2014 · classic racers to ,70s CBs. A very unique 2003 Kawasaki W650 from Revival drew attention to...

Volume 35 / Number 4AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 • $5

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Resurrection:From Scrap to the StreetCB1100F

Riding Into History

Lubricating Your Motorcycle

2014

VJMC

VJMC Leadership Award Winner: TOM KOLENKO

IN THIS ISSUE

VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 3

PRESIDENT’S LETTER: Just Like Family ....................................................................................5BACK IN THE DAY:Members Only .................................................................................20FROM THE EDITOR: The Magazine Staff .........................................................................25TECH HELP: Tech Tip #3: Lubricating Your Motorcycle ....................................51

EVENTS CORNER .......................................................................55ADVERTISER’S INDEX .............................................................57

ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHTRRR Tool Solutions ..........................................................................57

CLASSIFIEDS ................................................................................58

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

ON THE COVER Vintage Japanese bikes filled the circle in front of the Spring Mill Inn during the National Rally

OVintage Japanese bikes filled the circle in front of the Spring Mill Inn during the National Rally

Volume 35 / Number 4AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 • $5

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Resurrection:From Scrap to the StreetCB1100F

Riding Into History

Lubricating Your Motorcycle

2014

VJMC

VJMC Leadership Award Winner: TOM KOLENKO

cover photo:Michael Fitterling

EVENTS:The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show

6PROJECT BIKE:Ressurrectionfrom scrap to the street cb110f12EVENTS:10 Years of Funbarber vintage festivalinvitation21MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION:Building a Bike Shop27HISTORY:Indian vs. Suzukithe winner is...whichever bike you remember most fondly31EVENTS:Riding Into History

34PROJECT BIKE:Me and My CB

39EVENTS:The Kansas City VJMC Spring Show & Swap Meethuge success!45EVENTS:Rally at Battle Alley

49

VJMCNational Rally2014 40

COVER STORY


PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Official Publication of the VJMCAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Volume 35, Number 4Current VJMC Enrollment: 3767

PRESIDENTTom Kolenko

[email protected]

EDITORMichael Fitterling

[email protected]

DESIGN DIRECTORNadine G. [email protected] ADS

Gary Gadd817-284-8195

[email protected] AD DIRECTOR

Guido Cardillo404-587-0190

[email protected] SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Art [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORBill Granade

[email protected]

CHANGE OF ADDRESSPlease direct these requests to Bill Granade: [email protected]

ADDITIONAL COPIESIn order to minimize unnecessary expenses to the club, VJMC prints a limited number of each issue of Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine. However, we would be glad to accommodate any requests for additional copies from members. These requests must be submitted before the 15th of the month preceding each issue. For example: for the Feb/Mar issue requests must be received by January 15.

MISSION STATEMENT:The purpose of this organization is to promote the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined here as those 20 years old or older). The VJMC also will promote the sport of motorcycling and cameraderie of motorcyclists everywhere.© 2014 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-prof-it 501(c)(7) corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted without permission. All articles copyright by their respective authors.Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine is published six times per year, in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The views and opinions expressed in letters or other content are those of the author and do not necessarily represent VJMC policy. The 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-vertisers of products or services in this pub-lication.

Ialways return from our events and rallies energized. Perhaps its seeing old friends that have been riding buddies for years or re-

turning to past stomping grounds or sharing a cool beverage long after dark. It’s great to feel welcome and better yet to welcome oth-ers to the fun. These events are our VJMC family reunions. It’s a chance to ride, tell stories, share meals, and create memories.

The Spring Mill Rally brought many new faces together in a perfect setting. We celebrated achievements with the Kansas City chapter becoming the 2014 Chapter of the Year, new Florida Field

Rep Norton Muzzone inducted by veteran Norm Smith, our largest rally bike show run by Greg Pitt, and daily fun rides captained by John Keel, Ellis Hollman, Don Lady, and Jim Townsend.

Milestones were also added. We recognized the first three generation VJMC family mem-bership with father, son, and grandson all present to ride. Lee Mitzel honored the passing of long time VJMC member and friend Bart Iden in a heartfelt eulogy. Bart passed away of a heart attack on June 20 at the age of 72. He was a dedicated member of the VJMC Arizona Chapter, a well known motorcycle collector, a top level restorer, and a rider of legendary skill. Bart will be missed.

Our first Tiddler Ride & Bike show was judged by all the ladies present (check it out on YouTube video). New evening beverage socials kept fifty to sixty members engaged well after dark making new friends. The family has gotten bigger.

Work was also on the rally agenda. The Board of Directors held its annual meeting at the Indiana rally with eleven of the twelve members present. We shared reports on Events, the Field Rep Program, Club Publications and Advertising, Recruiting, and Social Media op-portunities. As hard working volunteers, this group has only the highest standards to move this club forward in the years ahead. New directors Bryan Bentley, Sean Carrigan, Jack Stein, and Guido Cardillo got to put faces to the voices on the monthly Board conference calls. New blood adds new life to the VJMC family.

Treasurer Bob Leonard raised some intriguing questions regarding the role of our website in the era of social media. The old proprietary website model may be limited with Face-book, Yahoo groups, and Youtube providing open sourced information and expertise on vintage motorcycles to everyone, anytime, and anywhere. Making our website smartphone and tablet compatible is our next focus.

Membership continues to grow with the greatest increases coming through recruiting at events. The BOD has set a goal of 4000 members in 2014, and we have the event opportu-nities to make it happen.

Remember that our club niche continues to expand as bikes from the 1980s and 1990s rekindle great memories in their owners. Recently, outside a Best Buy store, a young man approached me after seeing my CB400F. He talked passionately about his 1987 Honda CBR600F, which he was going to ride forever. I gave him my card and invited him to join and bring his bike to our events. Take time to chat with this club’s future members using the universal language of motorcycles.

We also unveiled some new regalia items. The basic white T-shirts now sport a Honda CB750, Yamaha XS650, and Kawasaki H1 on the back. After selling out of club decals at Mid-Ohio, we are restocked with 4″, 8″, and, by special request, 12″ sizes. Decorate those vans, trailers, and toolboxes with club colors.

Since we are in the sweet spot of a riding summer, I hope everyone takes the opportunity to attend one of our events. Plan to ride to the West Coast Rally, attend the Tenth Barber Vintage Festival, ride to the Meet at the LeMay Museum, checkout and participate in AIM-Expo or any other VJMC family of events.

Ride safe and often this summer!

Tom KolenkoVJMC President

Iturning to past stomping grounds or sharing a cool beverage long after dark. It’s great to feel welcome and better yet to welcome others to the fun. These events are our VJMC family reunions. It’s a chance to ride, tell stories, share meals, and create memories.

perfect setting. We celebrated achievements with the Kansas City chapter becoming the 2014 Chapter of the Year, new Florida Field

Rep Norton Muzzone inducted by veteran Norm Smith, our largest rally bike show run by

Just Like Family

6 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014


EVENTS

Motorcycle Show

the



We all have that “something” that makes our heart race; you feel giddy and cannot get enough. For me it is motorcycles—more precisely, it’s vintage mo-

torcycles. Since moving from Seattle, I have been searching for that special event or gathering that is the vintage motorcycle culture. Think Ace Café or Mods versus Rockers and you’ll know what I had been seeking. Well, I found it. The weekend of April 11th through the 13th marked the return of Moto GP to the Circuit of Amer-icas in Austin, Texas. It was also the place to see the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. While I was excited about Moto GP, I was really intrigued by the Handbuilt Show.

The setting for the show was in an up and coming neighborhood in Austin, where new hip restaurants and the planned light rail converge. Driving up to the location, my excitement increased as vintage motorcycles lined the street in front of the event center. I was immediately drawn to the Japanese bikes, spotting Yamahas, Hondas, Suzukis, and Kawasakis. The street was a show in itself, with classic daily commut-ers, barn finds left as original but running, and modern machinery all mixed in. The show setting was perfect—the building looked like an old quonset hut times three from the outside, with large open air windows, and featuring an inviting out-door area. A DJ spun vintage rockabilly to really set the mood. Vintage leather jack-ets were hung over hand-crafted two wheel rolling iron. Motorcycles fanned out from every support beam in the building, creating an ever interesting vision as your eyes scanned the room. The Vintage Motorbike Oil & Ink print exposition lined the east wall, and Moto TinType was on hand to create wet plate photographs. Many other artisans displayed their motorcycle art throughout the show as well.

Yamaha XS650s were well represented. Hondas came in many varieties, from classic racers to ,70s CBs. A very unique 2003 Kawasaki W650 from Revival drew attention to its unusual tank and classic look. You could lose yourself in its soothing blue and white lacquered paint and voluptuous shape. I became enamored with the eclectic seats fabricated from wood, suede coverings, woven leather, hand formed from aluminum and re-imagined. A new Bonneville was transformed to its clas-sic origins with a leather covered tank and hand-stitched logo. At first glance, you thought it was a resurrected classic, instead of a new model.

Ideas for my own motorcycle collection started forming as I took in all the artistic imaginations of the show participants. I wanted to hear the hand-crafted pipes on the Hondas and Yamahas, and try out the custom seats and various handle bars. It was difficult to take it all in, so I wildly snapped photos of everything that caught my eye.

by Angela Studley

TOP:Vintage bikes were also outside the venue

CENTER:Handcrafted tail section on a Honda café racer

BOTTOM:“Minimal” seating atop this custom bike

LEFT:Café racer beneath the show’s title banner


Famous and unknown builders were equally represented throughout, cov-ering both US coasts. Deus brought gorgeous pieces of rolling art, as did Rolland Sands. My favorite was a 1976 Honda CB750 fabricated from brushed aluminum, riveted and featuring a leather tank strap—raw and very in-dustrial. Surprises were a 1940 Indi-an, 1938 Vincent Rapide TTR named “Satan,” and a 1933 Brough Superior 1150. The Vincent was masterfully re-stored, and you just wanted to hear her purr. It is one of three in existence and took seven years to restore. The build-er, when asked what was the hardest thing, replied, “every single thing.” The Brough Superior was in original con-dition with beautiful patina. Did you know you can buy a new one? Google it—you will drool!

No show is complete without fabu-lous food, libations, an art show, and the Wall of Death—a motorcycle thrill show in the motordrome. The Hand-built Show was free and ran Friday and Saturday. I talked to builders, artists, AMA mechanics and racers, and met many new people. I must say, it was the best free event I have ever attended, and I cannot wait for next year! l


PROJECT BIKE


From Scrapto the Street



I am fortunate to live five houses from JR Luksik (“6th One,” VJMM, Decem-ber 2011). JR completed his custom CBX project last year, and I was able to give

him some minor machining support. In the process we became friends. JR repairs custom bikes and cars, restores several types of bikes, but specializes in CBX and CB1100F models, and buys and parts-out “garages,” so I’m always looking for proj-ects to keep me busy.

In early September, 2011, JR bought a wrecked CB 1100F, which was in such bad shape that he decided to part it out. Before he got very far, he called me and asked me to take a look at it. It had been dropped several times. The handlebars were bent, all the turn signals were hanging from their wires, the seat was ripped, and every piece of bodywork was cracked, broken, scuffed, dented, or missing. The wheels were so corroded that they would not hold air, the gas tank was half full of thirty year old fuel that had turned to tar and rust flakes two inches deep. We had to take the pan off to remove the engine oil, which had turned into grease. All of the alu-minum parts (cam cover, foot peg brackets, etc.) were so oxidized that they were white in color. Other than that, it was a great bike. “Why would I want it?” was my first question. JR answered, “Look at the miles.” It had less than 8,000 miles on the clock. The battery was the original equipment unit, indicating it hadn’t been used for more than six or so years, at the very most, before being taken out of service. The power train should be in pretty good shape, and the steering head to swing arm pivot was square when measured. I bought the bike on September 15, 2011. Luckily, I’m retired and have a lot of time on my hands…right?

by Ken Sperry



TIMELINE: 2011September 15:All the body parts were stripped from the bike. A list was made of broken/missing parts to start shopping.

