Volume 26, Number 11 October 2004 $4.50

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Celebrating over 25 years of vintage motorcycling VINTAGE JAPANESE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 CONTENTS

President’s Column...... 3 This issue’s web password is: worldseries Editor’s Column ...... 3 Effective October 1st Use lower case Product Review: Eastwood Electroplating System ...... 4

Calendar of Events ...... 6 Mission Statement Member Profile: Jason Bell .....7 The Purpose of this organization is to promote the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of Vintage Japanese Product Review: Precision (defined as those greater Manufacturing and Sales than 15 years old) and to promote the Bike Lift Model 1801 ...... 8 sport of motorcycling and camaraderie of motorcyclists everywhere. Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts'Puzzle...... 10 President Tech Tip: Air Filter Saver .....12 Pete Boody (865) 435-2112, [email protected] Wisconsin's First-Ever Magazine Editor Karen McElhaney Annual VJMC Event ...... 13 (865) 671-2628, [email protected] Classified Advertising Good Intentions ...... 14 Gary Gadd (817) 284-8195, [email protected] It Was A Crazy Idea, Anyway ....15 Commercial Advertising Region A Norman Smith Independence Day ...... 16 (941) 792-0003, [email protected] Commercial Advertising Region B Brad Powell 2004 VJMC Day BlueRidgeRide...18 (678) 576-4258, [email protected] Membership 2004 Mid-Ohio Bill Granade Swap Meet Report...... 20 (813) 961-3737, [email protected] Webmaster Spoking and Aligning A New Rim . . . 24 Jason Bell (972) 245-0634, [email protected] Coming Home Again...... 26 Cover Layout Andre Okazaki Americade 2004 Features Magazine Layout Some Vintage Bikes ...... 28 Darin Watson  2004 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. All rights reserved. No part of this Yamaha's Mini Enduros ...... 32 document may be reproduced or transmit- ted in any form without permission. Classifieds ...... 34

2 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 From the President: Thanks go to many by Pete Boody Today, I would like to add my per- along—that the VJMC magazine had sonal thank you for a “job well done” the quality of content, the aesthetic A number of years ago, I became a to our current and past executive offi- appeal, and the professionalism, but member of this unique club and in the cers, board of directors, field repre- lacked only one thing to make it time that has passed since then, I have sentatives, and all the other hard- grand: color. witnessed the comings and goings of working individuals. Although our I have read, re-read, and read again the executive staff and board mem- current leadership has served to- every article and advertisement, bers. Many have left our ranks be- gether for less than one year, all of viewed and re-viewed each of the cause of commitments in their you have displayed a loyalty to our pictures and the stunning cover personal lives or their jobs (yes, all of membership that is of the highest cal- photo, and I have to say, we were us have full time jobs or are occupied iber. My VJMC hat is off to you and I right. It is everything we wanted it to in other ways). Some have served offer a hardy thank you for your de- be and we are not finished yet. The with great enthusiasm but have de- votion to this club. magazine now offers a more exciting cided after long years of service that This month will be the second issue forum for members to share their others need to have a go at it. Occa- of the VJMC magazine in full color. stories and experiences, and folks sionally, there might be some differ- We have received a fantastic number who want to have their articles ences of opinions warranting us to of emails telling us that “this was printed with color pictures now have consider our priorities, but every one worth waiting for,” “WOW! What a that opportunity. And the fact that of these members has, without excep- difference color makes,” “you made we have made the conversion has al- tion, added a measure of credibility to my day….by adding color to this ready prompted vendors to place the ongoing process of building this newsletter,” “can’t wait for the Octo- color ads. So did we decide correctly club into today’s progressive and ber issue,” etc. All of these comments to add color to our publication? professional organization. indicate what we suspected all YOU BET!! From the editor: Web site changes coming by Karen McElhaney you read this it will be October. The anyone can access our articles, tech- hot, humid days will have given way nical information, photos, etc. The Bittersweet Anniversary to the cool, crisp fall air, and despite online version of the magazine is the the fact that the Red Sox will almost only resource that is password pro- August 11. Time to drink a toast to certainly have broken my heart again tected. Look for changes in the future the fact that I am still alive and to take by then, perhaps we will all be ener- so that you, as a VJMC member, will a ceremonial ride around the block on gized enough to take a ride longer enjoy more restricted access to valu- something – anything – with only two than just around the block. I think I able information. Non-members will wheels. Yes, today is the 23rd anni- will start cleaning now so that when still be able to get information on versary of the unfortunate entangle- the time comes, I can roll out my ne- VJMC events, officers and field rep- ment of my Yamaha DT175 with an glected treasures without hav- resentatives, membership, etc. orange 1970-something Ford Pinto ing to maneuver around the mowers, on a busy four-lane highway near the trailers, rakes, shovels, and gas cans that occupy almost every inch of Vintage Japanese Motorcy- Knoxville airport. Some things you cle Collector/Rider to be In- never forget, and the memory of that space in what was once an organized day I suppose will be with me for- garage. Hey - does anyone need a ducted into AMA Hall of ever. So each year I celebrate by tak- pressure washer with only a slightly Fame ing a moment to consider what could dry-rotted primer bulb? have happened and how lucky I was The AMA’s Hall of Fame Museum that it didn’t. A short bike ride re- Web Site Enhancements will induct eleven riders for 2004 at minds me to “get back on the horse” its induction ceremony on October 9 and to keep looking to the future. Members have suggested that we in Pickerington, OH (just east of Co- The miserable August weather has consider placing additional limita- lumbus on I-70). The induction cere- me looking for an excuse not to mow tions on the availability of our online mony includes an all-day outdoor the lower forty tonight. Actually, I materials so that most of it is re- am quite jealous because by the time stricted to members only. Currently, See Editor, page 6

www.vjmc.org 3 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Product review: Eastwood electroplating system by Richard J. Sulik

I have a 1965 Honda CB77 that I re- stored, in fits and spurts, over more than a decade. I started out intending for this bike to be a “daily rider.” But after a couple of years had passed, I came to think of it more and more as strictly a showpiece. Therefore, I started taking pains to make it appear as “original” as possible. This included reusing, to the great- est extent possible, the original fas- teners. Some reutilization was out of necessity; the CB77 has many deeply shouldered or otherwise oddly shaped bolts that are unobtainable elsewhere, the oddly flared seat mounting bolts being a prime exam- ple. In addition, although there were also many bolts of standard size and thread pitch, the original 1960’s vin- tage bolts on the Super Hawk had smooth faces, whereas the current production metric bolts have raised markings on their faces. Ultimately, I realized that many of these original, and rather specialized fasteners were too corroded to get by with just a squirt of WD40 and a lick with some steel wool—they would have to be re-plated: not chrome plated, but zinc plated, as they came from the factory. I have had the expe- rience of having personnel in com- mercial plating shops roll their eyes at the little handful of bolts I offered for processing, and subsequently waited six to eight weeks for them to “get around to it.” Thus, it was with a great deal of interest that I read the re- views of both the Caswell and JNT Top: Plating set-up (shown without plating solution). Bottom: Re-plated CB77 special home electroplating systems in the fasteners. VJMC magazine. However, when I investigated those systems, neither The catalog offered a complete kit safety goggles, a funnel, rub- seemed quite right for what I had in for $69.99, as well as replenishment ber gloves, a plastic “plating jug” and mind. materials, in this case electrolyte so- a tube of metal polish. While perusing the latest Eastwood lution and zinc-tin anode bars, which My initial inclination was to buy Company catalog one evening, I no- together would cost $49.99. In addi- just the electrolyte solution and the ticed that they too offered a home tion to a plastic battery holder, the kit anodes. What finally changed my electroplating kit and supplies. And offered a number of items which I mind was an uncertainty regarding their system enabled plating in a considered superfluous, primarily be- the little plastic box, provided as zinc-tin alloy. cause I already owned similar ones: part of the kit that holds the two D

4 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004

that any spills or splashes of the acidic electrolyte solution would be confined harmlessly to the board. Upon setting up the kit though, it quickly became apparent that the Eastwood “System” was a one- piece-at-a-time proposition. And, in my estimation, the plastic plating container provided in the kit was both too deep and too narrow at the mouth to be of much good for my use. The application of a little inge- nuity quickly resulted in a solution to the problem. An empty one-pound hand cleaner container was obtained from my workbench. Four inches wide, three inches deep, and made of heavy plastic, it was perfect for a plating tank when filled with the electrolyte solution to within about an inch of the top. The anode bar is a flat strip about Close-up of the installed, finished product one inch wide, eight inches long, and very soft. You can easily bend it in cell batteries that power the plating just like a flashlight. The positive your fingers to any required shape. process. While I was pretty sure I (red) lead of the little battery box is Generally, that would be with a short could get something similar at my clipped to the anode, and the negative hook in one end so that it can hang local Radio Shack relatively inex- (black) lead is clipped to the object over the mouth of the plating jug and pensively, I really had no idea if the being plated. dangle in the electrolyte solution. In battery box was constructed so as to The kit’s instructional material em- my case, I made it bend just about in put the batteries in series, in order to phasized the need for having the parts half. This allowed the anode bar to obtain 3 volts, or in parallel, to ob- to be plated scrupulously clean. So, stand on its own, and made it easy to tain greater current. Figuring I’d be although only a couple of the fasten- attach the positive clip from the bat- sorry more than twenty bucks worth ers that I wanted to plate were actu- tery box. if I guessed wrong, I ordered the ally rusty, they all spent a night in a The piece to be plated must be at- whole kit. Induced by the promise bath of the vintage motorcycle re- tached to the negative battery clip and of a 10% discount for on-line orders storer’s secret weapon – Milkstone immersed in the solution, at which placed during the first weekend of Remover, diluted 3:1. The next point the plating process begins. the new year, I ordered through the morning I cleaned the residue off However, I immediately realized that company’s web site, which is them in hot water and dishwashing if I just clipped on the negative lead www.eastwoodco.com. However, detergent, using a non-woven nylon and dropped the bolt in the solution, they also have both a toll free and a pad. Many people know the familiar the side of the bolt laying against the fax number that can be used for green household variety of these pads bottom of the tank might not get placing orders. by the brand name Scotch Brite. plated, or at least not very well. The plating kit arrived more quickly However, for shop work, I like to use Somehow, I had to suspend the piece than promised. After it did, I un- the harder, gray or brown varieties so that no part of it would be touching packed the contents and read the en- that are sold in hardware and auto either the bottom or the sides of the closed instructional leaflet before supply stores for sanding down paint container. I made another trip out to starting to work. The principle was and removing rust from metal. the workbench and obtained a piece pretty straightforward: the zinc-tin Ignoring the specific warning not of 12 gauge solid copper wire about a anode bar provides the metal which is to do so, I set up the kit on my foot long. I stripped it, then starting in to be deposited on the object being kitchen counter next to the sink. My the middle of the piece, I wrapped a plated. A small plastic box holds two only concession to safety (and com- couple of turns around the threaded D size dry cell batteries, and on in- mon sense) was that I placed an old portion of the bolt that I had selected spection, it proved to be constructed wooden cutting board on the so as to put the two batteries in series, countertop first, deluding myself See Product review, page 27 www.vjmc.org 5 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Editor: An invite to AMA Hall induction Continued from page 3 Ohio. For more information on the mu- slightly awry, and Ellis Holman tells seum and the celebration see: how an old bike found its way home. bike show on the AMA campus. www.motorcyclemuseum.org. To ask On the technical side, Jim Townsend Many of motorcycling’s legends and Dal a question see: www.dalsmilie.com. describes how to spoke and align a luminaries will be in attendance. new rim and T.D. Bash offers a One of the inductees is Dal Smilie, In this Issue money-saving alternative to air filter whose motion started the AMA mu- replacement. There are also two prod- seum back in 1982. He served as the “What I did on my summer vaca- uct reviews this month: Richard Sulik Chairman of the Museum’s Board of tion” might well be the theme for this critiques the Eastwood Electroplating Directors for 14 years. Dal is a 35 month’s magazine. We are fortunate System and Andrew Bolduc tests a year advocate for motorcyclists’ to have members’ reports on several new bike lift from Precision Manufac- rights. Dal also collects and races events and rallies: Lloyd Blythe de- turing and Sales. Our member profile vintage Japanese motorcycles. His scribes the annual VJMC Blue Ridge this month highlights Jason Bell, the 1964 red frame Type II CL72 sits in Parkway Ride, John DeBeck covers VJMC webmaster. Finally, a mini his- the AMA’s foyer. He has won four the first annual Wisconsin VJMC tory of Yamaha’s mini enduros is a AHRMA national championships on event, Rick Darke chronicles Vintage collaborative effort between Richard his 1974 C&J framed XL350. The Days at Mid-Ohio, Mike Vachon Sulik and yours truly. Enjoy! past “First Bike” exhibit included his shares his experiences at Lake 1968 Bridgestone Hurricane Scram- George’s Americade 2004, and Ken Cover photo bler. Carlson narrates a tale of a grueling Dal issues his personal invitation to 650-mile road race. Stories include Al The cover photo shows a cute little VJMC members to come and help him Onia’s confession that a movie in- 1973 Yamaha GT80 mini enduro celebrate. Bring your bikes for the spired his fever to collect vintage owned by Randy Marble. You can show. Early October is a great time to bikes, Andrew Bolduc admits to a lit- visit Randy’s entertaining web site at get out and enjoy the foliage change in tle carb rebuilding project that went www.marblesmotors.com. Calendar of events October 2004 bike show on the AMA campus. Quick Tip of Many of motorcycling’s legends and 3 luminaries will be in attendance. the Month Holly (Fall) Vintage Motorcycle Info: www.motorcyclemuseum.org. “How the handlebars attach to Rally, Downtown Holly, MI 9-10 the upper tree is usually un- British, European, Japanese, and Gotham Motorcycle Classic, NYC known, but it can be assumed vintage motorcycles will be on dis- New York City’s world-class, that in most cases, the manu- play from 9:30 am. to 4:00 pm. All all-brands motorcycle show, held on the facturer has designed them so VJMC members are invited to attend decks and docks of the Intrepid aircraft that the lower portion is in and are encouraged to bring a bike for carrier, sponsored by RoadBike and alignment with the fork angle display. American Iron Magazine. Four divi- (rake).” Contact Scott Timoff for more infor- sions and 32 classes of show bikes, ven- mation: [email protected] or dors, and more. Pre-registration is (248) 338-9320 recommended for show bikes. Please joinusandhelpspreadthewordtoin- 9 crease the turn out of vintage Japanese AMA Hall of Fame Museum In- bikes for 2004. Magazine coverage and Check out the classifieds duction Ceremony, Pickering, OH a chance to have your bike photo- The AMA’s Hall of Fame Museum graphed and featured in RoadBike, the section of this issue for will induct eleven riders for 2004 at industry’s only all-metric motorcycle dozens of bikes, parts, its induction ceremony on October 9 magazine. Visit www.GothamMC.com and miscellaneous items in Pickerington, OH (just East of Co- or www.RoadBikemag.com or write to lumbus on I-70). The induction cere- [email protected] for more wanted and for sale. mony includes an all-day outdoor information.

