Finally turned the corner on much of that, so back to getting the Connie running right, cleaned up, and on the road. I'm shooting videos as I go, and here's the into one:
I'll post more updates as the restoration project progresses.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Finally getting around to restoring the 1994 Kawasaki Concours, aka C10, aka "Belle"
Chipping away at lots of projects, life, work, taxes, hospital visits, friends with cancer, so the restoration project Connie took a back seat for two months.
Finally turned the corner on much of that, so back to getting the Connie running right, cleaned up, and on the road. I'm shooting videos as I go, and here's the into one:
Lots to be done, but most of it is cosmetic. I've already replaced the front brake system but need to bleed it better. The next major issue to fix is the gas tank leaks-I either need to get it repaired, replaced or simply move my good one between both Connies to keep the carbs flowing well.
I'll post more updates as the restoration project progresses.
Finally turned the corner on much of that, so back to getting the Connie running right, cleaned up, and on the road. I'm shooting videos as I go, and here's the into one:
I'll post more updates as the restoration project progresses.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie" Event Report
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Update since this post has been searched often recently: Today, 5/1/14, John passed away and at his bequest, his organs were harvested for donation to help others. A large number of family and friends were together at Sharp Hospital. There is a website for donations for final expenses, and there will likely be another ride but this time up in Long Beach. Date is TBD, I'll post info here and on Facebook when I know something.
*******************************
Yesterday in San Diego I was able to participate in a fundraiser for John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie". The couple was in a bad solo bike wreck a few weeks ago on CA-67, one of our regular riding areas. Both sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized. They were popular riders in the local sportbike and stunting scene-John even taught bike handling and stunting skills at the routine stunt gathering and both were well-liked.
Family and friends put together a ride, family fest and cook-out, while other events have also been going on. Yesterday morning a huge group of riders, sports car enthusiasts, supporters and family gathered at South Shore Park near Sea World San Diego. There were probably 300 bikes-mainly sportbikes but a few cruisers and at least one fairly pristine Gold Wing 1500 with over 100,000 miles on it! Many clubs rode in as well as lots of independent riders. After a ride brief and a brief pause to let some folks gas up, one of John's family led the ride off in his S2000 sports car and cars and bikes streamed out for nearly 5 minutes. I was there in my "shop truck" as I was hauling the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) bike blessing and hospitality booth supplies, but a few CMA'ers went out on the ride with all the other bikes.
A convoy of 7-8 cars and 1 bike went to Hospitality Point while the ride did a safe and calm freeway loop. For the ride, stunting was prohibited to keep the large number of bikes safely moving through San Diego traffic. The ride lasted about an hour, while we set up our booth and the grills were fired up at the end point. Soon the roar of performance bikes could be heard and the riders arrived at Hospitality Point. There had been one small wreck on the ride when an SUV cut through the line of bikes a little too close, and I think one bike tipped over as they slowed to a crawl entering the end point, but everyone was ok. After a short thank you speech, the food lines formed and folks also bought raffle tickets for the many prizes donated by local businesses. I sampled both the taco truck and the SD Rider Girls chicken skewers-both great, and the hot dog and hamburger line also did brisk business.
Folks from CMA got to bless a few bikes, make some new friends, and even help one rider whose clutch cable decided to fail at the end point. Fortunate for him it happened while he was about to head home instead of on the road! We couldn't make an expedient repair that held enough tension to actually get the bike running, so we loaded his bike in the truck and I was able to get him, his girlfriend and his bike back home. I hope he can get a clutch cable, as it sounded like he's "two wheels only" or T.W.O. like a hardcore biker would be. We're all bikers after all, even if the bikes are different styles. If somehow he finds this page and still needs a clutch cable, click one of the links to BikeBandit-lightening fast shipping to San Diego as most orders are fulfilled here or in a nearby distribution. Plus, as an affiliate marketer, I get a small commission, so thanks for the support!
