The Obligatory Post Your Bike Topic

[JTECH]

1997 srad, with 02 1k motor, and 08 1k swingarm


Hopkins signing my tail cowl.

[Richo]

Well after about 4 months without a bike I have finally replaced the old R1 with a slightly newer R6. Seeing as I wish to do more track days, this is a better choice for me, the R1 was too much really.

Anyway it is a 2008 model R6. 15,000km on the clock, mostly highway I believe. It is a buzz to ride

[Pantah]

Well done! Enjoy the new ride...By the way,where is the nearest track to you in Mildura?

[Richo]

Sadly the nearest track is probably Mallala in SA. Normally we would go to Winton or Broadford or Phillip Island though as my riding mates are mostly in Melbourne.

There is talk in the wind of building a multi-purpose motorsports facility here in Mildura, including racetrack, drag strip, motorcross, speedway etc. As you may know motorsport is pretty big here in Mildura. So if this happens it will be brilliant as it will only be 5 mins to the track then

[Pantah]

Yep,as a kid we were up there every Easter......Always speedway and full on water ski races on the river..........Some of the speeds being hit were dangerous.... Family reunion up there this Easter but I think I will be having to go back to Japan before it.....May try to get up there in March anyway......Care for a beer?

[Richo]

Allways ready for a beer, pm me if you do head up this way.

[Richo]

Seems to be the year for getting new bikes I think. Picked up a new (old) bike last night from eBay. Surprisingly I have been looking for one of these for quite a while and I end up finding one 5 mins from home.
Anyway it is a 1978 Kawasaki Z650. Pretty original except the paint and exhaust. Just needs a bit of a tidy up and it will be right to go as a daily ride I think. Bit more comfortable then the R6

[Pantah]

Nice one! Looks pretty good....

[Richo]

For a 32 year old motorcycle it is not too bad. Rode it up to the servo this afternoon to pump the tyres up as they were pretty low and it wasn't too bad (handled better with some air in the tyres). I have a mate who is a bit of a guru with old Z's so will take it around to him sooner or later to have a look and a bit of a tune up.

[JanBros]

That was my first big motorcycle
loved it at the time, but wouldn't dare to use it nowadays as a commuter. Although there appear to be some on the front wheel, the bike has virtually no brakes (mine was only a single disc )

[Richo]

My first big bike was also a Z650 the same as my new purchase. My first also had only a single disk at the front and a drum rear. I managed to ride that around Australia in the early eighties. I agree that the brakes are more show than go (stop?)

[motomania]

Nice find Richo, looks pretty clean. Had a friend that had one and it was a fun bike. He upgraded to a Progressive suspension setup in the early 80's and it made a world of difference. Should make a great daily rider

[Richo]

One of the best things about buying this bike is that very soon Victoria (my home state) will bring in new laws for registering veteran and vintage bikes. Presently bikes on classic plates could only be ridden to rallies etc. With the new laws you will get a log book to fill out prior to riding for the day and you will be able to ride it on any 90 days of the year. All for the princely sum of about $40 a year. substantially cheaper than just under $500 for full rego.

[RatsMC]

Wait, they expect you to fill out a log book so that they can make sure you are only riding a certain number of days a year? Yeah, that wouldn't work in this country.

Or perhaps more important, our regulation-makers would never believe that people might be honest.



Side note, finish painting the Buell finally (hey, it only took me 14 months). I am actually sort of stunned at how different and better it looks. Even my wife said it looks good and like a different bike. I am also mounting .50 cal ammo cans to it tomorrow as well. I'll post up pics.

[Richo]

Looking forward to seeing those pics Rats.

[Pantah]

One of the best things about buying this bike is that very soon Victoria (my home state) will bring in new laws for registering veteran and vintage bikes. Presently bikes on classic plates could only be ridden to rallies etc. With the new laws you will get a log book to fill out prior to riding for the day and you will be able to ride it on any 90 days of the year. All for the princely sum of about $40 a year. substantially cheaper than just under $500 for full rego.

Best news in years! Now some of my cars and my Pantah may see the road! Its impossible to justify paying over $600 a year in rego for each vehicle when I dont even live in the country ! YIPEEEEEEEEEEE

[xyx]

Look ma, no wheels!

Having the wheels rebuilt to accommodate more modern tire dimensions. Possibly also adding a Beringer caliper + disc.

[RatsMC]

Okay, you will have to deal with camera phone pics since my card reader is screwing up and I wasted a good two hours trying to get it to work with either of my good cameras.

First, what the Buell looked like last week:



Now, with the new paint:






If you'll notice, the radiator pods on the side were painted a while back and I did a really quick and crappy job. This time around, I took the time to get it right and the results are much, much better. Now, I am going to have to go back and redo the old bits.


And now, with the ammo can side cases:




This will make longer rides a hell of a lot easier. I'm a little concerned with ground clearance so I'll probably take them off before a spirited ride. I need to come up with a faster release mechanism. Right now, it is 4 bolts that need to be taken off. Not hard but not as easy as I'd like.

[Richo]

Looks much better Rats, liking the ammo panniers. Not sure what you would use to make them quick release, I'm sure someone here will have some ideas.

[Richo]

Look ma, no wheels!

Having the wheels rebuilt to accommodate more modern tire dimensions. Possibly also adding a Beringer caliper + disc.

This is a nice looking bike, like the cafe racer style. What year model is it?

[RatsMC]

Thanks. I just realized you can't really see the fender eliminator I made. I'll try to get a pic tomorrow.

BTW, the "R.I.P. Norton" is for a good friend Aaron "Norton" Fuller who died in a bike accident a while back. If there is a guy that could be called larger than life, it was Norton.

[Oscar]

I need to come up with a faster release mechanism.

Now, if it 'twere me, I'd probably look at a pin and T-slot system - much like the knock-together pallet racking stuff - with spring safeties on the top pair of pins. Pins on the cases, slots on the bike so nothing to get caught up and the cases remain watertight.

I HAVE to ask - do you ever come home from a ride and find small children, furry critters etc. caught in those snow-blower radiator ... erm ... excresences scoops? I like the Buell styling with the exception of the hunch-front of Notre Dame thingies... though I guess they do give Santa something to climb along..

And painting it matte black is cool - no more chance of finding love-lorn lobsters humping it when you park by the seaside.

[RatsMC]

That is a good idea. Now, I just need to figure out where to source those from. Maybe I can scavenge them from some sort of shelving system from the home repair place.



As to the scoops/pod, I personally hate the things. I'm not a huge fan of any of the plastic bits on this bike and have intentions to fabricate better more minimalistic stuff for it but that will have to wait until I am back in Oakland and have access to real tools. So fa, I haven't gotten anything stuck in there even on long rides. Seems most of the larger bugs and birds aim for my face or neck.

[phil]

She's looking well tough Rats, good job.
I'm going to put ammo box panniers on the GSXR too, I saw some on a bike in Back Street Hero's a while back and instantly decided to do the Gixxer matt Olive Green with ammo box's.
I'm kinda disapointed you beat me to the punch but well done anyway, thats the stern look I go for also.
I like bikes that to the uneducated eye look like rat-bikes...but to the educated...

[RatsMC]

Now, I remember you mentioning the ammo cans. A friend of mine had them on his ratted out zx-6 many years back and when I was thinking about packing and heading to California, I was looking over pannier options and all of them looked like they should be on some sort of BMW and since I don't have any textile gear, I wasn't going down that path

The problem with ammo cans is that most are too small for longer trips but the .50 cal cans are a bit too big.


A flat olive green will be fantastic adn should really stand out. I have a friend who painted his scooter a "camo-esque" tan with black components and it looks very cool.