11 Jun 2013

Jay picked up a Sporty on the cheap

He rode it home from a sweet score in Iowa, and it sounds like he's immediately started giving it some personality.

6 Oct 2012

Rising sun project update

So Ive been squeezing in some work on the GS1000 in the past few weeks. Some of it went smooth, some of it was a bitch, I guess thats how it goes with a 33 year old bike. The previous owner claimed that I could clean the carbs and it should fire up and run fine. Well, it fired up. Run fine? Not so much. Fast forward, Ive got the motor apart and ready for a top and bottom motor rebuild (just to start from square one since I dont know the history of this bad mamma jamma). O by the way, Pat says this bike of mine is probably the model Toe Cutter rode on Mad Max. Thats mad awesome! Gonna need some Animal and Hawk style spiked football shoulder pads asap. Thats right, Pats back. So glad to have you back home brother. Love you man.

So shit done so far:

1. stripped garbage (fairing, luggage rack, engine guards, gauge cluster, 25 lb seat, etc) - lost approx 80 lbs!
2. took of shoebox sized airbox - impossible with the carbs etc on these inline fours, fully dismantled and cleaned carbs. I didnt want to put that box back in so I ordered clamp on pods and rejetted a few sizes up and shimmed the slide needle.
3. Ass end of this bike up sky high like a damn kitty cat in heat, so I cut off 5 coils on the shocks. Im sure it will be a janky ride, but this gets me by till Im feeling a little more financially irresponsible.
4. This bike has air adjustable forks, so I pumped it up like arnold.
5. With the ass draggin now, I had to shim up the battery box about 3 inches to clear the swingarm.
6. I set up a deal to trade the luggage rack and back rest for a healthy rear tire and electronic ignition/coils
7. Pulled the motor, and stripped top end, so much shit in there i decided to do the whole thing. Cleaned, then cleaned, then brushed, then dipped, then cleaned, and pressure washed, and cleaned the motor casings, block, head, pistons and valves. Ordered gaskets, seals, bought engine enamel, cap head allen bolts throughout motor - color = flat black with stainless bolts.
8. Hacked off 4 exhaust pipes - Lost another 20lbs
9. Drilled out, fucked with, and screamed at stuck exhaust bolt
10. In denial about stuck bolt, what else can I do to keep distracted?
11. Finally got that bolt out, well ground it out to dust, and retapped the manifold.

Shit to do/get:

1. headlight
2. clean frame, chain, wheels
3. mount new rear tire
4. try to salvage needed electrical or rewire with chopper minimal
5. find acceptable seat (trying for two-up but everything is so chunky - suggestions?
6. bmx pedals floor boards
7. new petcock?
8. paint frame, fork lowers
9. paint and reassemble motor
10. test ride mid december?

Pics tomorrow when I find the camera usb. Chow Bastards

17 Sept 2012

Winter project of the rising sun

So since my last post, my quiver of bikes has undergone some changes. The old (actually way too new 2006) Honda VTX I had, my first bike actually, sold a couple weeks after I posted it on craig's. I bought that thing for 4500, put around 1700 in it, and sold it for 6500. I know its no big profit, but Ana and I were strapped and it had to go. Were currently bumming along fine. Both of us are back in school and Gabby is now two months old.

So, about the bikes, I couldnt stand watching the season go by with no bike. I started scouring craigs for a cheap sporty, but there not my kind of cheap, so I steered back towards the japanese market. First I was hoping for an SOHC four CB 750, but those are apparently too trendy right now so hard to find and stupid pricey. After riding a few 70s-80s inline fours, I realized the vibration frequency is so high that it almost tickles in the bars and pegs. That led me to look for a large displacement four, with the theory that a bigger motor can produce the power at a lower rpm. A little more craig's time and I picked up a 79 Suzuki GS 1000 for $650. It was so ugly with the monster fairing and luggage rack. Perfect candidate for a bopper chobber project.

In the first phase, I dropped 90lbs off it. Then, so far I just cleaned and rejetted the carbs, all four of the bitches, and ordered some clamp on open element filters cause the airbox is bigger than a shoe box and it jams the carbs in so their impossible to work on. I only want to remove that box once. I took the shocks apart and cut off four coils to drop it about 4-5 inches, might go more but I want to ride it first. Ill get the float bowl gaskets this week and then I can hopefully bring her to life (fingers crossed).

