Ola Chicos

here we go again for another quarterly update.   Well...I  have done lots of this over the last 3 months.  


First, I went back jungle riding in Malaysia, then went back to Austin for moto gp and handbuild show, and return to London for the Bike Shed.  I also bought new bike, sold a few.   An exiting last few months......


So let's begin.  I went back to Malaysia for some more jungle riding.   I really enjoyed it last time but had left with a sour taste in my mouth.  I had gone with an enduro expert who had done Romaniacs and I had some serious issue with my fitness and riding ability.   Since then I had gotten into physical shape and had spend more time on the off road saddle.   So, I really wanted test myself under those new condition and with a more favorable trails selection to my riding skills.


This time I rented a Husky 250 brand new, while my guide was on crf 450

I enjoyed the first few minutes till.....

The bridge, if one can call that a bridge, broke under my, still too heavy, weight and I struggle to get the bike out of the ditch....But apart from that miserable start, I did well.   My cardio and my riding was good.   We started the day by going through palm tree fields and made our way deeper into

the jungle.     

The scenery was simply breath taking.   And after, approx. 1,5 hrs of riding, a deserved break in one of the beautiful jungle waterfall

Then we headed back to Ulu Choh for some serious enduro.

I felt much more comfortable this time.  There wasn't any apprehension and I knew what I was doing.  That was up until, I rode full speed into a quick sand paddle and drawn the bike halfway.

It took me one bloody hour to get it out.  I had to build some sort of net made of branches not sink in the sand myself.   Anyway, apart from that incident, it was a blast.   But it was time to change continent.


As soon as I hit the ground in Houston, I made my way to Austin for the moto GP.   Was planning on riding my chopper there, but weather condition called for rain, and I wasn't going to ride 4 hours one way without fenders after 21 hours flights.   Took the car instead but still got a warm welcome when I arrived.   Nice to be back in North America....

And after the last qualifier and despite some serious jetlag issues, I headed downtown Austin to the Handbuilt show.   The Handbuilt is becoming a serious industry now.  It has gotten so big that there is a 15usd cover charge to get in and they had to move to a larger venue.    

But I have to say, this year was the best of the last 3 years and the new venue is fantastic.  Here are some of my favorites pics.

Well, now that I was back in Houston, I used my spare time to ride and to build.  I did few trip around the Houston area with the good old 300 EXC and the TY 250 to improve my trials skill and build up on Malaysia.

But in all honesty, I still have a long way to go before I can call myself a intermediate rider.   I am still in the beginner "+" class.....


I also took a few ride with my chopper, mostly to Galveston but on my last trip I ended up breaking starter.  I tried endlessly to kick start it but luckily some state trooper had a rope and pull me so I could started on 2nd gear.   I am gonna have to fix it while am away.

Then spent some time in the garage to work on the Triumph.  I just wanted to do a quick mock up to see how the final project might look like. 

It looks pretty good to my eyes, although I am gonna have to work on front fender, and possibly on the side plate.   But overall I am pretty satisfied.  

Then I had bit of a life crisis....  

I am a true believer that a motorcycle is made to be ridden.  I can't stand showbikes that can't be on the road, nor do I want look at my bike and not have the possibility to ride them.   Further when a bike is not ridden, it takes a serious amount of maintenance to keep them all going.   

It really got into me this time especially after the KTM (front bearing), the XS and TY (carburation), and the Shovel (starter) gave me shit.....So decided, f... this, am selling everything so I can spend time on one project at the time and ride motorcycle.   The idea is to always keep 2 bikes:  in this case my 1979 XT, and my shovelhead chopper, and have one enduro bike brand new so I can focus on riding the hell out of it rather than hoping it won't die on the trails.  So I sold the KTM, sold the TY, sold the XS, and about to sell the 1971 Police, and for the second time in my life, I bought a new motorcycle.  

A KTM 250 XC-W. 

Within less than 12 hours, I was on my way to CTOR (Central Texas Off Road) park, with Gareth to try it out on the trails.

It was a bit tough at first to get use to it, and I hit the ground a few times, but a good start.   It just need to be ridden more often. 


But before I realize it, it was time to go back to Europe with 2 objectives :  go to the Bike Shed in London, and fly to France to get my 2 bikes road ready after 4 years in storage, so I can ride them around Corsica this summer.  


1st mission accomplished for my first "Bike Shed"   I can see a lot of people having a blast here.  The venue is beautiful, bit out of center of London but not far away fm Tower Bridge on the famous Tobacco Dock. 

but damn, it a f.... hipster paradise.  And to make the matter worse, it really did not see anything special, lots of beamer looking the same, and lots of Honda's looking the same.   Far from the level of the Handbuilt Show which I went to one month ago.   Anyway, here are a few pics

But as usual my best of show has to be a XT 500 which is a cross road between the frame and the engine of XT 500 and the front and swingarm of a CFR

Well, this seems to the end of this quarterly update.   Next is getting the Dyna and Madam's Sportster ready for touring Corsica this summer.   But before that, a 4 days ride in East Texas to do the twisted sister road.    Hasta luego......

Ola Ninos

Happy new year 2018.  For me it's chaos.  Just got transferred to

Yeah, that's right.   F.... England.   So, I have decided that I will leave in East London in Brick Lane/Shoreditch area for those who knows.  And have become a Cockney Reject who hangs out at the Biker Shed.   A f.... Hipster paradise !!!!!!!!  am tolerant but there are limits....where has the real biker lifestyle gone...

Now that has been said, I will return periodically to Houston where I have kept my house, my wife, my dogs, and my bikes....