As I got back to Hospitality Point, the stunters were heading out to the stunt spot, but I was able to return the tie-down straps we had been loaned. I think one of the riders who loaned us a ramp and the tie-downs goes by "Gixxer Girl", so if any of the stunters read this, please pass on a "Thanks Again!" from CMA. I need to reload my tie-downs in the truck!
Keep Praying for SoLow Cali and Barbie-many medical challenges still must be overcome. Be on the lookout for other fundraisers and events, and I hope to see more of these riders at Bike Nights, club events and track days/races.
Update since this post has been searched often recently: Today, 5/1/14, John passed away and at his bequest, his organs were harvested for donation to help others. A large number of family and friends were together at Sharp Hospital. There is a website for donations for final expenses, and there will likely be another ride but this time up in Long Beach. Date is TBD, I'll post info here and on Facebook when I know something.
*******************************
Yesterday in San Diego I was able to participate in a fundraiser for John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie". The couple was in a bad solo bike wreck a few weeks ago on CA-67, one of our regular riding areas. Both sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized. They were popular riders in the local sportbike and stunting scene-John even taught bike handling and stunting skills at the routine stunt gathering and both were well-liked.
Family and friends put together a ride, family fest and cook-out, while other events have also been going on. Yesterday morning a huge group of riders, sports car enthusiasts, supporters and family gathered at South Shore Park near Sea World San Diego. There were probably 300 bikes-mainly sportbikes but a few cruisers and at least one fairly pristine Gold Wing 1500 with over 100,000 miles on it! Many clubs rode in as well as lots of independent riders. After a ride brief and a brief pause to let some folks gas up, one of John's family led the ride off in his S2000 sports car and cars and bikes streamed out for nearly 5 minutes. I was there in my "shop truck" as I was hauling the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) bike blessing and hospitality booth supplies, but a few CMA'ers went out on the ride with all the other bikes.
A convoy of 7-8 cars and 1 bike went to Hospitality Point while the ride did a safe and calm freeway loop. For the ride, stunting was prohibited to keep the large number of bikes safely moving through San Diego traffic. The ride lasted about an hour, while we set up our booth and the grills were fired up at the end point. Soon the roar of performance bikes could be heard and the riders arrived at Hospitality Point. There had been one small wreck on the ride when an SUV cut through the line of bikes a little too close, and I think one bike tipped over as they slowed to a crawl entering the end point, but everyone was ok. After a short thank you speech, the food lines formed and folks also bought raffle tickets for the many prizes donated by local businesses. I sampled both the taco truck and the SD Rider Girls chicken skewers-both great, and the hot dog and hamburger line also did brisk business.
Folks from CMA got to bless a few bikes, make some new friends, and even help one rider whose clutch cable decided to fail at the end point. Fortunate for him it happened while he was about to head home instead of on the road! We couldn't make an expedient repair that held enough tension to actually get the bike running, so we loaded his bike in the truck and I was able to get him, his girlfriend and his bike back home. I hope he can get a clutch cable, as it sounded like he's "two wheels only" or T.W.O. like a hardcore biker would be. We're all bikers after all, even if the bikes are different styles. If somehow he finds this page and still needs a clutch cable, click one of the links to BikeBandit-lightening fast shipping to San Diego as most orders are fulfilled here or in a nearby distribution. Plus, as an affiliate marketer, I get a small commission, so thanks for the support!
As I got back to Hospitality Point, the stunters were heading out to the stunt spot, but I was able to return the tie-down straps we had been loaned. I think one of the riders who loaned us a ramp and the tie-downs goes by "Gixxer Girl", so if any of the stunters read this, please pass on a "Thanks Again!" from CMA. I need to reload my tie-downs in the truck!
