Escape from Cubeville

Volume 26, Number 9 June 2004 $3.50 Celebrating over 25 years of vintage motorcycling VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE JUNE 2004 CONTENTS President’s Column..........3 This issue’s web password is: midohio Editor’s Column ...........4 Effective June 25th Use lower case Calendar of Events ..........5 Sunshine Meet Kicks Off Mission Statement AMCA 2004 Season ..........6 The Purpose of this organization is to promote the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of Vintage Japanese A Day at Laconia ...........8 motorcycles (defined as those greater than 15 years old) and to promote the sport of motorcycling and camaraderie RidingWiththeChainGang......9 of motorcyclists everywhere. Product Review: Silver's President CDs Are Golden ...........11 Pete Boody (865) 435-2112, vjmcpete@comcast.net Field of Dreams: Magazine Editor Karen McElhaney The White Rose Meet ........12 (865) 671-2628, ldyvlfn@mindspring.com Classified Advertising Gary Gadd A Honda Adventure in Time ....14 (817) 284-8195, eulerckt@aol.com Commercial Advertising Region A Norman Smith Passbook is Pass Back to 1970. 16 (941) 792-0003, gatoradio@yahoo.com Commercial Advertising Region B Brad Powell Kettle to Water (678) 576-4258, 4yankeez@bellsouth.net Buffalo Conversion .........20 Membership Bill Granade Secrets of Speedometer Repair . 22 (813) 961-3737, bgrande@ozline.net Webmaster Jason Bell (972) 245-0634, bellboy17@attbi.com Honda History: Cover Layout At Home in Japan ..........26 Andre Okazaki Magazine Layout Darin Watson Escape from Cubeville .......28 2004 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmit- Classifieds ..............35 ted in any form without permission. 2 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE JUNE 2004 From the President: How to get new members by Pete Boody There are a good number of folks nese motorcycle they ride is 1989 or out there who used to own a Japanese older, they can become a member, Recently I had the good fortune to motorcycle, and here are a few tips on andmaybe,allyouhavetodois locate and purchase a very rare how to rekindle their interest and per- ASK. mid-seventies Japanese motorcycle. haps inspire them to join us: Number two: Get enthused This model is quite collectable, but Number one: Ask! If you think about the enthusiasm this particular bike is special for I received an email from an officer you would experience in locating a many other reasons. For a motorcycle of the VJMC recently and he ex- rare bike and apply that same exu- of its age, only one person owned plained that when he talks to people berance in conversation, you cannot it—unique, right? Again, considering about VJMC, he will ask them three help but pass it along to others. its age, it is in very good to near-ex- times to become a member. I They will be more at ease and more cellent condition—another plus, and willing to listen to what VJMC has rare. The list goes on to include an to offer them. Just as important, odometer mileage reading that is not “If you think about they will think about what they can even close to the teens. This is do for all of us. Everyone’s mem- enough to excite any prospective the enthusiasm you bership will make us stronger and buyer, agreed? Well, when I tried to give us all a bigger voice to pro- start this incredible machine, it im- would experience mote, preserve, and ride these rare mediately sprang to life and purred in locating a rare Japanese gems. like a brand new one. If your heart is- Number three: Ride your bike! n’t racing by now, read on. I was able bike and apply that I have found that the easiest way to to buy this marvelously well main- get a conversation started is to pull up tained eye catcher for a price suitable same exuberance to the curb on my vintage Honda and to the size of my pocketbook. in conversation, if there are folks present, some will When I told him of this find, a invariably ask me about it. When this good friend asked me, “How do you you cannot help opportunity presents itself, the bike locate these bikes?” I said, “I go out serves as a catalyst to some really and look for them.” Thinking about but pass it along to great conversation about its history as it later, it seemed like my answer others. They will well as their experiences on an older was too simple, but in fact, it was- bike. It really does not matter if it was n’t. It was just the simple truth. It is be more at ease a Japanese bike, but rather the result- rare in most cases that a person ing conversation. Grab