Volume 35 / Number 6 DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 • $5 WHAT’S INSIDE: Metal Polishing AIMExpo 2014 Flying Dragon Tank Sets Adventures with the Little Yamaha OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES EVENTS: Vintage in the Valley 6 MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION: Metal Polishing 13 for Beginners EVENTS: VJMC 2014 Victoria, BC, 16 Bike Show MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION: So, You Actually 23 Want to Ride It? EVENTS: COVER STORY AIMExpo 2014: RETRO AFFAIR 10th Annual VINTAGE MOTORCYLE 26 SHOW Barber Vintage Festival 34 HISTORY: Mr. Massucci 29 DEPARTMENTS HISTORY: PRESIDENT’S LETTER: Flying Dragon Giving Thanks for Another Great VJMC Year ...................................5 Tank Sets 38 BACK IN THE DAY: Honda CL450 / Joe Lachinet ............................................................ 10 RIDES: FROM THE EDITOR: Adventures with the Who to Contact ................................................................................. 11 Little Yamaha 46 TECH HELP: Tech Tip #5: Rectifiers ....................................................................... 53 Volume 35 / Number 6 DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 • $5 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ............................................................... 55 ON THE COVER The spirit of the VJMC at the Barber ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT .................................................... 55 Vintage Festival. Our oldest member, EVENTS CORNER ......................................................................... 57 Jim Townsend (80), WHAT’S INSIDE: Metal Polishing passing the torch .................................................................................. AIMExpo 2014 CLASSIFIEDS 59 Flying Dragon Tank Sets to our youngest, Adventures with the Little Yamaha OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. Joseph Watson (12). cover photo: Michael Fitterling VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Giving Thanks for Official Publication of the VJMC Another Great VJMC Year DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 t this time of the year, we are reminded of how far we have come Volume 35, Number 6 Ain 2014. The VJMC has grown to nearly 4,000 members through Current VJMC Enrollment: 3945 the hard work and energy of many dedicated members. Our club is PRESIDENT now being invited to participate in many new ventures that continue Tom Kolenko to bear fruit at Eustis, AIMExpo, and IMS venues, where our members 770-427-4820 get to share their Japanese iron with thousands. Our rallies continue to [email protected] grow in number and quality, where members build memories with new EDITOR friends and of great rides. The VJMC Board of Directors hopes that you Michael Fitterling 863-632-1981 have enjoyed these opportunities and look forward to 2015 with a passion to get involved. [email protected] One dedicated member is all it takes to build fun for others and watch it grow. DESIGN DIRECTOR The West Coast Rally, Barber Vintage Festival, and AIMExpo filled our late year calen- Nadine G. Messier dar. Jack Stein and Bob Leonard made the Flagstaff rally as grand as the canyon. The Tenth [email protected] Annual Barber Vintage Festival team adapted to our new location and made it our biggest CLASSIFIED ADS ever. We had over 109 bikes in the Saturday show, 150 members at the BBQ, and 61 mem- Gary Gadd bers riding the Sunday Parade laps of the track. 817-284-8195 [email protected] Why does this work? Lots of dedicated volunteers. Ten of our twelve directors came to help. The Barber army of Barry Whitley, the Granades, Steve Passwater, Buck Mitchell, DISPLAY AD DIRECTOR Guido Cardillo Greg Murray, Randy and Warren Mayes, Bryan Bentley, Chip Tucker, Julie Slatcoff, Laurie 404-587-0190 and Norton Mazzone, Rob Sherer, Susan and David Kolenko, Chazz Humphrey, and Bill [email protected] Webster rose to the challenge along with the over twenty booth volunteers who worked AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE past their two-hour shifts. Pete Slatcoff and head chef Lee Mitzel made lunch time dogs and Art Snow burgers for the workers. Special thanks goes out to Steve Liberatore and Yamaha Motors for [email protected] loaning us popups, the floppy man, flags, and raffle prizes. Net membership gains at the MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Barber Vintage Festival: 66 new members and 41 renewals. Bill Granade Long time supporters of the VJMC, such as George Barber, must be pleased with the 813-961-3737 [email protected] evolution of this weekend event into the best vintage motorcycle event in the Americas. Mr. Barber greeted our VJMC parade riders on Sunday in his usual low keyed manner, clearly CHANGE OF ADDRESS sharing their excitement for a ride on his race track. For the past ten years, it has been a Please direct these requests to Bill Granade: [email protected] pleasure working with the whole Barber team: Jeff Ray, Brian Slark, and Jennifer Moody. We can’t wait for BVF 2015! ADDITIONAL COPIES In order to minimize unnecessary expenses AIMExpo