There's been some changes round casa-caferacer
Most notable is that of the addition of the newest member of the caferacer clan.

But in keeping with this blog being bike based.

Here's the update

The GS now has about 2,000 miles mostly trouble free. The wiring system needed three more things, all of them being the expensive little BMW specific relays.

I also added hand guards and a new solo seat/rack.

The 919 did a 2000 mile trip last summer up and back down the coast of California.
The bike proving to me that it's a prefect fit for me right now.

Yesh!
It's been three different kinds of fucked up round here.
My work is slowing down, which is good and bad. Good because I have a life back
Bad because I have no money for that life.

On the bike front the teething problems on the GS have been remarkable few
The fuel system really needs to be sorted out. There's still lots of rust in the fuel tank.
And leaks on the fuel line. That for now seem to be fixed.
But the bike is getting flat awful mileage. Like in the mid 20's.

Other then that it's running along. I don't know what the PO did but the front hub is out of round.
The however isn't. Go figure.

I still want more bits and peices for it but i'm now waiting to see if the bike will be hanging around for a while or not. I've not made up my mind.

The DL has been neglected I've not spent much time on save for one trip to the canyons
where I what will stand as one of my worst days of motorcycling where I didn't crash.

The 919 still needs a new tire.
It's still fun as hell. I put a new bars and mirrors on it and it has made a huge change in how much I enjoy the bike.
It went from a bike that was "good" to one that I really enjoy riding.

Hit up the Derby Dolls event this weekend.
The LA team who's name I forgot
Just crushed the other team. This was my second time going
And it was so much more enjoyable as it really was a sporting event with teams and the whole lot.

We spotted one of the most famous street "artists"/graphic designers
stickering his iconic stencil based sticker all down Temple on the way to the event.
Kind of funny that nearly 20 years on this guys still doing it.

And last but not least. Look for some changes.
Mostly the addition of photos. And some links with comments on other blogs.

There's some cool shit going on with caferacers, bobbers and the like.
And I'd like to share my thoughts with some of it.

Sick

I've been somehow under the weather for a couple of weeks now

or otherwise unable to work on any of the bike.

Save for getting  new rear tire for the BMW 

A big knobbie for that bike to replace the well used and 10 year old "rubber" that came on it.

I still need to do the front but I need to build some funds back up for that one.

Speaking of tires

It's a real pain trying to figure out which tire(s) to get.

The 919 needs tires and it comes in a MASSIVE 190/80/17

These tires I think are made of gold at least that's what most places want in exchange for them

Prices are ranging from lows of around $150 to more then $200 bucks per tire for a tire that's going to last less then 5,000 miles.

EECCKKK! that's to much. I got to find a cheaper tire.

I might talk to a race friend or two and see if they have a take off or something.

So, the Xr250L is back on the road... Er dirt.

And it's better then ever. I tossed on a pair of barkbusters and I'm going to ride that bike into the ground. It's just not the right time to be dropping four grovers on a new or newer bike.

The BMW is as BMW are oft to do causing me nothing but aggravation and enjoyment

in almost equal parts.

The speedo is wonky, (I'm told not that uncommon with these models) the tires need to be replaced. and it's getting around 29 MPG

On the flip side. It's been fun futzing with it. It's a joy to see a bike that I had so far dissasembled being reassembled and working.

The 919 now has a new bar and feels much better. 

I've moved it around so it kind of splits the difference between what Diesel wants and what I like.

I still need to mount up the wimp grips and centerstand. But I got the bag frames on and it's ready to roll.

I heard a long time ago someone said
Only use the tools in your tool kit to do any work on your bike.

Pretty soon your kit will have everything you need.

While I don't use the kit as the only source of tools for working on the bike, I do carry an extensive one that doesn't take up much room
It's in three bags, two zippered pouches and a tool rool.
In the tool roll I have a BMW tool kit that has had Japanese bike sizes added
I'm too lazy to make a jap bike and a euro bike kit
so I just use one.

I've narrowed down the kit to what follows
I ride old bikes that need a lot of work...
A lot of the time so I need to bring my tools with me.