September 17:Visited JR’s parts friend, Dave Parker, and bought repairable side panels, bat-tery, and gauge cluster.

September 20:The title was transferred into my name.

October 1:The engine was removed from the frame. All other parts were removed from the frame and sent to QC Coat-ings, in Shelby township, Michigan, for powder coating.

The colors used for the project were:

Gloss black: frame, all brackets, battery box, side and center stand, lift brackets, etc.

Silver ceramic: cam cover, alternator cover, ignition cover, foot peg mounts, muffler

Ceramic flat black: 4 to 1 exhaust header

Semi flat black: clutch cover, other engine outside parts, handle bars

Gloss silver: swing arm and brackets, brake rotor centers

October 15:I began engine tear down. I removed the cylinder head and was surprised to see no ring rust on the bores! Removing the cylinder was a problem. I removed all but four of the front studs (they wouldn’t budge, even with heat), but the cylinder remained firmly attached to the case.

I used a sharp Buck knife to carefully wedge the cylinder from the case at the base gasket line. The pistons were OK, but the rings were frozen into the ring

lands. A good dose of carburetor clean-er and mild heat freed them up. They measured within service specifications in the bore and were reinstalled.

I sent the carburetors to JR for re-building and found a repairable set of wheels on the 750-1100F web site. All of the discs were sent out for resurfacing. I then ordered master and caliper seal kits, new brake pads, and new brake lines through JR.

November 1:The engine parts were returned from powder coating. The head was disassem-bled. The ports and combustion cham-ber were de-carbonized, and the valves lapped. The production valve stem seals were replaced with Viton seals. The pistons were then reinstalled, with the cylinder, cylinder head, cams, etc. The valve lash was then set to .004″- .005″.All remaining covers required new seals and/or gaskets.

November 15: I received the used wheels and started polishing and painting them. The hard-est part of this job was taping off the areas that weren’t painted—eight hours of taping for ten minutes of painting. The fork tubes were removed and were polished to remove rust from the slid-ers, and new seals were installed in an attempt to salvage them. They were later replaced by new tubes purchased from Forks by Frank because the old surfac-es were too rough for the fork oil seals to do their job. I then rebuilt the gauge cluster using the original speedometer,

and a new (used) tachometer, cluster body, and cover.

November 20:The wheel repairs were completed and new tires ordered. We then shut down to clean house and get ready for Thanks-giving.

November 27:We received the frame, brackets, and swing arm from powder coating. The new tires were then mounted and bal-anced. The resurfaced discs and rebuilt brake components were next to be in-stalled, along with new brake pads. The frame was then assembled into a rolling chassis, making it much easier to move around the shop.

December 1:My son helped me install the rebuilt engine and the rebuilt carburetors. We used a crudely modified motorcycle floor jack to guide the engine into place. It worked so well that I made a proper mount for future engine removals and installations. I traded the labor of re-pairing two 1100F heads for a repairable fairing, tank, side covers, and seat/tail.

Luckily, I’m retired and have a lot of time on my hands, right?


couldn’t find a production exhaust sys-tem in reasonable shape for a reasonable price. Something about supply and de-mand comes to mind.) Several jet and needle changes were required to get the engine to run cleanly through the speed range, but when it did, it was exciting, surprising me with a one to third gear wheelie on my first hard acceleration. Also, I’ve never ridden a large four-cyl-inder bike that was so devoid of vibra-tion. It is a pleasure to ride.

March 23-25 Bike Show:We entered JR’s CBX and my CB1100F in the Gibraltar Motorcycle Show in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. JR won Best Cus-tom Asian Bike, and I won Best Restored Asian Bike (not everyone got a trophy). The paint work really set the 1100F apart from the competition, as people are used to seeing clean 1100Fs with nice thirty year old paint. This bike’s paint job looks like brand new 1983 paint, flawless finish and no fading. A lot of riders commented that this is the bike they wanted “back in the day.”

Cost:(Without counting JR’s and my man-hours) I have receipts for a little over $2,800 in parts and outside work. I worked off some of the parts, but the guys on the 750-1100F web site list spare parts on a regular basis. The key is to be patient and get a good shop manu-al. Deals come along, some bad, some good. Wait for the good. These bikes are being parted out more than I thought they were. I’m glad I had the opportuni-

The donor bike

The finished result

A lot of riders commented that this is the bike they wanted“back in the day.”

ty to bring this one back to life, and it’s a joy to share it with people who appreci-ate the model.

I have to thank JR for the guidance, advice, assistance, and the beautiful paint job (I didn’t always follow his ad-vice, and in every case he was proved to be correct, causing me to “do it right the second time.”) and for helping me pull together the bike and this article. I also have to thank the guys on the CB750-1100F web site for helping me find the wheels and for their advice, QC Coat-ings who did all the powder coat work, and Randdak’s cycle shack for making high quality carburetor kits and grips. l

December 15:We shut down to clean up and decorate for Christmas.

December 26-30:We repainted the body work. I met with JR to strip and repair the tank and all the body work (every piece needed re-pair). JR then primed, shot a white pearl base coat, installed a stripe kit, taped off from the stripes leaving the red panel areas exposed (20 man-hours of taping between us), and shot the candy red panels. The result was beautiful, even before any rubbing.

2012January 3:The bike is complete. Total time for me, about three man-months.

Riding Impressions:The carburetors were set up for pod-type air cleaners and a four-into-one pipe. I replaced the pods with the OEM air cleaner box and filter and went again with a four-into-one pipe. (I just


BACK IN THE DAY

This is a picture of me, Pep Bar-rameda, at Kelly Hill, Fort

Benning, Georgia, on April 1988. I was a US soldier stationed there, taking my newly purchased 1988 Kawasaki Ninja 600r out for a ride. Note the required reflective vest for riding on post.

Still on Fort Benning, sometime in 1988-89, this time the Kawa-saki has a Targa full fairing bra. I am wearing a matching Members Only leather jacket. I still have the Kawasaki and full fairing bra! l

Members Onlyby Pep Barrameda


EVENTS

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the greatest vintage motorcycle event in the world, we need your help. Our goal is to gather more than 150 high quality

original members’ bikes for all to admire. The VJMC has been part of this event since its inception ten years ago. In 2014, we will have a new location due to our space needs. We have been given a new larger location in Lot A to better accommo-date our needs and those of 70,000 visitors at this growing event.

What brings the world to Leeds, Alabama, in October?—800+ entries in AHRMA racing, huge 500+ vendor swap meet, evening fireworks, tech seminars, rides, thrill shows, Ace Corner featuring café racers, auctions, and access to the world’s largest motorcycle museum just yards away. This is a family friendly fun event where spouses and children feel welcome, too.

The VJMC needs your best stock, original, or restored vintage Japanese motor-cycles for its premier Saturday bike show. Good, clean, original early machines from Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and even Bridgestone, Tohatsu, Fuji, and Marusho are sought. High quality street bikes, motoX, and road racers are invit-ed. High quality and variety are the Barber Festival traditions…with over forty awards given at the Saturday bike show. To maximize member participation, we will be limiting single member entries to three bikes this year. So get out the polish and set the GPS for Leeds, Alabama.

The generous Barber folks provide two free weekend passes (a $90 value) to each of the pre-registered VJMC members who bring show display bikes. Saturday show bikes need to be pre-registered through Tom Kolenko ([email protected], 770-427-4820) by September 15, 2014, to qualify for the free admission package. Send your complete contact info, mailing address, phone number, bikes you want entered, bike photos, membership number, etc. to get pre-registered. You must send an email photo of the bikes you will enter unless you have displayed these ap-proved bikes in years past; all new entries must have photos. Box stock and factory original bikes are the target for members to qualify for the free weekend pass offer.

High quality “drive-in” bike show entries are not eligible for the free ticket deal, but are very welcome all weekend at the VJMC booth. Make your hotel reserva-tions and camp ground reservations early, since most places sell out for this in-ternational event. VJMC on-site camping is very limited and reserved for those VJMC members who have worked the event since 2005. Detailed event and lodg-ing information can be found at www.barbermuseum.org.

There’s lots for VJMC members to do, even if you don’t bring a display bike for the show. Friday’s activities include a huge “show & shine” area, a Sounds of Japanese Horsepower contest, technical seminars, and member meet & greet opportunities.

Based on the success of last year’s VJMC Tiny Town Bike Show on Friday morn-ing, the best in minis returns. Over twenty minis competed last year, and we ex-pect double that number in 2014. The event is designed to showcase those fun machines from our Wonder Bread years: Z50s, CT70s, QA50s, MR50s, TY80s, KV75s, JR50s, MT50s, PW50s, TM75s, and other kid-focused vehicles sold prior to 1985. We are looking for quality, completely stock examples, while high quality,

10 Years of Fun:Barber Vintage Festival Invitation October 10-12, 2014

by Tom Kolenko

Make your hotel reservations and campground reservations early since most places sell out for this international event.


customized minis will also compete in their own class. Please contact me for more details, eligible models, and preregistra-tion info. It’s people’s choice judging as always with everyone invited to participate.

Saturday is filled with morning registration, our afternoon people’s choice bike show, and ends with a members’ barbecue picnic. Expect over 150 premier examples of vintage Japanese iron on display. Sunday caps the event off with our members’ parade laps around the famous Barber race track at noon.

Many volunteers are needed to help setup, score the bike show, work the membership booth, sell regalia, and create these fun times. Please contact me if you wish to help. See you all there! l

bers, send in determines the type and number of articles available for each is-sue. The balance will never be perfect. Some issues will be published just after numerous VJMC events and those may predominate, as they must go in as soon as possible after each event before they become “old news,” but, for the most part, the balance you see is the balance you’ve sent in.

So, this is my call for you to send in ar-ticles on those subjects and motorcycles near and dear to you. You don’t have to be the next great American author to contribute. If you’ve solved a problem you’ve encountered on your bike, you are an author candidate. If you’ve vis-ited an interesting motorcycle museum or collection, you are a candidate. If you’ve volunteered or even just attend-ed an event, either VJMC sponsored or simply one that may be of interest to


Back in 2012, club leadership asked members to take a survey. This sur-

vey was intended to help improve the magazine by allowing us to match its content more closely to members’ pref-erences. I was not editor then, but since I’ve taken the reins those survey results have driven my selections as each issue has been put together. About tied for first place were the categories of how-tos and historical articles on Japanese mo-torcycles; these two combined to repre-sent almost half of the most requested content. Following these two categories and in order were articles on collections, events, rides, and “other.” A quarter of the members also wanted to see more photos and for more captions with them.

Now, this is where you come in. Yes, you are the staff of your magazine. There is no permanent staff writing articles for each issue and what you, the mem-

by Michael Fitterling / [email protected]

our group, you are a candidate. Have you taken a long or interesting ride on a vintage motorcycle? If so, then you are an author candidate.

I’ve continued to receive suggestions for the magazine and one that pops up from time to time is the desire for arti-cles on marques other than Honda. Hon-da, of course, was by far the sales leader in the hey days of Japanese motorcycle dominance in the American market, so it is natural that more articles will come in about this brand, but I invite those of you with experience with the other three brands of the “big four” or other Japa-nese bikes to submit articles so we can all learn from your experience.

With help from you—the magazine staff—we can continue to produce a magazine that informs, entertains, and instructs and a magazine we can take pride in having created together. l

The Magazine StaffFROM THE EDITOR



MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION

Building a


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A good home is not just for pets— bikes need shelter too!