Problem is, I won't have much time to work on them.  Bummer.....


Well, such is life and we all gotta eat.


So, what has happened in my life since last posting.   Well not much,  the XT 500, 1979 runs like a charm and I get my ass on it every time I have the chance.   I sometimes rotate with my shovel.  In reality it looks like that.  If its within city limit I ride the XT, if it's decent ride I take the shovel.

Both work great.   The XT bit difficult to start but am back into shape now, so can kick it without running out of breath.

My RV is still fucking up with the ignition, so I need to find the time to work on it, cause I got 2 project in the making.  


First the 1977 XT, which I have taken apart.

and redone the engine

So now I have a lot of polishing, sanding, and painting to do before rebuilding everything. 


And as luck would have it.  Reagan finish my Triumph engine, so its ready to be mounted back.

So, those are the 2 projects that should run me through 2018, if I find the time and the space to work.  Cause at the moment am out of space in my garage.  So will have to get rid of few bikes to carry on working. 


Otherwise, not much happening when its not raining in Houston.  Bit of road riding with the KTM

And after 4 years of absence, the Energy Monster Supercross came back to Houston so I went to see my idol, Ken Rocksen.   He is still shaking fm his accident last year and don't ride as crazy and he used to.

One other things, I did follow the Dakar this year, and there is a documentary that I recommend to every one, it's called "Dream Racers".  It's brilliant. 

Olas Michachos

Well, well, well.  Dunno what to tell you??  Guess professional life has taken over my personal life.   Have been travelling consistently for the last 6 months which has taken a big chunk of my hobby.  

 

So much in fact, I had to check on the internet to find out when was the last time I updated the blog. 

Bloody frightening if you think of it.  

Not a single word since may, and it’s already November.   That’s like 6 months.   You suppose to work little to enjoy life a lot, not the other way around.     

 

So, let’s try to recap what has happened since may.  Last thing that was posted is the purchase of the TY250.    I really like to the look of this bike, a nice neighborhood get around bike as well as a "supposedly" nasty little beast on the trial obstacles. 

 

I took it out once to the track but I was busy doing some motocross so I let my son and his friend use it.   As you can imagine, they managed to f.. it up.  Don’t ask me how but it just did not start anymore.   I took it home, stored it for few months till I had the time to check it out.  As it turns out, there was something in the petchoke and gasoline wasn’t reaching the carb.  Cleaned it up, and it started right up.   Problem is, I have not used it since then.  

I should really allow myself sometimes to hit the trial’s track at Rio Bravo and see what’s possible to achieve with this famous 250. 

Considering I did not have much time to build things, I spent the few hours I had on the track trying to improve my offroad skills.   But I suck at it !!!!  I don't care, I just love it and it makes me realize am damn out of shape.

But one things happen after the summer break.  I was saved by the god of motorcycles lover and procrastination.   Let me explain.  Due to the lack of space in my house, I store my bikes at a friend of mine living nearby.   Considering I did not have much time for building this summer, I kept them at my house, just taking turn in riding them.  

I could have taken them to his house when I returned from vacation but was simply to lazy.   On last weekend of August, Harvey stroke Houston.   This pics is 1/4 miles fm my house. 

My friend's house was under 4-5 foot of water, while mine was miraculously saved.

Approx. 4 inch of water came into the garage but not enough to mess with the bikes.  

I took it as a sign, and immediately, started working on the RV 125 that need condenser replacement and points alignment. 

Then I took the XT 500 that had been sitting in storage for slightly over one year and decided it was time to bring her back to life. 

This bike was under the sole ownership of one guy from 1979 till last year when at 62 years old he realized kick starting a motorcycle and more specifically a XT 500 was no longer in his plan.  He loved that motorcycle and I promised him to take good care of it.  

The bike was no longer starting, it needed some serious TLC.   Judging from my previous experience with XT 500, I decided there was no point bringing the old carb back to life.   I would rather buy a Mikuni TM 36 Performance which will give the bike a second life.   So, I started taking the bike apart.

I took the bottom oil case out to look at potential internal engine damage and found few abnormalities.

but none that require the case to be opened

 

looks like some of the gearbox are missing some teeth.   Hopefully the test ride will show it. 

Then I stopped working on it for few weeks cause I had to go to the middle east for 2 weeks work.  While I was there, I hooked up with a friend who had given me some insight to do some desert riding over the weekend.  

A f.... blast.

Then I went back to the XT.  The frame need to be grinded and repainted, so did the front and back fender. 

I also had to weld the kickstand which had loss all its use.

And after doing of the liquid change, and the necessary adjustment, she exploded in joy.

She rides beautifully.  I just love the XT 500, there are the mother of modern motorcycles.   I love them so much that I have decided to know everything about this engine. 

Luckily for me I found one XT at a very good price without the tank,

but after some ebay research I found one from same year with same color.  

Is life beautiful ???  For less that 700usd I have a completed XT that waits for rejuvenation. 

One other thing worth mentioning.   When I left to the US, I kept my Dyna and the Sports of the secretary of state in storage.   Thru a basic conversation this summer a friend of mine mentioned that he was interested in buying the new 48 cause it was small and low enough for him.   I immediately offer mine, if he was interested.  

Being the owner of a auto mechanic shop, I have no doubt on his capacity to give some life back to both back.  So during one of my European trip, I stopped in Sausset to take them out of storage and drop them at his garage.

 

As for the Triumph, I am still waiting for Reagan at Ace to finish the engine rebuild and do the dry run before I can start the rebuilding.   But this will be for another post.   Keep well my friends.