6 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Member profile: Jason Bell

CT-1s, then a 1974 CB750, then a 1978 CB550, then a 1965 YGS1T. Today, I have six bikes in the garage and five more in storage, all of them Japanese and most of them . My collection includes a 1965 Yamaha YGS1T, 1969 Yamaha CT-1, 1971 CB350, 1974 Suzuki TS250, 1981 XR185, 1982 XL600R, 1982 XL185S, 1990 GB500, 1990 XR250, and a 1981 ATC110. Maybe I still feel guilty for destroying that CB100 or maybe I have a sentimental attachment to the brand that started me off, but I like old Hondas best. This hobby has consumed me, ap- Jason Bell tunes the carbs on his CB750. pealing on many different levels: there’s the scavenger hunt for parts, by Jason Bell a car bumper, mangling the forks and the research needed for working on a steering head. Luckily, the old man is bike, the bargain hunting, the accom- Editor’s note: Jason is the VJMC a decent welder, and he had it back to- plishment of doing the work myself, webmaster. gether in time for Christmas, 1983. the good feeling of bringing an old The sickness started with a 1971 Forget about a nickel-plated Rickman relic back to life, the history lesson CB100, metallic turquoise with white Metisse or a Trackmaster frame. That about global politics and business and stripes. The bike was a stray, rescued Christmas, I was the only kid with a engineering and manufacturing, and from the trash heap by dear old Dad. custom framed dirt bike: 20% CL125, the appreciation of beautiful shapes With a splash of carb cleaner and a 80% XL185, 100% cool. For twenty and colors and craftsmanship. There’s fresh plug, I was slipping through the years I rode that bike everywhere: hill also the “Zen,” sitting alone in a greasy weeds of west Houston on a climbing, trail riding, motocross smelly room for hours on end, medi- free bike. That summer I learned how jumping. I finally broke that poor tating on the task at hand, focused to short shift, double , and trail homemade frame about an inch above only on the moment of now. If I do ev- on bald street tires. By sum- the weld, riding on a cow trail. erything correctly and complete my mer’s end I was a ten year old junkie, Over the years I picked up stray dirt tasks to the best of my ability, I will hooked on adrenaline, living a fast bikes, fixed ‘em, rode ‘em, sold ‘em. I have a piece of rolling, moving, buzz- life on the ragged edge of traction. didn’t care too much about them; I ing, smoking art that keeps the wind in Q: How long can a CB100 run with was just happy to be riding. But after my hair and the bugs in my teeth. a half-full of sludge? Ac- several years of living in the city far That’s the “roller coaster” appeal of cording to my scientific research, away from dirt roads and open land, I this hobby, and I live for that thrill. about three months. Those sadists at began to miss motorcycles, so I found I live in a quiet Dallas suburb with an Honda R&D couldn’t have dreamed a project bike: a 1980 CB750K with a understanding wife and three daugh- up a stress test as sick as my daily reg- bad alternator. Boy, was I in over my ters who all love to ride on the back of imen of abuse. I was a fearsome and head. I began looking for parts and ad- dad’s bike. Last year I took up the destructive force of nature. By sum- vice on the internet. I found the VJMC challenge from Jim Townsend; I mer’s end, I had squeezed the life message board and began asking taught myself to build web pages and I from that poor Honda’s main bearing questions and picking up tips from have been the VJMC webmaster ever and left it on the trash heap. The bike guys like Wayne Marsula, Ellis since. It’s a fun way to use my talents died, but the sickness lived. Holman, Craig Faith, Joe Broussard, and give something back to the club Dad came to the rescue with another and Ed Moore. I soaked in the knowl- that has taught me, encouraged me, free bike. This one was an XL185 dual edge, enjoyed the encouragement, and and entertained me over the last five sport, fresh from the dealer’s show- laughed at the BS. It didn’t take long years. I have learned a lot, met some room with only 400 miles on the for the fever to grow. I began collect- great people, and found a place where clock. The bike gave up its first life to ing older bikes: first a pair of 1971 my sickness fits in. www.vjmc.org 7 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Product review: Precision Manufacturing and Sales bike lift model 1801

by Andrew Bolduc

This year my back finally con- vinced my brain that working on bikes without some kind of elevated lift was not something I should en- dure any longer. It was time to bite the bullet and come up with a lift for the workshop. After a bit of research I found that the professional lifts used by bike shops were too expensive for my budget and also just too big and heavy for the size of my workshop. I finally happened upon a web site for Precision Manufacturing and Sales in Florida, who offer hydraulic lifts in two styles; the Model 1801 lift and a heavier unit aptly named “The Beast.” Based on the ad copy on their web site and the accompanying photos, the Model 1801 lift looked to have all the features one would want, and at $299, it came at a price I could justify for a home workshop. The unit arrived well packaged in a heavy cardboard box that was band-strapped down to a wooden skid. Forget UPS; this 200+ pound box is coming common carrier so prepare to shell out some additional money for shipping. Give some thought also as to how that huge de- livery truck is going to get up your driveway to the workshop. I arranged for mine to be delivered to a local business with a proper loading dock Top: Model 1801 lift in lowered position for loading. Bottom: Model 1801 lift in fully and then moved it to my house in a raised position with safety bar installed. pickup. To my surprise the unit was basi- clearing space for the lift in the chock on the right and the hand wheel cally fully assembled. Even the hy- workshop, I couldn’t help but won- chock on the left. If you want it the draulic system was filled and bled of der how an 800-pound motocross other way, you’ll need to drill your air. The front wheel chock and clamp bike would handle in the own holes. There is a bolt-on wheel components needed to be mounted, whoop-de-doos. stop at the very front to keep you which was a ten minute job with the The front wheel chock is rubber from pushing the bike off the lift and included hardware. coated and clamps using a hand onto the floor. Though advertised as a “motocross wheel. This is easy enough to use There is a foot lever to raise the lift, lift,” the rated capacity is listed as with one hand while you hold the and with about a hundred short 800 pounds. This should clearly be bike stable with your other hand. The strokes of the pump the platform is at suitable for all but the heaviest vin- mounting holes in the platform are its maximum 31” height. While one tage Japanese machinery. As I was laid out for placement of the fixed hundred strokes might seem like a

8 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 lot, the leverage ratio is pretty signif- Overall construction is very good bow on it someday. I also rounded off icant, so each isn’t much with attractive welds and every- the square edges of the front wheel work. A second foot control bleeds thing has a heavy coat of well-ap- stop for the same reason. The best up- the hydraulic cylinder to lower the plied paint. The top platform is grade was using the lag screw holes platform. There are two sets of holes diamond plate, as is the ramp. The at the back for installing some for inserting a safety bar (included) lifting mechanism is constructed of crank-down disc feet that can be used so the hydraulics can be relieved a mix of channel, structural square to jack the rear wheels off the floor to with the safety bar holding the lift tubing, round stock and plate. The increase the stability. raised. One set of holes is at maxi- cast front wheels are solid and After using the lift for several mum height and the second set is sturdy and allow pushing the unit in weeks, I can attest that the folks at about halfway raised. The foot con- a straight line. The rear wheels are Precision Manufacturing and Sales trols are also designed for left side casters and allow for steering the offer a well made product at a fair use only, and swapping them side for lift when you want to move a pro- price. They were easy to deal with, side did not look possible without ject over into the corner while you returned my calls and emails, and some considerable metalworking. wait for your next UPS parts deliv- shipped my lift the same day I or- The safety bar can be inserted from ery. There are vertical holes near dered it. either side. the rear wheels to allow lagging the Precision Mfg. & Sales is offering a The hinged ramp mentioned earlier unit to the floor. 10% discount on the Model 1801 lift is conveniently removable with no I must confess that I have made as a promotion to all magazine sub- tools, making rear wheel removal a modifications to mine already; we scribers by mentioning the product snap, especially on bikes with longer engineers can’t help ourselves. Some review. For more information, con- “euro style” rear fenders where the bodywork edge-trim around all the tact the company at www.preci- wheel can’t be removed straight edges of the diamond plate made me sion.bz or by phone at 1-800- back. feel better about hitting my shin or el- 237-5947.

WesternWesternHillsHonda/Yamaha Hills Honda / Yamaha 3110 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45211 USA Phone: 1 513 662-7759 Fax: 1 513 662-7912 Herschel Benkert, Owner Since March 1962 Vintage N.O.S. Honda Parts Offering Domestic and International dealers' parts inventories with shipments arriving on a regular basis Our inventory is always changing

www.westernhillshonda.com e-mail: [email protected]

www.vjmc.org 9 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Vintage motorcycle enthusiasts' puzzle created by Ellis Holman

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10 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Crossword clues (answers on page 30) Across 2. Common means for starting a motorcycle 5. Historic location that has held motorcycle races for nearly 100 years 6. Device that uses friction to transfer power from engine to 10. Popular term for a street bike with off-road pretense 12. Restorers often look for parts like these 13. Motorcycle manufacturer that began production in 1948 and bears its creator’s name 14. Commonly acknowledged as the first “Superbike” 16. Yamaha factory rider that rode a TZ750 flat tracker at Indianapolis in 1973 21. Japanese name for the home islands 22. Metal disk used in valve gear in many engines in the 1980s 23. One of the “Big Four” 24. Company that began by building musical instruments 25. Where rider and bike meet 28. A control mechanism 29. Kawasaki two-stroke twin of the late 1960s 30. Part of an engine that caps the cylinders 31. Primary power-producing engine component 33. Largest of a now out-of-production company’s designs 35. Second word in Honda’s formal name 40. Supplier of rebuilding kits 41. Builder of ships, planes, and motorcycles 42. Common welding technique 44. Camshaft relationship to piston movement 47. Once called the “$995 Meet God Machine” by a motorcycle magazine writer 48. Electronic device that converts AC to DC 50. Gathering of motorcyclists 51. Short form of motorcycle 52. Stage of power transfer between crankshaft and transmission Down 1. Slang term for a motorcycle 3. Petroleum product that prevents engine seizure 4. When it began production in 1968, it was a more nearly dirt-capable motorcycle than many of its contemporaries 6. Component required for ignition in internal combustion engines 7. Kawasaki’s largest two-stroke 8. Replica of Kawasaki’s big twin of the late 1960s 9. Top of the line Yamaha in the early 1970s 11. Self-contained 14. Part of engine that converts piston motion to rotary motion 15. Engineer responsible for the design of Honda’s CBX 17. Motorcycle manufacturer that created many interesting designs during the 1960s 18. Honda’s method for supplying spares 19. A Suzuki T250 20. Term applied to early CB450 Hondas 25. Honda’s mid-sized model of the 1960s 26. Insignia denoting make and/or model 27. Kawasaki’s code name for the 1973 Z-1 32. Container for fuel 34. Fast 350 twin known for good handling and a direct lineage to racing bikes 36. Most common choice for final drive 37. Honda’s designation for race parts 38. One complete circuit on a race track 39. Summer event drawing thousands 43. One of three components required for an internal combustion engine to run 44. Rubber hoops that provide traction 45. A place to keep motorcycles 46. Refined petrochemical compound 49. Wire device to control mechanical 51. Device for converting motion to heat www.vjmc.org 11 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Tech tip: Air filter saver by T. D. Bash foam sheet the width of the element the middle of the “O” being formed, using a single edge razor or X-acto but a corner of a work bench or table Vintage motorcycle paper element knife and a ruler or straight edge. The will work fine with some wax paper air filters are not only getting harder to foam sheet can be cut a little oversize underneath to keep the filter from find but are also constantly going up in width by approximately 1/4-1/2", sticking to anything else and also to in price these days, to the tune of which will compensate for the foam keep any excess glue in it’s place. $50-$100, especially if they are getting narrower once stretched over Holding the foam ends flat, lined up, NOS/OEM parts. Well, we can’t the element. To determine the correct and together, spray the glued line with hardly get around the increases in cost length, wrap the strip around the ele- the “kicker.” This will adhere the ends of parts, as these vintage Japanese ma- ment and mark it where the strip instantly so you don’t have to hold it chines appreciate in value. But here’s overlaps. Cut the length just about together patiently waiting for it to dry. a tip that will at least save you some 1/4-1/2" SHORTER than the guide Let the assembly cure for about 1-2 money in the long term by saving that mark. This will compensate and cre- minutes, and voila! Instant filter expensive filter, be it new or used. ate a tight fit by forcing the foam to be saver! You can now stretch the foam Once you have purchased a new pa- stretched in length onto the element. strip “O” you’ve just created around per filter (or if you already have one Next, get some Super Glue GEL (I the paper element and even spray it installed on your bike), go to any recommend Zap A Gap Gel and its with WD-40 or silicone spray Home Depot, local hardware, or gro- companion catalyst “kicker” spray (preassembly with element is best). cery store and get a sheet of replace- bottle) and put a light bead of gel glue This will make the paper element last ment window/wall unit air conditioner along both edges where the sheet’s forever, as you can remove the foam foam filter (1/4" thick; black). They length ends will meet. It’s not critical, outer sheet and wash it in dish deter- come in various sizes, so get the big- but use glue SPARINGLY! It won’t gent, lighter fluid, or mineral spirits gest sheet in stock. These usually cost take much glue to get the job done! from time to time, let dry, and re-use! around $1 to $1.50. Hold the ends together, preferably You won’t have to buy another expen- Measure the width of your air filter while laying it on a flat surface. I like sive paper element again for possibly element and then cut a strip of the to use a short section of 1 by 6 thru the life of the bike! Ya gotta luv that!