Wrenches
Combo and box ends
6,8x2,9,10x2,11x2,12x2,13x2,14,17,19,22,24
Adjustable end wrench
Slip joint pliers
Locking needle nose
5 way screwdriver (wide"-" narrow "-" #2"+", #3"+" 1/4bit)
spark plug wrench
Small section of hacksaw blade
12v test light
Small section of clear hose for brake bleeding(just enough to keep brake fluid off the paint)
lug wrench (it's a BMW thing)
hook spanner (for shock preload)
tire irons
small section of sandpaper (400 girt)
bicycle tire pump
tire pressure gauge
hex keys
Front axle multi nut tool
$20 dollar bill and a couple of singles
Leatherman multi tool
Wiring diagram of the bike I'm on.
If I need it.

I'm sure I'm missing something.
I don't carry sockets in the road bike tool kit
I do in the offroad kit.

In the two other bags
I have a tire kit
With a little cut down compressor
and a tire kit for tube and tubeless tires
Along with that is a 6foot section of fuel line
and I soon will be added an off-road style tow rope.

In the other bag is the "bike first-aid" kit
It contains the stuff needed to fix the kind of things you need to fix
on a bike by the side of the road.

Fuses
Master link
Section of wiring one in red one in black
Small selection of crimp connections
Handful of
Nuts, bolts, washers, screws, clips, and hose clamps
Safety wire, duct tape, electrical tape,fiber packing tape
zip ties
Section of a coke can to patch holes in cases
Small bottle of tri-flow oil as a last resort chain and other lube.
(double baggie this it stinks!)
Sparkplugs.

I always keep a basic kit on the bike
with a compass, lighter, firestarter, knife, e-blanket, whistle, first aid kit, heat packs

I overpack on tools and stuff
But then I'm most often the one who gets to help out others.

It's all well and good if you know how to use the stuff
If you don't know how to fix the bike that's the best thing you can do. Learn. Seek out an experienced wrench in your area
and see if they could help you out
Here in LA there are a number of ways you can get some wrenching skills if you need them.

In my experience the things that have stopped people most often
other then crashing
Is electrical trouble that's the first area to learn as much as you can about the basic idea of how your bike's system works.


Squish
The opinions I post are mine solely,

CAFERACER Ride IN

Ripped from Ed's blog
http://guzzitech.blogspot.com/

This Sat
Alex's bar LBC from 5pm on

Yup, it's been a long time. I've been busy.

Some changes round these parts.

The Caferacer "thing" that has led my moto tastes was also parallel by a lust for what have now become Adventure Touring bikes.

We just called them ParisDakar or rally style bikes.

Since I last updated I bought the 919 being offered it at a price that didn't make sense to pass up.
I'm still enjoying this bike very much thank you

And I got a BMW R100GS up and running. I've had this bike for two years
I bought it in non running condition as kind of a barn find.
It's turning out to be a good deal but it will take some time to sort out the details

It's amazing how close the BMW is to the DL650 in terms of power.
But there is an old bike quality and a mellow quality that I really like about old BMW's

Then last but not least.
Dirt. I've found I really like Dirt.
We have spent some time this past summer dirt riding in Kern County
And when I say dirt riding I mean real, Honest to Dog single track.
not the weird dusty sand washy backward baseball hat wearing infested wrong way one way trail drunk riding areas that are all over SoCal
But real interesting looking challenging trails with not very many people around.

And I proceeded to break the XR250L
blew the shock into a dripping shell of it's former self.
As luck would have it a new one costs an arm and leg

So here I am I just ordered up all new dirt gear.
Like eightfreakinghundreddollarsdoingmypartokeeptheeconomyflowing worth
and I don't have a bike to ride.

There in lies the next thing.
I've fallen hard with new motolust
This is not that weird for me it happens about every 6months.
But this time there is an intersection of busted bike bad mojo on the economy
and a really good deal on a new KLX250 at dealer cost.
So here's the plan.
I get the 250L shock somehow bodged back together and then try and buy the kawasaki

We shall see if it will work.

The Long test ride...

Or....
Have I become the biker I thought I would become when I first started riding...

I've been riding a Honda 919 for the last few weeks.

It's one of the newer ones not the early flat black bikes.

The first time I spent any time on a 919 I came away thinking.
"YAWN" my that's a nice bike. A touch boring but nice.

It still is to some point. It's like a nighthawk 900.
It's really more of a CB900f. (and it should be that is it's official name.

As typical of most late model "naked" bikes
The seating position is set up for some weird short legged short armed rider.
While I'm really short legged I'm broad of shoulder (some might even say beam-ie)
and long of arm.
Bikes like these make me feel like my wrists are in my lap.

