Volume 35 / Number 4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 • $5 VJMC 2014 VJMC Leadership Award Winner: TOM KOLENKO WHAT’S INSIDE: Resurrection: From Scrap to the Street CB1100F Riding Into History Lubricating Your Motorcycle OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES EVENTS: The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show COVER STORY 6 VJMC PROJECT BIKE: National Rally Ressurrection from scrap 2014 40 to the street 12 cb110f EVENTS: 10 Years of Fun barber vintage festival 21 invitation MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION: Building a 27 Bike Shop HISTORY: Indian vs. Suzuki the winner is... whichever bike you 31 remember most fondly EVENTS: Riding Into History 34 PROJECT BIKE: DEPARTMENTS Me and My CB PRESIDENT’S LETTER: 39 Just Like Family ....................................................................................5 EVENTS: BACK IN THE DAY: The Kansas City Members Only .................................................................................20 VJMC Spring Show & Swap Meet 45 huge success! FROM THE EDITOR: The Magazine Staff .........................................................................25 EVENTS: Rally at TECH HELP: Battle Alley Tech Tip #3: Lubricating Your Motorcycle .................................... 51 49 Volume 35 / Number 4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 • $5 EVENTS CORNER .......................................................................55 VJMC ADVERTISER’S INDEX ............................................................. 57 ON THE COVER 2014 Vintage Japanese bikes filled the ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT VJMC Leadership Award Winner: TOM KOLENKO circle in front of WHAT’S INSIDE: RRR Tool Solutions ..........................................................................57 Resurrection: From Scrap the Spring Mill to the Street CB1100F Riding Into History Inn during the Lubricating Your Motorcycle OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. National Rally CLASSIFIEDS ................................................................................58 cover photo: Michael Fitterling VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Just Like Family Official Publication of the VJMC always return from our events and rallies energized. Perhaps its AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 Iseeing old friends that have been riding buddies for years or re- Volume 35, Number 4 turning to past stomping grounds or sharing a cool beverage long Current VJMC Enrollment: 3767 after dark. It’s great to feel welcome and better yet to welcome oth- PRESIDENT ers to the fun. These events are our VJMC family reunions. It’s a Tom Kolenko chance to ride, tell stories, share meals, and create memories. 770-427-4820 [email protected] The Spring Mill Rally brought many new faces together in a perfect setting. We celebrated achievements with the Kansas City EDITOR Michael Fitterling chapter becoming the 2014 Chapter of the Year, new Florida Field 863-632-1981 Rep Norton Muzzone inducted by veteran Norm Smith, our largest rally bike show run by [email protected] Greg Pitt, and daily fun rides captained by John Keel, Ellis Hollman, Don Lady, and Jim DESIGN DIRECTOR Townsend. Nadine G. Messier [email protected] Milestones were also added. We recognized the first three generation VJMC family mem- bership with father, son, and grandson all present to ride. Lee Mitzel honored the passing CLASSIFIED ADS Gary Gadd of long time VJMC member and friend Bart Iden in a heartfelt eulogy. Bart passed away of 817-284-8195 a heart attack on June 20 at the age of 72. He was a dedicated member of the VJMC Arizona [email protected] Chapter, a well known motorcycle collector, a top level restorer, and a rider of legendary DISPLAY AD DIRECTOR skill. Bart will be missed. Guido Cardillo Our first Tiddler Ride & Bike show was judged by all the ladies present (check it out on 404-587-0190 [email protected] YouTube video). New evening beverage socials kept fifty to sixty members engaged well AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE after dark making new friends. The family has gotten bigger. Art Snow Work was also on the rally agenda. The Board of Directors held its annual meeting at the [email protected] Indiana rally with eleven of the twelve members present. We shared reports on Events, the MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Field Rep Program, Club Publications and Advertising, Recruiting, and Social Media op- Bill Granade portunities. As hard working volunteers, this group has only the highest standards to move 813-961-3737 [email protected] this club forward in the years ahead. New directors Bryan Bentley, Sean Carrigan, Jack Stein, and Guido Cardillo got to put faces to the voices on the monthly Board conference CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please direct these requests to Bill Granade: calls. New blood adds new life to the VJMC family. [email protected] Treasurer Bob Leonard raised some intriguing questions regarding the role of our website ADDITIONAL COPIES in the era of social media. The old proprietary website model may be limited with Face- In order to minimize unnecessary expenses book, Yahoo groups, and Youtube providing open sourced information