New Place, New Job, New Focus, Old Bike :-)

OK, Back in the saddle!! Long hiatus there - shortly after the last post things started to shift in the job picture with the ultimate result that we moved to the east coast (just before the big economic meltdown - great timing :-) and have been working through what everyone has to work through to get a stable, functional situation back in place ever since - you know live in a place worth living in, have a job you can feel good about, eat on a regular schedule, have enough control in your life that you don't feel like you are just cattle in someone else's barn, don't have to commute two hours one way to get to work, stuff like that. So I ran across something that I needed to edit a little and repost here, and that sparked me to get this going again. Still got the Kawasaki and still fixin' to work on it... here's the thing I found -

"THE BIKER
-I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But, you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the charity jar at the counter.
-I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.
-I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant. But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.
-I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn't see me, riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.
-I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.
-I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.
-I saw you roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.
-I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my children were born and have their name written over and in my heart.
-I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.
-I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.
-I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.
-I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.
-I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.
-I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn't see me trying to turn right.
-I saw you, cut me off because you wanted to be in the lane I was in. But you didn't see me, any of these times, as I left the road.
-I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. -But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.
-I saw you, go home to your family. But, you didn't see me. I died that day you didn’t see me.
-You see, I was a person with friends and a family, part of a community of people who care and help each other. I was a biker. But, you didn't see me.

I hope you'll re-post this around in hopes that people will get a better sense of the biker community.

If you don't re-post this, "It sucks to be you!".

I hope you never loose someone that rides.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE BIKERS, RESPECT THEIR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT THEY CHOOSE AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE THEY'RE NOT IN 'YOUR” WAY !!! "LOOK TWICE ... SAVE A LIFE ... MOTORCYCLES ARE EVERYWHERE"

Acknowledgement to http://www.myyearbook.com/bodaciousrhoni where I got the original from (that I slightly edited for either better impact or smoother reading) Thanks for reading and riding!! :-)

New Year, New Challenges

Well, time to catch up. The bike was delivered on time (GREAT!!! experience with John Magada, by the way - highly recommended for moving bikes or bike carcasses anywhere in the US) and so we have our first close up of the challenges of the restoration. Overall, except for no turn signals and no taillight lens, it's all there. The seat was so weathered as to be useless, but I'm going to disassemble it and evaluate the frame for a rebuild. I already have a tuck and roll model seat that needs a little work but is generally in good shape and is a fit so we're good to go on the seat. Directional signals have been going on eBay lately so I'm pretty confident that I can come up with four of them and I have already acquired a tail-light lens. Now to come up with handlebars and a complete exhaust system. One of the links on the right (Overlander Equipment) does absolutely amazing exhaust replicas in stainless steel, with clear ceramic coating on the headers to prevent heat bluing. Handlebars can't be that hard from new stock or even custom made if I can get the right measurements and angles. I'll keep everyone advised of how that goes. I'm looking into the idea of using the RUSTECO process vs. sandblasting for rust removal (RUSTECO link on the right). Should have chemical in here soon and start evaluating that - I'll post picture comparisons for fellow enthusiasts' viewing pleasure. The gas tank is my major concern. I don't think it's holed by rust but the chrome is pretty well shot and I'm concerned about rust pitting and trying to do a new chrome surface. I've got some ideas though so we'll see. Obviously, new knee pads will be in order :-) On other notes - I think I have the linked pages issue worked so I'll be posting parts diagrams and lists shortly. Have a great new year!

The Journey of One Thousand Miles Starts ...

...when the shipper picks up the bike! Which thankfully one finally has. After being quoted in the mid-$900s for shipping from DAS and contemplating the running around I'd have to do to accommodate the requirements of Forward Air, I finally went to uShip (www.uship.com). I've used uShip before with good results but not for something like this. My listing specified that the bike is rolling, steerable, and has brakes but doesn't run. Turns out they have a number of shippers who handle and/or specialize in motorcycles and after a couple of bids came in at my target price of $600 (and a false start with one shipper who wanted a fast committment but then couldn't cover his own agreed pickup arrangements) I got lined up with John Magada who wholesales motorcycles and is constantly hauling bikes around the country. It's been a great experience so far. He picked up the bike when and where he said he would (Dec 1st), has stayed in touch throughout, and we are due for delivery this week - Wednesday or Thursday. So far so good!