I’ve been riding on two wheels for fifty-one years—buying, selling, re-pairing, and modifying them since I was sixteen. I’ve owned thirty-seven different bikes in that time period. I got serious about buying classic bikes about four years ago, restoring a 1987 BMW 75S in a 5′x10′ storage unit. You don’t need a picture to imagine that scene and all its challenges. I de-cided last month to get serious about feeding my passion and renovated a 15′x25′ storage unit. Now that I’ve finished, I thought I’d share the con-struction process for those of you that do your own wrenching and need a place to do it.

I’m currently restoring a 1966 Hon-da CL160, a bike I had when I was still in high school, and a 1968 Honda S90, the true classic that started my love of two-wheeled adventure, but which I never bought until now.

Here are the photos of the process of renovation. Believe it or not, cost was around $1,000 for materials. La-bor?—well, it was a labor of love, and you can’t put a price on that. If I did, I couldn’t afford it.

I’m a bit afraid to turn a wrench for fear of messing up that purdy shiny floor. In addition to my two classic restoration project bikes, I have my daily rider Suzuki SV650 (Who has time to ride when you can play in this play pen.) and an 1982 Honda Night-hawk 650 being readied for the road.

Now that it’s done, it’s time to enjoy my man cave complete with A/C, hot spot internet connection, and a small refrigerator to house my favorite cold beverages. I hope my project will bring inspiration to those of us that work on their favorite rides, and with a clean tidy shop the work quality not only improves, but the word work takes on a new meaning: FUN! l

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by Jim (More Wrenchin’ than Ridin’) Alaimo /[email protected]

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1. In the beginning, quite dismal2. Building the mezzanine: A place to store all those things you don’t need, but can’t live without3. Epoxying the floor for those nasty spills4. Building the workbenches and installing cabinets5. Setting up tools and parts bins6. Nearing completion; computer station on left7. Rolling in the bikes. What’s a bike shop without bikes?8. Here’s one with my CL160 Can you spot it?9. Got the lift in place

OPENING IMAGE:Decorating with pictures and banners—finito!


“If Eileen Cooper or some other good looking girl around Simsbury ever saw us on this huge bike,” my high school buddy, Wes, predicted, “we’d get

laughed out of the sophomore class!” At the time of this declaration, the two of us were gazing at a 1948 Indian Chief stowed in the back hinterlands of a shed behind my family’s garage. A few days earlier, during that September of 1969, the brush-painted, yellow monstrosity was unceremoniously wheeled into shelter after its owner, a thirty-something fellow who attended the suburban Hartford, Connecticut, church my father pastored, found himself in our vicinity and with the Indian sputtering on one cylinder. Glad for an OK to leave it there until he could either cure the 74-cubic inch V-twin’s ills himself or secure a truck suit-able for hauling the bike to some repair shop, the fellow quickly phoned for a ride home. I never saw him again. All subsequent communication about the old Chief ’s fate was conveyed through my dad. The Indian’s owner called the church office several times; once with an unpromising update some two weeks after the old cycle had conked out; again around Halloween to announce that he’d moved out of state; and finally, shortly before Thanksgiving, to offer me the bulbous, fringy saddlebag-laden bike for what he had into it—four hundred bucks.

In retrospect, this last prospectus was more than the seller’s desperate shot in the dark. He knew that I was a fledgling motorcyclist looking to upgrade my inaugural Honda S65 with something more suitable for the road work I’d soon require of it after securing my license. More than a couple of times after church, we’d chatted about cycles. During one such session, I walked him next door to see the little black Honda. The enthusiast reciprocated by describing a classic In-dian—albeit a basket case project with lots of extra parts—that he was seriously considering. One Sunday, the guy proudly announced he’d purchased the vintage Chief. I routinely followed his reassembly progress—an ecumenically mechanical topic far more interesting to me than was typical small talk with elderly ladies in the congregation, who always seemed amazed that I was either taller or thinner than they’d remembered me being the month before.

The fellow got the Indian back together and repainted in time for summer, but admitted in another of our post-Presbyterian pow-wows that there were still “a few bugs” in its V-twin to work out. Apparently, one of the most rattly of these insects was responsible for bringing the Indian to my house.

My pal, Wes, and I inspected the laid-up Chief regularly. Though we were far too sophisticated to accompany this activity with improvised engine sounds, both of us took turns astride the monstrosity’s saddle while imagining the complex ne-gotiation of simultaneously operating the foot clutch, handlebars, throttle, spark, and “suicide” stick shift. “The owner wants $400 for it,” I’d say, with Wes sug-gesting that the guy would probably take $350 or maybe a bit less. But something about the Truman-era cycle just didn’t seem normal. We’d never noticed such a machine on any contemporary cover of Cycle World, nor did the bike make our

HISTORY

1969 Suzuki T-125 catalog sheet and

circa 1948 Indian “74” repair manual:

Decisions, decisions!

vs.INDIAN SUZUKI

by Peter Hunn / [email protected]

Whichever Bike You Remember Most FondlyWinnerThe

is...

If Eileen Cooper or some other good looking girl around Simsbury ever saw us on this huge bike,” my high school buddy, Wes, predicted, “we’d get

laughed out of the sophomore class!” At the time of this declaration, the two of us were gazing at a 1948 Indian Chief stowed in the back hinterlands of a shed behind my family’s garage. A few days earlier, during that September of 1969, the brush-painted, yellow monstrosity was unceremoniously wheeled into shelter after its owner, a thirty-something fellow who attended the suburban Hartford, Connecticut, church my father pastored, found himself in our vicinity and with the Indian sputtering on one cylinder. Glad for an OK to leave it there until he

able for hauling the bike to some repair shop, the fellow quickly phoned for a ride home. I never saw him again. All subsequent communication about the old Chief ’s fate was conveyed through my dad. The Indian’s owner called the church office several times; once with an unpromising update some two weeks after the


pretentious thesaurus of words defining late 1960s teen-age-cool. As a matter of retrospective realization—while within earshot of its proud plastic Indian head running light and decorative fender skirts—we no doubt broke the ailing Chief ’s heart by, instead, musing longingly about the lean, trim, Suzuki lineup both of us had recently seen in Cycle magazine. The double spread ad quickly ignited ver-bal fantasies about which model and candy apple color op-tion we’d choose…if ever given the chance. By early March of 1970, Wes and I borrowed his mother’s Pontiac Wide-track station wagon and made an anticipated Saturday pil-grimage to a Hartford area Suzuki showroom. There, a sav-vy salesman showed me a sparkling red T-125 Stinger that looked just right. “As a ,69 leftover,” the agent explained, “it’s a great value on a new bike for a kid like you who needs transportation to school and a part time job. Just $449 and we’ll throw in a full tank of gas and a quart of quality Suzu-ki Posi-Force oil.” In the light of those day’s fuel prices and the Stinger’s 1.9 gallon gas tank, that represented little more than two bucks of valuable freebies. But I was irreversibly smitten with the T-125’s svelte frame, so vowed to seriously discuss the opportunity with my folks.

“Better let me know by Monday afternoon at the latest,” the salesman pointed out, “because these great deals are first come, first served; then you’re out of luck, son.” That admonition got accented with the warning that he already had some other potential customers, including a guy “just back from ,Nam who had plenty of Uncle Sam’s cash burn-ing a hole in his easy rider pockets,” who were “very inter-ested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Neither Wes nor I could quite picture some ex-Green Beret chopping the T-125 and then taking it on some coast-to-coast, “gettin’ my head back together” road trip. Even so, I sure didn’t want to risk having that Suzuki drummer prove me foolish.

With the papers signed and the Stinger wedged between the seats in our ,69 Volkswagen Bus, the next weekend my father and I transported the new bike home. Dad said he was glad I’d chosen the smaller of the two motorcycles and transitioned into a parental lecture about safety and re-sponsibility. As we pulled into the driveway, he mentioned a newly retired gentleman from our church who had wanted


to know if I was going to buy the Indi-an. “Give him a call tonight,” my father requested, “He’s next in line after your right of first refusal.”

When I phoned, the man heartily con-gratulated me on my “little Jap bike,” then said my choice had made “both of us” incredibly pleased. “You see,” he ex-plained, “I was thinking of getting one of those new Honda 750 four-cylinder bikes, but an Indian Chief, now that’s a real motorcycle! Back in high school,” he fondly mused, “my buddies and I dreamed about going up to Springfield and buying a brand new ,48 right off of the Indian factory floor. Yup, you and your new cute little bike have made me very, very happy indeed!”

Not long ago, my wife and I had a neighborhood couple over for dinner. During the get together, I showed the husband my small stable of vintage cy-cles. This sparked some reminiscing about bikes in our past. As soon as he gave me the chance to interject, I re-counted the Indian tale; how I’d passed

it up, and that a year later I’d rather impetuously sold the T-125 after some future drop-outs relentlessly teased me with the name “Popcorn Rider” because of the Suzuki’s 2-stroke tune. “Get a man’s bike!” they’d taunt every time I’d pass them in the school hallways. I actualized this directive by using the Suzuki’s proceeds for an abused, but incredibly loud, Honda CL77 that, with baffles removed, apparently sounded more dangerous than did the 125cc Stinger. But my antagonists weren’t around to hear the difference. By the time I managed to navigate that 305 cubic centimeter Honda’s dubious bill of sale into a valid Connecticut regis-tration and license plate, the ring lead-er of the bike bullies had quit school, leaving his old gang to the draconian devices of our vice-principal.

On the way upstairs from the walk-in basement, my neighbor visitor estimat-ed that, today, a decent ,48 Indian Chief would probably fetch thirty-grand. Then he wondered if I had any regrets…

“Yes,” I admitted pensively. “I should never have sold the Suzuki. And, I sure wish I had worked up the nerve to ask Eileen Cooper to go for a Sunday after-noon ride on it.” l


CLOCKWISEFROM LEFT:Beautifully restored KZs at the show

A Honda with racing in mind

The sweeping pipes of a 400F

A row of Hondas beside the lake


EVENTS

On May 17th, the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, was host to the

Fifteeth Annual Riding Into History Con-cours d’Elegance. Although this year’s event featured American Iron motorcycles, vintage Japanese motorcycles were still the dominat-ing group of participants.

Nearly 5,000 spectators were on hand to view nearly four hundred motorcycles that ringed the lake at the World Golf Village. The majority of the display was the 140 entries of Japanese motorcycles, and it stretched almost halfway around the lake.

It was exciting to meet Dave Despain, this year’s Riding Into History Grand Marshal. Dave is the most well-known television per-sonality in the motorcycling world. He is considered the voice of motorcycle racing. Dave has done almost everything in motor-cycling, from being AMA Public Relations Director, racer, motorcycle shop worker, journalist, promoter, AMA Pro Racing board member, and founder of the Dirt Track Hall of Fame. Dave was very funny, and anyone who wanted to meet and speak with him had

VJMC WINNERS

JAPAnese CLAssIC, 1969-1980 1ST PLACE GORDON KING 1977 YAMAHA RD400AwARd oF MeRiT NoRToN MuzzoNe 1970 YAMAhA XS-1AWARD OF MERIT MIKE ENNIS 1973 YAMAHA RT3AWARD OF MERIT OBIS BREA 1976 HONDA ELSINORE MT250AWARD OF MERIT STEVE TYRE 1971 HONDA CB500AWARD OF MERIT RANDY MCALPIN 1972 YAMAHA ENDURO 360AWARD OF MERIT MARK SAWICKI 1971 HONDA CB100AWARD OF MERIT JIM ATCHINSON 1976 HONDA CB550FAWARD OF MERIT MIKE ENNIS 1972 KAWASAKI H2AWARD OF MERIT STEVE GAUDING 1978 KAWASAKI KZ1000 POLICE

AWARD OF MERIT MILES ALBERTSON 1972 HONDA CT70

JAPAnese VInTAge, 1946-1968 1ST PLACE PAUL ENZ 1966 HONDA CA160AWARD OF MERIT CHET L. GLISSON 1966 SUZUKI T20 X-6 huSTleRAWARD OF MERIT BILL DRIEBE 1963 HONDA CB77AwARd oF MeRiT RodNeY TRedo 1966 hoNdA S-90AWARD OF MERIT BILL ALDRICH 1963 HONDA CA77

JAPANESE MODERN, 1981+ 1ST PLACE JORGE RUIZ 1984 KAWASAKI GPZ750

COMPETITION VINTAGE AWARD OF MERIT BOB REAM 1965 HONDA CB160AWARD OF MERIT STEVEN METZ 1962 JAWA/BULTACO CUSTOM RACECOMPETITION CLASSIC 1ST PLACE GORDON KING 1970 HONDA CR750AWARD OF MERIT DAN SALVADOR 1980 HONDA CX500AWARD OF MERIT JIM HALES 1975 BOMBARDIER CAN-AM 175 TNT

COMPETITION MODERN 1985+ 1ST PLACE BOB REAM 2004 HONDA DREAM 50R

COMPETITION OFF ROAD 1ST PLACE GENO PLOECKELMANN 1971 KAWASAKI G31M (BABY GReeT ST)

VJMC WINNERS

by Peter Slatco� Vice President Events Coordinator / [email protected]

Into


that opportunity. He even made the time and effort to visit us at our VJMC booth during the bike show. We had a one-on-one opportunity to discuss the VJMC and its impact in the communi-ty of vintage Japanese motorcycling.