12 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Wisconsin's first-ever annual VJMC event by John DeBeck

Being a rider, collector, and restorer of vintage motorcycles of all makes and models, it was a natural fit for me to join the VJMC several years ago. My own experiences with other members of the club have made my membership worth far more than my yearly dues. Because I was somewhat disappointed that not much was hap- pening in Wisconsin relating to vin- tage bikes (either through our Wisconsin VJMC chapter or through any other avenue), when I noticed in June that there was a need for a field representative for our state, I decided to take the proverbial “bull by the horns” and do something about it. I was already in the process of coordi- nating a vintage motorcycle show for August 2004, so why not enhance that by having a VJMC presence and getting the word out further? So on the weekend of August 14-15, we had our first annual state gathering, combined with the North- eastern Wisconsin Vintage Motor- cycle Show, Charity Ride, and Swap Meet (also first annual) in which I held the reins. Nick’s BMW, just south of Green Bay, was the gather- ing place. Before any VJMC’er gets too upset wondering why we had a gathering at a European bike dealer- ship, let the facts be known! John Eng and Pete Beyer, the service manager and chief mechanic at Nick’s, are as crazy about old bikes as I am, and do a majority of the ser- vice work on the fleet of 49 (yes, you Top: Some of the bikes on display at the bike show. Bottom: John DeBeck’s pristine read that right...49!) bikes that I 1972 Suzuki 750 Water Buffalo. own, the majority of which are of Japanese heritage. Unlike a lot of I have to admit that when I took on and went to work. We put up posters dealerships, these guys invite every- the task of heading up a motorcycle in every bike shop from the Michigan one into the shop and don’t try to show, especially one in its infancy, I border down to Fond du Lac. Every hide anything! All of my bikes, plus was a bit concerned that on the day of paper in the state received several others, will be going into a museum the event it would just be me, John, press releases about the event. Many that we are establishing here in Pete, and the Nick’s BMW staff who of the local media, including TV, ra- Green Bay—the Motorcycle and would attend. But considering that I dio, and newspaper, were contacted Model Railroad Museum of Wiscon- also promote sports events, (specifi- in person. Plus, I think I rode in sin— which received its nonprofit cally youth basketball tournaments) charter two years ago. for a living, I rolled up my sleeves See Wisconsin, page 33 www.vjmc.org 13 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Good intentions

by Andrew Bolduc tance and each one about the size you would get from a garden hose! I said to the guy standing beside me, “that’s Editor’s note: When I recently asked my friend Andrew gasoline!” He looks at me quizzically. I say again, “that’s how he had enjoyed a concert on a particular weekend, he gasoline!!! We could have a fire!” Do you suppose he’s reported that he had not quite made it to the event. Here’s smart enough to back away? Nope. But I’m stuck on this why. And I did laugh. thing ‘cause there is no way I’m giving up now; it’s run- Long story short...I missed the concert. I was franticly ning! trying to finish my bike to take it to the vintage events on It finally cleared after thirty seconds or so and nothing Sunday and Monday and blew it. Had a major malfunc- ever caught fire, thankfully. There is now a brown spot on tion Saturday that threw a huge wrench in the works. my lawn about six feet long and three feet wide, however. Wasn’t meant to be, I guess. Here’s the wrench in the Old bikes are so much fun and the source of great excite- works. Try not to laugh. ment; even in the driveway! There are thingies called “float needles” in . Their purpose is to shut off the flow of fuel to the carbs when the “float” in the carb rises from the correct level of fuel. Mine were stuck (open) from the winter. The result (on a two-cycle engine) is that the entire contents of the tank flow through the carbs and into the intakes and pour down into the crankcase. Remember that a two-cycle has no oil in the crankcase; only oil is in the transmission. So once the crankcase is full of gasoline (an incompressible fluid), the pistons can not go up and down because there is no place for the gasoline to go to get out of the way. This results in a hydraulically locked engine, or more color- fully, a “swamped engine.” Now on a dirt bike when this used to happen to us when riding through deep water (water works as well as gas) one would drag the bike to the shore, pull out the , flip the whole thing upside down, and ease the motor back and forth with the kick or rear wheel until most of the water belched out the spark plug hole. Try that with a three hundred pound street bike that you just spent the winter detailing. So I was stuck (or my motor was at least). I pulled all the intakes and carburetors and stuck little rubber tubing down into the and hooked up an aquarium pump in a lame attempt to blow some air through there to evaporate the gas and left it outdoors overnight in the hope that it would dry out enough to turn over. I spent the next morning rebuilding the carbs and install- ing three new float needle assemblies ($27.00 each). When reassembled, it would kick over but wouldn’t start. Spark plugs were soaked enough to “bridge” the gaps every time I pulled them out. I pulled the engine cases to confirm that I hadn’t hydraulically jacked out the Attention all members: If you crank seals in the process of getting it to turn over (had not). move, change addresses or change Finally, finally after much kicking and uttering the in- e-mail addresses, please notify the cantations it went burble...once. Then again a little longer. Finally it fired and ran and as a point of habit I looked membership chair as soon as back for the exhaust to see how much smoke, what color, etc. and couldn’t believe what I saw: three streams of fluid possible. This is important. shooting out the three exhaust pipes about four feet in dis-

14 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 It was a crazy idea, anyway by Ken Carlson aluminum fuel tank was fabricated to body decided to entertain the other pa- minimize time spent looking for gas. trons by going into an uncontrolled While contemplating the fact that As the race approached, the bike soon shake. Somehow, a wet and soiled guy half my life is behind me and that the became a sharp-looking racer complete dressed in bright yellow and orange second half will be more of the same with upswept megaphone exhaust, doing the herky jerky really cleared unless I do something about it, I found which I am sure delighted the neigh- the area. Little kids pulled back to the a notice for a race: a cannonball race bors. Friends from miles around would safety of their parents. Their expres- around Lake Erie. Itwastobearace comment that they had “heard me go sions seemed to say “Keep your dis- for very small motorcycles— by” and they would then ask “When is tance or I am going to scream.” It was size and slightly larger—and it was to this race, anyway?” that way every time I got off the bike – take place over only one day’s time. I will tell you about the actual race but rapid shakes as the muscles desper- Total distance: 650 miles. Now that is not keep you in suspense. I did not fin- ately tried to generate heat. something very different than any- ish it. My bike broke down but not with- Thirteen hours after starting the event, thing I had ever done before. You can out a mammoth display of Honda I had actually covered 560 miles. The ask my wife. While I have done many toughness. The morning of the race, it home stretch was down I-90, headed insane things, this would be a notable rained—hard. The racers kind of forced back to Ohio and the finish line. The high point. I think she thought I’d each other to roll out of tents and vehi- bike had been running flat out, as in never follow through when she agreed cles and try to get on enough rain gear to wide-open throttle, for the entire time. that that would be a “nice” thing to do. keep us dry. We were delusional from How many motors would you expect to She obviously wasn’t paying atten- the beginning. My rain gear consisted of handle that abuse for so long? It was tion. Running souped-up for yellow pants and jacket borrowed from now 8:30 p.m. and with a mere 90 miles many hours at a time while competing work with a blaze orange safety vest. I to go I was already savoring the chance with heavy traffic and trying to avoid figured that if I was to be run down by a to get warm and to eat, when the bike the attention of the law might be many semi, it wasn’t going to be because he lost power and started to backfire and things, but “nice” is not one of them. didn’t see me. miss. I was not totally unprepared for As I considered this challenge, the We hadn’t progressed two miles field repairs but had not considered the image of typical race plastered down the road until water began challenge of assembling the parts of a with more advertising than a free bulle- pooling in my boots and my gloves tool kit while doing the shakes. I could tin board at the supermarket came to became saturated. This wouldn’t not even manage to work a screwdriver, mind. I needed sponsors to help me have been too bad except that two much less manage any technical think- mount a campaign. A brief write-up hours into the race the rain was re- ing about what the problem might be. and pictures of the intended racer was placed by a 40° cold front in Detroit. While trying to call a lifeline to come enough to convince several local busi- Hypothermia is the condition of los- and pick me up, Ernie came buzzing by. nesses to share the pain and glory. It is ing more body heat than your systems He could not see me, though, because I amazing the things that can happen can replace. It’s kind of uncomfort- had moved back away from the heavy with the backing of a body shop, tire able at the beginning, but then you traffic. I would later find out that at the shop, cycle repair shop, and a welding don’t seem to notice much. The little time of breakdown, I was leading all /machine shop. I even recruited a com- bike ran like a champ, holding 60-65 three divisions and could have “cleaned plete stranger that I found on an mph on the flat and level and boost- house” if only…if only. internet chat site who had experience ing to 70+ when a truck provided The riders gathered around the fire late with modified small Hondas. The bike drafting for awhile. Did you know into the night sharing experiences and of choice would be a ‘65 Honda S90, that tank trucks suck you in much waiting for the last riders to come home. which due to exceptions and allow- better than ordinary vans? We now had a common bond; each of ances in the classifications, would What was unique about this race is us had braved the physical demands and qualify for the smallest class of bikes that the rider is all alone. After the ini- uncooperative weather to compete for comprising the souped-up mopeds. tial start I never saw the other riders the glory of finishing the race. In the After procuring a suitable bike, most until about midway, somewhere in end, only a small handful would wear of the winter was spent lightening it by Canada when I pulled into a service that honor. The rest of us had only tried. substituting aluminum for steel wher- plaza for fuel and food. There was But you know what? There will be an- ever possible. Low handlebars and Ernie Copper warming up in his chase other race and I will try again because footpegs moved reward would contrib- while eating lunch, and I this was a high point in my list of ute to a racing posture. Considering the swear he was putting on dry clothes. achievements; even though I did not long distance endurance event, a large How unfair! When I dismounted, my finish, I know that I gave it my all. www.vjmc.org 15 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Independence Day by Al Onia