and expertise on to the club, VJMC prints a limited number of each issue of Vintage Japanese Motorcycle vintage motorcycles to everyone, anytime, and anywhere. Making our website smartphone Magazine. However, we would be glad to and tablet compatible is our next focus. accommodate any requests for additional Membership continues to grow with the greatest increases coming through recruiting at copies from members. These requests must be submitted before the events. The BOD has set a goal of 4000 members in 2014, and we have the event opportu- 15th of the month preceding each issue. For nities to make it happen. example: for the Feb/Mar issue requests must Remember that our club niche continues to expand as bikes from the 1980s and 1990s be received by January 15. rekindle great memories in their owners. Recently, outside a Best Buy store, a young man MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of this organization is to promote approached me after seeing my CB400F. He talked passionately about his 1987 Honda the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment CBR600F, which he was going to ride forever. I gave him my card and invited him to join of vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined here and bring his bike to our events. Take time to chat with this club’s future members using as those 20 years old or older). The VJMC also will promote the sport of motorcycling and the universal language of motorcycles. cameraderie of motorcyclists everywhere. We also unveiled some new regalia items. The basic white T-shirts now sport a Honda © 2014 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of CB750, Yamaha XS650, and Kawasaki H1 on the back. After selling out of club decals at North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-prof- it 501(c)(7) corporation. All rights reserved. Mid-Ohio, we are restocked with 4″, 8″, and, by special request, 12″ sizes. Decorate those No part of this document may be reproduced vans, trailers, and toolboxes with club colors. or transmitted without permission. All articles copyright by their respective authors. Since we are in the sweet spot of a riding summer, I hope everyone takes the opportunity Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine is to attend one of our events. Plan to ride to the West Coast Rally, attend the Tenth Barber published six times per year, in February, Vintage Festival, ride to the Meet at the LeMay Museum, checkout and participate in AIM- April, June, August, October, and December. The views and opinions expressed in letters Expo or any other VJMC family of events. or other content are those of the author and do not necessarily represent VJMC policy. The VJMC accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or claims occuring as a result of advice given Ride safe and often this summer! in this publication or for claims made by ad- vertisers of products or services in this pub- lication. Tom Kolenko VJMC President VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 5 6 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 EVENTS the Motorcycle Show VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 7 8 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 by Angela Studley e all have that “something” that makes our heart race; you feel giddy and Wcannot get enough. For me it is motorcycles—more precisely, it’s vintage mo- torcycles. Since moving from Seattle, I have been searching for that special event or gathering that is the vintage motorcycle culture. Think Ace Café or Mods versus Rockers and you’ll know what I had been seeking. Well, I found it. The weekend of April 11th through the 13th marked the return of Moto GP to the Circuit of Amer- icas in Austin, Texas. It was also the place to see the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. While I was excited about Moto GP, I was really intrigued by the Handbuilt Show. The setting for the show was in an up and coming neighborhood in Austin, where new hip restaurants and the planned light rail converge. Driving up to the location, my excitement increased as vintage motorcycles lined the street in front of the event center. I was immediately drawn to the Japanese bikes, spotting Yamahas, Hondas, Suzukis, and Kawasakis. The street was a show in itself, with classic daily commut- ers, barn finds left as original but running, and modern machinery all mixed in. The show setting was perfect—the building looked like an old quonset hut times three from the outside, with large open air windows, and featuring an inviting out- door area. A DJ spun vintage rockabilly to really set the mood. Vintage leather jack- ets were hung over hand-crafted two wheel rolling iron. Motorcycles fanned out from every support beam in the building, creating an ever interesting vision as your eyes scanned the room. The Vintage Motorbike Oil & Ink print exposition lined the TOP: Vintage bikes east wall, and Moto TinType was on hand to create wet plate photographs. Many were also outside other artisans displayed their motorcycle art throughout the show as well. the venue Yamaha XS650s were well represented. Hondas came in many varieties, from , CENTER: classic racers to 70s CBs. A very unique 2003 Kawasaki W650 from Revival drew Handcrafted tail attention to its unusual tank and classic look.