In other notes I've added a few more parts sources and added a link to uShip as well under Hot Links. I'm exploring the availability of photo album functionality via Blogspot so I can start to post pictures of bikes and parts diagrams. The adventure continues...

What the Adventure Looks Like Now...

So, to have an adventure, something has to start it. The something in this case is a somewhat the worse for wear W1 650 currently located in central eastern Ohio, pictured here. It has a seat but apparently the seller didn't consider the seat to be an asset in terms of sales presentation - not that I care. I already have another stock seat. I've been watching the market for a couple of years now and finally had the money rounded up to give something a shot. Given my mechanical skills and tools, background with these machines, and the fact that I still have my factory shop manuals I was looking for something relatively complete but not necessarily pristine. This bike looked like a good prospect so I went after it. There was the expected pitched bidding battle in the last couple of minutes but (as eBay has been promoting for the last couple of months) I "shopped victoriously". Now the challenge of getting it here from Ohio. It's indoors and so it's not getting any worse and the fellow who's got it has been very supportive (mainly because he's got bigger fish to fry right now) which is appreciated. Been looking at different options for a couple of months. My used car buddy said he could get it here cheap ... but that hasn't happened.Don't have any time off I can use to drive out and get it right now. I'm considering uShip, a reader of this new blog has referred me to Forward Air, and I'm on hold as I write this with DAS (Dependable Auto Shippers)... as a matter of fact it's the second hold after they disconnected me the first time. Side note: Have you ever noticed how people get in business, put their shingle out, and then aren't prepared to actually talk to you and do a deal when you need them to? Like their not really serious about the whole "business" thing? Anyway, if anyone has any other bright ideas, feel free to let me know with a post or an email. On the blog development - I've added a number of links on the right and would be glad to list any more that make sense. Let me know about sources, parts, people, or places and I'll check 'em out. Thanks

The Adventure Begins...Again!

Hi folks,
The last time I was actively riding a W2 650 Kawasaki I was in Japan and the blogosphere didn't exist. For that matter the web didn't exist. I was still reverse engineering code from Tektronics scientific work stations and HP equipment and modifying submarine routines to solve surface warfare problems. I started my Japanese motorcycle experience with a 350 Honda, rapidly moved up to the W2 650 and, in the course of events, was riding a BMW R75/6 and a Yamaha XS 11 Street Special. I never got tired of the (at that time not so old) Kawasaki though, and when my time came to return to the United States I shipped my 650 back to the states only to find that customs had impounded it and required a $700 bond be posted to insure that it would be modified to meet US safety standards. The only modification required was to change the headlight and bulb (about a $50 mod) but I couldn't get the bike out of impound to change it without posting the $700 bond. Needless to say, I didn't have $700. Sailor's still don't make much money and they didn't make didly back then. The bike was undoubtedly auctioned off to some San Diego scrapyard where it may be to this day... although one would like to think it had a nobler end. So... the years have passed and I am now the proud owner of another Kawasaki 650 twin - this time a W1 through the magic of eBay. Still have to fetch it to California from Ohio but it's mine! So this blog will be about the adventures of getting it here and restoring it to it's former glory, a place to solve 650 twin or restoration problems, share knowledge of parts, post links to other resources, and give W Series Kawasaki vertical twin 650 owners a place to connect up. To my best knowledge there is no other such location on the web as we speak. So, welcome all you denizens of the global economy who have, want to have, ride, or restore Kawasaki W Series 650 motorcycles. Long live the Kawasaki Ro Pyak Go Ju (that's 650 in the romaji form of Japanese :-)