It wasn’t the aliens, it was Randy Quaid (though one could argue that Randy makes a good case for the ex- istence of creatures from another planet). Watching the space disaster movie Independence Day for the first time, I literally left my seat when the kid pulled up on his Candy Apple Red Honda 90 Scrambler. “I had one of those!” I shouted to the furniture. Oh yeah, I’m alone. But I did have one of those, bought new when the candy colors and chrome-fendered models came out in 1968. It replaced a blue Honda S65 that was still running great at 5000 miles but rumor had it that the S65 trannies were weak and it was living on borrowed time. A couple of years later, the CL90 was replaced by a well-used (okay, it was clapped out) CL72 that was bigger and louder. The 250 was cool on the street for a sum- mer, but it was superceded by a Hodaka Super Rat. The Rat had its day when I bought a new Suzuki TS185 street scrambler in 1975/76 (I remember buying it with my new Visa card). Surprisingly good on the trails and on the street, I held on to it longer than any of the previous bikes – until the early 1980s when mar- Top: 1977 Hodaka 125 Wombat Series 3 purchased in Lethbridge, Alberta. Bottom: riage, mortgage, and children kinda 1971 Hodaka Ace 100A (frame painted 1967 Pepsi Red in Imron), originally from rendered two wheels (and two-seat- Montana via Bonners Ferry, Idaho. ers – goodbye, Corvette) an unjustifi- able luxury. I had acquired vacation property in with the original pump that fit Convertibles (four-seater) gradu- Idaho, and three or four trips every sum- under the toaster tank. A hole in the rear ally dimmed every springtime’s mer took me past a house in Bonner’s hub, thrashed seat, crinkled fenders, open-air freedom fever until the late Ferry on which sat various motorcycles rusty spokes, burned-out lights, missing 1990s, and that damn that seemed to come and go, except for ignition switch, and other minor faults scrambler. I knew that the Honda one constant, a Hodaka Ace 100. An weren’t enough to put me off. One 305s were something of a collectible eventual search on the internet revealed Thanksgiving weekend later, I unloaded but wasn’t sure if I wanted one. I a cult-like group devoted to Hodakas, it and a “parts bike” in the Calgary thought “I’ll check around for some- fostered by Paul Stannard. It appeared snow, ready for a winter of rebuilding. thing easy to ride and restore that one that parts and support were readily By the time I was ready to start strip- doesn’t see at every vintage show and available. So it was time to stop and ping it down, I had acquired another shine.” I started cruising the Vintage make the acquaintance of the fellow pair of parts bikes locally, figuring Bike Guide thinking that I wanted a whom I came to know as “Bonner’s that anytime I got stuck for bits, I only Honda CL125. I found out that those Ferry Bob.” His dad had been a Hodaka had to go around to the other side of were extremely rare and that parts dealer in Montana and Bob was selling the garage. This was a fine plan until I were very difficult to get. the very bike on his porch, complete got to fiddling with the two bikes and

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By now, the collecting fever was in full force. A phone call from an enthu- siast in Lethbridge led to the acquisi- tion of a 1977 Hodaka Wombat with only 800 miles on the clock. The bike ran strong but cosmetically needed a lot of freshening, which continues as I write this. I ran a want ad for Honda 160 Scramblers in northern Idaho and found two, one of which has been re- stored, the other sold. I finished and sold the second Ace 100 and am now looking for the next project, maybe a Yamaha RD350 or 400. What about the CL90 that began this crazy journey? Well, I did finally come across one, but it just didn’t move me enough; there are too many A 1966 Honda CL160 acquired in Idaho. other models to discover! realized that the other one ran quite ration went well and I showed the bike Every time I go out to the garage, I strong and was worth restoring as at the World of Wheels, garnering an think of those damn aliens. If it had- well, it being a B+ and differing outstanding vintage restored plaque. I n’t been for them, who knows how I enough from an A to make them a rode the dickens out of it the following would have wasted away the last few contrasting show pair. The first resto- summer. years.

Membership Application New ______Renewal ______Membership options: ******************************************** 1) Multi-year membership–$45 for two years; $65 Name: ______for three years. 2) Spousal membership–$15 per year with no discount Address: ______for multi-year applications. This type of member- ______ship can be completed at any time. The membership must be for the spouse or partner of a current mem- City: ______State: ______ber or can be included with a sign up of a regular member. One magazine will be delivered to that Zip/Postal Code: ______Country: ______household with both names on the mailing label. Phone: ______Spousal members will have a membership card with a unique number such as 5226A. E-mail address: ______Yearly dues: $25 (USD) for North America; $41 (USD) outside of North America. Please send your Preferred Make(s): ______check or money order made out to VJMC along with Preferred Model (s): ______this application to: Bill Granade Signature: ______13309 Moran Dr. Tampa FL 33618-3011 Date: ______Thank you!

www.vjmc.org 17 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 2004 VJMC Day Blue Ridge Ride by Lloyd Blythe

Here’s a little background info be- fore I actually get into the details of this year’s event. After joining the VJMC four years ago, I was some- what disappointed that there weren’t more events in my local area. So after taking part in an impromptu ride with other South Carolina members in the fall of 2002, I decided that I was go- ing to try to pull together an event by myself. So in January of 2003 I went to work putting together a ride to be scheduled on VJMC Day; one that would include some of the best mo- torcycle-friendly roads in our area. I set a goal of making this an annual event that I would sponsor – sort of my annual contribution to the VJMC. To accomplish this, I prepared a flyer and worked with our VJMC team to get it in front of everyone by using the calendar and the web site. I also broad- casted it to our members via the email list, and lastly obtained a mailing list of all members in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. My wife, Deb (who is a wizard with a PC), helped me create labels which we used to mail fly- ers to all members within a 3 to 4 hour drive of our ride’s starting point. But when May 17, 2003 finally arrived, so did about 2 inches of rain! Seven mem- bers showed at the starting point, but only five of us ventured out into the pea soup thick fog (and sometimes near downpour of rain). After reflecting on the poor attendance, even though the Top: Claude’s bike. Bottom: The highest point on Blue Ridge Parkway. few of us who rode in the fog and rain still had a great time, I figured bad call. The 2004 attendance included 8 So for 2004 we added 2 hours for just weather had done us in. But maybe the VJMC members, and because some socializing: meet at 8:30 am and ride sun will shine next year, I hoped. brought friends, there was a total at- at 10:30 am was the plan. This worked For 2004 we followed the same no- tendance of 15 riders on 12 bikes; well; everyone came early and seemed tification process; i.e., using the perhaps not many, considering the to enjoy telling tales and just talking VJMC magazine and web site and the aforementioned targeted audience, VJMs. Claude Mailloux earned the mailing of 157 flyers to members but enough to have fun. Iron Butt award for the event. He rode close enough to attend. This year the The 2004 ride started at 8:30 am his really nice 450 Black Bomber weather guessers dealt us a much with what I have called a parking lot from Spartanburg to the event, then better deal with nearly perfect social. At the 2003 ride, everyone took our 130 mile ride and back home weather for riding (low 80s). Of all seemed to enjoy the gathering, mak- again, resulting in about a 280 mile my trips to the Blue Ridge, these ing new friends, and admiring ma- round trip! Unfortunately for Claude, were the clearest views that I can re- chinery almost as much as the riding. his clutch cable snapped en route to

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20 mph corners in between. Along the way we noticed that someone had painted a Suzuki racing logo on the pavement every mile or so for a 5 to 8 mile stretch of road, in both lanes cov- ering both directions! Whoever this was, they spent a good deal of time do- ing it. I suspect they were a Suzuki owner! I should mention that we didn’t have a single Suzuki along for our ride. Anybody got a few cans of red paint? I guess you could call me a Honda man. Once in Lake Lure, we stopped for a late lunch at a popular motorcycle hang- out, The Margarita Grille. There were probably 50 or 60 bikes in the lot – a mostly Harley crowd – but many of them seemed to enjoy our mixed lot of Keith’s Yamaha 350. old Japanese bikes. They really liked Keith Averill’s Yamaha 350 two- the event. But Raymond Amos, who highest point on the parkway, 6,047 ft stroke. No Harley ever sounded like it! lives nearby, quickly came to the res- above sea level. Here we stopped and One fella asked me when Honda had cue by zipping back to his house to re- took pictures, enjoyed the view, and made a 6-cylinder bike while at the trieve an assortment of cables. One mingled with the other motorcyclists same time telling me my CBX was re- did the trick, and Claude was quickly doing the same. If you have never rid- ally cool! I caught quite a few riders ad- back in the saddle. den the BRP, do it! You are really miring Claude’s Black Bomber and Steve and Sue Gordon had a little bad missing something special! David and Sevena Gagnon’s really nice luck before they left home. Their ‘80 After leaving the lookout, we dou- Yamaha Radian. Mark Anthony rode Kawasaki 750 sidecar rig blew a shock bled back and headed north on the his ‘75 XS650B Yamaha and turned a out the day before the ride, but they parkway. The trip north included fan- few heads himself; I think it fell into the came anyway and made the longest trip tastic views, including Pisgah Moun- “I never saw one of those before” cate- to attend, since home for them is in Al- tain. We also enjoyed more pleasant gory for many. Scott Jameson’s very abama. When they showed up on their temperatures as we descended from clean nice ‘84 Kawasaki GPZ 750 also Harley, Steve mentioned that he had the higher elevations. At the high alti- grabbed a few eyes. I’m not sure that brought it rather than his Gold Wing tude, most of the trees are sprouting many of them had never seen a because it was easier to load the Harley their leaves by mid-May and the rho- CB400F, but Joe Wallace’s bike gave in his pickup truck. I think I quote dodendrons are just starting to them an education. Steve correctly: “The Harley is just like bloom. We turned and climbed, I’m sure I missed a few names and a a dog—you just point and tell it to get twisted and descended through some bike or two, but next year we will ask in the truck!” of the best parts of the BRP through a for that information on the signup sheet Claude’s clutch cable repair caused series of tunnels for a total of nearly at the beginning of the ride. To those I us to hit the road about an hour later 50 miles. It was really silly fun when missed, please come back next year than planned, but once underway we all 12 bikes beeped their horns in ev- and I’ll make sure you’re mentioned! were on a roll. We took Route 276 ery tunnel. At the Asheville route After lunch we split up, with some rid- from Brevard N.C. up to the Blue 74A exit we jumped to 74A South, ers heading straight home, and the re- Ridge Parkway (BRP). For those of fueled up, and motored on. mainder of us who had hauled our you not familiar with Route 276, it Route 74A has a series of switch- bikes to the starting point returning twists and climbs through the Pisgah backs as it winds up and over the East- there to complete the day. I guess National Forest and is really a great ern Continental Divide and winds you’re never really sure if everyone ride; low traffic, good pavement, and down into the Chimney Rock/Lake had a good time, but Deb and I left feel- lots of corners, pass Sliding Rock, and Lure resort areas of North Carolina. ing that way because everyone said the Cradle of Forestry. Route 276 in- My understanding is that this route was “Be sure to let me know when you’re tersects the parkway at Wagon Road an original wagon trail over the divide, doing this again; I’ll be there!” May Gap. Once on the BRP we headed pretty much unchanged from the first 21st 2005 is coming up soon! Who’s south, climbing for 20 miles before ar- carved corners. It is a fun road to ride, planning our fall ride? Remember, it’s riving at the lookout marking the with a series of 1/8-mile straights and not the destination, it’s the ride!

www.vjmc.org 19 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 2004 Mid-Ohio swap meet report by Rick Darke

I missed Woodstock in 1969, and I’m not sure why. Maybe I was too preoccupied with my recently ac- quired Honda 350 scrambler? But I was one of the 600,000 that con- verged on the Watkins Glen “Sum- mer Jam” in 1973 and it is still memorable, not so much for the chance to hear the The Band, the Allman Brothers, and the Grateful Dead “Singing in the Rain,” but be- cause of the community that had sprung up, literally overnight, to share a common interest. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio is similarly remarkable. There may be a little less music, and certainly there’s a lot less mud, but what is present in staggering num- bers are people and vintage motor- cycles. Over 30,000 cycle fans, vendors, and racers converged at Mid-Ohio this July 15-18 to make up a virtual “Cycle City.” Bigger than ever, this year’s swap meet covered 35 acres, with 650 vendors occupying 950 spaces. I’ve set up to vend for a few years at Mid-Ohio, but the meet is so vast it still takes a while to get oriented. In past years I’ve brought a Honda 450 out with me from Pennsylvania so that I had something to ride around the meet and save my feet, and also to go riding through the pleasant Ohio countryside that surrounds the event. Truth is, even the best-tem- pered 450 resents a sustained 2 mph cruising speed, and that’s about max for the meet, the aisles of which are more congested than a New York City sidewalk on a Friday afternoon. This year I rode out with my nearby Top: I paused too long, considering this nearly mint Honda GB500, which sold in a flash. Maryland friend and VJMC member Bottom: Dwarfing my 1970 CB175, this vintage home-built aluminum home attracted al- John Potter, and we each brought most as much attention as any bike at the meet. more reasonably-sized rides: a Honda 90cc for John and a ing, swapping, and meeting and impressive lineup of vintage Japa- CB175K4 for me, both street legal, greeting friends old and new. The nese motorcycles on display by licensed, and insured. VJMC booth was our first stop, to VJMC members. I was pleased to We spent the first day or so scour- find out who was out for the event, visit with Treasurer Tom Kolenko, ing the vendors’ spaces, buying, sell- catch up on club news, and admire an past President Jim Townsend, and to

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Top left: A pristine 500cc Kawasaki graces the VJMC booth, with Jim Townsend enthusing about its condition and merits. Top right: As a vintage Honda 450 collector, I’m aware that one of the en- gineering weaknesses of these engines is camshaft lubrication. This race engine by Team Hansen provides a hint at how Honda might remedy the situation if they were still making 450s today. Note the ad- ditional oil feed to the top end. Left: Mid-Ohio offers an up-close-and-exciting glimpse into the world of vintage racing. Here, Honda 350 and 450 racers await their time on the track.

meet current President Pete Boody. Sure we’ve all emailed, but it’s not the same as talking to someone out in the sun, leaning against some vintage machinery. VJMC members who were set up nearby the club booth in- cluded Troyce Walls, with a world-class collection of early Benleys, and Mark Troxell, who has probably helped a significant portion of the VJMC population find that re- placement NOS key. Having been to Mid Ohio before, I was interested to compare this year with others, looking for changes and trends. It might be my experience only, as a vintage Honda collector, but I’d guess there were a tad fewer lots of NOS parts on display than in the past. I’d guess eBay is at least