exploded in its second year in Orlando with the VJMC managing their Retro to the club, VJMC prints a limited number of Affair Bike Show. Pete Slatcoff’s team of Norm Smith, Norton Mazzone, Rob Sherer, Obis each issue of Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine. However, we would be glad to Brea, and Lee Mitzel helped execute a huge people’s choice bike show. OEM participation accommodate any requests for additional grows each year at this venue and so will the VJMC team. Thank you all for your hard work. copies from members. As the snow starts to fly, plan to check out the IMS shows located throughout this great These requests must be submitted before the land. They provide another gathering spot to check out VJMC member show bikes, glean 15th of the month preceding each issue. For example: for the Feb/Mar issue requests must new part sources, share riding memories, and peek at the new iron from the OEMs. Please be received by January 15. thank the dedicated VJMC members staffing the booth, too. MISSION STATEMENT: What lies ahead for the VJMC? We will continue to expand our field representative pro- The purpose of this organization is to promote gram trying to reach more passionate Japanese vintage collectors, riders, and restorers. the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment Our planning window will move from one year out to three years as we grow. We will of vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined here as those 20 years old or older). The VJMC also explore new partnerships that favor our mission and membership engagement. The VJMC will promote the sport of motorcycling and will build events using online preregistration whenever possible and front-load for success. cameraderie of motorcyclists everywhere. We will grow our membership base through local and national events. Our high quality © 2014 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-prof- magazine will continue to share the best vintage Japanese event news, restorations tips, and it 501(c)(7) corporation. All rights reserved. riding history. As a volunteer-based organization, we will continue to create fun times for No part of this document may be reproduced as many members as possible throughout the year. Mark your calendars now for our 2015 or transmitted without permission. All articles copyright by their respective authors. National Rally in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine is Finally, I wish to thank the members of our Board of Directors who have graciously given published six times per year, in February, their time, talents, and passion in service to the VJMC. This is a working board, where April, June, August, October, and December. The views and opinions expressed in letters everyone is engaged and holds significant responsibilities for this club’s success. It is a plea- or other content are those of the author and sure to serve with such dedicated volunteers now and in the year ahead. In this season of do not necessarily represent VJMC policy. The thanksgiving, I want to wish everyone a joyous holiday season and bountiful new year. VJMC accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or claims occuring as a result of advice given in this publication or for claims made by ad- Ride safe, vertisers of products or services in this pub- lication. Tom Kolenko VJMC President VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 5 Robert Pritchard’s 1978 KH 100 EL 6 DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 in the Valley VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 7 Chris Carter’s outstanding 1975 Kawasaki 900, received the People’s Choice Award 8 DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 EVENTS CANADA VJMC table at the event by Ambrose Knobel / [email protected] t was the third annual bike show and Iagain in the huge Heritage Park halls, which are great for shows like this. Even after the gates opened at ten in the morning and lots of people had poured Best in Show went to Brian and Betty in, it never seemed really crowded in Strauch for their amazing Gold Wing there. with trailer. Best CBX was won by Barry It’s a show & shine and contest with Pattman’s 1982 CBX 1100. Best Vintage prizes and a vintage swap meet, as well. went to Murray Yeo’s 1977 Honda Gold The show is gaining in popularity with Wing. People’s Choice was won by Chris visitors and vendors, and both numbers Carter’s amazing 1975 Kawasaki 900. were up from last year’s event. Rumors have it that next year’s fea- European, American, and Japanese ture bike will be the Suzuki GT-750, bikes were on display. This years fea- also known as the “Water Buffalo”—it’s ture bike was the Honda CBX, being bound to be another great show! It’s thirty-five years since it was introduced. once again scheduled for Sunday, 16 Au- Several fine examples of this classic bike gust 2015, at the Heritage Park in Chil- were on display. liwack, B.C. l The Best in Show Award went to Brian and Betty Strauch for their Gold Wing VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 9 BACK IN THE DAY Honda CL450 by Joe Lachinet / [email protected] his is a photo from 1968 of my Tnew Honda CL450.