Volume 38 / Number 2 APRIL / MAY 2017 • $5

Metric

in South Dakota

WHAT’S INSIDE: The Miyapet Dealing with Fork Tube Caps 2016 Kentucky Kickdown The Back-Up Bike, Part 2 official publication of the vintage japanese motorcycle club of north america, inc.

IN THIS ISSUE Features EVENTS: Park ‘Em Where the Sun Does Shine, Dania Beach 6 Bike Show 2017 COVER STORY

ODDS & ENDS: Mammoth Metric Mayhem 2016 VJMC in South Dakota Freebie Four ...... 36 9 Award Winners

PROJECT BIKE: Barbershop Honda

16 Departments EVENTS: PRESIDENT’S LETTER: The VJMC at the Build in the Fun...... 5 2017 Santa Fe Trail Vintage Motorcycle 20 Show BACK IN THE DAY: Honda CL450 / Armand Ensanian...... 10

HISTORY: FROM THE EDITOR: A Long Forgotten ...... Vintage Japanese Coverage of Events and “Featured Bike” 11 Motorcycle— 24 The Miyapet CUSTOM CONNECTION: Kick Starting Your First Custom...... 13

MAINTENANCE & KICKSTANDS UP AT DAWN: RESTORATION: How to Come Out Alive Every Time: Dealing with ...... 23 27 Fork Tube Caps The Choice is Yours FIELD REP FOCUS: The VJMC at Kentucky Kickdown 2016...... 28 PROJECT BIKE: Shock and Awe ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT: 30 Mule Pack Panniers...... 54 TECH HELP: Tech Tip #19: Staying Organized...... 55 RIDES: The Backup Bike— A Trip to the Hospital EVENTS CORNER...... 57 (Part Two, New Mexico) 40 CLASSIFIEDS...... 59 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX...... 61 PROJECT BIKE:

Volume 38 / Number 2 Big Bear Scrambler APRIL / MAY 2017 • $5 and the CL77 On the Cover Metric VJMC Tiddler Entourage 46 in South Dakota in Custer State Park, on the Needles Highway in the Black Hills of ODDS & ENDS: South Dakota. My Harbor Freight WHAT’S INSIDE: cover photo: Experiment The Miyapet Dealing with Fork Tube Caps 2016 Kentucky Kickdown Jeff Ecker (With a Vessel “Cheat”) The Back-Up Bike, Part 2 48 official publicatioN of the ViNtage japaNese motorcycle club of North america, iNc. Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 3

PRESIDENT’S LETTER Build in the Fun for 2017 Official Publication of the VJMC ur fortieth year in existence promises to make the VJMC more APRIL / MAY 2017 Orelevant than ever to riders, restorers, and lovers of Japanese Volume 38, Number 2 motorcycles. This Club survives because of volunteers who have PRESIDENT shared an identical vision that the future is ours to define and har- Tom Kolenko vest. Passion begets commitment, which drives action, which gets 770-427-4820 more individuals back to the sweet spots of their youth. In 2017, we [email protected] will harvest that momentum across all our events and rides. EDITOR You have undoubtedly experienced the website’s new look and Michael Fitterling 863-632-1981 feel. This iteration will serve us well in the years ahead. Pete Slat- [email protected] coff has been the force behind this version and has built in many interesting capa- DESIGN DIRECTOR bilities we could only dream of in the past. The site is designed to meet our diverse Nadine G. Messier membership’s needs and aspirations. Hats off to Pete for this amazing transformation. [email protected] Additional features will be added to it as we explore its capabilities. CLASSIFIED ADS The regalia assortment has been expanded and features those items that history Gary Gadd shows our members want. Regalia is viewed as a service to our membership, and we 817-284-8195 have tried to keep prices reasonable to get everyone in Club colors. We have added [email protected] black T-shirts and a new license plate backer. The online website store offers additional MAGAZINE DISPLAY items that can be custom ordered by individuals. Special Fortieth Anniversary T-shirts ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Bentley will also be available at select events. 864-923-0559 As the economy continues to improve, I have noticed two trends. Lodging prices [email protected] are increasing, and some hotels are already booked up near our event venues. Book MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR now if you plan to attend our Pigeon Forge National Rally, Mid-Ohio Vintage Days, Bill Granade AIMExpo, and the Barber Vintage Festival to reduce stress later. Second, as our events 813-961-3737 draw more spouses and families, securing acceptable accommodations is more im- [email protected] portant. Advanced registration is our goal to make it possible for our members staffing CHANGE OF ADDRESS the rallies to also enjoy the events and not get stuck at a booth. The last minute, onsite Please direct these requests to Bill Granade: rally registration days are over, since we often have over two hundred members and [email protected] spouses booked to attend. If you’re not Internet or smartphone linked, call Pete at 850- 13309 Moran Drive, Tampa, FL 33618 624-8811 evenings or weekends to get registered. Membership check renewals: 1 year - $30 / 2 years - $55 / 3 years - $80 While new bikes sales were down two percent in 2016, the marketplace continues to Outside North America: 1 year - $50 value classic Japanese motorcycles more each year, as evidenced by the recent Mecum ADDITIONAL COPIES Las Vegas auction. Our thanks to Jack Stein, Bob Leonard, Bryan Bentley, Bob Kel- In order to minimize unnecessary expens- ly, and other members who staffed the booth, which added nineteen new members. I es to the club, VJMC prints a limited number was told some bargains were available mid-week before the weekend crowds, but re- of each issue of Vintage Japanese Motorcy- cle Magazine. However, we would be glad to cords were set on many Hondas from the 1970s and 1980s, along with other Japanese accommodate any requests for additional copies marques. Crazy money is now the norm for CB750s, Z1s, H1s, early GSXRs, XS650s, from members. and RZ350s, as more people rekindle their toy passions. These requests must be submitted before the Our Field Representatives continue to create good times. Many will be busy all sum- 15th of the month preceding each issue. For ex- mer long organizing local shows, rides, and meetups. Al Brotz, Wisconsin, and Craig ample: for the June/July issue requests must be received by May 15. Long, Illinois, are expanding the VJMC presence at the RockerBox Festival at Road America. Check our website calendar and magazine for updates along with Commu- MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of this organization is to promote nication Director Bob Kelly’s email blasts announcing local and national events. the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of Things are stirring north of the border, as well. A new VJMC-NA-Canada official vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined here as Facebook page has been set up, planning for a 2018 Canadian Rally has started, and those 20 years old or older). The VJMC also will promote the sport of motorcycling and camera- Canadian Andy Dixon is charting epic rides. If creating great VJMC times and events derie of motorcyclists everywhere. in your area starts your volunteer engines, go to the website and get the application © 2016 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of forms or call our National Field Representative Coordinator Sean Carrigan, (859) 391- North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-prof- 8736 or email him at [email protected] for help. it 501(c)(7) corporation. All rights reserved. Lastly, please play it safe the first few weeks of the riding season in snow country. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted without permission. All articles Check tire pressures, oil levels, batteries, and working headlights before any ride. Rid- copyright by their respective authors. ing skills can get sketchy over the long winter months, so practice a few panic stops and Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine is pub- figure-8s in an empty parking lot before blasting down the highway. lished six times per year, in February, April, June, I am looking forward to meeting many of you in the year ahead at our amazing events August, October, and December. The views and and rides. These time machines bring the fun to 2017. opinions expressed in letters or other content are those of the author and do not necessarily Ride safe and often, represent VJMC policy. The VJMC accepts no lia- bility for any loss, damage, or claims occurring as Tom Kolenko a result of advice given in this publication or for claims made by advertisers of products or ser- VJMC President vices in this publication. [email protected] Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 5 LEFT: Just when you think you’ve seen all of Billy Aldrich’s hot rod Hondas, he shows up with another one and grabs an award. Billy’s gor- geous CB360 Honda racer was a big crowd favorite and picked up a first place in the Over 350cc Japanese class.

BELOW LEFT: With all the outstanding café bikes in attendance, I was both honored and a bit amazed to pick up a merit award in the Café Racer class with my CB400F Honda.

LEFT: Even if he is wearing a Harley-Davidson patch, you can’t help but like this little fella sporting shades and a half helmet in support of the local ABATE chapter.

RIGHT: This sweet ’75 MX250 Yamaha tracker, owned by Gary Mathevich, looks like it’s ready for King Kenny to climb aboard and throw some dirt. BELOW RIGHT: From Cocoa Beach, Jim Sabo’s sweet red CB750F looks like all it needs is number plates to be ready for the track. BELOW LEFT: Dave Mercado, from Pembroke Pines, told me his bike was a “work in progress.” With a second place in the Café Racer class, I’d have to say your sanitary white Honda CB750 is “progressing” quite nicely, Dave. 6 APRIL / MAY 2017 events , Park Em Where the Sun Does Shine, Dania Beach Bike Show 2017 by Toby Jones / [email protected] photos by Toby Jones and Murray Milne

ania Beach Florida is about as close to Fort Lauderdale as you can get without Dactually being in Fort Lauderdale. For the last eleven years, Dania has been host to the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show. Although Frost Park is the name of the venue for the show, I can assure you the area doesn’t see much frost. Out of respect for our members that live in the Great White North, I won’t mention the BELOW: To add a little “two-stroke beautiful sunshine or the perfect 75-degree weather that we were blessed with on smoke” to the Café Racer January 28th, the day of the show. I just won’t say a thing about it. This year’s show class winners, Lorne Uhlig, from Williston, Florida, featured a live band, vendors, a bike parts swap meet, a variety of food, motorcycle brought home a merit award field games, a vintage bicycle display which brought back a lot of memories, and for his ’72 GT550 Suzuki. (oddly enough) Roller Derby Girls. Admission to the public was free, and the pro- ceeds benefited Stray Aid and Rescue, Southeastern Guide Dogs, and the Dania Beach Lions Club. While the show was open to all makes of vintage motorcycles, my main focus (as always) was on the vintage Japanese specials. With over 350 mo- torcycles participating, there was no shortage of fine customs. Café racers, trackers, scramblers, and competition specials, among other styles were well-represented. The caliber of the bikes in attendance was as good as I’ve seen anywhere. I was also happy to see some of our VJMC members there displaying their bikes and enjoying the wonderful south Florida weather (that I wasn’t going to mention). Always great to see my friends, Murray Milne, Billy Aldrich, and Obis Brea. Because sometimes my columns can be a bit wordy and they say “a picture is worth 1000 words,” I’m going to give you a break, sign off for now, and let the pictures do the talking. Hope you enjoy them! l

ABOVE: RIGHT: In the Under 350cc From Ft. Lauderdale, Japanese class, Derick DelCastillo’s Obis Brea picked up ‘79 CB750 all dressed a second place award up in Gulf Oil livery for his fine green ’71 grabbed third place in SL100 Honda. Just the Café Racer class. one of Obis’s many beautiful Honda dirt bikes (that are never dirty). Where does he find them? Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 7

ODDS & ENDS 2016 VJMC Freebie Four Award Winners by Bill Granade, Membership Director / [email protected]

t is with great pleasure and an equal amount of pride that we Iwish to congratulate you for your wonderful effort to bring 2016 VJMC FREEBIE FOUR AWARD WINNERS new members into the rolls of the Vintage Japanese Motor- cycle Club. Because of your hard work in signing up four or Winners according to ranking (left column top to right column bottom): more new VJMC members in 2016, you have earned yourself one free year of membership in the VJMC. Norm Smith Bob Kelly You have placed yourself among the few who have attained Jack Stein Bob Moshinskie this achievement, and the National Board of Directors is very Mark Bayer Bryan Bentley pleased with your personal commitment to this club. Steve Searles David Groeller Thank you so much for your hard work. Frank Sereno Eric Long Jim Neuwirth Harry Klem For the second year in a row, Norm Smith has signed up the William Gray Jeff Langford most new members. Well done Norm! l Robert Schroeder Lori Weiniger Chuck Murray Robert Groeller Best regards, Sean Carrigan Steve Adams ­—The VJMC Board of Directors Warren Mayes Tom Kolenko Bill Mcclennen Rich Holman

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 9 BACK IN THE DAY

Honda CL450

by Armand Ensanian / [email protected]

hoto of me in Hawaii in 1970 on a blue Hon- Pda CL450. I chose to go to Hawaii for R&R from Vietnam strictly to ride a motorcycle. The CL was available for rent. I rode it all around Oahu and slept on the beaches. To my surprise one morning, I was woken up to the sight of a .38 revolver. It seems that someone had stolen a blue Honda on the island, and I was a likely suspect. Needless to say, I never thought I’d be facing the barrel of a gun on R&R. l