See Mid-Ohio, page 22

www.vjmc.org 21 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Mid-Ohio: Vintage Days has plenty to see Continued from page 21 partly responsible. Still, there were a staggering number of bargains to be found, both new and used. Beyond buying and selling, the swap meet provides unrivalled opportunities to learn about vintage cycles. No matter what you collect, there’s certain to be one of ‘em sitting pristine or in parts in someone’s booth. I’ve learned a great deal by inspecting bikes in vari- ous states of disrepair, to see how they vary, how they age, how they endure. I always carry a notepad and a digital camera to record my obser- vations. As impressive as the swap meet is, it is a mistake to let it be all you do at Mid-Ohio. Vintage Days offers many additional activities, and in my first years attending, I concentrated so much on “the search” that I ran out of time to simply relax and enjoy. This year, I made sure I got around the whole circuit. I’m not a racer myself, but the sights and sounds of vintage racing are undeniably thrilling. And I wasn’t one of the 300 bidders signed up for the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Auction, but that did- n’t stop me from “sitting in” and ad- miring the fabulous machinery being auctioned under the big white auction tent. In addition to the motorcycles up for bid, I was intrigued by an orig- inal Honda Super Cub dealer poster in new condition, which fetched $600 at the gavel. In addition to the auction and vin- tage racing, Vintage Days also in- cludes a “Ride ‘Em, Don’t Hide ‘Em” show. This year, more than forty par- ticipants rode through forty miles of Ohio, stopping midway for ice cream. On Saturday, over 90 contes- tants entered their machines in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, Top: The event is so big, it spills out onto nearly every edge of every roadway at the site. which includes 47 classes to accom- By Friday afternoon the main boulevard was lined with untold numbers of vintage cycles, modate everything from vintage on the ground and in the backs of pickup trucks. Is this Kawasaki for sale? Never hurts to bikes to café racers and customs. ask. Bottom: Adjacent to the VJMC booth, member Troyce Walls’ remarkable collection of early Hondas was on display (1954 Dream 4E in foreground). Troyce’s 1958 Dream No, BMW is not vintage Japanese, ME (3rd back from front of image) won 1st in Class at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike but it was this year’s featured Show on Saturday, and his 1959 CS76 took 2nd.

22 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004

museum of BMW’s 80+ year history. Admiring this from my little CB175 on Friday, I’ll admit to feeling a bit upstaged, but a curious event that evening seemed to set things even. Although John Potter and I had tents set up in our vending spaces (Hey: how can you beat $90 for a site for the whole event big enough to vend and set up residence?), we had reservations at a Hampton Inn as a backup in case of heavy rain. The inn was about half an hour’s ride north, first through hilly countryside and fi- nally through urban sprawl, all of which we negotiated ably with the combined 265cc of our vintage wheels. We arrived at the inn and parked in a single a space not far from a group of state-of-the-art BMWs. Instead of feel- ing upstaged, we were happily amused when the BMW owners appeared and were completely enthralled by our miniature machines. Of course, they’d all “had one like (l to r) VJMC President, Pete Boody, Treasurer Tom Kolenko, and past President Jim Townsend with the latest in vintage garb, avail- that when I first started riding” and that made our able at the VJMC booth. Hondas relevant in a pleasantly nostalgic way. But the BMW riders were also fascinated by the sight of two marque, and I’ll confess to being awed by the design and grown men appearing improbably out of the modern engineering marvels of these Bavarians. In addition to Ohio landscape on 30+ year motorcycles that can still privately owned BMWs on display, Bavarian Motor make a gallon of gas last forever. Now, that’s Vintage Works set up its Mobile Tradition unit: a virtual rolling Japanese! Thanks to everyone who attended the VJMC National Rally and helped make it a success!

Interested in Old Motorcycles? Join the Antique Motorcycle Club of America! The largest organization in the country devoted to antique motorcycles. Membership includes an 88 page full-color quarterly magazine loaded with feature articles, and a free Want Ad section. Sign me up! Name ______Address ______City ______State ____ Zip______Dues: U.S. Residents ...... $20.00 Canada ...... $30.00 Mail to: Or join on-line at: Antique Motorcycle Club of America Inc. www.antiquemotorcycle.org P.O. Box 310V,Sweetser, IN 46987 Special Introductory Offer 1 800 782-AMCA (2622) For New Members Join the Club!

To participate in club events and place want ads bikes must be 35 years old.

www.vjmc.org 23 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Spoking and aligning a new rim

by Jim Townsend

Installing new rims or rechromed rims is a job that many of us look at and just throw up our hands and say we can’t do it and send out to someone else. But this is a job that you can do with minimal equipment and some patience. The whole job from start to finish will probably take about two hours. Before dismounting the old rim from the hub, take a dig- ital picture of it and keep it on file unless you have another wheel that has the same spoking pattern. You will need some pattern to follow this first time. Before beginning, you should already have the spokes, nipples, hub and rim, and pattern. Notice that there are different kinds of spokes. Honda wheels have two kinds; one has a shorter bend and is angled differently from the other. These are the inside spokes; the ones with the lon- ger bent end are the outside spokes. Insert the inside spokes for the first bank and start the nipple about two turns on the end of the spoke. Also, make sure that the spokes are inserted in the proper holes because there are sets of four and each one is a different angle. Refer to your picture or example wheel. Once you have the inner spokes in one side, turn the as- sembly over and insert the inner spokes on the other side. You will have to do this with the hub and rim part way over the edge of your bench so that you can insert the spokes. Just start the nipples on the spokes. Again, make sure that you are using the correct holes. The next step is to insert the outside bank of spokes on one side into the hub. The third bank of spokes is inserted so that the head of the spoke is inside the hub. The outside spokes will Top: The first bank of spokes. Notice that this rim is narrower than have a longer bent end. These spokes will cross the in- the hub and is supported on center by wood blocks. Bottom: The ner spokes and go the opposite direction. Again, do second bank of spokes partially inserted. Notice that the rim is supported by blocks. You may want to insert all the spokes and not do any more than just start the nipples on the then start the nipples. spokes. After you insert the last remaining spokes in bank 4, it is Truing the wheel time to tighten up the spoke nipples a bit more. I use an electric screwdriver since there will be either 36 or 40 First we will true the rim radially, that is, we will make it spokes and they have very fine threads. Screw them on round. Put a pointer or indicator on a flat spot of the rim until there are about 2 or 3 threads still showing. This will and begin tightening up the spokes. You can use a screw- be enough so that you can mount the wheel either on your driver for the initial stage until you have them about bike or in a truing stand. evenly tightened all the way around. An easy way to keep While using a truing stand is the best way to go, you track is to start with the valve stem hole and tighten each can do an excellent job of truing your rim by just putt- one a little at a time all the way around the wheel. ing the wheel (without the tire) back on the bike and For general road use under 90 mph, try to aligned the rim using a simple pointer. Since I was a machinist for to within .030 inch total indicator reading. If you are using many years, I use a dial indicator. This gives me an a pointer, touch the pointer on the high spot and then try to idea of exactly how far off the wheel is from perfectly get it as close as possible. This will probably be within true. 1/32-in and is good enough. For a dirt bike or

24 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004

motocrosser, anything within 1/16-in will probably suffice, but the closer the better. If you plan on racing the bike or riding at speeds over 85 or 90 mph, I suggest that you try to get the rim within .015 in or less than 1/64-in. For you metric folks, that is about 1/2 mm or less.

Axial Alignment (side to side)

After the radial alignment is finished you can begin the axial or side-to-side alignment. After the radial alignment, the spokes should be fairly tight. Set the pointer or indica- tor on the side of the rim. Turn it slowly and you will eas- ily see any dents or bulges in the rim. Ignore the spot where the rim has been welded. If you have a high spot indicated, tighten the spokes on the opposite side of the rim. Depending on how bad it is, you may want to snug up about 4 spokes that are on the opposite side. Continue around the wheel and tighten spokes according to the high spots. If the spokes are really tight, you may want to loosen the spokes on the high side a bit before tightening them on the oppo- site side. After the wheel is aligned axially, re-check the radial alignment and make any necessary corrections. Then check the axial alignment again. Next, take a metal wrench or screwdriver and see if all the spokes “ring” like a violin string. If any give a dull “thunk,” tighten them un- til they ring like the others. They should all sound very similar in tone. Recheck your alignment again and make any necessary corrections, but you will probably find it to be okay. You are now ready to mount the tire. These instructions are for wheels with the same length spokes on either side of the hub. If you have a large brake drum on the hub, you may have 4 different kinds of spokes. In any case, there will be inner and out spokes and you shouldn’t confuse them. Editor’s note: Jim Townsend has a booklet available that describes wheel building in more detail and with references to tire sizes, chain sizing, and other useful information for $10 postpaid. Contact him at [email protected] or (260) 839-5203.

Top: The third bank of spokes. Middle: A setup with the front wheel in the forks and with an indicator against the rim. It is mounted on a magnetic base and just attaches to the fork tube. You can also check the radial runout on the inside of the rim where the rim is flatter and smoother. Bottom: A wheel rebuilding stand with a pointer set up to check radial runout. Stands like this are generally a bit expensive for the average home shop, and unless you plan on doing a lot of wheels, you are better off just using the bike as your aligning stand. This particular stand can also be used to balance wheels by inserting the axle and putting it on the bear- ings. Static balancing will probably be fine for any riding at normal speeds. www.vjmc.org 25 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Coming home again by Ellis Holman

In the spring of 1971, I found and bought a 1968 Honda CL175 from its second owner. At the time I pur- chased the bike, it was just three years old and had seen some ersonalization. Gone were the turn signals and the center stand and the rear wheel wore a 54-tooth sprocket. Though I didn know it at the time, there was a stamped steel skid plate that had been removed too. I did not realize at the time that the bike I bought for the princely sum of $300 was a rather unique bike. I liked that I could go on the road and off the road (sort of) with this bike. The CL175 was ridden everywhere as I had no car at that time. It was also a bike that resulted in having a local hill named ose dive hill in my honor. This all Ellis Holman on his new (and old) Honda CL175K0. came about when having ridden ap- proximately half-way up the hill the show and that he would be happy to I learned that the CL175K0 is a one engine bogged down and died. When take it with him there. Unfortunately, year only machine and that there is a that happened I attempted to turn the because of work commitments I distinct early and late version of the bike broadside to the hill and tried to couldn go to White Rose. Fortunately bike. As with many Hondas of that find neutral, which was needed be- for me, Jim was going and he had era, production line changes pro- fore I could kick the bike back to life. room on the trailer to bring my duced distinct variations. In my Ultimately I slipped, fell, and starting CL175 back with him. THANKS CL175 case this means that the fend- sliding face down back towards the JIM!!! In early September 2001 I ers are painted Metallic Silver instead bottom of the hill. The bike went slid- made the trip to northern Indiana to of the later chromed ones. The ex- ing too, jumping up and down on me pick up my ew bike. The bike was haust system heat shields on the early as we headed for the bottom of the rusty, air cleaners were non-existent, version have horizontal slots some- hill. After a year or so, the time came and the engine was locked up. But it what like the CT and CL90s of the and the CL175 and I parted company. was more or less complete and the same period. Late model heat shields I moved on to other bikes. seat had survived undamaged. As I used more familiar vertical slots. In- Two years ago, I was browsing loaded the bike onto the trailer I terestingly, the exhaust itself is also eBay for parts to finish restoration glanced at the frame number and it shaped differently so that both the work on a CB500 and saw an auction seemed somehow familiar, but I guards and exhaust do not inter- that caught my eye. The orange 1968 didn't know why. Later that evening change between early and late mod- CL175 on the page looked very like with the bike in the shop I was going els. The carburetors are different the one I parted company with so over paperwork and turned up a reg- from the early to late models. Those many years ago. I decided to bid for it istration for my CL175 and frame would be difficult items to turn up. and have another CL175 back after number jumped out at me. I went Western Hills Honda turned up the so many years. So with a little luck, I down to the shop and sure enough the left and Terry there went searching was the proud owner of a 1968 numbers were the same. The trusty for the right one. A shop in upstate CL175. This time it only cost me CL175 had come home. The bike New York had the left. Interestingly, $247. After the auction completed I would undergo a complete restora- the front forks used on the early ver- discussed strategies for getting the tion and emerge like new. With the sion are from the CL125 twin that bike from New Hampshire down to years between my first ownership of Honda did not import into North me in Indiana. The seller indicated the bike and now, I gained a new ap- America. I called on a friend in Can- that he was going to the White Rose preciation for it. ada and he turned up the correct 241