Shit to do: (wow I cant believe you read all this, thanks) headlight, smaller speedo, rear tire (150 - 90-17) tubeless, find swing arm king and queen (Help!) or a nice bitch bar (im tryin to retain two up capability while still doing minor bobbin, side mount plate and brake light, degrease and paint, hope the thing runs - if not, rebuild motor. Stayin on the super cheap.

old new vtx SOLD
gs1000 with full garbage

ikuzus

make the azz drop (probably more yet)

My girls



Later zen bastards. got parts? suggestions? criticisms? streams of incoherent curse words? lets have em.

14 Jul 2012

MJ took some pics at the FULL TILT show today

Here's some pics from Micheal Jordan Rides Motorbikes that he took at the Full Tilt chopper show today.  Seems like there was a little something for just about everybody.  Looks like some preeetty cool stuff, wish I could've been there!  Oh well, next year for sure!

He reports having a rad time, a very cool vibe overall, and that in person Zach from Heavy Clothing is a really nice dude.  Cheers everybody, enjoy!






















17 Jun 2012

Hope everyone's enjoying summer so far!

Today is father's day, so remember to give the old man a call and maybe ride together and/or share a good meal if you get a chance.

Sorry I've been out of the loop lately.  Uncle Sam has had me doing 12 to 16 hour days for the past couple weeks, and there hasn't been much left in the mental tank by the time I get home.  Fortunately, I'll be back in MN on leave for two weeks startin June 24!   Any Zen Bastards in the area lets find some time to hangout and ride (hopefully I can borrow my old man's bike as mine are not going to be available)!  Unfortunately the meet as it was planned earlier this year isn't going to happen, but we can still get together and have some fun as schedule's will allow...let me know if you need my number and we can find time to meet.

Hopefully by now, pretty much everyone has sent Jeremy a letter.  Keep em comin, I will get the info on his commissary account and pass that along so we can help or brother get some writing supplies and whatnot.

I hope everyone is out there havin fun this summer,  let's see some pics of summer adventures!

5 Jun 2012

Ok so this is long overdue, but heres some pics of me (doing my "nerrr" face, my sweetie and fiance Ana (gettin hitched this friday! whoa), our little girl Gabriella (due July 12), and my VTX 1300 as it sits now (I friggin hate that rear fender floatin in the air like a cats ass in heat! Is is just me or what?) Hola to you Bastardos, what the frig is hap-pening yo!?

By the way Im leanin strongly towards cashin in the VTX and getting something with a bit more soul and more room to add weird home-fabbed junk parts and cut shit off with no sweat. Im thinkin older sporty or maybe an old cb750? Gots ta be cheap yet safe. Junk is in the eye of the beholder. Rat bike or bare bones is a good thing. Whats a good foundation bike thats a decent interstate 2-up runner, has room for choppin and such, and I can get for a couple G's? Muchas Gracias

3 Jun 2012

Michael Jordan rocks tall Zees

Looks like the tall Zees that Rene whipped up awhile back finally found a good Bastard home. The proportions are perfect on MJ's sporty frontend, and knowing how big that dude is I'm betting the height and reach is pretty spot on, as well.

28 May 2012

Some quick mock up pics

I finally hooked up with a local welder/ drag car builder guy to get some bungs welded that had me stuck progress-wise for awhile now...THANKS SHAWN!!  My photo skills suck, but trust me his tig skills do not.  Gas tank mounting bungs, seat spring mounts, upper fender mount bungs, and rear oil tank mount bungs, yeehaw! 

Some very nice beads on his work today, and I plan to go back later to get my sissybar  mount bungs and sissy to fender support strap and upper motor mount welded by Shawn, as well.  Here's a few quick mock up pics from after I got home:

PS-hope everybody is havin fun and takin it easy today, CHEERS YOU ZEN BASTARDS!





27 May 2012

My Apologies

Sorry everyone. Ive been crazy busy with the business. I hope all is well. Enjoy!

stolen from:http://buzzkillerz.blogspot.com/?zx=9b38f42f776b514c