10 APRIL / MAY 2017 FROM THE EDITOR Coverage of Events and “Featured Bike” by Michael Fitterling / [email protected]

nother year of VJMC activities is in US Southeast, so often it seems as if all would like to make this a regular part Afull swing. I look forward to meet- our activities are happening there and of the magazine, unfortunately, I didn’t ing old friends and making new ones nowhere else, but that’s not the case. receive any submissions for “Featured at events this year and seeing and rid- We need others to step up and send in Bike” for this issue. If you’d like to see ing vintage bikes. Make plans this year articles and photos on shows, rides, and it continue in future issues, send your to join the fun in your area. Although other events sponsored by the VJMC or submission in or encourage those who every event is not covered in this maga- in which the VJMC participates. Send have a rare or beautifully-restored bike zine, I can assure you there is something in those stories of both big and small to send one in. One high resolution pho- happening in all corners of the country. events and help us provide a more re- to is all that is needed along with any Check the calendar for your local events. alistic view of what the VJMC is up to. technical or historical notes about the Speaking of every event not being Additionally, we are always in need of model and restoration (limit of about covered in Vintage Japanese Motorcycle how-to articles, so send in those stories 750 words). Magazine, that is not by choice. I try to of how you handled a sticky problem, Last, I goofed in the last issue and add- attend as many of the events within my and share your experience with the rest ed the wrong email address to Part One rideable area (and sometimes outside it), of us so the entire club may benefit. of “The Backup Bike” article. I apolo- so I can make sure they get coverage, In the last issue, we featured Jay Lind- gize and will try harder to ensure each but I can’t cover them all. I am in the quist’s beautiful Suzuki XN85 Turbo. I issue is error-free. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 11

CUSTOM CONNECTION Kick Starting Your First Custom by Toby Jones / [email protected]

iding a vintage motorcycle on a reg- make a deal look very attractive, but the great deal of time and money on a mo- Rular basis is a wonderful opportu- risks are there also, even for an experi- torcycle only to find a title was impossi- nity to meet new people and make new enced restorer. I am not implying that ble to get. I make no exceptions on this friends. At almost every gas and food you should never buy a project motor- rule. stop in your travels on a vintage bike cycle that doesn’t run; I’m just saying be Research your project bike. Whether you encounter someone that wants to aware that the fix is often not as simple you already have a project motorcycle or look at your old bike and have a chat. as the seller would have you believe. In have decided to buy one, this is equally Folks in my age group (let’s just say, fact, many times the seller doesn’t even important. Get to know what you are not young) are always eager to tell the know what the problem is. If it “ran about to spend a lot of time with. Gath- story of the one that they, their friend, when it was parked,” why was it parked er as much information as you can on or someone they knew rode. I find that in the first place? This is a great time to your particular bike before you turn younger people also like to chat, but are consult with a friend or another VJMC the first wrench. How many years was more apt to ask questions about vin- member and take advantage of their ex- the model made? Was it a popular bike? tage motorcycles. The younger crowd perience to help with your decision. Search the Internet to get some idea of also seems to have a lot of interest in If you do decide to buy a non-runner, parts availability and prices. Search out the vintage custom scene and many of it is a good idea to try to at least get it other club members who have owned their questions are custom-related. running before you start disassembly. or have experience with your model. When Mike Fitterling and I first dis- It’s much better to address major en- Most are more than happy to answer cussed the possibility of adding the gine issues then than when you’re put- questions and offer suggestions. Online “Custom Connection” column to our ting it back together. I recently picked forums are also great places to research magazine, we both agreed that one of up a rough CB400F non-runner at a for issues or problems your model the objectives would be to offer help decent price. A little carb cleaning and might have. One thing I always make it and guidance to these “vintage” new- bypassing a faulty ignition switch got it a point to do is read period road tests comers and their custom aspirations. running, but unfortunately, one cylin- and magazine articles about the mod- I often think about some of my first der was not firing, and a compression el. Professional test riders are very good motorcycle projects and the mistakes check showed no compression in that about pointing out a model’s strengths I made. What I hope to offer up now cylinder—“There was nothing cooking and weaknesses. If your vintage project are a few suggestions that may help in that pot.” While this was disappoint- bike didn’t handle or stop well when when it comes time for that first cus- ing, I am familiar with this engine and new, chances are it didn’t get any bet- tom project. The following (in no par- can do the mechanical work myself, so ter over the years. These are things ticular order) are just a few suggestions fixing it shouldn’t be a huge problem. you should be aware of and always get for finding and getting started on your On the other hand, for a buyer that a repair manual. Many manuals are first custom. These observations are would need to pay a motorcycle shop to available as a free download from the based on my experience, with many fix it, this would be a different story. Internet, but you may have to purchase of them learned the hard way from Another suggestion: Unless you are a hard copy. Either way, a manual is an my mistakes. Of course, many of these very familiar with a particular model invaluable tool for your project, and suggestions apply to getting started on and have a stockpile of spare parts for you should never start without one. any project, stock or custom. it, stay away from the “basket case.” Be realistic about your skills and bud- Be wary of the non-runner. Buying a This animal will bite you, and for those get. Lack of one or the other is what, motorcycle that doesn’t run is a huge new to vintage motorcycles, is best left more often than not, results in another gamble, even for an experienced bike alone! unfinished project for sale. Don’t bite mechanic. “It ran when I parked it,” One last important thing: If it is a bike off more than you can chew. While I “just needs a battery,” “just needs the you plan on purchasing and registering always encourage learning new skills to carbs cleaned,” “it just needs a coil”…I for street use, make sure it comes with anyone new to our hobby, and I myself could go on and on. Prices on non-run- a clean title. I know of more than one learn something on each project, you ners are typically much cheaper and can instance in which a builder has spent a need to understand that mechanical, Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 13 paint work, electrical, fabrication, etc. should be aware of this up front. custom builder selling his rolling mo- all have a steep learning curve. If you Step away from the hacksaw. I might torcycle works of art to collectors who are not confident that you have a han- also include the wire cutters, the cutoff gladly pay stacks of cash for them. In dle on any given part of your build and wheel, and the Sawzall in this. Reality the real world, if you’re an amateur don’t have a friend or family member TV has made flying sparks a seemingly and you intend to personalize a vintage that can step in and help, then you are vital part of custom motorcycle build- bike, make sure you understand that going to have to pay a professional. I ing, but it ain’t so, my friend. True, de- “personalizing” is exactly what you’re once watched a professional pinstriper pending on your plans for a custom, doing. You are making it yours. Unless at a hot rod show beautifully pin stripe some of these tools might have to be a custom is done nicely and tastefully, , a 32 Ford in less than a half an hour. used at some point, but only after care- it may be hard to find a buyer for it at The charge was three hundred dollars. ful consideration, very judicial plan- any price. You may find that the only The pinstriper doing the work told ning, and hours of mock up should you person that wants it already owns it. the owner, “It may seem like a lot, but even consider making the first cut. In other words; if you find a decent, you didn’t pay for just a half hour; you My aim with this column is not to restorable vintage bike, but your heart paid for thirty years’ experience. It was pass judgement on what someone plans is set on building a custom, you may much cheaper when I had only been to do with a vintage motorcycle, and consider passing it along to a restorer doing it for half an hour.” This is just my motto has always been “It’s your and looking for another project bike. one example, but it holds true in most bike, so you’re free to do what you want Personally, I always start my custom skills required to complete a custom with it,” but I do know the facts. The builds with motorcycles that are not build. This is especially true if your plane and simple fact is that when you good candidates for restoration. What- plans require a good deal of welding, cut a vintage motorcycle frame that ever your decision is, just make sure fabrication, high performance engine motorcycle loses a tremendous amount that the parts that you decide to cut work, or custom painting. Quality cus- of its resale value…period. Please don’t off because you have deemed them un- tom work costs a lot of money, and you be mislead when you read of a famous necessary are indeed unnecessary, and

14 APRIL / MAY 2017 don’t be too quick to toss those unused or other modifications to fit and func- There is light at the end of the tun- parts in the trash. tion—just another area that is going to nel. My aim in these ramblings is to try Don’t be too eager to part with your take some time, thought, and patience. and help those considering building a cash. A motorcycle project (stock or Be prepared to clean. As I mentioned, custom get a good start, and I sincerely custom) is not a cheap undertaking, reality TV would like you to think that hope that my observations haven’t been but if you want to make it even more building custom motorcycles is all too discouraging to anyone’s project expensive, start ordering parts before throwing sparks and bolting on new plans. A custom project can be a great have done your homework. Most of us parts. What reality TV doesn’t show you way to express your personal taste and just love it when the UPS man brings us is the enormous amount of cleaning in- creativity and provide enjoyment and new goodies, and I am no exception. I volved in any old motorcycle project. I pride. Trust me, when your project have a stack of new handlebars, at least call it the “not fun” part. Every part that starts to take shape and the shiny stuff one café racer seat pan, a small drag goes on your project must be dealt with. starts getting bolted on, it all becomes race fairing, and a whole lot of other Rust, grease, mud, and old chipped and well worth the effort, and nothing quite new parts that just didn’t quite work faded paint are the enemy and must measures up to that first ride around out. Oh yeah, and the short shocks that be conquered. Your weapons are the the block. So, my advice? Arm yourself looked so good but bottomed out the cleaning tank, the bead blaster, the wire with as much knowledge as you can; be suspension on a previous project. That wheel, the scrub brush, and your hands. patient with your progress; enlist the café racer seat that looked so cool on a In fact, if you are the least bit worried help of other VJMC members, friends, CB750 Honda just might look pretty sil- about getting dirty, you might consider or family; and above all, enjoy building ly on your Yamaha RD250. Many cus- a different hobby. The nicest paint, pol- your dream. If I can help in any way, or tom parts are of a universal fit nature ish, or powder coat isn’t going to help if you’d just like to tell me about your and require careful measurement and on an otherwise dirty bike, and clean- project, my e-mail address is at the top consideration. Also, many are going to ing parts is where you will spend a lot of the page, and I love to talk old bikes. require drilling, fabricating mounts, of your time on a project. Please feel free to get in touch. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 15 16 APRIL / MAY 2017 PROJECT BIKE Barbershop Honda by John Bender / [email protected]