26 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 forks. Early CL175s did not have Product review: rubber-covered foot pegs; they were Eastwood's like the ones used on the CL72. For- tunately, the ones I had needed only electroplating system works cleaning and powder coating. One of the biggest challenges ultimately well for most uses turned out to be the seat. It was in amazingly good shape considering its Continued from page 5 struction manual specifically warns age. The seat had managed to survive against using the system on your with no rips or tears but was rather for plating. The wire holder was bent kitchen counter. I ignored the warn- scruffy. I turned to T.D. Bash, who into a slight V shape to submerse the ing, figuring that: (1) the stuff could- runs Cool Retro Bikes down in St. bolt fully in the electrolyte solution n’t be that powerful, and (2) I’d just Petersburg, Florida. T.D. had re- without touching the bottom of the be careful. It turned out that I was paired my CB500 seat and had done tank, and “ears” were bent down at wrong on both counts, and I ended an outstanding job, so I figured that each end of the wire to hold it in up with an ugly, blotchy, indelible this would be a cakewalk for him. It place. stain on my wife’s kitchen turned out that the on With the bolt and the anode in countertop. If that old countertop the seat was also a transition style. It place, the plating process started im- hadn’t already been slated for re- was unlike the earlier script and it mediately after connecting the bat- placement, I’d still be sleeping in the was not like the later styles either. If tery leads. The instructions indicated garage. Also, be sure to wear rubber that were not enough, the seat had that the average bolt should plate in gloves and your oldest shirt; if you piping that had turned yellow with three or four minutes. However, I have an “Oops!” while handling the time, but which was originally silver. found that on my first try, with a solution, you don’t want your favor- T.D. found the correct script for the non-critical bolt, leaving it in the so- ite red flannel shirt looking like seat and worked out the silver piping, lution for four minutes resulted a Swiss cheese. too. He returned a seat that was rough coating of material which nearly indistinguishable from a new looked almost white when it was Overall, I was very pleased with the one. The only way to know was to rinsed and dried. However, a couple way the bolts turned out. And, I dis- look underneath, which didn't show of swipes with the nylon pad re- covered that the zinc casings of com- with it mounted on the bike. moved most of the roughness and mon D cell batteries can be used as an The inside of the tank was a disas- brought out the start of shiny metal. acceptable substitute for the zinc-tin ter. I worked and worked and worked The instructions emphasized learn- alloy anode bars, although they give a to get the rust, varnish, and assorted ing by practice, and I found this good somewhat softer and less brilliant crud out of the tank. Tim McDowell advice. After a couple of tries, I (without polishing) finish. told me about a silver paint that is found better results were obtained In summary, Richard’s Recom- used for, among other things, bridge when I removed each bolt after about mendation Regarding the Eastwood painting and coating the inside of jet a minute of plating, rinsed off the Company’s Electroplating System is fuel tanks. Its information sheet lists slight grayish film that was develop- that it works, and works well for the paint resistance to a variety of ing, and replaced it in the solution, re- most uses you would put it to. How- substances, including hydrochloric peating this process two or three ever, unless you are a total new- acid, sulfuric acid, gasoline, and die- times until I was satisfied with the re- comer to even the most basic kinds sel fuel. I figured that would work for sults. of automotive or motorcycle repair, me. The paint was supposed be able Initially, the anode bar, where it lies save the twenty bucks, and just order to set up in temperatures as low as 30 below the level of the electrolyte so- the electrolyte solution and the an- F. So on a January day I poured the lution, appeared to diminish at a ode bars. Except for the little battery paint in, sloshed it around, and rather low rate, and lead me to expect holder, which you can easily get poured out the excess. The inside that it would have a fairly long life. from Radio Shack for a buck or two, now looks perfect and the sediment However, after plating four or five you probably have most of the other trap on the petcock remains clean. bolts, I noticed that it was starting to stuff you need already in your ga- The bike is now up and running. It as disintegrate at the point where it en- rage, and the full set of instructions much fun now as it was when it served ters the electrolyte solution. It is this can be copied off their web site. Just as my sole means of transportation. It tendency that will ultimately prove to use a little care, the usual parcel of is called upon far less frequently now be the factor limiting the life of the common sense, and you will be able then way back then. I guess it was bar. to produce zinc-plated bolts and meant to be with me; like a faithful Worth repeating is the fact that the other bits that you’ll be very pleased puppy, it found its way back home! electrolyte solution is acidic. The in- with. www.vjmc.org 27 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Americade 2004 features some vintage bikes

by Mike Vachon

The annual Americade rally, held each year in Lake George, NY, is not necessarily known for anything specifically related to vintage bikes, but with so many riders in atten- dance, there are bound to be a few classic Japanese bikes around. Lake George is about 200 miles from my front door, so I make an almost yearly attempt to get over there dur- ing the week-long rally. This year’s rally ran from June 7th to June 12th.I wanted to make a point of getting there so I could share some of the motorcycling sights that I com- monly find there with my VJMC brethren. This year I had the added advantage of my sister having relocated to a town about 20 miles south of Lake George. She had originally planned to attend the rally, but she was away on business that week. She invited me to make use of her place rather than struggle to get a room in Lake George. Many hotel/motel owners have recently begun requiring whole-week rentals and since I typi- cally only go over for 3 or 4 days, bookings were becoming slim-to- none for that kind of stay. What a windfall to have a relative offer a place to stay! Of course there was work to be done in exchange for the lodging, but mowing the lawn and fixing a pesky leak in my sister’s ’71 CB500 petcock was easy enough. My friend Scott and I decided to run over to the rally on Wednesday, the 9th of June. This would give us three full days to check out the fes- tivities. I rode my decidedly Top: Possibly a 1967 Yamaha YD250 in very nice condition – obviously a runner. Bot- non-vintage Valkyrie Interstate and tom: A suddenly popular rustic gas station. Scott was on his ST1100. We met in Concord NH, in the south central along. As we headed west, we dusk fast approaching, the effect of part of the state. The ride started out skirted most of them for a couple of the flashes was intensified! We de- well, but the weatherman had hours. Our luck ran out just outside cided this was an excellent time to warned of impending thunder- of Bennington, VT, as the sky visit a local eatery and sit out the storms. Sure enough, we could see opened up and the light show com- drenching. the big dark thunderheads looming menced! Lightning never bothers me The rain continued well after our on the western horizon as we rolled when I am out on the bike, but with plates were cleared, so we ventured

28 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004

rides – like the CB750 K0 that had a serial number in the low 400s. There were a number of early CB750s. One was a K1, similar to my own, but heavily customized. The owner had chromed many of the bare metal parts, bobbed the front fender, and in- stalled a kit. We talked about re- storing bikes of that vintage and he said that customizing had made most of the job easier for him as he could fit parts as he pleased, rather than be stuck looking for some near-impossi- ble-to-locate item. There were vintage bikes of all kinds; I saw a two-stroke Kawasaki triple 400, an early 60s CB150 Honda twin, a Suzuki GT380, and a Water Buffalo. I found that I was so intent on looking around and taking in as much as I could, that often I would forget to pull out the camera! I was actually disappointed when I finally reviewed my set of pictures – I hadn’t taken nearly as many as I thought I had! An exceptional early 80s Suzuki GS1000. Rallies like Americade are a great place to check out all aspects of mo- out and found a convenient overhang adjust something and had put down torcycles and vintage bikes. I am al- where we could don our rain gear. It the side stand. But as she stepped ways amazed by the openness and rained most of the way from there to away, she heard the loud “clunk” of camaraderie among riders. It’s so my sister’s place. Once there, we the bike turning over. We checked great to be able to just walk up to peo- managed to dry out and there was over the bike for her (a mid-80s ple and say, “Is that your ride?” or plenty of room in her ample garage to Honda V-45) and made sure it would have someone do the same to you and get the rides out of the weather. start again. When it did, we rode just launch into a great conversation Thursday dawned slightly overcast, away feeling relieved. about a shared interest. The size of but dry. We headed to the rally and Just a short distance away, we the Americade rally is something you visited some of the special attrac- came across deer feeding in some- have to experience for yourself. tions. Friday was spent on a custom- one’s front yard – right beside the Americade founder Bill Dutcher was ary ride in and around the roadway! We got some photos but quoted by local news sources as Adirondacks. The sky was clear and the deer didn’t seem to mind us one guessing there were in excess of the temperature hovered around 70 bit. We also hit one of those long 50,000 attendees. This was evident as degrees. We only did 300 miles, but stretches of road where there wasn’t we tried to enter Lake George on Sat- saw some interesting sights. a gas station to be found for miles. I urday. The right lane of Interstate 87 At one point we came across an up- was all set for fuel, but Scott was northbound was backed up for about side-down motorcycle. As we running low. We finally came to a ½ mile at the first exit into Lake rounded a bend in the road, we saw rustic looking gas station/general George. two bike tires sticking up from a ditch store out in the middle of all this no- By Sunday, it was time to point our – a heart-stopping sight if there ever where. The gas prices reflected the own bikes east and head home. The was one. Scott and I immediately location, but it was better than run- weather had improved and stayed pulled over, as did a third rider com- ning out. Saved again! that way for the whole stay in New ing up from behind us. There was a Each evening we parked along the York – most likely a big factor in the woman standing next to the over- main strip in Lake George and attendance. We almost hated to leave. turned ride – laughing! I took that as a strolled through the hundreds [maybe The ride back home was pleasant, re- good sign; no injuries here. She ex- thousands?] of bikes parked every- laxing, and uneventful. What a way plained that she had pulled over to where. I spied quite a few interesting to cap off a great trip. www.vjmc.org 29 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Crossword answers

1 S 23 K I C K O 4 O I D 567 I O M C L U T C H T O 1 2 89 E I W X 10 11 12 S C R A M B L E R N O S A 6 G 5 13 14 H O N D A C B 7 5 0 15 E R I 16 17 18 R O B E R T S A R N 19 20 21 R O H N B N I P P O N 22 23 S H I M S U Z U K I O M S 24 D S Y A M A H A 25 26 27 G S E A T B B J N 28 29 L E V E R U L A V E N G E R R E 30 31 32 S P H E A D R P I S T O N W 33 34 T E R G T R A Y 35 36 37 M O T O R C E D N C O 38 39 40 N H H L M K E Y STE R 41 E K A W A S A K I B K 42 W I P D G A S K N O T 43 H I E 44 45 46 T I M I N G G F A 47 M A C H I I I O A N U K 48 49 R R E C T I F I E R 50 M E E T A A T L G B I 51 B I K E L O R E N 52 P R I M A R Y K E Created with EclipseCrossword — www.eclipsecrossword.com

30 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004

ORDER FORM FOR REGALIA ITEMS

Show your colors. Let other riders know you are a member of the VJMC!

T-shirts - White 100%cotton printed front & back available in sizes M, L, XL and XXL, 3XL...... $15.00 T-shirts - Black 100% cotton printed front & back available in sizes M, L, XL...... $15.00

Hats - Red all-fabric ball caps, one size fits all, logo screened on front...... $15.00 Nylon Stuff bags (black 14” x 12” zippered w/hand strap & screened-on logo, nice, seen at rally...... $9.00

Stickers, Large Logo, 3-3/8 x 3-3/4, vinyl ...... $0.75 Stickers, Small Logo, 2-3/8 x 2-3/4, vinyl...... $0.50

2002 VJMC Calendars (nice photos, classic quality)...... $5.00

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www.vjmc.org 31 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Yamaha's mini Enduros

by Karen McElhaney and Rich Sulik

“Enduro” motorcycles, those produced with a dual street/trail purpose in mind, proliferated in America in the mid-1960s, immediately following the introduction of small-bore street bikes by all the major Japanese marques. Dual purpose bikes were offered not only by Yamaha, but by Honda, Suzuki, and Bridgestone as well. Kawasaki, in particular, produced some notably fine of- ferings in the 125 – 175cc class. However, the majority of Japanese dual-purpose motorcycles were simply adapta- tions of their basic “street” models. Often, these adapta- tions consisted of nothing more than an upswept exhaust pipe, cross-braced handlebars, and the installation of knobby tires. With their fragile, short-travel street suspen- sions, these early enduros were seldom good for anything more serious than a dusty blast down a dirt road or some occasional cow-trailing. Serious “scrambling” or enduro riding was best left to purpose-built machines from the Europeans, such as the Spanish, the Italians, and even the British, who had been pursuing this genre vigorously since the end of the war. But 1968 saw the introduction of Yamaha’s DT-1 Enduro, a bike which is widely acknowledged to be the world’s pre- mier dual-purpose motorcycle. The 250cc single-cylinder two-stroke was the embodiment of a machine to take the rider “beyond where the roads end.” The design boasted new technologies and features expressly for off-road riding, like a Ceriani-type front fork with the longest stroke of any Japa- nese-made unit at the time. Yamaha’s Autolube system eliminated the need to mix oil with gas, and their 5-port pis- ton valve engine was virtually unbreakable. The Yamaha DT-1 swept away the competition with an unbeatable com- bination of power and reliability. At the same time, home-grown “mini-bikes” were a rag- ing American phenomenon. These diminutive, fat-tired, ill-handling little beasts were generally powered by any cast-off lawn mower engine that could be made to fit in a cobbled-up tube steel frame. Despite their shortcomings, they were enthusiastically utilized, often at the risk of life and limb, by “tweens” and pre-teens to blast across any Top: A 1968 Yamaha DT-1, the first enduro bike. Middle: A 1971 handy wooded lot or vacant field. 60cc Yamaha JT-1 mini enduro. Bottom: A 1973 Yamaha GT80 What could be more natural then, than crossover of the (Photo: Randy Marble). enduro with the mini-bike? Yamaha saw the opportunity and produced three models of mini enduros in the 1970s: ble-cradle frame, Ceriani front fork, and separate meters. the FT-1, the JT-1, and the GT50/80. Yamaha’s two-stroke Its spirited running performance and full array of features models FT-1 and JT-1 were the first small-sized bikes that won it solid popularity. looked like their bigger brothers. Yamaha boasted that dad In 1973 the GT50 and GT80 models were introduced as could ride his DT-1 and junior could look just like him on a the next generation of mini enduros. Both bikes were sim- mini enduro.-A pioneer of the mini trail or mini enduro cat- ilar in size and appearance to the FT-1 but sported new egory, the 1970 FT-1 mounted a rotary disk valve 2-stroke induction. The Yamaha GT50/80 series was pro- 50cc engine on a compact chassis. Despite its small dis- duced until 1980. These bikes were later joined by the placement, this model had features like a full-fledged dou- 80cc DT series in the early 1980s.