But stepping back from the bike and looking at it not from the foggy glasses of someone who's been on tons of bikes and been riding for nearly 20 years

I sit down and I look at it and I take myself back to my early days of street riding.
Me and my friends bikes parked in front of the cafe paradiso
It's around 11:30 and the wet Seattle streets reflect all the neon and street lights
It's a motley group of bikes.
And old CB750 sohc, a SWB BMW, Ducati 750, slab-slide GSXRrat bike
And we are talking, talking about what would be a cool new bike.
Honda just released the CBR900RR but that was a squid bike.
Ahhh what if the would just make that bike naked. Or even a small fairing.
And matte black....

But keep the gold calipers they add that touch of "works"

15 years later.
I've owned a variety of different bikes over the years
I've tried em all. Touring, super-sports, liter class, dual sports, adventure touring, supermotos,
caferacers, and many others.

But riding the 919, it puts me back to those early days. Of the kind of bike I would love to have been able to have been on then.
Power, reliability, style, function and of course speed.

It makes me want to just get on the bike and explore, enjoy riding for riding
simple no frills no pigeon hole that the bike fit's you into.
It's just a motorcycle..

HP2

I had high hopes for this bike.
It's got a stonking new and light weight dual plugged fuel injected engine.
It's got real almost normal suspension....
It's almost normal looking.

But alas.
It sucked. The whole time I'm riding the bike I kept thinking
this think cost 20K. Man people must be stupid to pay that much for it.

Here's a brief lowdown on the bike I'm glad I don't like.
It's tall. The cylinder heads hit me just under my kneecaps I think I have bruises.
The side stand is way to low and this tall heavy bike is a son of female dog to get up and off the stand.
The suspension is wacked. It's way off.
Now mind you I didn't mess with it a lick.
but the forks had too little compression.
And the rear, well that was just like riding on a balloon.
And the vibrations.
Well lets just say it makes my guzzi feel like a gold wing.
Oh then there is the fact that the gas tank has less range then a sporty.

Whats good....
The roll-on at 60mph was kind of fun.

IN stark contrast I picked up my long term 919.
Wow! Can Honda put together a nice motorcycle.
Boring, transparent. But very very nice.
it's very much the new milk crate commuter.
And this bike fits that to a "T" with a massive top box.
It's the size of the boxes you used to see in the back of pizza hut trucks.

The bike while on it feels lots like a really fast really light CB900.
Which is good because that's what it really is.

The fuel injection is a touch snatchy but you get used to it quick like.

And the little fly screen (HAC) works really well.
I don't think you would need anything else for wind protection.

Look for more info once the new bike newness and giddyness wears off and the bike starts to wear on me.

How many blog entries start out...

Saying
It's been way to long since I've posted anything...
Nov. is the last time.
When I nearly cut my finger off.

Well in the time since then I've broken, fixed and broken the Guzzi again.

This time I've had a major move forward or rather I hope that I've had a major move forward
I cleaned up most the nasty wiring around the diode board and the fuse block.
Replacing the old and worn out connections along the way.
I'm hoping that this solves the hard starting/not starting issues the bike has had of late.
I went to see what was wrong and the positive lead from the battery to the starter motor came apart in my hand.
This then spiraled out of control with project creep and the next thing I know.
The whole charging and fuse block pieces were off the bike and spread between the kitchen, shop and the office.
I took photos before so I could rewire the mess.
Only my CF card took a dump.
The first time I've ever had one do that.
Thankfully I got a software hookup that fixed me right up.

Now, while digging around in the nether regions of the Guzzi bowels I discovered that the battery is very close to wearing a hole in it's side (and it's still held in only by the grace of doG and gravity.) I'll be fixing that before the next ride.
As well as the now none working front brake light switch.
At least those will be easy fixes.

The side cover is still plaguing me with how to keep it one the bike
with the wicked vibrations the machine makes.

Do you ever have one of "those" days

Sunday was like that. I got the dirtbike up on the stand to do a sidestand swap.
I don't like sidestand swaps as these involve springs, under tension
with lots of eye popping force. And that sketchy go anywhere it wants to go when it lets go kind of thing.

So I donned me geek glasses and went to work.
After a bit of a struggle and no flying springs it was done.
PHEW!
However that was not to be the end.
The dirtbike was on one of those bike stands that you use this little lever and it lifts both ends off the ground and the lever kind of locks in place with the weight of the bike.

I couldn't lower it
So I used my hand.
And my hand on top of the lever hit the underside of the foot peg...