’d been interested in Japanese mo- , Itorcycles since the mid 70s when my friends were riding their Honda CBs and their Kawasaki KZs, but I could never afford them. Fast forward to 2009, and the kids were pretty much grown. I’d saved some extra cash. I told my wife I wanted to buy a motorcycle, and she asked me if I was having a mid-life crisis. My response was, “I can afford it now!” I got my motorcycle license and , bought a 79 Kawasaki KZ650 SR. I bought and sold a few different bikes and became a member of the local chap- ter of the VJMC here in Kansas City and am having fun. One day, I decided to visit my barber, who is an old high school classmate. He knew I rode old bikes, as I’d turned up at the barber shop on various models. He was a rider too. While I was in his chair en table and talked. He told me about the centerstand. I reached down and getting what’s left of my hair trimmed, how he bought the Honda from a guy rolled the blue tarp up off the front. Im- he told me that there was an older fellow in the neighborhood he worked with at mediately, I recognized that distinctive , who came in that had an old Honda he the local power plant. He was the origi- front fender as belonging to a red 60s wanted to sell. He didn’t know the year, nal owner. Ken explained that when his Honda. I rolled the tarp up over a tall the model, or the condition. Now, my neighbor retired in 1975, he purchased windshield and toward the rear, reveal- belief is, no matter what, when I hear of the bike. He rode the bike to work in ing a 1967 CA160 with windshield, solo a bike for sale that might be something good weather until he retired, and the seat, pillion, luggage rack, and white that I am interested in, I always have to bike hadn’t been registered since 1995. Buco hard bags. It looked dusty but not go look. You just never know, and you That was September of 2016. too rusty. The engine kicked through, might make a new friend…and you After getting acquainted, we got up and and the fuel tank smelled like varnish. It might get a chance to buy a cool bike. went out the back and down the flight of looked all there, though. Jay, my barber, had the older gentle- stairs to the detached garage. I was wor- I decided I’d make him an offer, and he man’s name and number. I got Jim to ried about him getting down the stairs, accepted it. We went back into the house call him, because I didn’t want to call but he did just fine. He was just a little and found the title. I made arrange- out of the blue. He said to come on by slow. We went to the garage door, and ments with him to return later in the right away and gave me the address. He after Ken unlocked it, I raised the door. afternoon with a trailer and payment. lived just a few blocks away, and I had I looked around and didn’t see a motor- I went home and the wife said, “Were driven by his place a thousand times be- cycle—lots of stuff, but no bike. I asked in the heck have you been?” I told her fore, as he lived on a main street. I called him where it was, and he said, “There, I had bought another motorcycle. I got and told my wife I’d be delayed a little under the blue tarp.” I looked, and un- “the look”! getting home to take her out for lunch. der some boxes was a blue tarp. Making My riding buddy, Bill, and I returned I went to the address, pulled around a path, I removed some light boxes and later with a trailer and picked up the the back, and went up the back stairs saw some wheels—a front wheel off the bike. Shaking his head, Bill asked me as instructed. I knocked on the door, floor using a homemade V-shaped block how I found these bikes, and shrugging, and Ken let me in. We sat at the kitch- and a rear wheel off the ground using I told him they found me. We stopped Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 17 roofing nails in the tank and shook the heck out of it. A pile of stuff came out. I finished with a short soak with clean- ing vinegar, drying inside with a blower, and a coating with light oil to prevent flash rust. The petcock was next. That model had sort of an odd, round one, and it was full of gooey, black tar-looking stuff. I had never taken one like that apart, and it took me awhile to figure it out, followed by lots of scraping and cleaning. Fortu- nately, with the advice of knowledgeable friends, I was able to find the correct re- build kit. The spark plug wires were old and cracked, and the ignition coil was fif- ty years old. I found a six-volt coil with plug wires online. I got new caps and plugs. Bill and Travis helped get it in- stalled. One mount had to be drilled in the frame, as the old holes didn’t line up. The previous owner had replaced the , mufflers in the late 80s with genuine Honda replacements from a local deal- er, and I found the receipt in the service manual that came with the bike. $150 for the pair! Try to find NOS ones for that now. The tires weren’t cracked, though not original, and the tubes held on the way home at the car wash and tions on how to get it clean. What I air, so I kept them on for the time being. knocked off twenty-one years of dust. started with was Simple Green and hot Next spring’s project would be when I Unloading it at my house, the wife came water out of the garden hose. I filled install the new brake shoes and inspect out to look and grudgingly admitted it up and let it soak, then with a lot of the bearings. she thought it was kind of “cute.” I got it pressure, I flushed it out. Lots of stuff Ron and Bill helped with lots of clean- around back and put it in the barn. And came out, and I came up with an idea ing and polishing. Bill replaced some then I took my wife out for nice meal. to do better. Using a pistol-grip-style gaskets and cleaned the oil screen and During the next week or so, I began garden nozzle that was threaded on the got the throttle working smoothly. stripping it down to do a good inspec- tip, I bought a fitting and added about The correct battery was sourced on the tion. My friends, Ron and Joe, both ten inches of quarter-inch copper tub- advice of Bill Silvers, AKA Mr. Honda. avid Honda fans, came by to check it ing that would reach to the bottom of So, it took a year to get it all together. out. Parts came off. Joe volunteered to the tank. I flushed and scraped it with I was pretty busy with work, and a lot rebuild the carburetor. He told me what the tubing as best I could on the side of of the time it sat untouched, new parts parts it needed and I ordered them—the the tank I could see. For the other side in boxes, waiting to be put on. I remem- usual stuff, O-rings, gaskets, and a float of the hump I was a little puzzled at ber when I got the new battery installed and a new insulator and a carb gasket to first. I got the idea of ordering a endo- one late evening and turned on the key. mount it. I wondered what the purpose scopic camera that plugged into my lap- The lights came on, and they worked. I of the insulator was and read it was to top via USB—ten bucks on a geek site. slipped it into neutral and cranked the keep the heat from the cylinder head I wrapped some copper wire around electric starter. It might actually run, I from the carburetor. it, and using the camera’s led lighting, thought. So I called Bill and asked him Next was the fuel tank. Full of old, I could move it anywhere inside the to come over in a day or so and we’d see dried, smelly fuel. Peering into the tank tank to see how clean it was. The other if it would run. with a light it looked like peeling black side got the copper tubing scrape then I set up the Motion Pro temporary fuel paint. I had various ideas and sugges- flush process. Finally, I put a handful of tank on a wheeled IV stand and hooked

18 APRIL / MAY 2017 Now, my belief is, no matter what, when I hear of a bike for sale that might be something that I am interested in, I always have to go look. You just never know, and you might make a new friend…and you it to the carb. With Bill manning the shifted fine. There was more to do: re- might get a chance to screwdriver to adjust the carb, I hit the place the mirrors with correct ones and buy a cool bike. button. It cranked once. Adjust. Then, a list of mostly minor things, but it ran! on the second try, it fired up—no smoke After twenty-one years it ran! I was as and it settled to a nice idle. We installed proud as I could be, but I couldn’t have the fuel tank and put in some fuel. I rode done it without the help of my friends; it up and down the street, and it ran and their advice, guidance, and work. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 19 20 APRIL / MAY 2017 events The VJMC at the 2017 Santa Fe Trail Vintage Motorcycle Show by Mark Bayer, President KCVJMC, Kansas/Missouri Representative / [email protected]

he Santa Fe Trail AMCA mid-winter the US had this light. Later, the reflec- Tshow has been a significant event in tor was incorporated into the light lens our area for the past eight years. For at itself. I have only seen this unique setup least the past four years, the KCVJMC a few times before. Other VJMC mem- has attended the event and has shown bers brought some beautiful bikes. Jerry many of our club members’ bikes. KCV- Murray brought his very nice 1976 Hon- JMC members attend in large numbers da CB500T, and James Smith brought and our club sponsors a tent sporting his really nice CB500 K2. Randy Sams the VJMC banner. We use the tent to brought a 1979 CBX and Dennis Ran- promote our shows and to introduce nebeck showed a very unique 1981 Ya- L TO R: VJMC members Drew Walter, John Bender and the VJMC to the motorcycle communi- maha XS650 “scrambler custom.” There Claude Chafin at our booth table. ty. This year we signed up several new was a nearly perfect Honda CB750SS VJMC members. The show is always on as well as a nice Kawasaki Z1B. There VJMC activities in the Midwest. I have Super Bowl Sunday but is over in plen- were many other nice vintage Japanese connected with VJMC Field Represen- ty of time to see the big game. I would motorcycles, making the show inter- tatives Jeff Ecker in South Dakota, Den- personally miss the game before I would esting for those of us who like the Jap- nis Murphy in Iowa, Michael Russum in ever miss the motorcycle show. anese bikes. Four of the five Asian bike Fulton, Missouri, Jim Neuwirth in Ne- The show is in Lawrence, Kansas, award winners were VJMC members. braska, Hal Johnson also in Nebraska, around forty-five miles west of Kansas First place went to Jerry’s Black Bomber and Noel Moss in St. Louis. I have even City. Allen Press, the printer of Vin- mentioned above, second place went to created information pages to promote tage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine, is Randy’s CBX, and third place went to their local events. I doubt that at this also in Lawrence. Occasionally, we have Dennis’s Yamaha SX650. In the Asian time there are many traveling VJMC had employees of Allen Press stop by Competition class, Jerry’s SL350 took members between these points, but at when they see the VJMC banner. It is so first place and a beautiful Yamaha least we can have a better idea of what’s common for owners of vintage motor- TT500 owned by Wesley Cline took the going on in our different areas. I would cycles to stop by and exclaim that they second place position. love to see a large centralized Midwest- also have “old” Japanese bikes. We offer The KCVJMC has linked itself with ern show or at least more connections these visitors VJMC membership appli- several other shows in our area, this between our groups going on sometime cations and encouragement to get more event being one of them. Connect- in the future. Check out our club’s ac- involved in vintage Japanese motorcycle ing with other VJMC members from tivities and events at: www.kcvjmc.org collecting. We are also pleased to have around our area, other vintage motor- and check out local and regional events VJMC members from distant towns at- cycle enthusiasts, other vintage motor- at: www.markbayersmotorcyclenews. tend the show. cycle events, and connecting with po- mysite.com, page 2 and 3. This year we had at least thirty-two tential new members is what our club These shows are so much fun and are vintage Japanese motorcycles being is all about. You just can’t get tired of a great place to connect with others. I shown. Most owners were connected to seeing more old bikes at other shows. As have always been surprised at how many our Kansas City club, which amounted our club has sponsored more events, the collectors of non-Japanese vintage mo- to about one third of the show. There newer events don’t seem to detract from torcycles also own, collect, and ride Jap- was a beautifully restored 1965 Honda the existing ones. We started in 2011 anese bikes, vintage and new. Check out CB450 along with an SL350, both re- with one show and now in 2017, we will the above sites if you are in the Midwest. built by Jerry Juenemann of our club. have six different events. The most dis- There might be a show closer than you The SL350 had a very rare tail light re- tant event will be in McPherson, Kansas think. There is nothing that compares flector, which stands above the tail light. called “VJMC in the Midwest.” Activi- to old bike shows, gatherings of vintage It is original but is rarely seen today. ty seems to drive interest and partici- motorcycle enthusiasts, and seeing some Jerry stated that the first 500 SLs sent to pation. We have also been supporting bike you’ve never seen before. l Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 21

KICKSTANDS UP AT DAWN How to Come Out Alive Every Time: The Choice is Yours

That feeling just before the ride begins or just after the bike starts up at the end of a long day in the shop is why we continue to do what we do. This column is an attempt to put into words the magic and mystery of life with a vintage Japanese motorcycle. by Marsha Heck / [email protected]

2015 Christmas gift, The Biker confidence developed from riding of not only riding, but also driving. ACode: Wisdom for the Ride, by in various road conditions, traffic Taking this lesson to life off the road Stuart Miller and Geoffrey Moss, is a patterns, speed zones, and weather; as is the custom in this column—if collection of photos and words. Each I sat at a red light about seven miles one is to “assume they don’t [fill in full-page image is paired with words from home. Returning from a day the blank]” into personal and work of, well, wisdom. Inspiration for this spent rebuilding carbs with Jim relationships, perhaps riding will column comes from page eighteen Townsend, I was fifteen minutes make one not only a better driver, of that collection—a black and white from the house and could have easily but also a better friend, spouse, or mirror close-up with other com- proceeded on autopilot. On the green colleague. At work, if I care about a ponents of the handlebars entirely arrow, I turned left to travel west on project and see what needs to be done, blurred. As a sometimes photogra- a two-lane highway. Shifting up to rather than waiting for someone else pher, I can see the geometric calcu- second as I exited the intersection, to do the right thing, I can take the lations and skill required to create I saw to my immediate right a car, action necessary to successfully move an image so singularly focused on facing my right of way, left turn signal the project forward. In relationships, a bright mirror centered in an oth- blinking. Looking directly at the if I watch carefully to see what the erwise shadowed composition. One driver, I assumed she was smiling at— other person will do, rather than knows levers, dials, gauges, etc. exist, but did not see—me. blindly assuming they will yield to but the angle of the photograph does When, as anticipated, the car my expectations, happiness is more not reveal them. entered the highway coming directly likely. The photographer clearly focused toward me, I fulfilled another ABATE To be clear, the point is not that one attention on the mirror to symbolize dictum: “SEE.” I had Seen the turn person should do all the work in a the wise words, “Consider every driver signal, Evaluated what would happen relationship or at work, with others blind as a bat.” Anyone who completed assuming she did not see me, Executed metaphorically ignoring traffic laws an ABATE course was likewise my plan, and lived to tell the tale. and rights of way. Rather, the best and cautioned that drivers do not see Having confirmed the eastbound lane safest riders are those who assume motorcycles. Period. I left my three- was open I slowed and swerved left responsibility for their own safety day course certain that any car likely looking in that mirror photographed and ride aware of their surroundings, to cross my path was, in fact, driven above. It was both a literal tool and assuming that others may not always by a driver who saw neither me nor a symbolic reminder to take 100% honor their right of way. In the scenario my bike. Not unlike the 1970’s driver responsibility for my own safety. above, I had the “right” of way, but I education earworm “hands at two and This anecdote is one example of why chose being alive rather than claiming four,” when riding my Honda CB350 it is common to hear “riding made me that right. Off the road, safe riders four, the ABATE instructor’s voice in a better driver.” In the case of my near and readers of this magazine can also my ear echoes: “Assume they do not miss, I found the counsel assume they choose to give up being right, opting see you, even if they look in your eyes.” do not see you to provide clarity and instead for harmonious relationships When making direct eye contact with confidence. Taking responsibility for or successful work environments. a driver, imagine that you are looking anything that happens to me on my Indeed, riding a vintage Japanese at Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes and he bike, rather than blaming the driver motorcycle can make us not only “sees nuh-thing……” for doing what I know the driver is better drivers, but also better friends, Thus, several months after earning going to do, has continued to free spouses, and colleagues. my motorcycle endorsement, with rather than limit me in my experience Until the next issue, ride safe. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 23 FAR LEFT: 1963 Miyapet Super Deluxe 50 LEFT: Miyapet ad from Cycle World

BELOW: A couple of Larry’s Hondas

CENTER: This bike came to Larry with Mount St. Helen’s ash. still on it! ABOVE: Parts, parts parts RIGHT: Larry’s Miyapet at a local vintage show in Washington state

24 APRIL / MAY 2017 History A Long Forgotten Vintage Japanese Motorcycle —The­­ Miyapet

by Bob Kelly, Communications Director / [email protected]

Miyapet History he Miyapet Motorcycle was built by the Miyata Manufacturing Company. Mi- Tyata is best known as a bicycle supplier to the US in the 1970s and 1980s. Miyata also built the first Japanese motorcycle in 1913. Miyapet was imported into the US from 1961 through 1963 by Ferndale Motorcycle Sales in Ferndale, Washington. No wonder Larry Reasoner, in nearby Redmond, was able to find parts and a complete motorcycle in his home state of Washington. A small Miyapet advertise- ment ran in Cycle World magazine from January through May 1963.