Of the twenty-four award recipients in the various classes of Japanese mo-torcycles, seventeen were received by VJMC members. Please join me in con-gratulating all the award winners. (See the previous page for their individual awards and motorcycle entries.)

A big thank you and event credit goes to: Obis and Sharon Brie, Norton and Laura Muzzone, Steve Gauding and Julie Slatcoff. l

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

There were many other marques in the

show, including this vintage faired BMW

A rare rotary powered Suzuki RE5

A pair of splendidly restored Yamaha

XS650s


PROJECT BIKE

I bought my ,62 Honda CB77 “Super Sport” (the “Super Hawk” designation

came later) in the late summer of 1963 with about 3,500 miles on it. I was nine-teen years old at the time. By mid-Sep-tember the odometer was up to over 5,000 miles. It was a big step up from the Allstate Moped I’d been riding to commute to classes at the University of Texas.

After nearly 20,000 miles, a couple of pretty good wrecks from letting friends drive it, and being stolen in late 1966 and recovered and put back together in the same year after somebody’s mama in San Antonio couldn’t get a satisfac-tory answer as to who owned “that rat-ted-out motorcycle in her garage,” the bike developed a transmission problem and was consigned to the shed some-time in 1975. At that point, it was just a twelve year old, ragged-out motorbike—not worth fixing.

I did take the battery out of it, thank goodness, but that was about it. I wish I’d taken the time to empty the gas tank and squirt some oil down the cylinders, but, apparently, I didn’t—“Rode hard and put up wet,” as the saying goes.

I went through a couple more mo-torbikes in the next few years—a 1976 CB360 I bought new (Honda’s worst bike ever?) and a 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldo-rado I bought from a friend of a friend. The Guzzi was a “death bike” that the deceased previous owner’s friends had repaired to sell and give the money to his mother. It was a great road bike but a little clunky for around town, so I sold it.

Neither of these bikes measured up to the Super Hawk for sheer riding fun, so the idea of bringing it back to life was always appealing. Thirty-four years lat-er, in July of 2008, an old friend came by to visit, and the subject of the old 305 came up. Tim used to ride it sometimes. He’s just about my only friend from back then who didn’t wreck it at some point.

“When you gonna get off yer ass and do something about that bike? You’re not getting any younger, ya know.”

by James Webb / [email protected] photos by Scott Strance / [email protected]

When indeed?A few weeks later he came back, we

recruited another helper, and wrestled the bike out of the shed and up onto the back porch to check it out. After power washing off the worst of the accumulat-ed grime, it didn’t look too bad, at least to my nostalgic eyes.

I’d actually been researching the proj-ect for a while and had been in contact the year before with legendary 305 me-chanic Ed Moore of Kerrville, Texas. He’d agreed to rebuild the engine and transmission for me, advise me on other aspects of the restoration, and, hopeful-ly, provide me with some missing bits and pieces. I called him, and he said he could get to me sometime in late fall.

To make a long story a little longer, Ed rebuilt the engine, valves, clutch, trans-mission, and carburetors, and provided lots of other parts that had gone miss-ing or unserviceable over the years. He even let me use his sandblasting equip-ment to prepare the rusty metalwork for painting, which was deeply appreciat-ed. The project would have been pretty much impossible without Ed.

I got my end of the job done (paint-ing, etc.) and assembled the pieces in the spring on the back porch. I took my first ride on my “new” 305 on April 13, 2009. My goal was to build a decent looking “rider” on a budget, so some of the parts that should be chrome are painted flat silver, and dents in the muf-flers and tank panels bear witness to its former rough-and-tumble existence, but I like the look. I’ve put a little less than 3,000 miles on the bike since its “resurrection.”

I still live just outside Austin, so in July of 2011, as an exercise in nostalgia or whatever, I recruited a photographer friend, and we showed up in the drive-way of my granny’s old house to try and recreate that 1963 photo. The lady who now lives in the house came out to see what was going on and invited us in to tour the house I’d lived in fifty years earlier—more nostalgia. l

TOP:My grandmother took this photo in August, 1963, in her driveway on the 1400th block of West 12th Street in Austin, Texas

CENTER:Just a twelve year old, ragged-out motorbike—not worth fixing

BOTTOM:The 1963 photo recreated in 2011

Me and MyCB

I had been looking forward to the Na-tional Rally being held this year in

southern Indiana at Spring Mill State Park, near Mitchell, Indiana. This loca-tion had special appeal to me because, not only had I heard fantastic things about the last National Rally held there in 2012, but also because in my youth I had spent time camping with my fam-ily there during summer breaks from school.

This park was set to explode with ac-tivity on June 26 and continue until June 28, before members would pack up and head out on the following day with a wealth of warm and often funny mem-ories from their stay.

The event team of Peter and Julie Slat-coff, Tom Slatcoff, Norton Muzzone, and Lee Roy Mitzel had arrived well ahead of me and things were already set up and ready for the coming weekend by the time I got there. I spent the rest of the day having dinner with the team and checking out the fantastic facilities the inn offered. The lobby, downstairs rec-reation area, and patio offered nice spots to lounge and talk while the restaurant was only steps away. At the front door of the inn, the circular driveway become our bike parking lot and show space, and the hopping off point for the many rides throughout the weekend. All sev-enty-three rooms in the inn for the weekend were occupied by club mem-bers, giving us free rein of the facilities for parking, bike shows, vendor space, and generally hanging out. Not only did

we fill the inn, but VJMC members oc-cupied the campground, too.

Thursday, the 26th, found us early ar-rivals at the inn’s breakfast buffet. Soon after, the bikes rolled in and filled up the driveway circle and the covered garage parking spots. Before I knew it, a ride was on and I scrambled to join in the fun. The circle filled with vintage bikes, rumbling as we lined up for the “long ride” of the day. Around twenty bikes rolled out of the park and into the ver-dant Indiana countryside. We roamed the area north of Mitchell and east of Bloomington, stopping for lunch at Hob Nob Corner restaurant in Nashville, in Brown County, renowned for its rolling hills, rural charm, and beautiful fall col-ors that draw thousands to the area in autumn. Six hours after we had left, we rolled to a stop back at the inn.

Throughout the rally, bikes gathered at the circle, lined up, and left on rides both north and south, east and west, long and short, on back roads through the cornfields and hills. There was something for everyone, including a ride to French Lick and West Baden, with lunch at the famous restored and opulent West Baden Springs Hotel, with its six story dome.

Spring Mill offered something for ev-eryone. The park made a nice place to not only participate in club events but was also a great spot to bring the fam-ily and enjoy hiking and exploring the park’s reconstructed “Pioneer Village,” which contains a collection of restored

by Michael Fitterling / [email protected] by Michael Fitterling and Rosemary Bentley



COVER STORY

20142014

at Spring Mill State Park

VJMC

pioneer log cabins and structures going back to 1816, along with the large grist-mill building which still grinds corn today. Hiking is popular and one trail leads back to the mouth of Donaldson’s Cave, one of three caves in the park. Hamer Cave, which feeds the gristmill water-wheel, is a short hike from Pi-oneer Village and Twin Caves offers visitors a chance to spelunk by boat on a guided tour. After hiking and explor-ing the Village there are two swimming pools available for cooling off, one at the campground and an indoor/outdoor one at the inn.

On the evening of the 26th, mem-bers enjoyed an Ice Breaker Dinner in the Lakeview Room in the hotel with a plentiful buffet of mouth-watering items, from a salad start to desert finish, and everything in between. Afterward, members relaxed and chatted into the night, eventually wandering off to our rooms or campsites.

For the Board of Directors, the next

morning meant business, and we gath-ered for the annual face-to-face meeting where policy was hammered out and plans made for growing and improving our club and its benefits to the members in the upcoming year. Outside the board room, rides continued unabated and members prepped their bikes for show-ing. After lunch, the Tiddler Parade around the state park’s grounds on bikes under 200cc preceded the Tiddler Bike Show. The winners were determined by “Ladies’ Choice” from this collection of more than a dozen fine examples from 50cc up.

Friday evening, once again, the mem-bers gathered for food and fellowship. Joe Galetti, of the Kansas City Chapter, gave a talk after dinner about how to promote the club, based on his years of experience promoting events and races at his drag strip. The talk was followed by an introduction of the Field Reps and a call for Field Rep volunteers by Board Member Jack Stein. Afterward, there


CENTER:Entrance to the Donaldson Cave

LEFT:Your VJMC Board of Directors

CENTER:Relaxing with fellowVJMC members onthe patio

LEFT:Best of Show winnerLee Mitzel (right)with PresidentTom Kolneko

The Pioneer Village Old millstones inside the mill buildingOne of the many rides departing the park

Yamahas and Kawasakis in the bike show

Hondas in the bike show

Members at the Williams covered bridge, built in 1884

Peter slatcoff addresses the members in the Lakeview Room

Bike show organizer greg Pitt

Kawasakis in the bike show


We all know Tom is an

avid Japanese motorcycle en-thusiast and cur-rent President of our Club.

Tom’s journey to being our Club President began when he joined the VJMC in early 1980s. First as a member; then moving up in the leadership ranks to Field Repre-sentative. Next Tom joined the Board of Directors and took on the vital position of Treasurer in 2004. Under Tom’s new leadership, the

club treasury became a balance sheet with true positive profits for each of his years as Club Trea-surer. We can all thank him for using his no non-sense approach to the club’s finances and bringing our club from near insolvency to where we are today, debt free and financially secure.

The growth of our club mem-bership over the past 10 years has been outstanding. In 2004 we had 1400 members, today our membership has just passed 3800 members. This is truly a remarkable growth of member-

ship considering other nation-al motorcycle clubs had been losing their members for the past several years when the VJMC is expanding our total member-ship. One of the main reasons for our club’s growth over the past four years is Tom’s leadership in supporting regional and local VJMC gatherings.

We all know how we became members of our club. We signed up to check it out…well for the past four years the club has grown from 3000 members to 3800; a very impressive 26% increase.

This growth would not have occurred without the outstanding leadership of our president, Tom Kolenko!

Tom’s shared vision coupled with his forward thinking are the baseline for the future of this club through the next millennium. His integrity, honesty, humility and respect for others is empowering.

On behalf of the Board of Direc-tors and all the club’s member-ship, it was a great honor and a privilege to present to Tom Kolen-ko the Vintage Japanese Motorcy-cle Club—Leadership Award.