I now have 2 stitches on my right index finger.
And it still hurts
the painfull part was getting the son of bitch cleaned out at the doc's office.
Where the next part happened
You know you are getting older when the doctor treating you is younger then you are.
Ehhh I hate that.

Overall I moved forward but I've got a scar to show for it.
almost 20 years after i tried to cut the same finger off.

Oh yea and i didn't go to the best damn site ride this year.

boots

Why in Dog's name is it so hard to find a good pair of motoboots

All I have been looking for for is full grain leather, not made in china, protection, durability. Make em so you can get a new sole on the too and I'd be happy.

Well it looks like i've found a pair.
Not cheap but made in the EU out of real dead cow
(with a thick ass hide no less)

These look like they will be around for at least 10 years.

They are sold.

It's been a busy few months
Most noteable of late is the sale of yet two more bikes
sadly it was the GB500s that had to go.

More to come....

It's sold.

It's always a sad day when a bike leaves the fold.

Today I'm one less flat black bitchy curvey and fun to ride Italian.

She's gone to a good home. The buyer was very excited.

He's an owner of a bevel head and wanted something a little more modern.

I hope he enjoys the new bike.

Korp cycle south bay vintage

Sam Korp is having his south bay vintage thing.
It should be cool and the weather is looking like it might turn out ok.

Selling off the herd

Why is it such a freaking headache to sell bikes.

I've been getting nothing but the run around and superlow ball figures from people on the ducati.

I had a nice woman look at the GB's but she's not the got experiance or time to build herself one bike and sell the other
(She did have a good idea about building herself a the worse of the two bikes)

SO I'll have to find another way to off load the GB's

All three bikes I'm going to miss.

Now that the Duc is getting close to going I'm learning how I need to ride it.
and I'm kind of enjoying it.

Oh well.

Guy Websters

It's only taken ten years of living in SoCal to finally make it to Guy Websters
Garagmahal

It was overwhelming.
The cool bikes that were out.
Real MV's Ducati 851, SFC750's V7 sports
and that was just the parking lot.

His barn was pretty impressive. but smaller then it looked in photos.

His compound was also very nice, not over done.

The ride up was great clear and empty freeway and then nice twisty bits.

Overall a good day to be out on the bike.

The F&$^*%& Guzzi

Well, it seems bikes can hear.
At least this one can. Not second after I said to myself
"wow this has been a great ride so far, the sun is out the bike is running with out a hitch"

POOF

It's dark, no lights, no nothing. I call the better half
I've had a bad day but was having a good day on the bike until the bike stopped
We had words, I was not a happy camper. She was not a happy camper.
She came to my aid.
I called someone from the group I was to meet he came and tried to help.
Here we are two very white guys in a very not white 'hood
One with a non running Guzzi the other a Cobra replica with about 500horsepower and pipes to match.
To say we stoodout would be an understatment.

He pushed but the bike would not light.
We tried to jump it
The bike would have none of that.

I called the other half she came.
I had time to look into the problem.

Oh I almost forgot to mention the fuel line was leaking
I got that fixed pretty quick however.

I pulled the bike apart. Tank off, seat and rear fender up,
Battery out.
I looked all over, I found nothing.

So I decided to put it all back together.
Just as I got the last battery line hooked up I noticed.
There was a wire loose.
A nice thick wire
With a big plug on it.
The wire when to the battery.
But the other part was not connected to anything.

Hmmm it had a big spade style connector so it shouldn't be to hard to find.
And it wasnt' but I had to pull the battery back out.
So I did got the cable hooked back up and was just about to start hooking the battery back up when the other half showed up.
Here hold this I think I might have found the problem.
Sure enough the bike started right up.
Rode it over and put it in the car and bike show. And it won best paint.
On the way home the bike was running really good.
My guess is that connector has been bad for a while.

Bikes You can't ride them and if you toss em off a cliff they sink.

The Ducati 750 sport

While i've come to decide that it's now time for the duc to move on and live with someone else.
I just can't ride sportbikes anymore so it's up for sale.
Hopefully the money raised by it's sale will give me enough to get both BMW's back on the road.

Good weekend

Ahhh got to go for a good weekend.
up the 'crest. Nobody fell down. No wait one rider toppled over right in front of me (and everyone else)
as I was weeding my way past the bikes to ride down the hill.

Great weather the day started out a bit chilly but warmed up to damn near hot by mid day.
Got home and managed to get the oil changed on both comfy bikes.

Nice.