Larry’s Miyapet Larry Reasoner has been riding Hondas since he was fifteen. The first Honda he saw was at the Dennis Company, best known for hardware and general mer- chandise since 1905 in the Washington State area. After sitting on a Trail 55 for a couple of hours, he was hooked and had to have one. Larry worked all summer, peeling cascara bark (a natural medicine) and picking blackberries to buy his first Honda. He was hanging out so much at the Dennis Honda shop that they offered him a job, where he worked for two years after school and on the weekends. After high school graduation and college, the US Army drafted him in 1967. After a tour in Vietnam, Larry returned to Dennis Honda and worked there until 1987; which, coincidently, is the year the Dennis Company decided to get out of the Honda business. A few years ago, a friend in another town told him someone had a bunch of new, old stock, Honda parts at a garage sale; apparently none of them sold. A phone call revealed that the owner planned to take the parts to the dump if they didn’t sell. Larry convinced the guy to bring the parts by so he could take a look at them. The guy showed up the next day with half a pickup load of new motorcycle parts. The load turned out to contain twenty circa-1959 vintage Honda parts (including a tachometer for a CB92). Thinking the remainder of the parts were for Japanese bikes, Larry bought the entire lot. Most of the parts were not in bags, but one part was bagged and iden- tified as Miyapet. He went to the Internet and found very little on that brand. After a few months of searching, Larry found an engineer who worked for Miyata in Tokyo from 1960 through 1964. He was a production and R&D engineer there and responsible for the model Larry owns today. Larry contacted him, and the en- gineer said he didn’t know of any surviving Miyapets in the US but did give him TOP: a contact in Malaysia who might be able to help. The Malaysian had heard of the Miyapet badge Miyapets and owns three of them, but in Malaysia they go by the Federal brand. CENTER: Larry found someone in northern Washington State who owned a Miyapet while The speedometer he was looking for information. The guy still had his Miyapet that he’d purchased indicated a low mileage bike for brand new, and it was hanging from the roof of his metal building. Larry asked if a 1963 model. the bike was for sale, and he indicated that he didn’t want to part with it. BOTTOM: Larry touched base with him on and off for the next three years, and on his The 1963 motor last attempt the guy relented and sold Larry his Miyapet. After a five-hour drive, cleaned up nicely.

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 25 Larry saw his Miyapet for the first time. It turned out to be a 1963 Super Deluxe 50 in very good condition but not running. The bike was filthy after hanging in the shed for over thirty years, and it was still covered with ash from the 1980 Mount Saint Helens eruption. Once cleaned up, the bike was very nice, with no spider webs in the paint. There was more good news: most of the Miyapet parts he bought years earlier fit this model. One odd note about Larry’s Miyapet is that the headlight hi-lo switch on the handle bar is labeled “U” and “D”. Our best guess is it must be up and down; high beam up, low beam down. After four-plus years of searching, Larry has not found any other Miyapets in his area. He is still a Honda guy at heart and currently owns twenty-two pre-1969 models, but his Miyapet is a conversation starter. Larry would like to give a special thanks to all his VJMC email buddies, most of whom he has never met, but with whom he sure has fun exchanging emails. They include Bob Barron in Ohio, Bob Shields in Maine, Fred Klopp in Pennsylvania, and myself in Colorado. Hondas and the Miyapet have been a big part of Larry’s history, and he has enjoyed every minute of it. If anyone has any in- formation on the Miyapets please let Larry know. If you need any Miyapet parts, he has a bunch of them. Larry can be reached at [email protected] l

26 APRIL / MAY 2017 MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION Dealing with Fork Tube Caps by Tim Kern

f all the “easy” jobs in motorcycle- Odom, replacing the caps on the fork tubes after a fluid flush, rebuild, or seal replacement is one of the worst. The caps are aluminum, soft compared to the tubes. Because it’s difficult to press down against the spring while holding the caps in alignment while trying to 1 2 engage the threads, a cross-threaded cap is often the result. On the really old bikes (40 years and older) you’ll often find a large hex atop a steel fork cap. That means most of your problem is solved, but for working on modern bikes with the air fittings this article may be helpful. One tip that I’ve found helpful for all these threaded assemblies is to put the 3 cap on without the spring, just a cou- ple turns on. Then unscrew the cap 4 slowly, looking for the moment when things up later easier. the threads disengage. Make a mark on You’ll notice that the socket won’t fit the tube (or triple clamp) and the cap over the cap because of the air fitting. (PHOTO 1). You will use these marks Eyeball the relief you’ll need and mark it when you’re putting the cap on with the on the socket with a permanent marker, spring inside. The idea here is that you clamp the socket in your vise, and make won’t have to make a multi-degree turn your first cut (PHOTO 2). Don’t be shy to “find” the threads, which is difficult about re-clamping to make your cutting to feel when you’re pushing down on the easier, but remember that cutting the cap with forty or fifty pounds of pres- socket will make it hot! sure. Starting where the threads start Grab your trusty Dremel tool and cut- (actually about 10-15 degrees before off wheel and make a relief as shown in they engage) is a great way to not cross- the photo (PHOTO 3). You want to make thread them. It’s easier on your wrist, just enough clearance, but not much and you’re not likely to get a faceful of more, as you’ll need to have a reason- cap if you let go too soon. ably close fit to the cap so you can turn 5 Ideally, you’ll have the straight hex-top it (PHOTO 4). The sockets are hard met- caps, and you’ll be able to simply fit the al, so you’ll need three or four cutoff right hex socket atop the cap, set your disks—more if you break them. marks, push down, engage the threads, Clean up the grind so you don’t man- and snug stuff up. But if you have a mod- gle your caps, and use your new tool ern air fitting on the cap, your socket with your short extension and ratchet won’t fit. So make a tool. Here’s how. handle (PHOTO 5). Turn it in only a cou- Buy a cheap socket that’s a little smaller ple turns and use a real wrench (PHOTO than the cap’s outer diameter, so you’ll 6) to tighten it. Finally position your air be able to see the cap below the socket valves so you can fill them easily, pres- 6 all the way around. That makes lining sure them up, and ride. l Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 27 FAR LEFT: Suzuki 750 LEFT: Mark Foster and his H2 Z1 BELOW LEFT: The 2016 Kentucky Kickdown team BELOW RIGHT: Steve Miles and his CB750

ABOVE: Early sport bikes RIGHT: CBX model

28 APRIL / MAY 2017 FIELD REP FOCUS The VJMC at Kentucky Kickdown 2016

by Sean Carrigan, Kentucky Field Representative / [email protected]

he VJMC once again participat- Ted in the fourth annual Kentucky Kickdown vintage motorcycle show in Louisville, in mid-September. The vintage bike scene there is organized by the Louisville Vintage Motorworks group, and my contact is Kickdown founder and co-organizer Scott Halb- leib. The show takes place on two city blocks that turn that part of the his- toric Highlands urban area into a vin- tage bike fest with a lot of great energy, craft brew, food trucks, vendors, live music, and old bikes. The show brings LEFT: in an eclectic collection of machines Crowded streets with nine trophy categories. The at the Kentucky Kickdown crowds were down a bit in the morn- ing due to ominous clouds, but by af- a second canopy for our bikes. Mark were lined up next to our tent, which ternoon the streets were filled as usu- Foster brought his gorgeous Kawi brought in many folks to chat about al. As the biggest vintage bike event in H2 and Z1 from across the river in the club and their favorite bikes. the Ohio Valley, the Kickdown never his home in Indiana. Mark and Steve We signed up a few new members, disappoints. were great ambassadors as they talked represented the club, and reconnected The VJMC was in a prime spot, once to interested onlookers at length about with the LouVin group. As the rep- again, with a double space near the their machines. Curt Edwards, of Lou- resentative for Kentucky, this might front entrance. Longtime club mem- isville, has helped us every year by rid- have been the easiest, most relaxing bers Jim and Paulette Turner, of Lou- ing in and displaying bikes, helping at Kickdown for me, due to the team isville, were our local contact organiz- the club table, and taking great photos help and early commitments. I even ers and did a great job setting up our and video, and posting to social media got a great deal on Kevlar riding jeans space and taking the lead manning for us. I made the ninety-minute trip which have been on my list for some the booth. Louisville area member from northern Kentucky with club re- time! Thanks to the Kickdown crew Steve Miles brought his amazing Hon- galia, banners, table, etc. Several more for including us, and thank you VJMC da CB750F race replica to display and original and modified Japanese bikes team for being there. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 29 LEFT: Rolled tube Plug

ABOVE: Wrong spring FAR LEFT: New front LEFT: Burned tube BELOW LEFT: Beginning BELOW: New rear

30 APRIL / MAY 2017 PROJECT BIKE Shock and Awe by Paul James / [email protected]

ittle did I know that what I thought Lwas going to be a weekend project to keep me from getting bored on the weekends as I was working away from RIGHT: home would turn into such a learning Old front and challenging experience. My neph- BELOW: ew had a 1982 Yamaha MX100 that Old rear he had, as we say in the South, “rid- den hard and put up wet.” Most of the parts were there, and it had an awesome camo paint job that only a twelve-year- old could apply. It had been in the barn for many years, all of the chrome parts were rusted, and it had mud wasp “dirt dobber” nests in every open hole. But it would actually run if you sprayed start- ing fluid in the carburetor, so I thought, “What the heck, I will give it a shot.” take it apart to send them off the have I loaded the bike up in the back of my them re-chromed. The inner tubes on truck in Louisiana and brought it up the front shock were pitted beyond re- north to Illinois to set the restoration pair, so they needed to be replaced. No wheels in motion. My mind was racing problem, I would just get new ones. The with all the things that I was going to search for new ones began over three do to the little dirt bike and what the years ago. finished product would look like on my I started with the rear shocks. It was fifteen hour drive back to the heart of easy enough to separate the shocks Yankee land. I had myself convinced from the springs. The springs and the that it was going to look just like it did upper mounting brackets were in good when it was brand new; what a silly, na- shape, and I had them powder coated ive little man. black, along with the frame and other The journey began with the portion black parts to bring them back to new My go-to part providers are Yamaha of the job that I am world class at: the condition. The problem was the shock Speed and Sport in Bloomsburg, Penn- tear down. Of course, I took loads of itself. It didn’t have a retaining clip to sylvania, and Northwest Vintage Cycle pictures. Word to the wise, take a lot keep the shock piston, packing, and in Estacada, Oregon. Both of them are of pictures; when you think you have seals inside the shock tube. The shock great, and I have spent hours on their all the pictures you need, take some was put together at the factory, and then web sites looking at illustrated parts more. At times it was like I had a pic- the top lip was rolled over to keep every- drawings and looking for parts. As luck ture of everything on the bike, except thing together. I guess I could have used would have it, rear shocks for a 1982 for the part I was working on. During a lathe to cut the rolled top out, have the Yamaha MX100 were a discontinued the teardown and cataloging process parts re-chromed, and then have the lip item and neither one had any, nor did everything looked pretty straightfor- rolled back, but I didn’t have a lathe and eBay or any other place that I could find ward, except the front and rear shocks. it seemed not to be the best way to go. I on the Internet. During one of those The chrome part of the rear shock decided I would start looking for new hours on Speed and Sports’ webpage, I was rusted and pitted but looked like ones; you can find anything on the In- saw that there was a 1990 RT100, so I it could be re-chromed, however, the ternet, right? I finally did find them on clicked on it. The more I looked at the shock was non-repairable so I couldn’t the Internet, and it only took two years. drawing, the more I began to realize Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 31 that it was almost the same motorcycle I would have a brand new set of rear could it be? They are just chrome-plated as mine, it just had different body parts shocks. Success. And all it took was a metal tubes. and a different look. The frame, engine, little mechanical work, some powder Before I get to the fun part, let me tell front end, rear end all looked the same. coating, two years of searching, and one you about the boring stuff. I bought the The rear shocks looked exactly like the lucky click of the mouse. seals and the chrome-plated screws from ones that were on my bike, they just If you think the rear shocks were easy, Northwest Vintage Cycle and Speed and came with a different color spring for just wait until I tell you about the front Sport. I took my outer tubes to a profes- each year of the RTs. The only problem shocks. The front shocks make the rear sional paint store in Joliet, Illinois, and was that they were over $250 dollars shocks look like a game of “‘go fish”’ got them to match the color and mix up for a matched set, which I didn’t mind compared to chess. It all started out the some paint for me. I didn’t know you paying if they were right, but I didn’t same way; during the tear down I as- could put forty dollars’ worth of paint want to pay that much for a part that sessed their condition and decided that in one aerosol can, but come to find out might not be right. Back to eBay I went. the inner tubes were pitted too bad to you can. At that point, I didn’t even care I found a used set for ten dollars. My have them re-chromed, but I could re- what it cost, I was just happy something thinking was, I would get that used set, pair the rest of the shocks. To the Bat worked right the first time. I cleaned up and if they were correct, I would buy the Mobile, I mean Internet. A little better the outer tubes, probably better than I new ones from Speed and Sport. I had than before—at least some of the parts should have; I removed some casting never been happier to have a ten dollar for the front shocks were available. The imperfections that I should have left if set of crappy used shocks that I had ab- inner workings were pretty simple, and I was going for the concours resto. As solutely no use for; they were a perfect all I needed to do was clean up most of all of you know, once you take it off, you match. I bought the new set from Speed the parts and buy new seals. I was on my can’t put it back on, so we will just have and Sport as fast I could. All I had to do way; I would have this thing winning to live with the better than stock outer was replace the lovely magenta colored awards before you could spit. All I had to tubes. Bam, new looking outer tubes, I springs with my plain black ones, and do was find the inner tubes. How hard am kicking butt and takin’ names. This