VJMC Leadership Award Winner: Tom Kolenko

2014 VJMC NATIONAL RALLY BIKE SHOW WINNERS

BEST OF SHOW LEE MITZEL 1972 YAMAHA XS650

SUZUKI 1ST PLACE TERRY SELL 1971 T125R2ND PLACE LEE MITZEL 1968 305 HONDA 1970+ 1ST PLACE RAY LEZOTTE 1971 C1752ND PLACE RAY LEZOTTE 1975 CB750 HONDA PRE 1960 1ST PLACE BARRY SCHONBERGER 1965 CL722ND PLACE BARRY SCHONBERGER 1967 CA78 YAMAHA 1ST PLACE LEE MITZEL 1972 XS 6502ND PLACE NORTON MUZZONE 1970 XS 650 KAWASAKI 1ST PLACE JIM TURNER 1973 Z12ND PLACE JOHN PEDERSON 1974 Z1A COMPETITION 1ST PLACE SAM WRIGHT 1972 RD250 CAFÉ RACER 1ST PLACE R J RUSE 1971 HONDA CB7502ND PLACE JOHN SCHOONOVER 1975 HONDA 360 SPECIAL CUSTOM 1ST PLACE RON DISON 1972 HONDA CB750K22ND PLACE BILL FIRESTONE 1991 HONDA NIGHTHAWKMODERN CLASSIC 1ST PLACE BARRY SCHONBERGER 1990 HONDA GB5002ND PLACE RAY LEZOTTE 04 HONDA RUNE MINI SCOOTER 1ST PLACE DON CECCONI 1982 HONDA C702ND PLACE TIM PARSONS 1968 HONDA Z50M

HON. MENTION LEE MITZEL 1966 YAMAHA CATALINA 305DAVID ROTTGER 1974 HONDA CL450TODD OLMSTEAD 1976 HONDA GL1000LEE MITZEL 1968 BRIDGESTONE 350

TIDDLER BIKE SHOW WINNERS

1ST PLACE TERRY SELL SUZUKI T125 STINGER2Nd PlACe deNiSe SCholTeMN Suzuki k-11P 80CC

Wavid Japanese motorcycle enthusiast and current President of

was a Board of Directors sponsored informal gathering for drinks and conversation on the patio, where many members stayed until late.

After breakfast on Saturday, the 28th, the circle came alive again with yet more rides. I got in on a short one this time to a lunch stop near a covered bridge, where the group of riders stopped to explore and take a group photo. A brief shower cooled us down on this ride but didn’t last long, and we es-caped a drenching.

Back at the inn, the circle was a hive of activity. The rain did not spare the them there, and it was still sprinkling when we returned, but soon the sun reappeared and bike owners got busy wiping down their motorcycles and prepping them for the main bike show of the rally. The show was organized by Greg Pitt and bikes were smartly lined up by category in the large circle. Ballots were handed out and everyone started the voting process.

As evening approached, the members headed to the Lakev-iew Room and an outstanding dinner buffet. Old and new friends gathered over the good food and conversation. Din-ner over, the Bike Show awards were announced for both the Tiddler and the Main Bike Show. Several members were honored for their contributions to the club’s success, includ-ing Peter Slatcoff, for his tireless efforts to promote and pro-duce better and better events for the VJMC. Then the 2014 Best VJMC Chapter Award was given to Kansas City VJMC Chapter, one of the most active in the country. Finally, Pres-ident Tom Kolenko was awarded the first VJMC Leadership Award (see sidebar) which was followed by a standing ova-tion by all the attendees. Following dinner, members gath-ered for another evening on the patio for conversation and fellowship on this final night of the rally.

By all counts the rally was an overwhelming success and this was largely due to the hard work and dedication of the Event Team. Over 150 guests attended, making it the larg-est group yet for Spring Mill State Park, and there was over-whelming approval of using Spring Mill again as the venue for a future National Rally. l



The Kansas City chapter of the VJMC held their fourth annual Show and

Swap Meet on Saturday, May 10th. In the Midwest, weather in May can be a risky venture. Rain, strong winds, storms, or even snow can be a problem. Last year, we were within a week of having a little snow on the day of the event. Further-more, in our area “rain dates” are typi-cally not a workable option, so this year there was a little apprehension about the weather as the show got closer. A few days before the event, there was, again, questionable weather in the forecast. On the day of the event, the weather turned out to be absolutely perfect, staying in the high 70s and low 80s. About four hours after the conclusion of the show, we finally got the rain, high winds, and hail that the forecasters had been pro-jecting for over a week. One of my cars was even damaged by hail.

This year, we were at a new location: Donnell’s Suzuki/Honda generously of-fered their dealership location for this event. Donnell Shiflett, a racer of signifi-cance in the late 1950s and 1960s, opened his Suzuki dealership in 1965. Along with Suzuki, he added BSA, and then, later, Honda motorcycles. On a raised platform in their service area they have a collection of vintage bikes. Displayed is a really clean Honda GB500, a “new” 1972 BSA MX500, a very nice Honda CB350, a new and never serviced 1974 Suzuki RL250 factory competition bike, and an almost new 1971 Suzuki F50. Donnell’s has a history in the Kansas City area as

by Mark Bayer, Missouri/Kansas VJMC Representative /[email protected]

being one of the first and continuously operating Japanese motorcycle dealers. Bart, Donnell’s son, currently runs the business. They were great hosts.

A great deal of preparation went into this event because we were having a show which has been growing every year but was being held in a smaller space than what we had last year. Our great-est concern was having plenty of space for the swap meet vendors and people bringing vintage motorcycles to sell. We were also partnering with The Muscular Dystrophy Association and wanted to create an event which would generous-ly help them as a fundraiser. As a club, we were also wanting to see the event continue to grow as a significant local

EVENTS

The Kansas City VJMC

—Huge Success!—Huge Success!

Spring Show & Swap Meet

vintage event. All of the vintage motor-cycle clubs in our area know who we are, respect our activities, and many of their members attend our shows, as well. We saw many of them at this year’s event. A special thanks goes to Frank Sereno, our VP; Joe Galetti; and the many members of KCVJMC who helped before, during, and at the event itself. This size of event just can’t be done without many people helping in a number of important ca-pacities.

On show day, motorcycles started coming in a little later than what is typ-ical. By 9 am, we had at least 45 bikes


being shown. By 10 am, the number had grown to above 90. By 11 am, the number had grown to around 130. During the event, there were a few bikes leaving while new bikes came in. There were also many show worthy vintage Japanese mo-torcycles parked with the visitors’ bikes. We posted ribbons on approximately 170 motorcycles on show day. We had the regular cache of Honda CBs of nearly every size and at least four early Honda Dreams. A rare 1979 Suzuki GS1000R was shown, as was a beautiful rare factory blue 1967 Honda Su-per Hawk. Two Suzuki RE5s were shown, as well as quite a number of early ,70s era two-stroke dirt bikes. There were also quite a number of Yamaha Enduros. These included Ya-maha 125s, 250s, 360s, 400s, and a 500 thumper. Many other bikes were shown, such as several early Yamaha XS650 twins, two restored Honda Elsinores, a 125 and a 250, and a 24 year old Honda GT650, which looked as though it had never been ridden. There were also several early Honda GL1000 Gold Wings shown; a group of restored Honda mini bikes, monkey bikes, and several ST90s were also shown. A first year Honda SL350, first year Kawasaki Z1, a rare Bridgestone GTR 350, a rare Honda VF1000R, and a newly restored orange metal flake Honda CB750 also graced the show. The list could go on. Many nicely restored motorcycles were displayed along-side original un-restored bikes, all of which were great fun to look at. We also had around a dozen parts and bike vendors participating in the swap meet. Every lot was full!

With a healthy crowd, great weather, many people coming and going, and plenty of great bikes to look at, the show was a huge success. I had several people tell me personally that they were “wowed” by the show. The pictures tell the story. I spent most of the day greeting guests. I was able to introduce a number of new people to the VJMC, none of whom knew that such an organization existed. We had a local television celebrity speak, a city councilman speak, and the Indepen-dence Fire Department Color Guard make a presentation. It was a great day! We were better organized than last year, had many new first time visitors, we signed up a few new VJMC members, and had loads of fun. Successful ventures create an atmosphere that makes it so you can’t wait until your next event. This was certainly one of those experiences. With a strong club attendance being evident, many dedicated par-ticipants helping, well over 130 vintage Japanese motorcy-cles displayed, and a substantial amount of money raised for MDA, we are ready for our next challenge. The final figures record $4,100 being collected for MDA.

In about two months we will host the “All Japanese” motor-cycle show. It is scheduled to be held on July 13th. After that we will have our regional event. The VJMC Midwest Region-al Show & Rally is scheduled to be held on August 9th. If you are a VJMC member in the Midwest, please make plans to attend this event, as we want to see our community of central region members grow. Make sure and invite any friends who enjoy old Japanese bikes as well; everyone is welcome. We are really wanting to see this Midwest rally become a major event for the VJMC. Follow our progress at: www.kcvjmc.org l



EVENTS

Officially named “Rally at Battle Al-ley,”organized by Hogs In Ministry,

the locals refer to this annual event sim-ply as the Holly Vintage Days.

After the most brutal winter in even the eldest of Michiganders’ memories, with sub-zero temperatures for weeks on end, coupled with an official re-cord-breaking snowfall in the amount of 93.6 inches (Detroit)—the most since the winter of 1880-81—in contrast, the 57 degree temperature and the partly sunny skies were a warm welcome for all in attendance at this vintage gathering.

Five hundred motorcycles rolled in and out of town throughout the day, anticipating the joy and excitement of being around an assortment of old bikes and old friends. Several southeastern Michigan Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club members attended this event on May Fourth, in downtown Holly. Some were even able to win trophies by show-ing their fine machines.

Holly is situated about fifty-six miles north of the city of Detroit. It is one of the few remaining small rural towns in Oakland County, with many farm fields and woodlots still in view. Beyond Oakland County, to the north and west, lie Genessee and Livingston Counties, which contain many small towns. Be-tween these little burgs there are miles and miles of great local riding.

The town of Holly was incorporated in 1865, directly after the civil war, and contains a rich history in lumber, farm-ing (dairy, in particular), and railroads. For such a small town, it boasts sever-al claims to fame. In 1908, the national temperance leader, Carry Nation, spoke here on the prohibition of alcohol. For many years there was a festival here in her honor, complete with beer tent! Grinnell pianos were produced here on a large scale, and the company was billed as the world’s largest distributor of pianos by the mid-1950s. Bars Leak radiator sealant was created and is still

story by John Yuhn / [email protected] by Tony Schutz

produced here, just outside of town. An original son of Holly, Karl Ricter, at the age of 23, was the youngest pilot during the Vietnam War to shoot down a MIG in air-to-air combat. The local middle school is named after him to this day. In 1992, George W. Bush and his wife stopped in town for about twenty-five minutes during his whistle stop cam-paign.

After a morning of walking around gazing at all the beautiful motorcycles, talking with friends, and meeting new

ones, we decided to grab a bratwurst from the Bittersweet Café. Three of us met at a local park as a starting point for a twenty-five mile ride around the gen-tly rolling and scenic area to the south of Holly and Fenton. We enjoyed the ride and made it back in time for the awards.

