I came across this old Harley print...I thought all these options were currently available at the " boutique"?
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
I came across this old Harley print...I thought all these options were currently available at the " boutique"?
1974 Honda CL 125 Kickstarter Exploterated
Apparently they liked to do this. Can't believe you gotta split the case to replace the fucking kickstarter.
Keith's AV50 Cleanup
here ya go old man:
piston, rings & crank seem in good shape.
so clean! note TDC points cleaned and gapped. Faulty ground repaired.
good compression
pipe is about as clean as my bong...
Ducati 450 Single joins 900SS Bevel and Mule XS650 Street-tracker
The Mid Life Cycles workshop has been busy again with some interesting and diverse bikes, from classic Ducati Single to a Yamaha XS650-based street-tracker.
First on the list for Sam Speer's expert attention was a very neat Ducati 450 Mark 3 that's been sitting idle for a while now. Some concentrated work on carb and electrics got this bevel-engined beauty up and running. Sam says it rides as well as it looks - for a short distance. Now we need to source a new alternator to keep the good spark going and a replacement for the tired Dellorto carby so it doesn't fuel up the plug after a short run. The Dellorto is a work of art - and this one will make a good shelf ornament. Call it another sacrifice to the Gods of Speed or other Ducati Deities. But it looks great alongside our almost-completed bevel-engined Ducati 900SS replica.
Next up was Sandy's Mule XS650 Street Tracker. This one would have tested the patience of a weaker man, but Sandy's been waiting a while - first for the bike to be built in the States and delivered, and then for us to get it somewhere near road-legal and to sort out some teething troubles. Dr Roger fabricated front guard and chain guard, fitted a mirror, got the speedo working and wired the lights to... light; Sam stepped in to make sure the fuel flowed and the CDI unit fired that big grunty twin... There was a bit to do. But it now starts and rumbles like the big-engined XS that it is and Sandy is looking forward to riding Melbourne's streets and doing a few selected shows.
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| Nick's Ducati 450 Mark 3 heads a Latin line-up |
First on the list for Sam Speer's expert attention was a very neat Ducati 450 Mark 3 that's been sitting idle for a while now. Some concentrated work on carb and electrics got this bevel-engined beauty up and running. Sam says it rides as well as it looks - for a short distance. Now we need to source a new alternator to keep the good spark going and a replacement for the tired Dellorto carby so it doesn't fuel up the plug after a short run. The Dellorto is a work of art - and this one will make a good shelf ornament. Call it another sacrifice to the Gods of Speed or other Ducati Deities. But it looks great alongside our almost-completed bevel-engined Ducati 900SS replica.
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| Yes, they do look good together... |
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| Sandy finally gets to ride his Mule XS650 Tracker |
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| It's a handsome beast... |
Simon and his Norton 750 Commando
We get some enthusiastic visitors at Mid Life Cycles - and one of the more interesting recently was Simon, who rode out of his personal Tardis to bring us a touch of the Seventies.
Simon has owned his Norton 750 Commando "for years" and he's modified it along the way to make it more rideable, if not more reliable. The early Honda CB750 front forks and disc brake conversion make for an interesting cross-pollination between the bike that changed motorcycling and one of the last (and best) of traditional British motorcycles. The fairing looks like it's been there since the Seventies and the overall bike looks well thought-through, and well-used.
And Simon? It would be unfair to say he looks well-used, in fact he's in fine fettle, but with open-face helmet and wrap-around shades and those fantastic period leathers, Simon is definitely Living the Dream...
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| Simon and his well-used Norton Commando |
Simon has owned his Norton 750 Commando "for years" and he's modified it along the way to make it more rideable, if not more reliable. The early Honda CB750 front forks and disc brake conversion make for an interesting cross-pollination between the bike that changed motorcycling and one of the last (and best) of traditional British motorcycles. The fairing looks like it's been there since the Seventies and the overall bike looks well thought-through, and well-used.
And Simon? It would be unfair to say he looks well-used, in fact he's in fine fettle, but with open-face helmet and wrap-around shades and those fantastic period leathers, Simon is definitely Living the Dream...
ANOTHER BUSY WEEK
A ton of great work, great customers and even better weather. Life is good!
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Kawasaki's retro Classic ZR750
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| 1998 Kawasaki ZR750 Classic |
Not quite a cafe racer - but a handsome retro-classic.
Kawasaki built a limited run of its ZR750 Classic for model years 1996 and 1998. The Classic is based on the long-running Zephyr series, with added features such as wire-spoked wheels, four-into-two exhaust and paint schemes that paid tribute to the iconic Kawasaki Z1. We've developed a real liking for these very rideable retro-bikes.
Check it out at:
http://www.midlifecycles.com.au/classic/
Honda's CB Singles make great cafe racers
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| Sammy the CB100 Cafe Racer |
M: 0408 129 169
E: midlifecycles@gmail.com
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| Honda CB125 Silver Shogun cafe racer |
Meet “Silver Shogun”, a Honda CB125-based cafe racer that makes short work of the local urban circuit. Bike-builder Luke Ward used a Prixhistoric Fibreglass Ducati Silver Shotgun tank and a neat seat unit to top-off this great example of a custom build.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Ottawa magazine ran a pretty cool 5-page story on Lee, the shop, Rob's panhead, and the motorcycle scene.
"It’s about soul and history and how, if you could put Rob Watt’s Harley on a strap and could carry it around your neck, it would be a musical instrument. Not a machine, but a musical instrument, the low-throated reverb of some classic Les Paul heard in the Blama-ama-ama-aaaaaaaaa of the engine. Not the high tink of a telecaster — which would be a Honda — or the fine tones of a Stratocaster — which would be a Suzuki Ninja — but a Gibson Les Paul mister, hanging low, looking mean, Jimmy Page about to hit the opening notes to “Black Dog” and the rest of the world fading to black and not really mattering all that much anymore.
That’s what this was about — winters spent communing in a garage, summers out on the road, travelling to weekend festivals with names like Greasebag Jamboree, putting the cubicle and the computer lab far, far behind you, like visions in a rear-view mirror when they become so faint, they might as well be a heat mirage.
It’s about working with your hands and building something you can touch and use instead of having to explain or PowerPoint or prioritize or delegate or any other ephemeral, wispy uselessness that passes for labour in this day and age."
You can check out the full article here:
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