32 APRIL / MAY 2017 is where it all came to a screeching halt. So, I called Northwest—super nice tubes—wall to wall, floor to ceiling, ev- All of this time I had been looking for guy, very helpful. Sorry, I can’t remem- ery length and diameter that one could new inner tubes, so far nothing. EBay, ber his name but if you need help call imagine. The owner wasn’t there, but Craigslist, parts suppliers, overseas, them; they will do what they can. They one of the employees was. I handed him nothing; I was batting a big fat .000. I won’t even tell you that you are stupid, my shock tube and he crushed me with even went to some websites that tested even when you know you are and you four little words: “Nope, can’t build it.” my anti-virus software when I typed in know that they know you are. I told him the word tubes. I found a pair of used my problem and he confirmed that, “What, why?” shocks on eBay that looked great in the “Yea, those things are hard to find.” He photos. I clicked buy and waited with told me about a guy that made some in- “It is a plugged tube, we don’t do anticipation for the UPS driver. I got ner tubes for them for a different mod- plugged tubes.” home from work one day, and the box el. He said, “Give him a call; he might was by the front door. Straight to the can help.” Sweet, I gave him a call—an- “What do you mean it is a plugged shop I went to open my present that swering machine. I left a message—no tube?” would soon be a complete set of new return call. Maybe he was super busy. looking front shocks. As I opened the I gave it a few weeks and called back. “You see that threaded plug in the box and got my first glimpse, I got this Bingo! I got a human being. I told him end? We don’t do those.” crooked little smile of satisfaction, they my problem (do you see a pattern). He were looking good. It was ABC Sports told me that he should be able to help “What am I supposed to do?” that coined the phrase Thrill of Victory me. I was feeling good. I took off ear- and Agony of Defeat. While both tubes ly from work and hit the road with my “Did you try the Internet?” looked good at first glance, both had sad excuse for an inner shock tube. I seal burn marks, and one was slightly finally got to the place and was feeling “*&%^$#&$#*&^%%!!!!!” bowed. Crap, back to square one. better, the place was packed with shock

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 33 “If you leave the tube with me, I will other thing I learned). Of course, sev- ration gods had finally smiled on me. give it to the owner and ask him if he is eral things popped up. As I was scroll- I dismantled the shocks, buffed out willing to make an exception. You see, ing down I came across a set. I opened the scratches, and put them into my it takes a lot more work to build these. it up, what do you know, they looked already painted lower tubes, with new He will give you a call.” You guessed pretty good, and at what now seemed seals and screws, and I had brand new it, no call. like a bargain at $100. I clicked “Buy.” front and rear shocks for my 1982 Ya- My thinking reverted back to my old I got home from work one day and a maha MX100. logging days. Logging in North Louisi- box was sitting by the door. I stepped Now, I have condensed this three- ana is like farming in the Midwest, you over it and went in the house to make year journey into a few paragraphs, learn how to fix pretty much anything a pot of coffee and watch an episode but what have we learned from this, with nothing. I started thinking, “You of Bonanza. I just knew Hoss needed kids? Patience, persistence, commit- know shock tubes aren’t much different me to help him right some wrong. I ment, these and some more, but my from a hydraulic cylinder ram. We use drank some coffee and watched Bo- vocabulary isn’t that vast so I ran out to get those made all the time at a ma- nanza, then headed back outside to of words, and I am too lazy to look in a chine shop.” I gave one a call, told him check the latest addition to my scrap thesaurus (I hope I spelled that right). my problem (again, pattern). “Oh yea, heap. I would say my expectations We are in this hobby for many reasons. we can do that. $300 apiece.” were low, but that would be an under- We share some, and some are unique statement, my expectations were non- to us. The important thing is that we “&%#@?!!!!” existent. I opened the box. Yep, shock enjoy what we are doing, and we do the tubes. I took one out. Looked pret- best we can at it. We all have different Sitting at my computer, feeling deject- ty good, looked real good. I took the levels of talent and different areas of ed, I went to eBay, out of habit. I typed other one out, looked even better—no expertise. Know when to ask for help, in DT100 front shocks (yes, mine was seal burns, very minor scratches that and by all means, share your experi- an MX100, but they are the same—an- would buff out with ease. The resto- ences with other people in the hobby. l

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34 APRIL / MAY 2017 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 35 Metric

in South Dakota

36 APRIL / MAY 2017 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 37 cover story

by Jeff Ecker, South Dakota Field Representative / [email protected]

outh Dakota? Yes, you read that Sright! When Jess Nelson of Black Hills Vintage Cycles and I decided to put on a vintage motorcycle show, my biggest worry was how to get the word out. An inspiration came from the sto- ry about the vintage show that was put on in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, the year before, and how surprised the organiz- ers were at the large turnout of motor- cycles and people interested in old mo- torcycles. Western Nebraska is pretty darn far out there on the prairie, and Hot Springs, South Dakota, is perhaps even farther out in the sparsely popu- lated regions of the United States. I listed our event in the VJMC cal- endar, Craigslist, bought an advertise- ment in the local newspaper, made up some flyers, and fretted whether any significant number of people would come. On July 18, 2016, we had our show and ride, and forty-two vin- es to ride, things to do for the family, tage bikes were on display, with a nice and nice swimming holes. We have a crowd coming and going. At mid af- 200 by 50 foot indoor pool with a rock ternoon, we led a ninety-mile ride bottom, fed by natural springs coming through Custer and Wind Cave parks, up from the bottom of the pool at 87 and in the evening we hosted a back- degrees right in town. We also have the yard picnic for everyone. “Woolly Mammoth” archaeological We had attendees from all the sur- site here. So plan on coming to Mam- rounding states, which really surprised moth Metric Mayhem the weekend me. It seems that someone saw the of June 17, 2017. All vintage bikes are posting on Craigslist and shared it on welcome, and if you come early or stay Facebook under “motorcycle events.” late, we can take you riding in some Isn’t it a wonderful new world?! We real interesting places! l didn’t charge any fees and will not charge any for our next show and ride in June. We did put out a donation bucket and sold event T-shirts, and we did just fine financially. I’m a real be- liever in the goodness and generosity of people. Hot Springs is a real pretty little town in the southern end of the Black Hills, with plenty of motels, camping, plac- 38 APRIL / MAY 2017

40 APRIL / MAY 2017 RIDES The Backup Bike—A Trip to the Hospital (Part Two, New Mexico) by David Hellard

s reported in the previous Vintage river. Everyone seems to stop there, as AJapanese Motorcycle Magazine is- well as a myriad of artisans hawking sue, my college roommate, Dave D., their wares near the roadside park. This and I have ridden off-road together massively high structure apparently is for the last forty-three years. Having also a drawing card for depressed peo- been on nine previous Western rid- ple, who choose to end their lives with a ing trips, we thought we would try it long leap from the bridge. Suicide hot- one more time before we got just too line phones are prominent along the darn old to ride the rugged mountains viewing walkways. of Colorado. This year, his younger Another good friend from Oklaho- brother, Tom, a sixty-two-year-old off- ma City, Mark D., has ridden with us road novice, had volunteered to come several times over the years. He has a along. We left Columbus, Ohio, in July, vacation home in a small golf course headed for another riding adventure. community called Valle Escondito, We could see the skies darkening, and For the first stop, we spent a week in about ten miles outside of Taos. Mark by the time we reached our destina- the Breckenridge, Colorado, area rid- had driven over from Oklahoma City tion, which was twenty miles out, there ing in Colorado’s highest county, aptly and had everything in place waiting for was thunder, lightning, and then a hail named Summit. us. He has a spacious two-level home, storm. They were small hail stones, We had previously planned to spend with a large upstairs, great cable TV, but they definitely stung. We sheltered the second week of the trip in New and three beds downstairs. That night, under a copse of large pine trees for Mexico. Departing Breckenridge, we he grilled delicious steaks for us on his about fifteen minutes until the storm headed south and encountered an awe- pellet grill. His wife, Gwyn, had cho- passed. We then started to retrace our some drive through the valley on Route sen to stay in Oklahoma City but did steps back to Mark’s cabin, noting road 485. Our last stop in Colorado was in send down a wide variety of wonder- conditions had deteriorated further. the quaint town of Alamosa. Sport- ful food with Mark to feed us for more We headed back on Route 76, and this ing a population of 9000, it is a large than a week. We ate like absolute kings is where Tom took his first fall while railroad hub, as well as housing both all week. trying to negotiate a large mud hole. Adams State University and Trinidad The next day started with a fantas- He complained that his ribs were a lit- State Junior College. As we gassed up tic breakfast, cooked by Mark. The tle sore from the fall, but he continued the Acura, we asked for advice about weather looked a little overcast, but to ride. Then we encountered that re- the best place to eat. The lady at the rain percentages were in the fifty-per- ally bad section, which was now uphill counter directed us to a little restaurant cent range, so off we headed off into the coming back on Route 138. Dave D. nearby. It was called the El Charo Café. mountains. Mark joined us on the ride and I negotiated it with some anxious Afterwards, we all agreed that we had on his 650 Grizzly Quad, a big power- moments, but I knew that Tom would experienced an unexpectedly sumptu- ful machine that he rode very well. Our struggle and that I would probably be ous lunch. planned route of the day would take us walking downhill to restart the 185 Moving quickly through northern high into the mountains, with views for him. However, worse yet, Tom had New Mexico, we did choose to stop of Eagle Nest Lake and Angel Fire Ski crashed again hard, and once again, on at a sight well worth viewing: the Rio Resort. When we arrived at the Garcia his right side. He was obviously in real Grande Gorge Bridge. Marveling at the Park area and headed downhill, the pain and in no shape to continue on the vista, one would think they are look- trail became increasingly slippery, with Honda backup bike. He got on the back ing at one of the upper sections of the numerous pools of water. There was a of Mark’s four wheeler, and they ran a Grand Canyon. The bridge is over 1200 particularly bad downhill section on bit farther up the hill. However, they feet long and hangs 565 feet above the FR 138, but all of us navigated it well. stopped because the ride was making Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 41 the pain much worse for Tom. At that on some of the downhill stretches. the very same spot where Tom broke point, I walked back down the hill and Dave D., Tom, and I headed to Holy- his ribs. Curiously, that section didn’t rode the XL185 back up to where the cross Hospital in Taos on four wheels. seem nearly as tough those days. I rest of the group was congregating. We had great physicians’ staff, friendly guess the strong sunshine dried it out We knew Tom had rib and possibly competent nurses, and great techni- for us. Also, Mark and Dave got a cou- shoulder issues and needed to get to the cians. X-ray results showed four bro- ple of days of golf in on Valle Escondi- hospital in Taos. Dave D. stayed with ken ribs. These were not just cracked do’s nice, but hilly nine-hole course. I Tom, while I followed Mark’s Quad on ribs; they were completely separated! chose not to play, as I gave up on golf my DRZ the ten miles back down the Doctors then decided Tom needed a years ago, following the Clint East- mountain to the cabin. Mark and I then CT scan to ensure that his lungs were wood mantra: “A man needs to know switched into his truck and started back not punctured. The lungs proved to be his limitations.” uphill to get Tom off the mountain. It OK, and seven long hours later, we left On Saturday, August 27, we were took about an hour and fifteen minutes the hospital with prescriptions and a packed and on our way home. The of slow, hard-pounding, large rock ne- breathing machine. The next day, we ride through Angel Fire was foggy ini- gotiating to get back up to them. Tom went into Taos to get Tom’s medicine tially, but when dawn broke, we drove got in the passenger side of the truck, and do some souvenir shopping. I have through a beautiful canyon north out and Mark headed down the hill. For to say that Tom was a real trooper. Ob- of the Eagles Nest Resort area that was our exit, Dave D. rode his KTM, and viously, he was in pain, but he perse- truly breathtaking. It was a long drive I hopped on the XL185 backup bike vered with a minimal amount of com- that day, some seven hundred miles, and headed down the mountain again. plaining. If I had broken four ribs, the through huge cattle operations and I had not ridden the 185 on the trail, other two would have never heard the mile after mile of those humungous but I was pleasantly surprised how well end of it. turbine windmills across west-central it handled the tough terrain as I flew Dave D., Mark, and I had several Kansas. That night, we stayed just east down the mountain back to the cabin. more days of riding in the Carson Na- of Kansas City. The Holiday Inn park- Dave D. said I hit forty miles per hour tional Forest, sometimes traversing ing lot was huge, but absolutely packed

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 43 at 11:30 pm, when we came dragging in for the night. The hotel manager was kind enough to let us park right in the front entranceway, for which we were thoroughly grateful. The next morning, we understood why the parking lot was so full. We had blundered into the Fall Willy’s Jeep 4-Wheel Drive Reunion. This is an annual gathering of Willys 4-wheel drive aficionados from around the country. We had an interesting time chatting with one fellow who we found out had, in years past, traversed some of the very same Colorado high mountain passes that we had. As he was packing up for his way home, we then really marveled as he pop wheelied his Willys right on up onto his trailer! We motored eastward, stopping outside of Indianapolis for a late lunch at a truck stop Subway. We rolled into Co- lumbus at 5 pm. The day on the road was 537 miles, but we were happy to be back home. This trip was truly once in a lifetime. Except for Tom getting hurt, we didn’t think it could have gone much better. We experienced fifteen days of fantastic sights in Colorado and New Mexico. We pounded out seven exhilarating days of off-road riding, al- most four hundred miles on those on rocky forest roads. That was a real adventure, and we could not have done it without relying on the faithful Honda XL185 “Backup Bike.” As all of our VJMC readers know: Vintage Japanese motorcycles still “rock!” l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 45 LEFT: A Catalina we sold in Las Vegas for $6,000

BELOW: An engine going back together

RIGHT: Getting ready to split a YDS3 crank with a custom replica of the Yamaha special crank- shaft tool

FAR RIGHT : A Bear going together. I build my own assembly jigs, for both frames and motor.