32 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Wisconsin: Event raises $2,000 for charity the show included a 1973 Kawasaki Z-1 in near mint condition, a re- cently restored 1975 Honda CB550K, a like-new 1976 Honda CB360T and a pristine 1972 Suzuki 750 “Water Buffalo” that looks like it just drove out of the factory. Many other fine bikes of other na- tionalities were also there. The plan for next year is to have two sets of awards.....one for Japanese and one for European, but leave the voting to the people! Amazingly, even though we charged no admission to the show, with the donations from the charity ride, our raffle, bike show registra- tion, swap meet spaces sold, and food Charity ride participants line up for departure. sales, we raised at least $2,000 for charity. Our two charities are the Continued from page 13 who won our grand prize – a trip to North American Youth Sports Las Vegas and three days free motor- Women’s Sports Scholarship Fund, cycle rental! in which girls who played a sport in enough rides to get some sort of an Over 500 people went through the high school and plan to further their “Iron Butt” award, at which I passed gates on Saturday, and even with education in college can receive out hundreds of flyers and posters. shorter hours on Sunday, still more some financial help, and the Nicholas We did not spend one dime on pro- arrived or returned for the day’s Eng Memorial Scholarship Fund, es- motion except the paper that went events. Even with the late announce- tablished to honor John’s late son. into my office copier....and all of my ment of the VJMC presence, a good Being an avid supporter of women’s gas! selection of Wisconsin members at- sports and a women’s basketball To say that the event was a success tended. John and Pete offered coach for the past 19 years, I could was an understatement. Over 50 well-attended free motorcycle repair think of no better way than to help bikes showed up and registered for clinics in the garage, and the band some girls in need than to combine the vintage show, and at least 60 oth- “Honky Tonk Twisters” entertained my passion for motorcycling with my ers were ridden in just to witness the guests until sunset after the Saturday love for sports and kids. Somehow, I event. By 1 p.m. the first day, we ride. even got roped into leading an were out of hamburgers and low on To avoid any sort of controversy, all-women’s ride next weekend be- soda, and had to go get more food! we offered “People’s Choice cause of this, too! Well, actually, I Our charity ride left at 2 p.m., and as Awards” for the vintage show. Any- have to lead all of the guys who were John and I led the pack down the first one attending the event was encour- upset at the women because they hill, we were amazed as we looked aged to vote for their favorite bikes, wanted to ride alone....so we are tak- behind us at a stream of bikes a mile with winners receiving trophies do- ing the route in reverse at the ladies’ long. Our 75-mile jaunt made a stop nated by Crown Trophy. While the request! half way in Shiocton for refresh- show was open to all makes and Based on all of the great com- ments, and then continued with a run models (as it was advertised as such ments we received this weekend, I up Wisconsin Highway 187 – our before I became a VJMC rep), I was have no doubt that the event will own mini version of “Deal’s Gap.” fortunate to have my 1969 Honda double in size at minimum next All the riders received free food and 750 sand cast take home second year. We hope to always keep the beverages upon return to Nick’s place. It has just 200 miles on the admission free. We will begin plan- (yes....there is such a thing as a free odometer, and had only 2 when I got ning and will announce the dates in lunch!). We had gathered over 65 it. It is still in showroom condition, September. Watch for them in the door prizes and many people went and is the finest one I have ever VJMC magazine calendar and on home happy, including the gentleman seen. Other great Japanese bikes at the web site!

www.vjmc.org 33 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Classifieds

Remember that a “Vintage Japa- rather ride a bike than have all this 1966 Honda CM91. Has rare fac- nese” motorcycle is 15 years or older stuff filling up my garage. I want a tory Roadster Kit installed. Original (cut-off for this year is 1989) and, of fairly new Kawasaki 1500 drifter or red, complete, runs sweet, $1000. course, Japanese. Please be aware classic (you know, bags-lights-wind- Can deliver to Rally in TN. that ads may be edited to conserve shield-fringes-whitewalls-etc) or Tom Kolenko, (770) 422-3629, At- space. For large business ads, please $10,000 to buy one. There is approx lanta, Georgia, consider a commercial ad. Don’t feel $30,000 worth of stuff here at retail [email protected] reluctant to use punctuation and value; would like to sell it in one lot. proper case on emailed ads. Greg Carson, (403) 748-3000, Be mindful of publication dead- Bently, Alberta, Canada, 1967 Honda CB 450 Supersport. lines. Ads are due by the 20th of the [email protected] Black Bomber with chrome tank. month in which a magazine is issued Newer engine in 1991. 12,000 miles, for the NEXT magazine. For exam- garaged, very clean and runs well. I ple, ads for the December magazine Clymer manual for Honda singles will sell it with the original engine if will be due to the editor by October 50-90 cc 1963-1978. $10. you want to fully restore it. The origi- 20th. Mike Plante, (303) 582-3493 nal engine needs the top end rebuilt. I Send all ads to: cell/(720) 289-5085, PO Box 16294, have other extra parts plus the origi- Gary Gadd Golden, Colorado, 80402, nal Honda service manual. I can 3721 Holland St. [email protected] e-mail pictures to you. Ft. Worth, TX., 76180 Mike Plante, (303) 582-3493 (817) 284-8195 1962 Honda Cub C100/102. I have cell/(720) 289-5085, PO Box 16294, or e-mail: [email protected] three Honda Cub scooters that are all Golden, Colorado, 80402, parts bikes and in need of a home. [email protected] There are enough parts to build one For Sale nice C102 and 95% of another with a bunch of extras. $200 takes them (or For 1969 Honda CB175 K3 Super Sport: NOS fuel tank in factory Bridgestone make an offer). You have to come pick ‘em up in South west Michigan primer. Has “HONDA” and wing badges; no cap, petcock or kneepads. 1960s Bridgestone Trail 90. Mostly and if you’re real nice I can e-mail some photo. They are not good look- Factory sealing tape still in place over complete. Starts and sputters. No pa- the filler neck and petcock mounting perwork. See at http://photos.ya- ing but are a fantastic start on a pro- ject. Thanks. hole. $75 plus packing and shipping. hoo.com/lowsideking. Asking $300. Reade Whitwell, (206) 935-9183, Craig Irvine, (269) 945-6308, You pick up. Seattle, Washington, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Deron, Galt, California, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

1968 Bridgestone 100cc TMX. For Honda CB72/77: NOS flat han- For 1969 Honda CB750: rear drum Runs but needs restoration. Many dlebars. $85 plus shipping. assembly. Complete with axle and new parts. $450. Byron Blend, (303) 290-0968, 5217 chain adjusters. $200 obo. Jim, Dallas, Texas, merk13@ya- S. Kenton Way, Englewood, Colo- Jim Hayes, (201) 863-2372 hoo.com rado, 80111 1971 Honda CL350. This is the nic- Honda 1965 Honda CP77. Black/silver, est scrambler you will find. Recently fully restored Canadian version with tuned with new Bridgestone For 1959/69 Honda 50-305cc: the blinkers, Benly bars and grainy Trailiwings. I will include two carbu- 30-year collection of vintage Honda seat cover. 400 miles since resto. retor kits, shop manual, complete mi- parts and projects. Truck load of Runs excellent, needs nothing - crofiche and a microfiche reader. NOS stuff, used stuff, and about 15 $3000 obo/trades. Can deliver to TN Email for photos of this classic. project bikes; have crash guards, Rally no charge. $1300. racks, bars, fenders, lens, engines and Brad Powell, (678) 576-4258, At- Keith Smart, (864) 583-8435, parts, showroom flags, posters, NOS lanta, Georgia, Spartanburg, South Carolina, cast iron ashtrays, etc. Decided I’d [email protected] [email protected]

34 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Classifieds 1971 Honda CB750. Good condi- 1976 Honda CB400F. Two bikes in 1974 Kawasaki S3 400cc. Runs tion, new front brake pads, new front good condition; have been sitting. well, good chrome and aluminum, tire, fresh tune up, clean carbs, orig 4 $1500 for the pair. Will consider new Dunlops, needs cosmetic finish- into 4 exhaust, new seat, dent on tank, trades. ing. $800 obo. 26,000 miles. $1800. Claude Carrier, (508) 543-6157 Jeff Kowalchuk, (920) 845-5304, Chris Thomas, (704) 575-5388, evenings/(508) 543-0490 days. Green Bay, Wisconsin, Charlotte, North Carolina, [email protected] [email protected] 1976 Honda CB550 Super Sport. Parting out, including a decent used Honda 750 parts. 1971/72/78. Parts 4-into-1 factory exhaust. Contact Rupp or whole bikes. with needs. Jim Hayes, 4828 Tonnelle Avenue, B Samms, (208) 664-4462, 1972 Rupp RMT 80. 80cc dirt bike Trlr B39, North Bergen, New Jersey, [email protected] with Fuji motor (looks like a Hodaka 07047 motor). Very rare, chrome needs re- 1970 Honda Z50 K0 Mini Trail. plating, includes box of new parts. Original condition; folding handle- $995. Honda CB 750 K2. BREAKING bars. Starts and runs fine. Exhaust Claude Carrier, (508) 543-6157 COMPLETE BIKE. All parts avail- chrome and badges are excellent, seat evenings/(508) 543-0490 days. able at the time of advert. is very good, rebuilt carb. Gas tank is John Bambrough, 0777 850 4212 red/white but it has been soldered so phone/01935 412462 voice mail, it will hold gas. I can email pictures. Suzuki Yeovil, Somerset, UK, $899 obo. [email protected] David Hellard, Columbus, Ohio 1970 (March) Suzuki T250 II. Eight 614-871-1154, months of labor and meeting people 1973 Honda CB750 K3. Orange [email protected] all over the world have resulted in a flake, original pipes with no rust. very nice 250 twin. Everything re- Wixon fairing. Has been 6 years 1970 Honda CB 450. Totally origi- painted; tank and side covers are me- since running. Clear title. Contact for nal, beautiful candy blue/green Only tallic blue. New seat cover and foam, some pics. 11,500 miles, starts and runs excel- cylinders bored 1mm over, new pis- Michael A Crimmins, (817) lent. Everything works, has very tons and many other parts replaced. 996-6316, Arlington, Texas, good tires; 9 on a 10 scale. I can email Service manuals and many other [email protected] pictures. $1999. parts included. Email me for the David Hellard, Columbus, Ohio whole story and photos. About 200 1973 Honda CB750. Good “origi- 614-871-1154, miles since restoration. $2,500. I am nal” condition due to excellent stor- [email protected] willing to discuss delivery on the age. Great original paint (green), and West Coast. I live near Sacramento. original chrome, 12K miles, small Kawasaki Mike, (530) 622-9133, Sacramento, dent in tank, everything works. Does California, [email protected] not have original . Sounds 1965 Kawasaki J11. Touring great and runs good. $2,300. model, 85cc, runs, all stock, needs 1972 Suzuki TS400 J. Dual Sport Dick Lavoie, (401) 821-7226 or some work. Real rare classic. Enduro. CCI, P.E.I., 34hp, less than (401) 461-4825 Cranston, Rhode Is- Bruce, (616) 784-3139, Grand Rap- 5k original miles, awesome bike, land, [email protected] ids, Michigan, runs great. Original owners manual [email protected] & helmet incl. Current registration; Honda CB500T. Very clean CB500 garage stored. This bike is worth twin. Been in storage since 1981. 1969 Kawasaki Bushwacker 175cc. much more. I hate to have to sell it, so Bike needs motor work. Great for Two bikes. Both original, one run- don’t let this one slip by. Call now. collection. Bike missing side cover ning, the other in a box. $1500 obo. $2500. See it now at and ignition cover. Sale price $600. Please put ‘Bushwaker’ in the subject http://adcache.cycletrader.com//5/6/ Also have many more old Hondas for line. Thanks. 74169056.htm sale. Thomas Curran, (802) 388-4376, Rick, (714) 394-1595, Garden Rich Grant, (718) 448-7322, New Middlebury, Vermont, decurran@to- Grove, California, York, [email protected] gether.net [email protected]

