motorcycles!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Middle of South Dakota
I just bought a 81 kawasaki CSR 305. I fired it up for the first time when i bought it and it died. I forgot to turn the key off and i looked and there was a smoke rollin from under my gas tank. i turn off the power and looked and i fryed the coil. I didnt even have it for 24 hours and i already broke something. Now i have to look around for a coil for it. but yeah riddin is fun. I havent done any street ridin just mostly trail.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 14
From: cape may county NJ
I think I enjoy working on my bikes as much as riding them, I just finished building a bike for a good friend who helped me close down and move my shop last June the whole time he thought I was building a old Harley 125 dirtbike (junk) that he gave me and that the 250 I was working on was a cusomers bike, boy was he surprised when I gave him this bike.It is a 1982 XR250R that sat outside uncovered with a blown motor for 10 years. I didn't get before pics but I thru a photo of the XL250 I am building and the XR was worse.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics020.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics009.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics019.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics015.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics009.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics020.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics009.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics019.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics015.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...250pics009.jpg
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I grew up riding small dirt bikes of one kind or another including a 1970 something Honda 130, it was a dual sport of sorts with an upswept exhaust and semi knobbie tires but other than that it looked pretty much like any other bike of that era. Also had a Kawasaki KE100 and a Honda XL125, but the my favorite was the '82 XR500 I got brand new. Damn.. what motor.. I just wish the bike had brakes to match!! My current steed is a '96 Kawi ZX11D.. always liked the big Kawi street bikes and that reduculously strong GPZ powerplant. My better half also grew up around bikes and she curently has an '06 Honda 599. We don't ride as much as we'd like to because of work, but we go whenever we can. Defensive driving is the only way to survive on the street, you have to look out for yourself because nobody else is. I generally don't drive in the city if it can be avoided, there are just too many idiots not paying attention, and those that hate motorcyclists for whatever reason. I have had the pleasure of colliding with a car(actually the car ran into me), so now I have some asphalt permanantly embedded in my knees to remind me of the dangers out there. That's not enough to get me off bikes though, I love it, and I can see adding to my stable of rides once I have room for them, maybe another dirt bike or big DP.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,353
Likes: 4,388
From: SW VA
Started out on an '82 Yamaha Virago 920. Great for cruising, lots of torque...
Been riding a '06 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 for the past couple years. Has over 30,000 miles on it now (mostly from dad).
Im in the process of selling/trading my ATV for an '07 CBR1000RR right now.
Been riding a '06 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 for the past couple years. Has over 30,000 miles on it now (mostly from dad).
Im in the process of selling/trading my ATV for an '07 CBR1000RR right now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
I've got two motorcycles.
One a '67 Matchless Scrambler with the 750 Norton long stroke Hemi. Twin Amal carbs, Sport cams, Matchless frame with Norton powertrain, skid pad, low gearing.
They were designed for desert races in places like the Mojave, etc. and sometimes referred to as Desert Sleds. Some were used for drag racing, one a Norton version in '65, held the national IHRA record for it's class in '65. Some were used for flat tracking in Canada...did well.
They were factory bikes, not too many made, produced in London, England.
The other bike is a '78 Yamaha SR500, # 209 off the assembly line. I bought it new in '78, as soon as it hit the showroom floor. Big 4 stroke single, compression release to aid starting (kick only). Relatively lightweight, big disc brakes front and rear, solid frame, handles well, lots of low to mid range torque...not a hp engine, a torquey, big single.
One a '67 Matchless Scrambler with the 750 Norton long stroke Hemi. Twin Amal carbs, Sport cams, Matchless frame with Norton powertrain, skid pad, low gearing.
They were designed for desert races in places like the Mojave, etc. and sometimes referred to as Desert Sleds. Some were used for drag racing, one a Norton version in '65, held the national IHRA record for it's class in '65. Some were used for flat tracking in Canada...did well.
They were factory bikes, not too many made, produced in London, England.
The other bike is a '78 Yamaha SR500, # 209 off the assembly line. I bought it new in '78, as soon as it hit the showroom floor. Big 4 stroke single, compression release to aid starting (kick only). Relatively lightweight, big disc brakes front and rear, solid frame, handles well, lots of low to mid range torque...not a hp engine, a torquey, big single.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
Boy, I bet you wish you had all those English bikes, especially the Gold Star. Worth a lot now.
Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
I recall that you had to kick that Gold Star all the way through or it would put you into orbit. The one I had was a factory racer with a solid frame (stock versions had swinging arm). I gave up bikes a long time ago, but if the right antique came along, who knows? The right antique would be a hand shift or foot shifter on right side, and kick start..... who knows what is lurking in some barn somewhere?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 14
From: cape may county NJ
Conanski 'Quote' but the my favorite was the '82 XR500 I got brand new. Damn.. what a motor..
Heres a photo of my 82 XL500R that I made a XR out of, fresh factory crate motor to many new parts to list wish I had kept this one,I had a 1998 XR600R that I bought new and sold it and built this 500 both bikes were a lot of fun.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/P7070001.jpg
Heres a photo of my 82 XL500R that I made a XR out of, fresh factory crate motor to many new parts to list wish I had kept this one,I had a 1998 XR600R that I bought new and sold it and built this 500 both bikes were a lot of fun.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/P7070001.jpg
Last edited by GlennFordx4; Jun 30, 2008 at 03:51 PM. Reason: added photos
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 26,337
Likes: 12
From: Paradise Found!
I recall that you had to kick that Gold Star all the way through or it would put you into orbit. The one I had was a factory racer with a solid frame (stock versions had swinging arm). I gave up bikes a long time ago, but if the right antique came along, who knows? The right antique would be a hand shift or foot shifter on right side, and kick start..... who knows what is lurking in some barn somewhere?
And about that barn..................I have 5 more Indians.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
I recall that you had to kick that Gold Star all the way through or it would put you into orbit.My Yamaha 500 single has a compression release lever on it (lifts the valve), makes it easier to slowly bring the bike to TDC. There's a little window on the head that tells you where TDC on it which you slowly bring up with the kick starter. I then use the kick starter and bring my 230 lbs down hard. Sometimes she fires, sometimes another few kicks. Those big, 4 stroke singles are something else, but I love them. I must confess I always wanted a 500 Gold Star. That The one I had was a factory racer with a solid frame (stock versions had swinging arm).Was it an old flat tracker ? I gave up bikes a long time ago, but if the right antique came along, who knows? The right antique would be a hand shift or foot shifter on right side, and kick start..... who knows what is lurking in some barn somewhere?
