General Bike Ravings

So I've got The James in the garage, what now?
It fits in the wheely table I've used for other projects like the CBR Ressurection and EleXTrical XT400, that's handy.

I was having a few problems starting it so I thought i would do the usual checks and found...

• Kick start not turning engine over - chain from gearbox to engine is in a soild mass in the chain cover.
• Fuel

...

When I was about 10 my Mum and Dad dragged me around a local classic car & steam engine show. I wasn't really interested in much, but then my Dad says look at this...
Yes, and...?
Look closer...
Ah! Its a James!

So for the last 30 years I have secretly wanted to own a "James".

Not too long ago I was riding around the block. And spied some really old motorbike tyres in a garage, being a self respecting biker I take a second look and wander over ...

More bits and pieces pulled off and filed under R (ugly oem catch bottle, wire brackets for hoses, other brackets, pillion peg mounts, grab rails, headlight support etc)..

Switch gear is gone, foot rests and brakes have been pulled for cleaning, new pads, fluid and braided lines are on the list.

After realizing that the engine was a stressed member it looks like I may need to fabricate some rails to go in between the front and rear engine mounts.

Also ...

A few months ago now I killed the motor in my Spada, being that the reg has long since lapsed I'm not going to worry about putting it on the road again. I came to the conclusion the remains aren't worth much at all so will employ my engineering talents and turn it into a track scoot, WITH A XR650 ENGINE TRANSPLANT WOO DE DOO !!!

It will be a while until I can afford a new motor so in the mean time I'll pretty much be pulling the chassis, brakes and suspension apart to give it all ...

DAY 5 / Leg 4 – 26/03/09 – Wellington - Picton - Christchurch:
I had packed two lots of gear for the trip, with sleeping bag, wets, liners and spare gloves in one pannier and clothing etc in the other. (Camera and travel docs etc in the top-box). When I got home I swapped North Island maps for South, threw in the strops for the ferry. Took the clothing pannier up to the bedroom, threw out the dirty washing and put in the clean gear I had packed in a shopping bag. I was all ready to go. ...

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DAY 3 / Leg 2 – 24/03/09 – Bell Block - Cape Egmont - Awanui:
I had a great nights sleep, not requiring my MP3 as I couldn’t hear Steve snoring from his pad in Hawera. I got up about 0800, packed, puttered around New Plymouth, filled at Spotswood, then headed out to the Cape with a wee diversion around one of the bays after a recommendation from a chap at the Service Station.

Once again it was a matter of killing time until we were released so I took a couple of pix and chatted. ...

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Another Rusty Ride done and dusted, this time the Southern Cross Road Rally, touted as the longest Rally in the Southern Hemisphere….that is, until they hold the 10,000Kms in 10 days next year.

This ride is held every two years and I’ve wanted to do for awhile but haven’t been able to and I put off entering this year due to the cost, but when Ann won $1,000 BP Gift Voucher and I only needed to buy accommodation for 3 of the 8 days….well I had no choice.

Preparations ...

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I just wanted to touch on the club racing scene from my limited perspective in the very short time ive been involved.
Just let me start by saying im an older rider by many racers point of view and considered still a young one by a few others, at 40 years of age married with three kids ill let you form your own conclusion.

I really hate driving down the road only to have some beautiful red Porsce Carrera pull up next to me with a geriatric Abe Simpson type charactor sitting ...