BELOW: Original CL77

RIGHT: The completed Honda in 2016

46 APRIL / MAY 2017 PROJECT BIKE Big Bear Scrambler and the CL77 by Rob Peterson / [email protected]

o, here’s my VJMC story, and I’m Sstickin’ to it, because I now qualify for Medicare, and I’m too old to create a new one. I got out of motorcycling when our children were young (got into street rodding), and after they moved on I got back in, starting in the mid-’60s on Tri- umph 650 bikes. They were a bike I knew well. After building “my herd” and restoring a few more for sale to justify my time in the hand as I traveled along on this journey. Our three Bears shop, I got this brainstorm. As a kid, I Jim Welch, of Illinois, was an encyclo- sale that was for sale and told him about always lusted after a 250 Yamaha YD- pedia of knowledge. What great guys. it. This era of bike pre-dates his famil- S3C Big Bear Scrambler, a bike I was too Damon Graddy, out in California, was iarity, but I told him that I thought the young to ride at the time and one my especially helpful, as was Greg Davis price was good, the market was strong, parents wouldn’t let me buy with my al- in British Columbia, and particularly, and they always had a cool factor. Al- lowance money. By the time I was a man Alasdair Cowen, in Scotland as a suppli- though I had no direct knowledge of in his 50s, I thought maybe it was about er of parts. As you can see from the loca- working on Hondas, he bought it, and I time I quenched that thirst. tions, the expertise was dispersed. This told him I would help him on the basics. I eventually found one on eBay in gave me the motivation to develop as He turned out to be quite a proficient Pennsylvania and had it shipped home much expertise myself as I could. After restorer and has finished a few before to Wisconsin. I quickly got a Clymers some years had passed, I ran into War- moving on to other bikes that he has Manual. It was not difficult to get it up ren Warner, now of Bentonville, Arkan- more personal interest in. and running, however, the clutch pack sas, who was a former shop owner/cur- So, in the fall of 2015, I get a call from was frozen, and no matter how long I rent collector and racer of Yamahas. We brother-in-law Jeff saying he bought a had the bike running and driving up developed a friendship that has lasted CL77 from North Dakota, knowing that and down the shoulder in my country until today. Along the way, he coached I always thought they were cool bikes. setting, I couldn’t get it to free up. me on many aspects of engine me- While being reluctant at first because I remember going into a big Yamaha chanics, getting me to the point where I had no familiarity or spare parts, I dealership in Minnesota to ask the ser- I could rebuild my own motors from the decided to “thank” Jeff for finding my vice department, “Do you know if the cranks on up, do my own zinc plating next project and spent 2016 doing the threaded nut holding the clutch basket and wheel building—things I had sent restoration. I have to thank Mark Tom- on is left or right hand?” and him look- out for others to do before. linson in River Falls, Wisconsin, for his ing back at me and smiling, “Do you re- So, where one Bear gathers, more tend assistance along the way (camshaft dis- alize that your bike was manufactured to follow. We keep three; two as riders assembly and removal technique). The twenty years before anybody in our ser- for my wife and myself, and the third Honda runs great, and it is great fun to vice department was even born?” That I built as a Phantom Bear that I have see a Honda CL77 and Yamaha YDS3C was my first introduction into my need seen in very early limited literature. Our parked in the driveway while I am out- to locate and tap into the underground daughter lives in Las Vegas, so building side doing yard work—two iconic rides, network community of Yamaha YDS3 bikes for sale at the auction down there both sounding impressive and powerful followers. I did not have a local vintage was a good reason to spend more time in their own ways, and each a reminis- bike repair shop that could handle ques- in the shop and visit her in the winter. cent style that brings back memories. I tions or repairs like I had with the vin- As I was doing the Yamaha Big Bear was contacted to bring some bikes to a tage Triumph bikes. thing, my younger brother-in-law saw 1966 high school reunion this summer. I found a Yahoo group moderated what I was doing and said he would like I didn’t go to that school and was not by Ed Thielman. There I met a fellow to get into doing it too. I heard about a from that town, but having the bikes Wisconsonite, Dan Bauer, who held my Honda CL77 down the road at a garage there made me feel like I had. l Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 47 48 APRIL / MAY 2017 ODDS & ENDS My Harbor Freight Experiment

by Jonathan Green / [email protected]

f you are not familiar with Harbor motorcycle work? IFreight, the first thing that I will tell How did I get this stupid (per my you is that it is “Bed Bath & Beyond for wife) or excellent (per my friends) Boys.” Not only do they have just about idea? One day, I was tinkering with every crazy tool you can think of, they my CT 90, and I had to keep running even have the same twenty-percent off from the driveway, through the house, coupons that you can always find in to my tools at the other side of the ga- your Sunday paper or newstand mo- rage, and back again, simply because I torcycle magazine. Just like BB&B, couldn’t get past all the other treasures there are some real gems at HF, and a in the garage blocking the way to the lot of, well, “questionable” things there tool chest. Second, I had a $500 wind- too. fall come my way, which was complete- There are a number of jokes about ly unexpected and out of the blue. Harbor Freight (“What are the top Two quick notes about the methodol- two things you shouldn’t buy at Har- ogy. First, I actually made more than bor Freight? Parachutes and pacemak- one trip there. Second, while I have all ers.”), but it has been my experience the receipts (if you have them, it is my that there are things at Harbor Freight understanding that you can return a that are not bad. In fact, it isn’t fair to tool that breaks at any time to HF, and say that they “aren’t bad”; we should I have done so) for purposes of this ar- say they are “surprisingly good.” If ticle, I’m not going to verify my num- you know what to look for, you can bers. My numbers are approximations, find tools there that are at least as good within a few dollars here and there. as the brands you’d buy at your typical Sometimes, the great price is as a re- big-box hardware stores. sult of a special coupon for the product Harbor Freight also has a lot of tools or the twenty-percent off coupon. For and equipment that you just can’t find purposes of my experiment and this elsewhere, for anywhere near the price. article, my prices are to the best of my For example: motorcycle lifts, jacks, memory. This isn’t science, after all… trailers, and other shop equipment. First, you need something in which to Frankly, for most of us, if we don’t keep the tools; a rolling tool cabinet is make our living with these things, how a must. For $99 I got the four-drawer can we justify spending big money on chest. It’s not bad at all, but remember, them? drawers can get heavy. If you open two There is a Harbor Freight along the heavy drawers at once, it may tip over. TOP: way to one of my stops for work, so I But the laws of physics apply equally The closed kit find myself there more than I proba- across all price points. BOTTOM: Surprise! Look bly should. I once told a friend that, at The next step was, of course, to fill what’s inside. that point, I had at least one thing on that tool chest. For $159, HF has a every page of its monthly circular. He 301-piece tool set, in a very nice plastic replied that, at that point, I could open case. It has some basic hand tools like up my own Harbor Freight with what I needle nose pliers, a crescent wrench, bought over the years. some combination wrenches, Allen So, what is the Harbor Freight Ex- wrenches, a number of screwdrivers, periment? Can I take $500 to Harbor but most importantly, a massive socket Freight and come away with a func- set. The main purpose behind getting tional tool set, suitable for 99.9% of all this kit, in fact, was for the sockets and Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 49 extensions. There are deep sockets, provement for $20. and a smaller ball-peen hammer—all shallow sockets, some all the way up to Combination Wrenches: HF has a for about $36. Impact driver—a must 32 mm. full-polish set up to 24mm, for about have—$10. A set of drifts?—$10. No kit To be one hundred-percent honest, $20. They come on an organizing rack, should be without pry bars, and you the screwdrivers are not particularly but the lid to keep them in isn’t partic- can get a set of three for about $20. comfortable to use. They are square ularly easy to remove. The benefit of a Even though the kit had Allen handled, and as far as I am concerned, full-polish set is that they are easy to wrenches, I am partial to the wrench- that’s not a good thing. I suppose that wipe clean. They are solid, but thick; es that have the ball on the end. They it keeps them from rolling away, but it that may be a problem in some cir- allow for a little more “wiggle room” also makes them difficult to spin. The cumstances, where access is an issue, and speed. HF has those—$10 for the hand tools are acceptable, and in fact, I but remember, we are comparing price metric set. think that they are better than the ones versus utility. It doesn’t hurt to have a Even though the main kit has exten- you can buy separately at HF. However, second set, maybe not as big, but of the sions, I am a big fan of the “wobble” the absolute weakest link in this kit are more common sizes—$8. Same thing extensions, for the same reason that I the wrenches. As far as I am concerned, about the thickness and lid for the rack. like the Allen wrenches with the ball they are trash. Stubby wrenches: You can’t not have on the end. They allow you to get the We are about half way through the the stubbies; again about $14. You need reach you need but allow for a bit of budget, but experience has suggested a breaker bar. HF has a dandy, 24” long movement for the wrench to reach at that we need a few other things. one for about $12. Torque wrench- an angle—$14. The ratchets in the tool kit (and there es? Get them all—the big one, the lit- As I mentioned before, I was not a fan are three: 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”) are ser- tle one, and the medium one—all for of the screwdrivers in the 301-piece set. viceable, but I was not a fan. I ended about $35. Of course, you need the For $12 you can get HF’s finest, so why up getting the composite grip 72-tooth bashers: a rubber mallet, a dead blow not? HF 3/8” and 1/4” ratchets—a great im- hammer, a big ball-peen hammer, I also got a set of bolstered screw-

50 APRIL / MAY 2017 drivers. These are screwdrivers with a What have I really lost here? $40? I’ve metal cap on the end that allows you to spent more for a bad dinner. At least put a wrench or socket on the end for I’ve got something here to show for it. added force while turning. I can’t say Now, there is a little bit of a cheat that the cap on the end is part of the here. For those that don’t know, if you shank, but if you need to put that kind are working on Japanese motorcycles, Not only do they have of force on the screwdriver, you are you need JIS screwdrivers. The rea- just about every crazy using the wrong tool. With the cap on son that the screws are all screwed up top, you can keep the pressure on the on your motorcycle?—someone used tool you can think of, screw as you are turning and spin with an American Phillips when he should they even have the a wrench or a socket—really handy have used a JIS screwdriver. All cross- thing. Again, about $12. head screwdrivers may look the same, same twenty-percent I’m going to stop here for a minute. but the cut and profile can be different. off coupons that you I am perfectly happy with everything A JIS will work just fine in a Phillips can always find in I listed above. I can’t find a valid ob- screw head, but a Phillips screwdriver jection to any of these tools that didn’t will not fare so well on a JIS screw. A your Sunday paper or have an element of either snobbery to Phillips screw head is designed to “cam newstand motorcycle it or that wasn’t a fair comparison (I out” when the screw is tight. That magazine. can’t compare the 72-tooth composite means when we over-tighten or try to ratchet, for example, with the Matco loosen something that is too tight, we 88). I don’t feel bad using any of these are literally tearing up the screw head. tools, and I can’t honestly say that they A JIS screwdriver, however, is designed are so markedly inferior to any of my to stay in the screw head and won’t tear more expensive tools, which is where it up. Until I learned about JIS screws, the rubber meets the road. I couldn’t figure out why the Japanese However, there is more that is realis- companies used these stupid screws to tically needed to complete the set, and put their bikes together. Didn’t they see here is where we had a problem. this coming? Didn’t they know that the You will need a set of pliers. HF has an screws would get all bunged up? But orange-handled set for about $10, that now, it makes far more sense to me. includes five pliers. You will also need I ordered JIS bits for my impact driv- a set of small pliers and nippers. Again, er from HF for about $6. But for a JIS there is a second orange-handled set screwdriver set, I opted to buy a high that is also $10. Don’t forget the vice quality set from a supplier of first-class grips. You will need a few of those. Fig- JIS drivers instead of HF, as this was ure each one is about $4. I also got a set one item for which the extra money of four adjustable wrenches for about was worth it. $10 as well. Now, I lumped them all to- I have just spent about $500; I actual- gether, because they all have the same ly went a little over budget, but we can problem. They are functional, but that always cut out a thing or two and get is about all I can really say about them. right on track. Since my experiment, The jaws don’t seem to line up with one the contents of the cheap box have in- another in the way that my better tools creased, as seen by the photographs. do. The movement of the two pieces The spirit of the cheap box lives on, isn’t smooth; the faces of the clamp- with some other interesting finds, but ing surfaces don’t seem to be square at this point, just about everything else with each other. They are very prone I have purchased has shown itself to be to rust. The spinner on the adjustable ultimately superfluous (that’s another wrenches can be a little difficult to turn story). Truthfully, I use these tools at at times. Here, the cheapness is a factor least as much as my “good” tools. and comes through. If I can say that I They are every bit as functional, ex- was disappointed with anything here, cept for the pliers, and I don’t feel that these are the disappointing tools. I am somehow at a disadvantage with But, and here’s the good part, so what? these tools. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 51

ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT Mule Pack Panniers

by Bryan Bentley, Display Ad Director / [email protected]

hat happened when some Then the owner set about building a Wfriends of the owner of Ac- mounting system. Of course it had to meZoom came over to his machine be durable as well, so the system was shop and started talking about the designed using a stainless steel ma- boat company they use to work for? terial, which would not rust and was Those friends had a lot of experience tough. The pannier attaches using a in Roto-Molding, a method of build- simple slide-on bottom mount and ing kayaks made to hit rocks on our thumb screws from the inside. This rivers and making cones used for traf- makes the pannier hard to steal when fic control designed to be hit by care- locked, as well as being easy for the less drivers (ask my daughter about owner to take inside when needed. Of that), and together a vision was born course, the old saying is “if it works, for Mule Pack Panniers. These friends build it bigger,” so now the panniers had the knowledge to produce pan- are built in a 28-liter and a 38-liter niers using the roto-mold process that size, or for those of you who are met- is all done in the North Carolina fac- ric-illiterate like me, 7.5 gallon and 10 tory now, and the owner had the expe- gallon sizes. The 38-liter size would be rience with panniers and fabricating just big enough for a pair of my under- the mounting system. A design was wear, a razor, a toothbrush, and all the finalized, and the production soon things my wife would need to be away began on these nearly indestructible from home for one day! However, they motorcycle storage solutions that also should be big enough for any other add a layer of safety if you have to lay woman or man to last several days. your bike down. How do you know that your product To construct these panniers, a mold is not just good, but great? Lots of test- is filled with dry powder and is then ing is required. The owner is obliged mounted to a fixture that will rock to field-test the products in remote and roll the mold while it is in a state- and faraway places. This requires rid- of-the-art computer-controlled oven. ing numerous miles, not just a quick The motion continues while the unit trip around the block. This is a really is cooling, and then the product is tough job, but someone needs to do it. popped out of the mold and cut in If you are considering panniers, con- half, forming the top and bottom. A tact Acme Zoom. They have mounting thick EPDM marine weather strip is systems for almost any bike, and ev- applied to seal the top and bottom ery unit is made in Chatham County, halves to prevent rain, spray, or other North Carolina, here in the USA, pro- water from entering the box, as well as viding jobs and income in our coun- stainless locking latches and strap at- try. l tachment points for the lid. No paint or other coating is applied, which contact info helps prevents scratches from being seen and maintains the good look of Acme Zoom 33 Blue Stone Drive the pannier. The completed pannier is Sanford, NC 27330 tough enough to be hit with a sledge www.acmezoom.com hammer with no damage. 54 APRIL / MAY 2017 tech help Tech Tip #19: Staying Organized by Jim Townsend / [email protected] & Ellis Holman / [email protected]

Jim Well, Ellis, I finally have all the Ellis: Jim, I hear you, and it isn’t just with the parts numbers, and I’m put- parts ready to get into the assembly when you take parts off. I use a spread- ting the parts into the bins. of the Honda CL77 305 Scrambler sheet to track the status of parts I or- I want to restore. Already, I have der. The status goes from “on-order” Jim It never hurts to have a few plas- problems. I’ve restored a dozen or so when I’ve ordered a part to “receive” tic bins or totes around that you can CB350F fours but never a 305 Scram- when I receive the part. Yet I always use for parts. I use an eighteen-gal- bler. I’m finding out that just taking find I’m short a bolt or two or some lon Rubbermaid tote to keep a usable off the parts and putting them into a critical part when I put things togeth- mixture of water and phosphoric acid large plastic tote was both good and er, even though the spreadsheet says (Milkstone Remover) to soak rusty bad at the same time. Since it has I have the item. My personal thought parts in to remove the rust. I’ve used taken me a few weeks since I started is that there’s a black hole that sucks the same tote with about the same mix dismantling the bike, I could swear up motorcycle parts when I’m doing a in it for about five years. It still takes that some of those parts in the tote restoration. For my XL350 restoration, rust off. One other thing I try to do were from a spaceship from outer I’ve gotten some plastic hardware stor- is to have a bike just like the one I’m space. age parts bins. I’ve labeled the drawers restoring sitting in the same room, so

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 55 I can get things right, like the way cables and wiring harnesses fit on the bike. I have a second CL77 I’m using as a pattern. It makes my small workspace even smaller, but it is handier than looking in a book and still not finding what I need. I’ve run into a delay. I needed some chrome redone and was told by my plater that there was a six-week delay. So if you are in a hurry, forget it if you need some parts rechromed. If you don’t have the Ellis: If you don’t have the room or your domestic boss doesn’t let you have two bikes, finding the setup manual for the bike you’re working can be a great room or your domestic help. A setup manual shows the dealer how to set a bike up properly out of the boss doesn’t let you have crate. It has great information on cable routing and how wiring and other de- tails should be installed. Some people say take lots of pictures as you tear a bike two bikes, finding the down. Too often I find that is a questionable practice. setup manual for the A covered container for the various solvents and cleaners is a good thing to bike you’re working on have in the shop too. For small parts, a home plating kit, both chrome and zinc plating, are handy to have. Surface preparation is the key to getting a part plated can be a great help. and looking good.

Jim: I’ve never considered setup manuals. I’ve only seen a few at events, but I’ll keep my eyes open now. It is rather tough getting too much information to fit in your head. For some of my bikes, I have Haynes manuals, Clymer manuals, and the factory service manuals, and I always try to have a manual open nearby when I’m restoring something. Parts manuals are helpful too, and some dealers have parts manuals online on their web pages. Lake City Honda has Honda and Kawasaki parts manuals on line. (www.lakecityhonda.com) I’m pretty sure other dealers do, too. I ran into a little problem on my CL77. The previous owner had stripped out both bolt holes on the bottom of the frame that hold the foot pegs on. The bar also has the side stand on it, so until I get that fixed, I can’t stand the bike up by itself. I’m going to try filling the holes with JB Weld after I clean them, re-tap- ping the threads in JB, and cross my fingers and hope it works.

Ellis: Those stripped mounts can be a real pain. Sometimes you find that they’re nothing more than just nuts welded to the backside of a tab, and you can grind off the stripped one and weld on a new one. If you do that make sure to get one of the plain nuts, because the zinc plated ones give off poisonous gases when you weld those. Another approach that sometimes works is to use an oversize stud, one that is, say, 10 mm on one end and 8 mm on the other. That will allow you to drill oversize, install the stud, but still have the correct-sized hardware visible. Another save that I’ve found is LockTite Sleeve and Bearing Mount. This stuff will bond cylinder sleeves to cylinder blocks, where wear now makes the sleeve a push fit in the cylinder block. Use care, though, if you employ Sleeve and Bearing Mount, it is permanent. You won’t be able to remove it. It can also be used as a fix of last resort when bearings have spun in an engine case. But RE- MEMBER!, if that bearing fails for any reason, the case will be scrap as well.

Jim: Well, Ellis, I thought I had about seen it all, but this CL77 I’m working on keeps throwing new stuff at me. After spending a full day getting the engine semi-clean, I pulled the head and cylinder. The engine had been bored 3 mm (about .125”) oversize. I didn’t know they had pistons that big. I will have to break the glaze on the cylinder walls and use the pistons I have. Thank good- ness they have good rings and look pretty good. I will report progress in our next column. l

56 APRIL / MAY 2017 events Events Corner by Peter Slatcoff, Vice President, Events Coordinator / [email protected]

s we continue to prepare for our celebration of the for- Atieth anniversary of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America we can only image what Club found- UPCOMING EVENTS er Bart Taylor, would have to say about the VJMC today. It would be interesting to hear his version of the catalyst of its MAY 6 beginning, his vision for the Club through time, and espe- Bikes on the Beach cially what he saw as the milestones spanning the past forty Panama City, FL years and their impact on the Club. Since this may be un- likely, the next best thing is for each of us to look back at MAY 20 our time and experiences with the Club, take the time to jot Riding Into History a few down, then join us at the 2017 VJMC National Rally St. Augustine, FL and help us celebrate the fortieth anniversary. After the Ice Breaker Thursday night, it has become our tradition to share JUNE 23-25 stories and personal experiences that represent our personal 40th Anniversary Celebration legacies with the Club. As a time-honored tradition, we invite and National Rally past president and longtime member Jim Townsend to ready Pigeon Forge, TN the group for this evening activity, better known as “Story Time.” It has always been a bit difficult to find the right per- son to follow Jim. This year we finally have the right person to go next—Gordon Bass (aka “my daddy”). But before he takes the microphone, we will have a bathroom break. We are less than ninety days away from the pinnacle of our National Rally and plans are moving along quite well. Reg- istration is open, with many members already pre-register- ing. Surprisingly, we already have more spouses registered to join us this year than ever before. We anticipate a larger than normal group due to the superb location at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, combined with our celebration of the VJMC’s fortieth anniversary. If you plan to join us, we encourage you to register early. Sometimes people need an incentive to motivate them. Well, there is an incentive. I won’t tell what it is, but I will give you a hint: it hangs on a wall. To register today, go to https://www.regonline.com/40th- AnniversaryNationalRally. If you need any assistance, con- tact the VJMC Event Team at [email protected] or call 850-624-8811 after 6pm CST. I would also like to remind everyone about Riding Into History. This year, the Japanese motorcycle will be the fea- tured genre of this concours show. The VJMC has commit- ted to once again sponsor two tables at the Grand Marshall Dinner on Friday night. More details will be available via email shortly. Also, there will be a VJMC motorcycle ride on Sunday, following the show. Beginning with this issue, we’ll list those events that will take place during the two month span of that issue. l

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 57

A “Vintage Japanese” motorcycle is 20 years old or older and, of course, CLASSIFIEDS Japanese. Please be aware that ads may/will be edited to conserve space. 12 lines of print will be free to club members. PLEASE NOTE: Please be aware of publication deadlines. For an upcoming issue, ads Ads will be run for one issue only. Please are due by the 20th of the month of the preceeding issue’s release. For example, ads for the June/July 2017 issue are due by April 20. resubmit via the VJMC website or email if If you have business-related ads, please consider taking out a commercial you wish an ad to run longer. Also, contact our display ad. Contact Bryan Bentley ([email protected]) or me for details and rate information. Classified Ads Editor, Gary Gadd, if your post We can include color photos with your ad. Cost is a minimal $10 per pho- has been fulfilled, again via the VJMC website to per issue. Payment via Paypal is available on the VJMC website. For payment by personal check or money order, please address payment or email ([email protected]). This will help keep to “VJMC” and send to the address below. Photo ads will appear in the our classified ads as current as possible. magazine issue following payment. GARY GADD • 3721 HOLLAND ST. • FORT WORTH, TX • 76180 / 817.284.8195

Sealed gas tanks. Paul Enz, 321- FOR SALE 268-5461, Titusville, Florida, [email protected]