an opportu- “lucks” into a great find. It takes and more willing nity to tell them about VJMC and you youreffortsaswellasotherpeo- to listen to what will be surprised; they just might join ples’ efforts and input in order to us, and it was your effort that made it “find” the few good deals that re- VJMC has to offer happen. main out there. Last, but certainly not least: Partic- Some time back, one such effort them.” ipate! was made by a very good friend, Alex To me there are fewer things cooler Hamilton, when he urged me to in- than a gathering of like-minded folks vestigate joining the Vintage Japa- who ride, preserve, and enjoy the old nese Motorcycle Club North thought, “Now that’s a cool way to Japanese bikes. It seems that there America. When I did my research on get VJMC into the heads of those will always be a story on the mind of the VJMC, I discovered that this club who ride Japanese bikes of the someone worth telling, a ride that all was a rare find indeed. VJMC is eighties, seventies, and beyond.” In can enjoy, or an outing at a local res- unique because its Articles of Incor- this clever way, he finds them, and taurant and chat. Others cannot help poration plainly decree that VJMC is with the first proposal to join he but to notice the fun and many will dedicated to the preservation of all plants a seed. With the second, he want to know what’s going on. The vintage Japanese motorcycles fifteen reminds them that they too can be a important thing is to pass along the years old or older. By the same de- part of this growing family of idea that it is fun to be a member of cree, VJMC is likewise dedicated to friends. Then with the third, he will VJMC and that prospective members supporting its members by respond- most likely sign them. Pretty simple too can be a part of our growing ing to member input. and effective as well. If the Japa- group of friends. www.vjmc.org 3 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE JUNE 2004 From the Editor: Mid-Ohio meet coming up by Karen McElhaney through Paypal. You can visit the For further details, e-mail Jim web site (www.VJMC.org) and go to Townsend at jimvjmc@kconline.com Summer is here, so bring on the the membership page for details or contact the AMA. bike events! In that spirit and in this about becoming a VJMC member or issue, Paul Jacob offers a humorous renewing an existing membership. New Goldwing to Be assessment of his first trip to Laconia, Paypal payments for club regalia will Showcased at September Robin Markey chronicles the history also be accepted soon. of Pennsylvania’s White Rose Meet, National Rally and Rich Sulik reviews AMCA’s Massachusetts Dealers Those of you planning on going to Sunshine National Meet. Offer Discounts In Adventures in Time, Pete Boody the VJMC National Rally in Oak shares his excitement over brother Ridge this year will get a special treat At least four Massachusetts dealers Jerry’s recent acquisition of a 1976 – a Goldwing in a box. Well, not in a are offering discounts to card-carrying Goldwing that was still in its original box now, actually, but it was in one for VJMC members. All Power in shipping crate when he got it! over a quarter of a century. Jerry Granby, Green River Honda in Gill, On the tech side, Paul Franchina dis- Boody’s brand “new” 1976 Goldwing and Valley Motorsports in cusses the secrets of speedometer re- LTD will be on display at the rally in Northampton are offering a 10% dis- pair as he tells us how he went about September, and you won’t want to count; Baer’s Cycle Sales in Spring- restoring the one on his 1965 Honda miss this wonderfully preserved piece field is offering a 10-15 % discount. CB450 K0 Black Bomber. Check of history. This bike was recently For more information, contact Dave thewebsite for color photographs awakened from 28 years of slumber in from Paul’s restoration project. Richter (dave305@mindspring.com). its original Honda shipping crate. By In our feature story, Minneapolis all indications, the bike is in perfect computer programmer Maria Montello Join VJMC at condition, and Jerry has invited all in- remembers the ride of a lifetime. Es- Mid-Ohio in July terested members to come see the cape from Cubeville chronicles the first bike, take pictures, and ask questions. half of Maria’s amazing solo 7,000 The 4th annual VJMC National Rally Jim Townsend reminds us that it is and Old Fashioned Tennessee Pig mile cross-country trek on a 1975 only June now, but plans for the Vin- Honda CB400F.

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