新年、おめでとう〜

今年のテーマは
「古いものを出さなければ、新しいものは入らない」

日本語教師の仕事を始めてから、生活が少しずつ変わって来たけど、いい方ではないかなって最近気づいた。

１０年前、僕の一番好きなシャツに何が書いてあったと思う？
Less is more stay pure stay poor.
別に貧乏な生活をしなきゃいけないという意味じゃなくて、
お金の使い方がポイントだと思う。。
「買ったもので幸せにならない」かな。。
僕は最近（このニ／三年）バイクに夢中になっていて
お金があれば、バイクを買っていた。
バイクの修理や作る事は僕にとってアートのようなことなんだけど
買い過ぎていてそのアートを汚してしまったと思う。。。。

だからこれからは作ったものを売って、
作る時はもっと力を入れてゆっくり組み立てようと。。

こういう風に

バイクを売ったり、余計なものを買わないように。。

もっとシンプルに生きようっとー

小さい喜びで楽しもうっとー

I may be rambling.  Happy New Year

Searching 70's early 80's XL250

I am looking for a 70's/80's Honda XL250.  It has to be from that time period....the body can be in any condition as long as the engine doesn't leak oil, has good compression, etc.  Barn find, back yard, uncle's garage...I don't care.  I have been searching within a 200 mile radius of me for a few months and nothing seems to pop up or pan out.  Hit me up!

Current build on hold till I get her a new heart......

1971 Honda Benly CB50 Motegi collection

1971 Honda Benly CB50.

Single overhead cam 50cc engine.  

I would love to have one of these to run errands on....

The engine looks exactly like the old xl 100 engine in the garage...hmm..

Honda Benly SS50

Motegi Honda Collection Hall 

1967 Honda Benly SS50

This little guy had a 5 speed transmission, rare for the time and the most powerful engine in its class.  Kind of looks like a re-designed Honda S90.  This bike was designed to appeal to techno fans.  Whatever that meant in the 60's.  

This is a bonus...

CB125 Twin from the 70's?

"Big motorcycle speeds with little motorcycle handling" 

I guess these are super rare, only about 2500 produced worldwide.

1957 Honda 250 Dream C70

1957 Honda 250 Dream C70

The engine and body on this looks a lot like the CA77's.

1949 Honda 100 Dream Type D

1949 100 Dream Type D 

Look at how small that engine is!

(And think about how heavy that frame must be)

I still love the brake and clutch levers on these bikes....

Gunz getting down

Atta' boy!

Clean dem jets.

I rebuilt the one and he rebuilt one.  Can't wait to get that bike runnin'!

Wheelie Christmas!

Santa brought the best thing ever this Christmas.  

A 50 degree day and loads of sunshine.  

Minotaur Shock: Muesli

Below:  My two favorite non-humans.

\/room \/room in Tsukuba

So I don't know why I have waited so long to post videos on here.  This was last year or the year before in Tsukuba with Masaru!!!!

The germ is in my house

I have been putting this off for a long time.  I have to make a seat for Gunnar this week so I thought I would get everything out and make mine first.  I was originally going to use the original foam that had been cut and formed but I decided last minute it was too gross.....and I wanted to use my electric meat cutter on the foam to see how well it would work.

Would you like a demo?

I will never use the hot knife to cut foam again.  Ever.

Yeah, I skipped the most annoying step.  .  . cutting out and sewing the seat vinyl.

Not finished yet but its getting close.  I need to make circle emblems out of wood, and finish the rear brake and wire it in.

Vroom Vroom?

The seat is longer that I wanted it to be.  I will probably end up cutting it down an inch or two (and the frame) and wiring a brake in the back of it.   

1956 Honda SB 350 Dream

1956 Honda SB 350 Dream

So I usually buy just about anything I find Honda related at swap meets that is pre-1970 especially stuff that was available here or I have never seen.  Before I frame this little card for my wall, I though I should put it up here.  The back of the card goes into detail of the history of this bike.

Merry Holidays

Merry Holidays to me today.  I was hoping they would arrive before the 25th!

I don't know why but I feel better about buying stuff from people in Indiana on ebay.  Like I am helping out a neighbor or something. . . . .

These are 3 ballooner seats(?) I think is what the item description said.  It also said they were pre-WWII but who know.  Perfect seat pans for my bike builds, the first one will go on my ariel plunger frame maybe.

I wonder what she is thinking.  All this weird crap coming to the house all the time. . . . .probably just thinking about food.

Re-blogged from somewhere.  I love it when green stuff takes over man-made stuff.  Even when its the motorcycles on the side of my house.....I guess that is why I eat so many veggies too.  To get them back for when I eventually die and they take me over. (?)

Winter Solstice Garage Night

Garage nights have been good lately.  Solid grip of gentlemen came out tonight.  

I love every one.

Gunz' bike is getting there.  He needs to order some basics and I need to mount the tank, make a seat, clean the carbs, and run electrical.  

Starting to look like a motorbike.

模様のビデオ！

This is my first try putting a video up here.....

Moyou and I went for a little cold stroll.

ZipZinger!

House Garage Ariel Colt

I have been taking advantage of the house garage and since bike night is at TJ's tomorrow, I wanted to work a little on my own stuff tonight again.  

I did this a few nights ago.  Finished mocking up the germ and wired in the headlight and plugs for the rear lights.  Still don't know what to do about a break light.....  Like that gold throttle cable?...

This is where my motorcycle A.D.D. kicks in.  I have three bikes and I want to build them all right now.  I have been pb blasting rusty parts for removal, tonight I took everything but the plunger shocks and forks apart.  I think it is strange that the bolts for this are SAE......oh well.  I guess the set my dad bought for me in high school will finally get some use.  

I thought this part was interesting.  It is a switch/relay for the rear brake light.  I hope this still works, I want to re-use it.

I took the tires off to see how rusty the rims were inside they looked decent so I will be able to use them.  These are the tubes that were on this bike.  Made in Great Britain.  What is that picture of in the circle on the left?

I think I am done with her for now. . .want to take the shocks apart and make sure they aren't sketchy.  I need to check the brakes too.  I don't know where I can get new pads though.  The only place I could find was in Europe and they "reconditioned" them.  I am guessing this means adding more pad somehow?  These are really similar to other old British bikes, I wonder if there is someone in town that can do that...

          I am still looking for an xr250 engine for this frame.  I would even consider an XR100 engine for the right price.....

Honda Dream CB250 Motegi Collection

1968 Honda Dream CB250 

This sports bike was designed for the 70's motorcycle market.  

This style and a two-tone export version (what americans got) was produced.  

House Garage

House Garage Year One

Why didn't I do this last year?

A quick look into the spare bedroom reveals....

that I am too poor to build a new garage so......

I brought that crap inside!

Waterproof tarp on bottom, anti-fatigue mats on top. 

No oil or gas work.

Work bench in the front.  I think this will keep me happy till spring......

Let's see how quick I can ruin my house.

.......hard to believe a person made this her home until yesterday...........

Gunz CB350 update

Tonight's garage night was good.  Had a nice sized crew.  4 trucks, and Hutch rode his cb100 over.  Mocked up Gunz' Cb350 and gave him hell.  He is half my age, I have the right, right?

Ramen 4 life

1965 Honda CB450 Motegi Collection

1965 Honda Dream CB450

The CB450 was Honda's first DOHC street bike.  It was developed to compete with the British 650's overseas.  From what I hear, it was faster and way more reliable.

I just picked up a 72? CB450 to build up this winter.  Can't wait to get started!