't have stated it better, rb. 
I think any rider shares an affinity for his/her bike.  BUT someone who actually rebuilds or restores one of these bikes develops a much deeper affection for all of them at that point.  You do indeed develop this bond.  And yes, I do talk to mine...pat them lovingly...make comments to or about them.  You have to let all of your ladies know you appreciate them, after all.

Ron

[calj737]

That bond can develop during a build or restoration. But I have found that for me, the deep bond occurs after extremely memorable rides or adventures on my bike. Until that transpires, its still an inanimate object to me. But I build to ride, not build to "do" and "have".

[rb550four]

Happy New year  everyone.
  It's been damn chilly around here so there's been no shop time for me til now. I spent the morning shinning chrome and polishing tanks at the theater and been straightening up the shop that I have neglected most of this year. Feels good to be back out there.
  Been listening to some old rock and roll ( haven't listened to this stuff in 25 years) and it reminded me how it felt as a younger man hanging out .Almost forgot how it felt. Thought I might share a little  with you all. Do you guys remember what you were doing when you heard this last?

                                                                                                               
   It may be old,  but still relevant.

[Restoration Fan]

A couple of those were actually prior to me but I absolutely grew up listening to them.  Brings back fond memories.
Thanks for posting them, rb!

By the way, if you have Amazon Prime, make sure you take advantage of Amazon Music.  They have some fantastic 60's, 70's, 80's, etc playlists and they're all free (well, they're paid for by your annual Prime membership).  I've found that I like to just select a new playlist, start it playing and enjoy it while working on the bikes.  Every now and then, a song comes on that I haven't heard in decades and I'll stop and start singing with it.  I'm SURE the family enjoys hearing my crooning coming up through the floor when that happens.

[Stev-o]

  Been listening to some old rock and roll ( haven't listened to this stuff in 25 years)

Hey rb...havent little to rock in 25 years? What do you listen to, hope it aint Justin Beeber!

I saw The Guess Who in concert last year...

[RAFster122s]

RB,  Glad you are getting some time in the shop...hasn't been too many years for some of those tunes but others I haven't heard in a coon's age as the old saying goes...

David

[rb550four]

Too much Rockin out and never to Justin Beeber, and  not enough got done in the shop. Can see some floor at least.
I figured some of you would remember a couple of these tunes.
 I've been listening to alternative rock stations for years , and  like allot of the tunes, but for some reason they seem vague to me and most of the guitar work is sloppy. Where as the old rock had a story or a message that was clear, in your face,and almost expected a response from the listener. Powerful, maybe that's the word.
 I went to a 3 Dog Night concert a few years ago but I never really made it to a concert  in my younger days....Once , I was going to a Grateful Dead concert in the Watkins Glen, there was so many people , cars were parked on the road miles away from the concert site (that's were the partying started), almost impossible to get into. The band had to be flown in by chopper. Never made that concert, don't remember much of that week either.
  But I do remember skipping school and honing my skills in a Vega with some senior girls, with the Guess Who playing on the 8 track. Special times. Every time I hear one of those songs, I know just how special it all was.
 
 

[RAFster122s]

Hey RB...while BikeEXIF has turned into a foo foo site with the bikes they feature I saw this and thought of you...

http://www.bikeexif.com/harley-battle-kings-2017?omhide=true

[rb550four]

  What a beautiful machine, even though it's a Harley. Seems to handle well . You have to throw some weight around to get it to go where you want, reasonably compact considering the track size, I like it! Looks great in motion!
 

I' saw this Harley a little while back. I really liked the angle of the track, The forks looked badass but wasn't a good length for staying upright. I think that could be a wicked machine if there were two skis up front a little closer to the frame.

Any Northern rider, no matter what they ride, need to ride in the winter. There are some that are up for the challenge ... let me rephrase...There are some that are just driven to do this to a machine ,can't help themselves, they just have to find a way to ride in the snow too! Right or wrong...I can relate to this, and am always pleased to see someone do this.
  I don't know if I ever wrote this into one of my threads...After riding the snowbike , it occurred to me that the best machine to use for such a winter activity would be the Spider. Two skis up front instead of wheels(the steering is already there)and the rear suspension and wheels should have a factory track conversion. After all , both are made by Bombadier. I wrote the factory about this , what a wonderful sales idea  , to be able to get the winter season too! They would have none of it, and sent a very nicely worded reply (in read between the lines plain English roughly translated, WTF is wrong with you) to let me know they would not be interested in this idea at all. Oh well, guess some day someone will make a machine that can be used year round,until then,  it's always interesting to see what people come up with.
Thanks for sending that link.

[seanbarney41]

Unless the snow is really quite deep, like more than 8", a set of aggressive, non dot, knobbies on your favorite lightweight single cylinder dirt bike is pretty damn fun in the snow.

[RAFster122s]

Haha...that is funny RB.  Yeah it was a pretty Harley and there are several out there, still on the road.
95% of Harleys are still out on the road. The other 5% made it home to the garage, or was it the other 5% are at home in the garage.

Even a bicycle can be fun in the snow if it isn't too icy and not more than about 4 inches or so.

If you could afford it the Aerostich one piece suits are excellent cold and freezing weather.

You been in the garage/workshop of late?

David

[rb550four]

  I wish I could say I was in the shop, I've been hard at work on the job, haven't had decent shop weather, and a handful of other excuses.
   I Hoping for some decent shop weather when I return...maybe turn a wrench or two then.

  When I left the Army I had a cl350, no car, put MX tires on it and rode it 20miles to work all winter, everyday. Too old to get away with doing that again, but not too old to forget how harsh that winter really  was.
  But I still want to ride all year long, especially when we can't.

[RAFster122s]

Just looked at San Carlos and you will be able to get some FANTASTIC Chinese in the San Francisco area and according to Google there is a good Pastrami sandwich shop in town...  Plus you can get a good burger at In N Out burger.  Double Double with fries Monster style is unique.  Just a Double Double is really good too.
Enjoy a good In N Out burger, been too long since I've had one.  5 Guys in DC area before they spread out all over the East was really good, they still are very good.
Hopefully you will have a little time to go see a few big redwoods. They are stunning.