As I rode home that afternoon, feel-ing the thump of the ole 650 beneath me, I realized just how blessed I am to have spent an afternoon surrounded by vintage motorcycles and the people that ride them. l

produced here, just outside of town. An

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:Jack and JennaIshi, John, and Tony ready to ride!A Suzuki GT750 with a Honda CB200Vinnie with his 1st place trophy

Rally atBattle Alley


TECH HELP

Jim: Ellis, one of the things I noticed with the majority of motorcycles I get in my shop is that the owner was very lax in lubricating various parts of the motorcycle. Chains, cables, levers, and many other parts look like they have never been lubricated.

ellis: I know, Jim. I’ve seen a lot of bikes that have been neglected in the lubri-cation department. There is a lot of technology we can apply to help make things a little simpler. Take chains, for example. There are all sorts of spe-cial O-ringed chains on the market today made for the high horsepower repli-racers, but most of our bikes don’t need them. It used to be that a chain

had to be removed, dunked in solvent, and then bathed in a bath of warmed grease to get the lube where it needed to be. Today, we have aerosol chain lubes that have heavy grease suspended in a solvent. You spray it on, and the solvent evaporates, leaving behind the grease in all the right places.

Jim: I have bought bikes where the chains were not lubricated, and the chain had to be cut off so the bike would roll. The chains were rusted solid and would not even bend. Of course, they were ruined, but, if they had been lu-bricated, they would still at least let the bike roll when pushed. Another item I see neglected are control cables. They

need oiled about as much as chains and are right there in your face, but I see rusty cables that sometimes won’t move at all after sitting a long period of time.

ellis: You are right, Jim. The increased friction from lack of lube can cause a cable to break at the most inopportune time and place. I’ve seen guys with a broken throttle cable who’ve tied their inner cable around their leg, moving their leg in and out to work the throttle in a real pinch.

A cable lubing tool makes things much easier than the old remove the cable, hang it up, and drip oil through it routine. I use white lithium grease in an aerosol can. Chain lube works well, too.

by Jim Townsend / jimvjmc@ gmail.com & Ellis Holman / [email protected]

Tech Tip #3:Lubricating Your Motorcycle


You just pull out one end of the cable, attach the lubing tool, and spray in the lube. When the lube runs out the other end, the job is done.

Jim: You know I have restored a num-ber of ,70s Hondas, and on almost ev-ery one of them the swing arm pivots have not been lubed by the owner, even when there was a grease fitting to pump grease into the pivot. In fact, on every one of the over a dozen CB350F bikes I have restored the swing arms had not been greased, and on some the bush-ings were worn out. Those bikes even have a grease fitting on the end of the spindle that is very easy to get to. Un-fortunately, they are straight fittings and will not hold the grease gun. They can be replaced easily with an Alemite grease zerk by just popping them off and then pressing in a new zerk. Then you can really apply the pressure with your grease gun. Some of the passages for the grease are quite small.

One thing you need to do is make sure the grease fitting and the end of the grease gun are clean, so you don’t push dirt into the bearing. I use molyb-denum-based chassis grease. Just watch to see when it comes out at the point be-tween the swing arm and frame. When it starts oozing out, you are done. And, another thing, make sure the grease is going into the fitting and not just oozing out around it. Those straight fittings from the factory are bad about that. Replace them. If you are unlucky and only have the straight fittings, you may have to pull out the swing arm bolt

and pray everything isn’t rust-welded together. Clean everything off and re-place the worn out bushings. That dirt and rust make it all wear out sooner, and the clean parts are much easier to grease, as well.

ellis: Another item I’ve noticed that doesn’t get much attention is the clutch lifting mechanism. This can be so rust-ed it can cause the cables to break and prevent proper clutch actuation. Like swing arms, there may be a grease fit-ting to grease the mechanism. It may be damaged and not allow grease to reach the lifting mechanism. Like others, it is probably a press fit and can be removed with a pair of pliers. For Hondas it is a 4.5 mm fitting, and the part number is 96201-30001. It pays to get a few and just keep them around. On many Hon-das it is easy to remove the case and make sure there is grease in the proper places on the inside, too, like the end of the clutch rod, that gets a lot of hard use. Don’t lose the ball bearing in there.

I’ve also noticed neglected speedome-ter drives. I’ve had people complaining about the speedometer needle jump-ing all around, even though they have an NOS speedo and cable. Many bikes have the drive integrated with the front brake hub. Often, this gets overlooked because it requires the front wheel to be removed to be greased. On some small Honda speedo drives there is a 6 mm Phillips [JIS pattern] screw that can be removed, and a zerk fitted. Ace Hardware carries them in 6 mm x 1 mm pitch thread that fits. However, use

care not to use too much pressure and blow out the seal or grease up the brake linings. A few drops of oil in the cable casing helps, too.

Those are some overlooked things I see, Jim.

Jim: We’ve covered a lot of territory, but what about engine oil? I just looked in the pile of rider’s manuals I’ve collected, all the way from early ,60s CA95 Hon-das to late ,80s bikes, which covers most of what we all have. The earliest ones cover bikes with centrifugal oil cleaners on Honda Dreams and others up to the canister screw-on oil filters. Oil recom-mendations go from SAE 30 non-de-tergent oil to 20w-50 high detergent oil. Oil has changed a lot over the past fifty years and so have filters. Most of the motorcycles today use multi-grade high detergent oil, normally 10W-40. The most important thing to remember is to keep clean oil in your bike. It is not so important what you use as long as it is clean and there is enough of it.

Usually, the change intervals are around 3,000 miles. For my bikes that turns out to be once a year. Filter changes usually are recommended ev-ery 6,000 miles, but, since I only change oil once a year, I change the filters too. I’ve been asked, “What about synthetic oil?” It is slippery and good for cars, but they don’t have clutches bathed in oil. I won’t use it in any of my bikes because I don’t want a slipping clutch, so beware! It may cause problems, and you may have to switch back to 10w-40 and also buy a new clutch.


ellis: Petroleum based oils do seem to work best in our older machines. Don’t forget that two-strokes are a little dif-ferent than four-stroke bikes. They need an oil, usually 10w-30 or 10w-40, for their gear boxes and a different two stroke oil for the injection or pre-mix. There are special two-stroke oils spe-cially formulated for use in motorcy-cles. If you just want to use synthetic, one of the new two-stroke oils might work for you. One other thing that is very important—keep the oil level on small bikes right up to the full mark. Some only carry a quart or so, and, if the level drops down a bit, your upper end might suffer oil starvation and damage.

Jim: One thing we haven’t touched on is using oil as a rust preventative. Oil is one of the best rust preventatives you can use. I have a quart can of oil that I use to put in gas tanks after using Rus-teco or Milkstone Remover to get the rust out of a fuel tank. A film of rust

starts to form within minutes after you clean a tank, unless you oil it or get the tank full of gas quickly.

When I store bikes, I spray them down with a spray bottle filled with a 50/50 mix of used motor oil and paint thinner, under fenders and back in hidden places you might not even nor-mally see. Under tail light brackets, under seat pans, around the battery compartment, rims and spokes, and on bolts and nuts are some places. An old paint brush works well for this. You can even do this on painted surfaces, as sometimes paint is porous and lit-tle spots of rust pop out, especially on chrome. Even old motor oil will work for this purpose. WD-40 also works well. About the only places you don’t want oil is on rubber tires, footrests, and on upholstered seats. In fact, if you do spray a rubber part, wipe it off as soon as possible.

ellis: I’m a little more lazy. I use WD-40 in a spray can and spray it into the

insides of oil tanks, gas tanks, and un-dersides of fenders, and other hard to reach places. WD-40 sheds water and works well over the winter months at keeping rust away.

Jim: Yeah, Ellis, I buy WD-40 in gallon cans and refill a spray bottle and use that. It is cheaper than buying those spray cans, although I do use the spray cans once in a while for fogging inside gas tanks and the like.

Next issue we will be looking at wir-ing, lighting, charging systems, and similar topics. Let us know what prob-lems you have had or currently have.

Do you have a question pertain-ing to vintage motorcycles or run into a problem that has stumped you? If so, send us an email, and we’ll get an answer for you if we can’t answer it ourselves. Contact Ellis Holman, 317-691-4242, [email protected], or Jim Townsend, 574-551-2255, jimvjmc@ gmail. com. We prefer email. l


states at 709,000 (7.1%). It has the sev-enth highest number of motorcycle re-tailers in the US and is the third highest in new unit sales at retail (38,910 units). Florida has the third highest econom-ic value, at retail, of the US motorcycle market at approximately $1.6 billion. So, clearly, Florida is an ideal location for motorcycling activities that support motorcycle enthusiasts and the hobby they enjoy.

Let’s not forget we still have two of the largest regional rallies yet to happen. First is the Mid-West Rally, which will

by Peter Slatco�, Vice President. Events Coordinator / [email protected]

AUGUST 9Mid-West Rally

Commemorative Air Force MuseumNew Century, Kansas

sePTeMBeR 5-7VJMC West Coast Rally

Flagstaff, Arizona

OCTOBeR 10-1210th Annual

Barber Vintage FestivalBarber Motorsports Park

Leeds, Alabama

OCTOBeR 16-19AIMexpo

Orange County Convention CenterOrlando, Florida

nOVeMBeR 1-2 3rd Annual

VJMC Florida state Rally Silver Springs State Park

Ocala, Florida

DECEMBER 1315th Annual

VJMC Florida Christmas RideConey Island Grill

Brooksville, Florida

AugusT 9-112015 national Rally

New Location ScoutingPigeon Forge, TN

UPCOMING EVENTS

By now everyone knows that the 2014 National Rally has taken place and

was a huge success. Now that it is behind us we quickly turn our focus to October and the next major events—Barber Vin-tage Festival (October 10-12) in Leeds, Alabama, and the AIMExpo (October 16-19) at the Orange County Conven-tion Center in Orlando, Florida.

Barber Vintage FestivalThe rumors are true—in order to keep

pace with the growth of this event it be-came necessary for the Barber Team to reconfigure the venue. Yes, the VJMC is impacted. Beginning this year, we will be located just inside the pit entrance gate, to the right, formerly one of the camping areas. We view this move as positive because we have outgrown the current site. This new location provides a perfect venue for our club. It is much larger, it is flat with excellent drainage, provides more visibility to spectators, and will support our much anticipat-ed future growth. More details will be forthcoming as they are available and as we get closer to the event.

If you plan on entering one of several bike shows and display activities please see the “Barber Vintage Festival Invita-tion” in the front of the magazine. In his article, Tom Kolenko outlines the de-tails for qualifying motorcycle entries and your opportunity for a free week-end pass.

On another note, last year a new tra-dition was started—Barber’s VJMC BBQ dinner. On Saturday night, Octo-ber 11th, Jim & Nick’s, a local favorite, will cater a real southern BBQ dinner. A limited number of tickets will be avail-able for our members. So, in an effort to accommodate as many members as possible, plans are to offer a pre-sale of tickets online prior to the event. Once on site, tickets will be extremely limited and sold on a first come, first served ba-

Events CornerEVENTS

sis until they are gone. Last year we sold sixty-five tickets—we could have sold a over a hundred. Please take advantage of the online ticket purchase; we would hate to see anyone disappointed this year.

AIMexpoIt was quickly recognized that AIMEx-

po was about to revolutionize the mo-torcycle trade show industry. To quote a recent AIMExpo News Release: “AI-MExpo creates an all new paradigm for motorcycling. A way to come together at one place…at one time…at the right time…in a celebration of the lifestyle” for motorcycling enthusiasts of yester-day, today, and tomorrow. The VJMC was part of the exclusive opportunity to participate in the inaugural event. Our partnership was so successful that this year the VJMC’s role has been expanded to include hosting of the AIMExpo mo-torcycle show, “Retro Affair.” This show will be innovative and outside the box of traditional vintage or classic motorcycle shows. Watch for the myriad of media blasts to follow announcing the partner-ship of the VJMC and AIMExpo.

This event will take place October 16-19, 2014, at the Orange County Conven-tion Center in Orlando, Florida. Online pre-registration for “Retro Affair” will open August 15th. Registration will require a photo to be submitted at the time of registration. Complete details will be forthcoming.

