CL72 restoration comes together •Inside: Kawasaki Samurai “angel” project • Teen is rising VJMC star • 1975 Goldwing restoration • Honda wins Motogiro America • Michigan, NYC show reports Vol. 30, No. 3 June 2009 $5 4 President’s letter Stories from the road and home, with a soundtrack. 6 Letters, notes and miscellany A SOHC lamp, writing tips, carb help sought and more. 12 Getting from nonrider to proud VJM owner Finally, Steven’s getting a bike. But it’s not a Triumph... 14 The angel of 1968 Samurai restoration helps brother through cancer treatments. 16 30 year hiatus ... over That KZ in the garage is good for something. 17 VJMC lines up Z-1s for NYC show The VJMC at the Cycle World show. 18 Teen prodigy shines at VMD Wheeler-dealer born at first Mid-Ohio. 20 The early years of Japanese imports Charles saw the first CB750s being unveiled in Tokyo. 24 The shape of things to come Found a renowned metalsmith to rework fenders right near home. 30 Michigan chapter stays busy during frigid months Michigan VJMC displays at Cycle World, museum events 32 Honda CB160 wins Motogiro America Japanese bike wins Italian event in California. 35 Of loves lost and regained again Goldwing resto restarts relationship. 41 Classifieds What do you need? On the cover Roger Smith, VJMC PR director, bought this 1962 Honda CL72 250cc scrambler in February, 2009. Once the CL72 arrived in Michigan, restoration began with help from Ron Fournier, Browns Plating, Ron Finch Painting, Terry at Western Hills Honda and Matt Tate. June 2009 www.vjmc.org 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT VJMC magazine June 2009 Vol. 30, No. 3 President On the road and back again Stuart Covington t is time to write my column once again. It 978-582-3335 seems like this comes up in the blink of an [email protected] eye. Time flies … or is it the time for flies? Editor I Brendan Dooley Ahh, the joys of spring. While I write this, I am [email protected] listening to soul music legend Booker T. Jones as recorded by me at my studio (www.powerhous- Art Director Rhonda Cousin estudio.com). Google him if you are too young to know who he is. Classified ads Gary Gadd I know … What does that have to do with 817-284-8195 vintage Jap bikes? Well nothing, except it was [email protected] the backdrop music of our lives in the ‘60s for Display Ad Director/ those of us who were riding these bikes new in West Coast Rep our youth. Bob Billa familiar voice, and as we approached we saw it 949-433-3580 Now on to the motorcycle stories. These are was Tim. He was standing over an NOS tank for [email protected] several of the reasons why I love this club. my bike, and talking to Terry from Western Hills Mountain States Rep I was in Flowery Branch, Ga., doing a big tile Honda about his buddy Stuart that has this bike. Hal Johnson job for my old college roommate in February. We 402-660-6710 Tim needed one to repaint for a K0. So for $50, I had seven days of kick-butt working and four days [email protected] ended up with another mint NOS tank and Tim got to play. Central States Rep mine to repaint. We went on a road trip to visit VJMC board Volunteer Needed What are the odds of that happening ? member Tom Kolenko and Buck Mitchell to see He and his partner Dan made a road trip re- Northeast Rep their stuff. George Duffy cently from Baltimore to pick up bikes in Vermont 805-602-6239 Tom has a great setup and many great bikes. and New Hampshire on a Sunday and then came [email protected] We share an appreciation for the smaller ones, but to stay with us overnight. he also has been collecting all the paraphernalia that Southeast Rep They had snagged a trio of nice originals; a Louise McCarthy-Dutton was out and available to dealers. He had a plethora 954-993-3993 Black Bomber, 305 scrambler and Super Hawk. The of items; cardboard banks, ash trays, banners, shop [email protected] weather was warm and sunny so we had a nice day signs, toys. It was awesome. He also had a mint, to show off my collection to Tim and Dan who had Membership Director restored CB92 Benley Super Sport in blue with a Bill Granade never been here before.We did the whole tour, the 813-961-3737 red seat. My favorite. studio, the motorcycles, the American Flyer train [email protected] We then went to see Buck. He was wrapping up room. You know, the usual! Mission statement: restoration on a red S-90. Beautiful bike. We got to Then three grown men (debatable) had a blast The purpose of this organization is to drool over his collection and had a nice afternoon promote the preservation, restoration terrorizing my yard on some of my bikes. We started and enjoyment of vintage Japanese of talking trash. Buck does some incredible work motorcycles (defined as those 20 out with an S-65, S-50 and a Cub. I had the Cub and has fun doing it. I wish we did not live so far years old and older, until 2011. We will and still beat the bigger bikes to the top of the hill. embrace 1990 until then). The VJMC apart. These guys are great and help make this club also will promote the sport of motorcy- I then got the CL125 “mailbox bike” and white 305 cling and camaraderie of motorcyclists what it is, great! Dream out and we commenced to tear it up on big- everywhere. ger bikes. We were laughing the whole time. Then © 2009, Vintage Japanese Back at home.... Motorcycle Club of North America, Elizabeth called the kids in for dinner. an IRS-approved Not-for-profit I have known Tim McDowell (www.classi- We had a great night together talking war stories, 501(c) corporation. All rights re- chondarestoration.com) since 1993 or so. We met served. No part of this document may the parts that got away and the ones that did not. be reproduced or transmitted in any at a White Rose, NY, vintage bike show, hit it off form without permission. I love the VJMC.org. This club is great because royally and have been friends ever since. of it’s members. The Booker T. CD is now done The VJMC magazine is published six I have a K2 750, mint original in flake Sunrise times per year, in February, April, June, and so am I. August, October and December. The Orange. I bought an NOS tank and side covers in views and opinions expressed in letters Until next time, keep it sunny-side up and go the ‘80s; the tank has received a few dings since or other content are those of the author have some fun! and do not necessarily represent I bought it, but is still nice.We were at Mid-Ohio VJMC policy. The VJMC accepts no liability for any loss, damage or claims for my first (and so far, only) time. Liz and I were occurring as a result of advice given in — Stuart Covington this publication or for claims made by walking the flea market and Liz said she heard a advertisers of products or services in this publication. 4 www.vjmc.org June 2009 LETTERS , NEWS AND MISCE ll ANY From the editor’s desk run will be at least a 350kb file size. (Cell- Welcome to your June issue, the big- phone pics will not work.) You can also gest issue of the VJMC magazine I’ve send prints to me, I can scan them in here had the privilege to produce in my time as to run as needed. editor. There are a few restoration articles, Not all issues will be 48 pages, but some love lost and found stories, show re- with your help submitting stories (and talk- ports and more. ing up the VJMC where you spend your A 48-page club magazine in this eco- discretionary hobby dollars to influence nomic climate rivals many “professional” potential VJMC advertisers) … maybe it trade magazine page counts, and is a tribute could be. to the board and treasurer to be able to af- Have a great summer of riding! just gray pages and pages of words? Pic- ford to produce a larger magazine like this. Brendan Dooley, VJMC editor tures just spice things up and make the The most important key, though, is [email protected] magazine more visually appealing. That’s you the member, who is also the author. not even to mention the things a reader will Each issue reflects you and your interests. I P.S. If anyone has any Hodaka Road take interest in the photo that you won’t merely produce the magazine. You write it Toad restoration tips, I’m all ears. I’m have thought to mention in your story. and illustrate it with your stories and pho- starting the teardown about 20 minutes 3. As you restore that bike, take shots tos that you send in. after this goes to press. Finally. Hopefully, along the way to share later. On your bike With that in mind, I thought I’d offer a I’ll be writing a resto story chock-full of trip, get pics of the locales, bikes at the lo- few tips on writing and submitting stories high-res pics with captions for the Decem- cales and you with your bike at the locales.