Keep Praying for SoLow Cali and Barbie-many medical challenges still must be overcome. Be on the lookout for other fundraisers and events, and I hope to see more of these riders at Bike Nights, club events and track days/races.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Mechanical fellowship, another front tire change-out and musings
Last weekend, my best friend and his wife (fellow CMA'ers) ordered a new front tire and inner tube from my affiliate BikeBandit store. Her 2004 Harley-Davidson 1200C Sportster tire was getting pretty worn down. She's a good rider, pushing the bike through the twisties safely and with skill. So we needed to get the tire and tube and get them mounted before this weekend. As usual, BikeBandit rapidly shipped the tire and the tube, both of them getting to my house within a few days even with the "Free shipping with $99 or more purchase" offer. Gotta love quick delivery for free!
Due to some weather (yep, in SOCAL) and their church having Thursday night services, we put off the project until this afternoon. Having just changed out my Concours front tire as posted here, I was confident we could knock this out pretty easily. Two other confidence building factors were also part of my thinking. First, my buddy is the better mechanic of the two of us-often he works on my bikes in my garage while I mainly hand him tools. Plus, the pros at Poway Motorcycle knew we were coming and said they could mount the new tire and balance the wheel while we waited.
So he rides in, we get to work and before long we have an old, smooth tire and 21 inch spoked Harley wheel off the bike. Here's the short list of what to do and sort of the order we did it in:
Remove axle and axle bolt trim covers
Loosen fork clamp bolt (need an allen key and I think a 5/8ths box end wrench)
Remove one set of fender bolts (again allen key and 1/2 inch box wrench) I left one bolt in the fender just slightly pulled out to ensure it didn't move around much)
Remove brake caliper bolts and swing caliper off rotor, pad and secure in place. 10mm 12 spline bolts-yeah, suck it up and buy a special socket set.
Loosen axle nut-3/4 inch nut, put something stout in hole in axle on opposite side
Jack up Sportster and remove axle. Done. Of note, this Sportster's pipes run above the frame rails, which is a big improvement from my Sportster. Makes jacking the bike up much easier! We took the wheel to the shop, they mounted the new tire with the new tube and we re-installed everything. With two sets of hands vice trying to do this solo, and only one brake caliper to re-install, it was almost quicker to put it back on as it was to take the wheel off.
Oh, did I mention a customer has a SWEET Kawasaki Concours he wants to get running to sell? Oh brother.
Have a great weekend riding and wrenching!
Due to some weather (yep, in SOCAL) and their church having Thursday night services, we put off the project until this afternoon. Having just changed out my Concours front tire as posted here, I was confident we could knock this out pretty easily. Two other confidence building factors were also part of my thinking. First, my buddy is the better mechanic of the two of us-often he works on my bikes in my garage while I mainly hand him tools. Plus, the pros at Poway Motorcycle knew we were coming and said they could mount the new tire and balance the wheel while we waited.
So he rides in, we get to work and before long we have an old, smooth tire and 21 inch spoked Harley wheel off the bike. Here's the short list of what to do and sort of the order we did it in:
Remove axle and axle bolt trim covers
Loosen fork clamp bolt (need an allen key and I think a 5/8ths box end wrench)
Remove one set of fender bolts (again allen key and 1/2 inch box wrench) I left one bolt in the fender just slightly pulled out to ensure it didn't move around much)
Remove brake caliper bolts and swing caliper off rotor, pad and secure in place. 10mm 12 spline bolts-yeah, suck it up and buy a special socket set.
Loosen axle nut-3/4 inch nut, put something stout in hole in axle on opposite side
Jack up Sportster and remove axle. Done. Of note, this Sportster's pipes run above the frame rails, which is a big improvement from my Sportster. Makes jacking the bike up much easier! We took the wheel to the shop, they mounted the new tire with the new tube and we re-installed everything. With two sets of hands vice trying to do this solo, and only one brake caliper to re-install, it was almost quicker to put it back on as it was to take the wheel off.
Oh, did I mention a customer has a SWEET Kawasaki Concours he wants to get running to sell? Oh brother.
Have a great weekend riding and wrenching!
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