In response to a question during our National Rally: “Why are we doing so many events in Florida?” Reading through a number of articles and news releases for the AIMExpo I came across the some information I would like to share with everyone.

The South has the highest percent-age of motorcycles in use in the United States at 34%. Florida has the second highest motorcycle population of all


take place August 9, 2014, at the Commemorative Air Force Museum, New Century, Kansas. For more details your rally contact is Mark Bayer ([email protected]). The second event has board members Jack Stein and Bob Leonard actively plan-ning the West Coast Rally. This year’s rally will take place Sep-tember 5-7, 2014, in Flagstaff, Arizona. In our latest conver-sation Jack was quick to point out two very interesting facts of the chosen rally area. It’s near Grand Canyon and a desti-nation stop along Route 66. So don’t miss this rally—planned rides include a jaunt along Route 66 and a trip to the Grand Canyon. I am jealous…oh, well, time to make that trip to the West Coast Rally. l


ADVERTISERS APPEARING IN THIS ISSUE:Arizona Motorcycle Parts Inc. ......................... 56

B & L Machine .................................................. 19

Barber Vintage Museum ................................. 22

Berkshire Cycles ............................................... 28

Bob Chantland ................................................. 50

Brown’s Plating ................................................ 25

Buchanan’s Spoke and Rim ............................. 28

Classic Cycle Events .......................................... 36

CMSNL .............................................................. 64

Colorado Motorcycle Expo .............................. 53

David Silver Spares........................................... 63

Diamond Gusset Company. ............................. 37

Dime City Cycles ............................................... 18

Frank’s Maintenance and Engineering, Inc. .... 32

Gasolina Boots ................................................. 46

Hagon Shocks .................................................. 23

HVC Cycle ......................................................... 44

Japanese Classic Car/Vintage Motorcycle Show .. 4

JDV Products/Vessel ........................................ 20

Jess Bikes .......................................................... 23

Johnny’s Vintage Motorcycles ......................... 47

Kenda Tires ....................................................... 24

Marbles Motors ............................................... 37

Metro Racing Inc. .............................................. 2

MikeXS, Inc. . .................................................... 44

Moto-Services .................................................. 33

Motorcycle Yamiya 750 ................................... 14

Motorsport Publications .................................. 26

National Motorcycle Museum ......................... 51

Orazio Cycles .................................................... 15

Ottoco .............................................................. 44

Paul Miller Motorcycles ................................... 23

Precision Motorcycle Painting ......................... 54

Randy’s Cycle Service ....................................... 52

Retro Bikes, Inc. ............................................... 19

Rick’s Motorsport Electrics, Inc. ...................... 47

Roadracers Exposed ........................................ 28

RRR Tool Solutions ........................................... 26

Speed and Sport Yamaha ................................ 48

Stop the Blues .................................................. 46

Vapor Honing Technologies ............................. 32

Vintage Smoke ................................................. 33

Vintage Suspension (Race Tech) ...................... 32

Western Hills Honda ........................................ 56

Wheels Through Time Museum ...................... 38

Workshop Hero ................................................ 30

Yamaha Powersports Division ......................... 10

ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT

Many of you recognize the name Gordon East, owner of RRR Tool

Solutions—long time VJMC member, Board Member, and former Advertising Director. His contributions to the VJMC and to this magazine are significant. When Gordon took over the advertising duties two and a half years ago, the mag-azine advertising was in some disarray. Gordon found new advertisers, and his diligent efforts to find quality products for our members has resulted in a bigger and better magazine. His efforts serving on the Board of Directors and as Vice President have led the club in new di-rections and to new growth. Although Gordon has left the Board to focus on running his new business, his impact will be felt for some time to come.

If you ride a vintage or modern street bike or dirt bike, and you’ve done it for any length of time, you’ve been faced with situations that require you to have knowledge and tools to get you home. Gordon has been repairing and restor-ing motorcycles for over forty years. With half a dozen tool boxes and hun-dreds of specialty shop tools in hand, he says he never thought that putting together a quality “Touring/Travel” kit for cross-country adventures would be

RRR Tool Solutionsby Guido Cardillo / [email protected]

Gordon EastRRR Tool SolutionsEast Developments & Marketing, Inc.(864) [email protected]

CONTACT INFO

all but impossible. As recently as two years ago, he scoured the Internet for a complete set that would meet demands for both quality and compactness, but failed to find one.

In March of 2014, RRR Tools launched its own brand of quality tools which fea-ture several innovations and designs not available anywhere else. These are tools made for motorcycles where motorcy-cles get ridden and enjoyed—On the Road or In the Woods.

RRR Tool Solutions has developed not only a nice set of tools to carry on-board your bike, but RRR has designed and patented new tools—compact tools that make the job easier and can easily be carried on your bike. Gordon will be quick to tell you that his tools are made for ‘Where and Whatever You Ride!’

Look for Gordon at VJMC events and say hi. He’s always happy to share stories with owners of vintage bikes. l

Sprocket Socket Disc Wrench Set

RRR Tool Solutions has introduced a new wrench that really has to be seen to be understood. This Sprocket Socket Disc Wrench Set will work on all of your motor-

cycle axles and may also be applicable to other limited clearance situations. Made of super strong T6 tempered aluminum this tool is perfect for the adventure tourer or anyone who works on their own bike.

The 7-piece set includes: 9” handle 6 socket discs: 32mm, 27mm, 24mm, 22mm, 19mm, and 17mmThe handle weighs less than 6 oz. while each socket disc weighs less than 2 oz! The sockets simply flip over to reverse direction, and the handle can be engaged top or bottom, and be used to push or pull. The engagement also ratchets for easy, continuous motion around the fastener. To see a video of this unique tool in action, visit www.rrrtoolsolutions.com.

It’s great for carrying on your bike! A full set rolls up into a 4” x 9” tool pouch, which is included.

(PATENT PENDING)


CLASSIFIEDSPLEASE NOTE: Ads will be run for ONE ISSUE ONLY. Please resubmit via www.vjmc.org or contact our Classifieds Editor Gary Gadd by email: [email protected] if you wish an ad to run longer. Also please contact Gary if your post has been fulfilled. This will help keep our classified ads as current as possible.

A vintage Japanese motorcycle for the VJMC is 20 years old or older and, of course, Japanese. Please be aware that ads may/will be edited to conserve space. 12 lines will be free. Please be aware of publication deadlines. For an upcoming issue, ads are due by the 20th of the month of the preceeding issue’s release. For ex-ample, ads for the December/January issue are due by October 20.

If you have business related ads, please consider taking out a commercial display ad. Contact Display Ad Director Guido Cardillo at 404-587-0190 or [email protected] for details and rate information.

we can now offer color photos to accompany your ads. Cost is a min-imal $10 per photo per issue. Payment via Paypal is available on the VJMC website. For payment by personal check, please address payment to “VJMC” and send to the address below. Photo ads will appear in the magazine issue following payment.

GARY GADD • 3721 HOLLAND ST. • FORT WORTH, TX • 76180 / 817.284.8195

FOR SALE

HONDA

For Honda, sales literature and more. Patches, pins, cycle magazines and more. There are original tank decals, own-ers manuals and other vintage items. About 100 pieces in all. Some of the first honda ads ever made; CE71, CB92, etc. $75 plus postage for all. David Polson, 916-253-3849, Lincoln, California, [email protected]

1960 Honda C76 305cc. One of the few totally complete orig-inal 1960 C76 Hondas in exis-tence. Matching numbers, all correct. 100% complete, needs absolutely nothing. The bike was in storage for 40 years. With it is probably one of the most comprehensive collection of C76 NOS spares anywhere, all factory Honda. It’s a huge list acquired over 15 years. Selling only as a complete set, not parting out. Please email for details. Jim Hawkins, Van-couver, British Columbia, Can-ada, [email protected]

1962 Honda CA72 Dream. All original except for rear tire. This is the bug eye tank mod-el, very limited, has tire pump, rear luggage rack, small rear tail light. Totally complete tool kit, including; tire patch, scissors, etc. Black with black seat. Bike is in unbelievable original con-dition. Chrome is showroom condition, paint is very nice and original, has a few minor scratches. Runs great, 4257 original miles. Very rare find.

Asking $6450 obo. David Chum-ley, Englewood, Colorado, 303-517-7560, Please leave phone number, [email protected]

1964 Honda CA77. domestic version. I bought and restored this bike in the early 1980s. It has been registered with the VJMC since that time and it is in need of a new restoration. This bike differs from the uS model as follows: two seats (the passenger pillion is easily removed to reveal a luggage rack underneath), turn signals, non-folding rear foot pegs and rotary shifter. The bike runs but smoke is coming out of the exhaust. It is complete with all parts original or NOS. Extras in-cluded: original Nitto tires (the Goodyears on it have less than 200 miles), parts book, sec-ondary luggage rack, one pair extra NOS brakes and other small items. The bike is avail-able for pick up in Tucson, AZ. To make an offer or for further information and pictures please contact me. Richard Alexander, [email protected]

1966 Honda CL77. Original stock 305cc Scrambler. Unrestored original condition bike. email for pics or questions. $3250 obo. Russ Mayeux, 727-580-6251, St. Petersburg, Florida, [email protected]

1968/81 Hondas. Parting out 50 Japanese bikes, mostly Hon-da. $75 each or will part out. Includes Yamaha and Hon-da Mopeds, lots of seats and side covers. 4 CB750 4 cyl gas tanks, $60 and up. Bridgestone 100/150 seat, very nice, $100. 1978 Gold Wing engine, $100. 1965 Honda 150 Dream en-gine, $100. Dream and Super hawk frames with attached fenders, electrics, wheels, etc.; ask for prices. Located near Rhinebeck, NY, AMC super meet site. Ken Krauer, 845-266-3363, Salt Point, New York, [email protected]

Classic Honda and other Japanese motorcycles. Re-stored, prices vary. Sold sepa-rately. CB100, CB125, CB175, CB200, CB77, CB350, VB450, CB550, CB750, CL100, CL125, CL175, CL77, CA78, CA77, CA95, CL450, SL125 twin and more. Over 70 vintage mostly Honda motorcycles, will buy, sell and trade old motorcy-cles. Steve Burns, 302-449-2582, Middletown, Delaware, [email protected]

1975 Honda gold Wing. Can-dy apple blue, 1100 miles since new. Museum piece stored in the living room. $6500. AJ Addeo, 516-978-0072, [email protected]

1977 Honda CB750 Hon-damatic. Nice chrome, 25k miles, non-original paint, carbs cleaned. Starts, runs, drives, and shifts well (neutral, low, high). Daily commuter bike last summer. Minor oil seepage from upper end engine seams. Clear wisc title. $1450 obo. Potential restoration project. Bruce Zedler, 920-675-6044, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, [email protected]

1981 Honda CB900. Look-ing for a good home. Super-sport in good condition. Re-painted and decaled in 2007, carbs in 2008. Original parts, ridden until 2011. Runs a lit-tle rough. Looks great. 59000 original km. Best offer. Steve, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, [email protected]


CLASSIFIEDS

1982 Honda CM450A auto-matic. My riding bike but get-ting too old to ride. Garaged always. I am 2nd owner. 8700 orig. miles and orig. candy root beer paint and mufflers in good shape. New front and back tires. Runs perfect. Never abused. $995 firm. located 10 miles from Rhinebeck NY super meet site. Ken Krauer, 845-266-3363, [email protected]

For 1981/83 Honda CB650/ 750/ 1000/1100 and CBX, Pet-cock Rebuild Kits. Kit consists of Viton o-ring for filter screen, Bu-na-N o-ring for on-off-res lever, 4-hole rubber seal, Viton O-ring for petcock bowl. kits fit: pet-cock number 16950-461-751 1982 CB650 Standard, CB650CCustom and Nighthawks, CB750C Custom, 1982-83 CB-750SC Nighthawk, 1982 CB900CCustom, 1983 CB1000 C Custom and 1983 CB1100F Super Sport. Pictures at http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Fo-rums&file=viewtopic&t=73943. $20 and free first class shipping within the continental united States up to 13 ounces. $8 for first class international post-age with tracking number for a total of $28 for international customers. Payment via Pay-Pal to [email protected]. Conrad Ledig, 225-610-2233, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, [email protected]