www.vjmc.org 35 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Classifieds 1971 Suzuki Hustler T250R. Excel- Yamaha RDs. 1972 R5. Same as For 1969 Yamaha AT1M lent original condition. 6675 miles. RD350. 1973 RD350. RD400 125cc: Riders Manual in excellent No scratches, two small dents on streetable race bike with custom sus- condition. Very rare motocross ver- tank. No rust. New petcock (dealer pension, brakes. $850 each or all sion of the 125 Enduro. 48 pages, part) in 2003. If interested, I will three for $1795. Will consider trades. very detailed specs, performance email photos. Best offer. Claude Carrier, (508) 543-6157 curves, wiring, service tools, and fac- Karen Arthur, (218) 393-2226, Du- evenings/(508) 543-0490 days. tory part numbers for GYT engine luth, Minnesota, and chassis performance kits. $40 [email protected] 1973/74 Yamaha TX500. Have obo. I can email pictures. both a 73 and 74, one orange, one David Hellard, Columbus, Ohio blue; both totally original with low 614-871-1154, david@vintage-mo- Yamaha miles, run excellent, no issues, proper torcycles.com titles, etc. Need to sell one; trades For Yamaha: Various piston rings considered. $2000 obo. Free delivery Miscellaneous Items to TN rally. for sale. Will sell the lot - you pay for For Early 1960s and up Japanese Brad Powell, (678) 576-4258, At- postage. Part numbers: bikes: Keys. Thousands of OEM lanta, Georgia, 2n5-11610-10. I also have jets. Part Honda and Suzuki keys. Keys are $8 [email protected] number: 193-141-42-55 each, which includes shipping. We Mick, 07761241663, Northern Ire- also have thousands of NOS parts for land, [email protected] 1973/74 Yamaha RD350. Have 2 RDs plus a ‘77 RD400; need to sell those old bikes in stock. Just send us one or two. All are original, correct what part you need with the bike 1968 Yamaha YCS1. Nearly com- and run well. The ‘73 has chambers model and year (or preferably a part plete. Not running but has spark. and has a nice repaint. $2500 each number) and we just may be able to Needs restoration. Canada. $400. obo. Can deliver to TN Rally at no help you out. We’re a salvage yard Brian, (705) 799-6987, Lindsay, charge. located in the middle Tennessee area, Ontario, Canada, Brad Powell, (678) 576-4258, At- just 40 mi NW of Nashville. Give us a [email protected] lanta, Georgia, try. Thanks. [email protected] Queen City Motorcycle, (877) 648-4355, Clarksville, Tennessee, 1968 Yamaha Gran Prix 350cc. For Yamaha RD250/350/400: [email protected] Red, white and chrome. Never re- Parts. Mostly for 350 but some 250 stored, runs good, needs 6V battery. and early 400 parts. Good side pan- 1970/85 Japanese 100/1100cc. I am Grand Prix sticker missing. Street-le- els, oil tanks, instruments, lots of selling a complete salvage and parts gal road bike. Asking $1250. misc. Reasonable. business with more than 700 bikes Steve Walden, (517) 263-9513, Jeff Kowalchuk, (920) 845-5304, and too many parts to even start a list. Adrian, Michigan, [email protected] Green Bay, Wisconsin, All bikes and parts are in 40 ft. stor- [email protected] age trailers that can also be bought. 1970 Yamaha YL1 Twinjet 100. Taking Reasonable Offers. Complete, but needs restoration. 1983 Yamaha 550 Vision. Very Stephen Horton, (717) 532-6147, Runs. Electrics all work. Canada. clean original condition with just Roxbury, PA,[email protected] $500. Good project bike. 12,800 miles. Runs and looks great. Brian, (705) 799-6987, Lindsay, Just detailed and ready to ride. Can Keys. We supply hard to find key Ontario, Canada, deliver in central FL. $2950 or inter- blanks for classic vehicles! We can [email protected] esting trade. help you get the keys you need. We Eric Wala, (352) 303-5220, stock keys for cars, trucks, buses, mo- Clermont, Florida, ewala@atlan- torcycles and even some airplanes, 1973 Yamaha RD350. Decent tic.net some of which are no longer manufac- shape, runs, but third gear is out. tured anywhere. Visit our web site to Great for restoring! Best offer. For Yamaha: NOS Yamaha precut browse our catalog and order online, Richard Raider, (218) 895-7557, keys. E-mail me with the numbers or to request help finding the key you 1201 8TH ST NE #4, Staples, Minne- that you need. need: www.key-men.com sota 56479, Mark Anthony, (336) 788-7528, Key Men - Keys for Classics, Mon- [email protected] North Carolina, [email protected] roe, New York, [email protected]

36 www.vjmc.org VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Classifieds

Video Tapes. #1: 1966 Honda Fac- For 1964/65 Honda CB92 Benly: For 1973 Honda SL350 K0: Need tory Tour, 1964 Suzuki Factory Tour, Looking for spares. Need seat, ex- exhaust. Would like stock parts, but plus 1970 Honda’s 1st Daytona haust, headlight, gear change pedal aftermarket will do. 200-miler win, $20. #2: 1959 and linkage, tank badges, front Mike Elliott, (678) 878-0692, Greenhorne Enduro and 1964 fender, etc. Metro Atlanta, Georgia, Jackpine Enduro plus two indoor Bill Carmichael, 01780 752425, [email protected] short tracks on concrete from the Lincolnshire UK., [email protected] 1970s, $20. #3: 1954 Triumph Fac- tory Tour and 1958 BSA Factory For 1965 Honda 50: Looking to buy For 1973 Honda CL350: Need a set Tour, $20. Tapes are one hour or lon- a in new or used in good con- of mufflers. NOS or after-market. ger. Price includes shipping. dition. Bolts directly on the motor Robert Mow, (586) 336-1536, Ro- Jim Minnis, 210 S. Madison St. and runs to the rear wheel; all one meo, Michigan, [email protected] Princeton, Indiana, 47670 piece Butch Ballot, (352) 874-3549, Lady For 1975 Honda CB360T: Need Lake, Florida, [email protected] Wanted complete, rust-free, decent exhaust. For 1965 Honda CA95: I am look- Can be stock or aftermarket. I am in Bridgestone ing for 150cc Dream parts. Specifi- Mass, but will pay for shipping. cally, rear shocks, “carb covers” that John Gifford, (508) 958-1995, For Bridgestone 175: Any manuals cover the air intake, headlamp, and Mass., [email protected] or parts books, originals or copies. I’m sure more things will come up as Larry Mayne, (304) 525-6703, I put this thing together. For 1975 Honda CB360: Looking Huntington, WV, maynef@zoomnet Jenny Bell, (614) 477-1859, Co- for a serviceable set of mufflers for a lumbus, Ohio, Honda daily rider. [email protected] Will Endsley, [email protected] For 1960/62 Honda CB92: Looking For 1966 Honda C72 Dream: Look- for front fender, seat, and mufflers. ing for a handlebar yoke with cover 1975 Honda CL360: Looking for Please call or e-mail if you know opening for damper knob. someone who may. the mufflers. Interested even if you Wray Moore, Bay City, Michigan, just have the bottom one. Doug Gregory, (281) 655-4944, [email protected] [email protected] Chris Pearson, (401) 640-4799, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, For Honda CL77: Looking for a [email protected] For 1960 sHonda CB72 250cc: I am Weisco big bore kit: cylinder, pis- looking for a decent head. Consider tons, and gaskets. Also 15-tooth and complete parts engine if reasonable. 37-tooth front and rear sprockets. For 1977 Honda CB750A Ed Haddaway, (505) 842-8117, Albu- The center hole is 80 mm and the bolt Hondamatic: Looking for a spoked querque, NM, [email protected] spacing is 4.00 inches; late model di- front wheel. Wheel must be complete mensions. with bearings intact and not out of 1962/65 Honda CA200. I am looking [email protected] round. Also need seat in good condi- for a nice black 90cc CA200 with the tion. push-rod motor. If you know of any the For 1968 Honda CL350: Need a Michael Smegielski, (203) color is not mandatory. Any color will seat in good or NOS condition. It has 754-1482, [email protected] do but preferably a black one. a good early CB350 seat on it that I Mike Chandler, 770) 471-0438, At- would be willing to trade or pay cash. lanta, Georgia, [email protected] Jim Smith, (805) 968-9748, Cali- For 1977 Honda CB750K: Need a fornia, [email protected] replacement left side cover/panel. 1963/66 pushrod Honda 90cc. Not a The problem I’ve had so far is finding step-thru bike; it is a regular motorcy- For 1969/73 Honda 350: Need en- one with the “750FourK” lettering cle. I think it is either a CA or C100 or gine bottom end for CB350 café that will match the right side letter- 200. I will be at the Mid-Ohio event in racer project. Might be interested in ing. Can you help directly or refer me July. If anyone knows anybody that complete, working motor. elsewhere? has one for sale please contact me. Thomas McNicholas, (865) Paul Schofield, (828) 235 1721, Mike Chandler, (770) 471-0438, At- 719-2988, Jefferson City, Tennessee, Waynesville, North Carolina, lanta, Georgia, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

www.vjmc.org 37 VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2004 Classifieds For 1979 Honda CB400T: I need an bracket to fix up a Spectre. Could also For 1967 Yamaha YR1 350cc: alternator stator in good condition for use a turn signal head and stem Looking for fork boots; Yamaha part this bike. This bike has a manual (black). Any help appreciated! Thanx. number 211-23191-40-00. NOS, transmission; kick start only. Phil, (814) 445-8737, Somerset, used, even broken would help as I Don Philip, (250) 397-2720, Forest Pa., [email protected] have nothing. Grove, British Columbia, Canada, Charles E. Finney, (563) 355-7727, [email protected] Suzuki [email protected] For 1979 Honda GL1000: Looking For 1967/68 Yamaha YR1 350cc: For 1972 Suzuki TS250: Need a Need mufflers. for stock seat. non-stock pipe/chamber good, used. Brad Nessar, (603) 434-3611, Peter Douglas, 07 49543653, Aus- Also tach, oil tank cover (this bike tralia, [email protected] Derry, New Hampshire, green), maybe other parts. [email protected] Jeff, Wisc., [email protected] For 1967 Yamaha YM2C 305cc: Would like to find a speedometer/ta- For 1989 Honda VT1100 Shadow: For 1982 Suzuki GS850: Need right chometer unit. Need not work as I can Need gas tank and rear fender. Prefer side cover, headlight shell brackets, use some of the internal parts. Any- maroon but will consider other colors and a good seat. body know were there is one or were Mike Plante, (303) 582-3493 Charles Sims, (806) 878-2807, PO I can get parts? Thanks. cell/(720) 289-5085, PO Box 16294, Box 1064, Stinnett, Texas, 79083 Mike Allen, (218) 828-4451, Golden, Colorado, 80402, [email protected] [email protected] Tohatsu For Yamaha YDS3/YM1 Kawasaki 250/305cc: Looking for a set of ex- Tohatsu Run Pet Sport 50cc. Seek pansion chambers. Also TD1 or For 1968 Kawasaki C2SS 120cc: I complete original, complete project Ascot Scrambler. am looking for some piston rings. Do bikes considered. Please call Tom. Mark Anthony, (336) 788-7528, you have any ideas as to where I Tom Kolenko, (770) 422-3629, At- North Carolina, might find some? lanta, GA, [email protected] [email protected] Brandon Buford, (314) 322-6535, Looking for a 1970 Yamaha TA Toledo, Ohio, [email protected] For 1962/63 Tohatsu Runpet Sport 50cc: I need two tank emblems and a 125 racer. Must be complete, origi- nal. Complete project bikes consid- For 1971 Kawasaki H1: Looking right hand side cover with chrome ered. Call Tom. for complete 3-pipe stock set of muf- trim to finish up a restoration. Tom Kolenko, (770) 422-3629, At- flers. Also need a stock front fender. Richard Blue, (936) 825-2225, College lanta, GA, [email protected] Brad Nessar, (603) 434-3611, Station, Tex., [email protected] Derry, New Hampshire For 1970 Yamaha R5 350cc: I re- [email protected] Yamaha ally would like to find a purple and white R54. I have found a few but I Kawasaki H1F: Need both side cov- For 1965 Yamaha YDS2 250cc UK am not a collector. I want to ride the ers and a good seat. model: Looking for rear fender (mud- bike. I do want a bike that is in above Charles Sims, (806) 878-2807, PO guard to us Brits). Complete engine or average shape - does not have to be Box 1064, Stinnett, Texas, 79083 WHY as mine has LH casing cracks all-original. Let me know details. I adjacent to kick lever. My USA contact hope dealing with a great club will in- Kawasaki H2. Prefer bike suitable isDavidGageatsure positive results. A LARGE for restoration as I’m looking for a re- www.thatchedroofgarage.com located STEP ABOVE EBAY AUCTIONS. condition/restoration project. Does Kingsport, TN. Any info appreciated. Dewey David Martin, (931) not have to be rideable or running. Malc Bates, (423) 578-6887, 823-2342, Livingston, Tennessee, Kelly Wright, (269) 561-2662, [email protected] [email protected] Fennville, Michigan, [email protected] For 1966 Yamaha YM-1 305cc: 1982 Yamaha XV920RJ. Condition Need swing arm and front fender. does not matter. Looking to restore. For 1982 Kawasaki KZ750-N1: I David Cocuzzo, (203) 266-6364, Chris Keeton, (407) 694-6967, Or- need a speedo assy. and mounting Bethlehem, Conn., [email protected] lando, Fla., [email protected]

38 www.vjmc.org HONDA ~ HONDA ~ HONDA ~ HONDA

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