HONDA 1967 Honda Trail 90. Very nice, unrestored. Still has orig- Honda memorabilia. After 56 inal dealer sticker from Seattle years of collecting Honda mem- dealer. Appears to have been orabilia, I’m selling everything. garaged or covered its entire 1976 Honda CB550. Show To list it all would take many life. $1800. Casey Parks, 425- room condition. Bronze color. KAWASAKI pages in this publication. Let 772-9961, Everett, Washington, [email protected] Like new. Mike Kugler, 717-331- your imagination run wild with 7940, Waynesboro, Pennsylva- Vintage Kawasaki cables. Huge items you’re wanting: service nia, [email protected] lot of 85 cables, still in facto- manuals, owners manuals, ad- 1966 Honda CA78 305 Dream. ry packages. $15 plus shipping vertising material, brochures, each or $10 each for entire lot. Ready to ride and includes an 1977 Honda GL1000. photos, slides, videos, post- extensive collection of proj- Restor- Retail value over $2500. Email ers and other Honda printed ect parts. Includes two motors able, runs but it will need carb for a list of part numbers. Jack, material. Clothing, tote bags, and transmissions, powder and brake work. Includes sev- [email protected] keys, service awards, special coated body parts, difficult to eral boxes of spare parts from a tools, test equipment. Some salvage yard. Clear title. $750 to find OEM muffler, new solo Kawasaki Jacket/Anorak. parts mostly NOS CB92. Also seat, and complementary rear members. Mike Thomas, 251- Made some N600, S600 and S800 645-4800, Mobile, Alabama, for introduction of ZX 6R for rack powder coated to match. [email protected] automobile manuals and N600 Three titles and all parts. $3250 press day. Jacket is unique and parts. E-mail me with what you negotiable. Chris Fidler, 614- was never for sale from Kawa- would like and I’ll respond with saki. It’s complete with detach- 462-4725, Columbus, Ohio, 1985 Honda Magna FV700C. availability and price. George [email protected] able liner. Size Large, brand G Grauwels, 715-533-1999, 17,000 original miles red in col- new. Asking $75 includes ship- [email protected] or, runs amazingly, small dent in ping to CONUSA. Pictures avail- 1971 Honda SL350. Full on race gas tank, small dent in right side able upon request. Dian Slark, bike with the best of every- muffler. Other than that, Beau- [email protected] For 1961/68 250 and 305 en- thing. Please contact me for all tiful bike. Asking price $2,000. gines. Permanent solution to the details. John Sharpe, 810- Mike Kugler, 717-762-6958 or oil seepage around spark plugs. 516-5485, Fenton, Michigan, email [email protected] Honda Service Bulletin 68 gave [email protected] SUZUKI no definitive fix to this problem. Simple installation of parts with For Honda CX500 Custom, 1983 Suzuki GS1150. Not run- detailed instructions and pho- 1975 Honda CB550-Four. Fab- driveshaft and final drive unit. ning. Engine has good compres- tos. Contact me for questions. ulous one-owner machine. Fits all CX500s except the tur- sion. 16k miles. William, 773- You won’t be disappointed and 4,192-orig. miles. Stock. “Can- bo. $100. Ken Merriman, 607- 669-8062, Plainfield, Illinois, this will save your beautifully re- dy Jade green”. All paint & 227-6352, McLean, New York, [email protected] stored cylinder head as no more chrome as new. Photos avail. [email protected] engine oil will be baked onto Titled. $7500. Can help ar- the fins and exhaust headers. range shipping. Buzz Walneck, 630 - 985-2097 No texting. Illi- For Honda CX500 Custom or YAMAHA Arie Boers, 612-382-5116, Min- Deluxe, pair of reverse Comstar nesota, [email protected] nois. [email protected] wheels. Black. With bearings 1965 Yamaha YA6 Santa Bar- and tires. In good shape. $100 bara 125cc. 2-stroke with Auto- For 1965/69 Honda CB/CL/ each or both for $175. Ken Mer- lube oil injection. Original barn CA160, CA95 and S65, Still have Visit us online! riman, 607-227-6352, McLean, find, great shape, starts and new and used parts for Honda New York, vfrkenny53@yahoo. runs as it should. $1995 obo. 160s, S65 and CA95. Engine Join or renew @ com Sean Burch, South Carolina, parts such as heads, pistons, www.vjmc.org antiquecclesedgefield@gmail. cylinders, cases and covers. com

Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 59 classifieds fenders, electrics, wheels, etc. from the 350F and 400F are the Rich Lemke, 760-780-2992, Las 1965 Honda dream engine same. Also looking for a rear Vegas, Nevada, lvcmc2@gmail. For 1970 Yamaha DS6 250cc, 150 cc, $100. Ask for prices. wheel assembly that is not oxi- com very clean tight cylinder, heads Make offer on the whole lot. dized or rust pitted. Rich Lemke, shimmed to 0.080, genera- Ken Krauer, 845-266-3363, Salt 760-780-2992, Las Vegas, Neva- tor stator, engine parts. Russ, Point, New York, joankrauer@ da, [email protected] [email protected] yahoo.com TOHATSU For 1982 Honda CB650SC, fuel 1964 Tohatsu Arrow 125cc. 1981 Yamaha Seca 550. 33k WANTED tank. This is the blue framed Would like to find parts to com- miles, runs great. Clean title in bike. Looking for the blue tank plete mine or a whole bike. hand. Needs very little work to with the red and chrome strip- Manny Athans, 480-252-5898, make this bike road worthy. Wil- ing on it. Would like it unblem- Gilbert, Arizona, athans85233@ liam, 773-669-8062, Plainfield, HONDA ished. Seems most of these cox.net Illinois, [email protected] tanks rust from the inside out. For 1961 CB72 Honda Hawk, I have a different color set of 1982 Yamaha Seca Turbo 650. need stock “short” seat used on skins but would like the original. YAMAHA 14000 miles, Hasn’t run since first run of 1961 Honda Hawks Rich Lemke, 760-780-2992, Las 2008. Complete and very re- Vegas, Nevada, lvcmc2@gmail. and Superhawks. Looks same For Yamaha YDS-1 storable. $1000. Ken Merriman, as a later stock seat, but on com , need speed- 607-227-6352, McLean, New seat pan distance between the ometer cable for a museum York, [email protected] exhibit. Brian Slark, 205-702- pin receivers and the bolt holes KAWASAKI 8733, Birmingham, Alabama, is about 13.25”, an inch short- www.barbermuseum.org er. Need complete “survivor” misc. FOR SALE seat with good upholstery and For 1962 Kawasaki B8 125cc, have cash (or parts you need) looking for a parts bike, but will Early 1980’s Yamaha XT200. to trade. Mark Mederski, 614- take the side covers in most any Long time motorcycle coll ec- Looking for running parts bike 551-0960, Ohio, motormark@ condition. This is one of the or engine with good electrical tor selling my collection. Many columbus.rr.com first Kawasaki’s that came to Japanese bikes but alwo other the States. Tank badges have system. Email or call. Greg, 616- makes and models. Most are 638-5193, Western Michigan, “Kawasaki Aircraft” on them. [email protected] original paint, low mileage or 1966/69 Honda Dream 305, Rich Lemke, 760-780-2992, Las well restored. No projects. Sold looking for parts bike, most Vegas, Nevada, lvcmc2@gmail. as a collection only. Richard any condition considered. Rich- com Schultz, 712-546-5042, Le Mars, ard McNeil, Alberta, Canada, MISC. WANTED Iowa [email protected] SUZUKI Dealer memorabilia. Collector Keys for Honda and Yamaha. For 1973 Honda CB350 Four, seeks 1950s-1980s Japanese Contact me via email for a list need outer right exhaust in dealership items including ban- 1967/68 Suzuki T200/X5. In ners, signs, ashtrays, lighters, of keys and other items I have. good condition. This is the one good running or restored con- Keys are $12 with free shipping. on top. Manny Athans, 480- hats, clocks, promos, etc. Rare, dition. What do you have? weird and old is good. Tom Ko- Joe Lachniet, joe@lachniet. 252-5898, Gilbert, Arizona, Sam Whiteside, 775-721-5958, com [email protected] lenko, 770-427-4820, Atlanta, [email protected] Georgia

1968/81 Hondas. 50 Japanese 1974 Honda CR125 and CR250. For 1975 Suzuki RE5M, need Honda CBX 1000cc 6 cyl mem- bikes, mostly Hondas, $100 Looking for bikes in original con- blue headlight bucket. Color each or will part out. Includes dition including an original Ka- orabilia for museum and the does not matter, just would like CBX Book 1978 Gold Wing engine, front wasaki triple. James, 662-417- to find one that is not cracked, I am presently writ- wheel and fender, carb set and 5295, Carrollton, Mississippi, chipped, or split. Let me know ing. Any brochures, adverts, manifold, cooling fans, and [email protected] what you have. Rich Lemke, posters, owner’s manual, work- other GW parts. Deal on whole 760-780-2992, Las Vegas, Neva- shop manual, set-up manu- lot. Also 2 Yamaha Big Bear da, [email protected] al, toys/models, old photos, scramblers and Yam and Honda For 1975/77 Honda CB400F, etc. related to the 1979-1972 mopeds. Lots of seats and side looking for a set of carbs. I will CBX. Also period aftermarket covers. For CB750, gas tanks. take a complete set or just the For 1982 Suzuki GS1100E, need fairings/bodywork. Thanks. For Bridgestone, 100/150 seat, main bodies. No broken float stock exhaust system. Good Call Ian, 626-444-9358, Cali- very nice, $100. Dream and Su- tower supports or decaying, condition, one that will shine fornia, [email protected] l per Hawk frames with attached cracked jet supports. Bodies up with some elbow grease.

60 APRIL / MAY 2017 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

ADVERTISERS APPEARING IN THIS ISSUE: Acme Zoom (Mule Pack Panniers)...... 33 AHRMA...... 33 AMCA Wolverine...... 45 Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum...... 39 BD Designs...... 32 Buchanan’s Spoke and Rim...... 55 Buzzzzz Rag...... 50 CMSNL...... 64 Charlie’s Place...... 50 Corazzo...... 9 Cycle House Performance...... 34 David Silver Spares...... 63 Diamond Gusset Company...... 32 Discovering the Motorcycle...... 11 Gasolina Boots...... 34 Hagon Shocks...... 14 Honda Restoration...... 29 JDV Products/Vessel...... 35 Jess Bikes...... 45 Johnny’s Vintage Motorcycle...... 35 KSM-Hagerty...... 44 Hey members! Marbles Motors...... 10 Tell us YOUR story! Mecum Auctions...... 8 Motorcycle Yamiya 750...... 12 The best way this magazine can accurately reflect what our members are up to is if you tell us what you’re doing! Moto-Services...... 15 The VJMC magazine is only possible through member interaction, National Motorcycle Museum...... 19 and we’ll pay you for it! We pay $100 for feature stories (typically at least two full pages with four or more photos). Nor’Easter Blastworx...... 22

If your story is selected for publication, you will receive extra NOS Parts Now...... 45 copies of the issue in which it appears. Precision Motorcycle Painting...... 26 Send your stories and high res photos to: [email protected] Revival Parts (Mixe XS, Z1 Enterprises, Rendakk’s Cycle) ...... 4 Rick’s Motorsport Electrics, Inc...... 26

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: RJ Cycle...... 29 TEXT: • .pdf, .rtf or .doc file formats Road Dog Publications...... 43 • include your byline, photocaptions, and credit for the photographer Spacecoast Plating...... 43 PHOTOS: • high-resolution color pictures (300dpi) • typical file size of a .jpg will be at least 500kb Speed and Sport Yamaha...... 58 • 1mb - 3mb per image is preferred Triple Deuce Cycles...... 35 Vapor Honing Technologies...... 52-53 Vintage Suspension (Race Tech)...... 61 Workshop Hero...... 2 Yamaha Powersports Division...... 42 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine 61 VJMC REGALIA ORDER FORM

$ $ SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRTS: M, L, XL / 20 2XL, 3XL / 25 • white 100% cotton , large circle logo on front & three bikes on back • black 100% cotton, small circle logo on front & large circle logo on back with “Tokyo Chapter” bottom rocker (no 3XL)

POLO SHIRTS: $ • black, red, or white 100% cotton, embroidered with club name & logo on left chest M, L, XL, 2XL / 25

HATS: • black or gray, cotton, baseball style with embroidered club name & logo $20

CLUB MEDALLIONS: • white/black or black/gold metal with 1/4” top tab mounting hole $10

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VJMC CIRCLE LOGO DECALS: • available in 4”, 8” 12” 4” / $3 8” / $7 12” / $20

QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION SIZE PRICE TOTAL

You can also order online: VJMC.ORG/STORE SHIPPING CHARGES $ ENCLOSED IS MY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE OUT TO “VJMC” FOR THE TOTAL OF $

Add shipping and handling costs to your order: SHIP TO: NAME • All items sent U.S. Priority Mail with delivery ADDRESS confirmation $7 for first item and $5 each for additional items in USA only. CITY, STATE, ZIPCODE • Canadian orders multiply U.S. mail rate by 1.5 to determine S&H charges. PHONE NUMBER • Questions? Call Tom at 770-427-4820 EMAIL ADDRESS SEND YOUR ORDER TO: Tom Kolenko • 2445 Elmhurst Blvd. • Kennesaw, GA 30152 Questions?: [email protected]