1983 Honda XR200R. Great bike. Always garaged. Perfect mechanically and cosmetically very good. Probably one of the nicest original 1983 dirt bikes out there. it is titled with a valid Colorado plate. Asking $1300. Firm on the price. You ar-range transport. Paul Bay, 303-444-2369, Boulder, Colorado, [email protected]

1984 Honda VF1100C/V65 Magna. original condition, paint not faded, pipes not

scuffed. Runs good, 42000 miles. Best reasonable offer. Stan Mitchell, South Carolina, 864-980-5557

1987 Honda VF700C super Magna. 33509 miles, only 16000 models produced. In running condition and has been garaged when not in use. Includes onboard tool kit and Honda Service Manual. More info at: http://goo.g1/s1Mk61. $2000 obo. Marc Schweikert, 703-939-7206, Reston, Virginia, [email protected]

KAWASAKI1969 Kawasaki H1. Beautifully restored 500 triple. My similar H1 placed 3rd in Mid-Ameri-ca auction past January out of 640 bikes. Rebuilt bottom to top. Ross McArthur, 760-274-4325, San Diego, California, [email protected]

1976 Kawasaki KZ400 Triple.Restored to new condition. Original pipes, all original parts as new, 1200 miles, stored in the living room. $6,500. AJ Addeo, 516-978-0072, [email protected]

1976 Kawasaki KX750B Twin. 2751 original miles, age re-quired restoration. New cables, hoses, seat, tires, chain, carbs leaned. Electric and kick start, center stand. Runs great with good torque. Style the vintage look or invest to store with the engine just broken in. Tank paint could be redone, it shows dam-age from brake fluid. Very clean, inspected and titled in Pennsyl-vania. Includes a genuine Ka-wasaki shop manual and the March 1976 copy of Cycle Guide that featured bike with a fine article with performance infor-mation. Asking $3200. dan kutt, [email protected]

For 1981 Kawasaki gPz550, brand new oil cooler. Never in-stalled or used. it may fit later models also, but I think they may have used a larger unit. Please contact me for additional info or pictures. Jeff Swan, 816-746-1259, Parkville, Missouri, [email protected]

1982 Kawasaki Kz750R1 gPz. Original GPz750. All stock ex-cept for 4-into-1 header and jetting. under 13k miles. Not perfect but very nice. Too many NOS parts to list, including brand new petrol tank. Photos upon request. Ride her away with your tag. No trades, serious buyers only. John Revilla, 703-509-1796, South Riding, Virgin-ia (just outside of Washington DC), [email protected]

SUZUKI

1964 suzuki T10 Crusader. First of the 250 Suzukis imported to the US and forerunner of the X6 hustler. Professional restoration with correct period Suzuki blue. Very showy bike with lots of chrome. Extremely rare. Ask-ing $4995, appraised at $5300. Buyer arranges shipping. Con-tact me for details and photos. Lee Stewart, Gilmer, Texas, 903-797-3465, [email protected]

1970 suzuki T500. Re-stored. Charles Davison, East Texas, [email protected]

1972 suzuki Ts125. Barn find, in my own barn. 2263 miles, in storage last 15+ years. Runs, all original, owned since 1978. see video at http://you-tu.be/MGAfe0fyjK8. asking $925. T. Gray, 734-672-8772. [email protected]

1978 suzuki gs1000. 16000 miles. Project bike. All original. $500 OBO. Chuck Miller, 413-527-6453, Westhampton, Mas-sachusetts

1982 suzuki gs1000s Wes Cooley replica. A great running and riding example of a very rare and special Suzuki race tribute model (one per dealer), built after wes Cooley won the Superbike Championship on a GS1000. Not a show bike, a little rough around the edges, but appears to have original paint in fair to good condition. No tach, one shock looks incor-


rect, and the clutch slips at full throttle. Grab this race replica before they are discovered and skyrocket like the Eddie Lawson Replica kawasaki of the time. Just $3200. Randy Pobst, 321-432-2665, Atlanta, Georgia, [email protected]

YAMAHA

1975 Yamaha RD200. Every-thing works and is 99% com-plete. Starts easily with the push of a button and is a joy to drive. Stored inside since 1996. Carbs rebuilt, new clutch friction plates. New Yamaha rings, one new piston. New battery. Miss-ing rubber boots from air box to carbs so pod filters are installed. Has a dent in the gas tank and the face of the tachometer isn’t original. Tires, fork seals, dust boots are on order. Title in hand, make offer. Call or text. Ryan Kazmerzak, 6056513672, [email protected]

1977 Yamaha Xs750D Triple. Factory 3-1 exhaust and short café tail section. excellent orig-inal condition and is very, very clean with just over 20000 miles on it from the original owner. Both front and rear tires are new Bridgestones, rebuilt brake system. Gas tank refurbished by Gas Tank Renu, petcocks re-built. New Yuasa battery, carbs rebuilt and synched. New fil-ters, fresh lube. Compression on all three cylinders is in the 120 psi range (spec is 142 psi plus or minus 14). All three cyl-inders are within 10% of each other. Starts easily, has a nice even idle. Would make an ex-cellent all around bike as is or could be a great starting point for an all out custom café proj-ect. Current tabs and a clean title. Contact me with questions or photos. Earl Johnson, 651-552-7151, St Paul, Minnesota, [email protected]

1982 Yamaha XJ650LJ. In pret-ty good shape, driven regularly until placed in storage. Tank ep-oxied, has regular maintenance. extra parts, turbo works fine. Contact me any time. $2995. George Schroeder, 416-876-9500, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, [email protected]

1983 Yamaha Xs650 Heritage special. Original and excellent condition. 14000 miles. $3400. Jeff, 575-776-8676, Taos, New Mexico

MISC. FOR SALE

1973 Holsclaw 3 rail motorcy-cle trailer. It is a MA-12 with the 530 x 12 tires gives it a 1300 lb capacity. I bought this new in 1973 and only used it for a few years. It has been sit-ting ever since and now needs a good home. It was never in an accident and other than a coat of paint and some new tires will look and work like new. I even have the original title. @$750 obo. lock Crippen, 703-517-9400, Sterling Virginia, [email protected]

Vintage parts business For sale: Six figure retail sales. The sale includes: > $2M in NOS Hodaka parts, over $120,000 in retail product, 1,700’ of shelving, 7’ x 16’ trailer. Non-disclosure form required before information is exchanged. This business needs 900 sq. feet of floor space as-suming a 10’ Ceiling. This is a reasonably priced business that can be easily transferred and it would be immediately prof-itable. We are located near St louis. Motivation for the sale is retirement. Bill Cook, 636-281-1975, www.Hodaka-Parts.com

For Japanese bikes, 1960s/ 1990s. Thousands of NOS parts from old dealer inventories. Thousands more used parts. Call or email with requests. Badger Cycles, 920-682-2127, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, [email protected]

Vintage Japanese motorcycles. Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha. Pric-es vary. Sold separately. Over 60 antique motorcycles. CB100, CB125, CB160, CB175, CB200, CB350, CB450, CB400, CB550, CB750, CB400F, CB77, CL200, CL77, CL350, CL450, CL70, CL90, S90, CB350, CL360. RD60, G7, 1969 CL2 200. Kz650, Kz400. Buy and sell old vintage motor-

cycles. Steve Burns, 302-449-2582, Middletown, Delaware, [email protected]

Parts for Japanese bikes. I have about 7000 individual parts. Email for a PDF list of the parts. Lists are broken down into Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Please request only one list per day due to my time constraints. Mark Ak-samit, 928-202-8654, Arizona, [email protected]

Honda manuals. Over 100 orig-inal Honda service manuals for many various models, CBX, MB5, CB750, etc. Email for spe-cific needs. Prices on request. Bob Brandner, 561-776-6212, North Palm Beach, Florida, [email protected]

1968/81 Hondas. Parting out 50 Japanese bikes, mostly Hon-da. $75 each or will part out. Includes Yamaha and Hon-da Mopeds, lots of seats and side covers. 4 CB750 4 cyl gas tanks, $60 and up. Bridgestone 100/150 seat, very nice, $100. 1978 Gold Wing engine, $100. 1965 Honda 150 Dream en-gine, $100. Dream and Super hawk frames with attached fenders, electrics, wheels, etc.; ask for prices. Located near Rhinebeck, NY, AMC super meet site. Ken Krauer, 845-266-3363, Salt Point, New York, [email protected]

1959/79 Honda collection. 49-1047 cc. Selling 50 year collec-tion. From junkyard to museum pieces. Paul Crippes, 707-894-3174, Cloverdale, California, [email protected]

Japanese bike parts supply. 10s of thousands of parts, new and used. Reasonable price in order to make a speedy deal. Gene Crump, 662-369-4542, Aberdeen, Mississippi, [email protected]

WANTED

HONDA

1972 Honda Z50 K3. Look-ing for excellent original bike in candy gold color. Would like to find an original paint bike. Sean Morphew, 562-698-7484, whittier, California, [email protected]

For 1985 Honda XL80. Looking for a left side battery side cover. Also, if available in good condi-tion would consider both right and left sides and a front fender in good condition as well. Pos-sibly 1985 Xl100 parts may fit. If you have anything please con-tact me. ken hutto, 803-331-7529

For 1986/87 Honda TLR200 Reflex, looking for paint code for frame, and tank for touch up work. Robert, Maryland, [email protected]

KAWASAKI

1969 Kawasaki H1. Looking for a 500 triple. I do not care about its current condition, iwill fix it. Ross McArthur, 760-274-4325, San Diego, California, [email protected]

SUZUKI

1974 suzuki gT750L. Look-ing for complete, running bike for restoration. Nicer the better. Chuck, 517-896-7022, [email protected]

1986 suzuki gsXR750. Seek original box stock bike. Original unrestored preferred. Condition more important than mileage. Tom Kolenko, 770-427-4820, Atlanta, Georgia, [email protected]

YAMAHA

For 1960 Yamaha MF-1 50cc, need parts to complete a run-ning bike. Seek leg shields, up-per chain case, controls and some small parts. All help ap-preciated. Tom Kolenko, 770-427-4820, Atlanta, Georgia, [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDS


1988/89 Yamaha FZR 400.Seek bike to ride. Box stock, original paint format. All help appreciated. Tom Kolenko, 770-427-4820, Atlanta, Georgia, [email protected]

MISC. WANTED

Honda CBX 1000cc 6 cyl memo-rabilia for museum and the CBX book i am presently writing. Any brochures, adverts, post-ers, owner’s manual, workshop manual, set-up manual, toys/models, old photos, etc. related to the 1979-1972 CBX. Also pe-riod aftermarket fairings/body-work. Let me know what you have and how much you need! Thanks. Ian, (626) 444-9358, California, [email protected]

Motorcycle trailer. Looking for 2 or 3 rail trailer capable of car-rying 1200 lbs. Wheels and sus-pension should be good enough to get us from Georgia to Califor-nia and back. Electric brakes are a plus. Guido Cardillo, 404-587-0190, [email protected]

Japanese NOS mopeds and mo-torcycles from the 60ties and 70ties for our showroom. if you have anything to offer please

contact me. Mike Buttinger, [email protected]

Dealer memorabilia. Collector seeks 1950s-1980s Japanese dealership items including ban-ners, signs, ashtrays, lighters, hats, clocks, promos, etc. Rare, weird, and old is good. Tom Ko-lenko, 770-427-4820, Atlanta, Georgia l

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