THE BEAUTY OF THE ART LIES IN THE DOING

I've been training in the martial arts for over 20 years now and I have seen many friends come and go for many reasons. In the late 90's I got into full contact bare knuckle fighting and I got involved with Kancho Joko Ninomiya and his tournament in Denver Colorado, The Sabaki Challenge. I have nothing but respect for Kancho Ninomiya and when I say he is the real deal, I mean it. HE IS THE REAL DEAL! So of course I read his autobiography and was greatly influenced by it. What's all of this have to do with motorcycles you ask? Well, it's not about bikes alone, but about building bikes and what it stands for. I have spent 3 years building my bike. I have scraped and scratched to build a rat bike worth a couple of thousand bucks. I have worked late at night in a freezing shed after I put my kids to sleep just to put in some hours to get it done. I have begged, borrowed and all but stolen parts and pieces to make it happen. I have spent countless nights with thoughts of problems in my head and solved them in my dreams. I have over extended myself in so many ways and gotten out of my comfort zone and learned many new skills. 

Kancho Ninomiya said in his book, "The beauty of the art lies in the doing" My motorcycle will be finished and thats what people will see, a finished product and me riding it. But what they won't know, what they won't feel is all the blood sweat and tears that went into getting it done. I grew as a person and as a man building this bike and it brought me closer to the memory of my father. When I am holding a wrench and I have grease in every ripple of my hand, my soul feels like its where it belongs. The real beauty of this bike is in the building, in the DOING. That is the art of living, the beauty of existing. Now don't get me wrong, I'm gonna love the hell outta riding this bike and having it done, that thought has all but consumed me. But everyone I have met and all that I have learned will be with me for the rest of my life and when I am old and gray I will be able to look back, long after that bike is gone and my greatest masterpiece will be a life well lived, a life of DOING.

A QUICK RIDE UP THE STREET

Here's a quick little video of me leaving my driveway, well the yard anyway. I need to adjust my clutch cable, as you can see it's giving me some problems. Enjoy.

MY '78 HONDA CB750 CHOP

Heres my first video I've made of my '78 CB750 chopper. I took it with my iphone and the sound is a little off as well. I had to break it up into two parts so I could email it to myself. (Not real good at this yet) Just wanted to share since I actually have this thing running ok. I still need to tune it up and such but it's doing pretty good. I'm gonna try and get a ride video next. I don't have tags yet so it will just be me going up and down my street. Thanks to all of those guys and gals at Hondachopper.com who have made this possible with parts, technical and moral support. You rock. HCMF forever.....

How To Fix A Broken Float Post on CB750 Round Top Carbs

Ok. I know I might catch some flack for not just using a new carb body, but these carbs were really in good shape and I really wanted to use them as a set and they were the best I had. So the problem was a broken float bowl post. This seems to be a really common problem with these carbs and I have broken 2 myself when trying to get out the little brass pin that holds the float bowls in place. So these carbs I had were really nice and I was bummed that I was gonna have to tear them apart and use a body from a different set. I am a problem solver and I am always thinking of ways to fix things that are busted up. So I figured what the hell, I might as well give this idea a shot, I didn't have anything to lose.

How The Posts Are Supposed To Look

So for me the first step was to aquire another post. Since I didn't have the one that broke off I just cut one off a trashed body that I had that was missing a post as well.

The Donor Post

Then I grabbed one of the brass rods that usually holds the float bowls on and found a drill bit just under size (make sure it is under a smaller diameter than the brass rod, it has to be a tight press fit). I then drilled a hole in both the carb body and the new post a good 1/4 inch. (make sure this a straight and true, any drift and you will get an oversized hole and it wont be sturdy). 

The Carb Body With Hole Drilled

The Bottom Side of The Donor Post With New Hole

I then pressed fit the brass rod into the carb body and trimmed it to the desired length with a pair of cutters

Carb With New Brass Rod

and then the new post onto that.

With New Post Before Setting Height

Tap the new post into place at the desired height and check it with a straight edge. Remember though, you are lining up the pin hole and not the top of the post.

Finished Transplant

Now your good to go. And let me tell you it is just as solid as it was before it broke. I found it to be a quick and really rather nifty way to fix an otherwise fubared carb. I hope it helps.

Videos To Inspire and Motivate....Work Safe

Some cool ride videos. This type of production has gotten pretty popular recently and I dig it. I find them to be pretty inspirational. Check em out, get inspired, and go forth, live life and make some memories. 

BUILD - RIDE -  LIVE-  REPEAT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tsC_aapz9S0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4VlGX5D_YE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=J3ZwiF88RkE&NR=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxlszmLzx5w&feature=relmfu

Get There....

Hoe Down Alabama Style.....

For Your Inspiration.

Summer Fun

                                                                 Smooth Denim

                                                                       Cafe Cool

                                                             Old School Sexy

                                                   750 Four Your Pleasure

LETS CHOP SOME STUFF UP

Alright, todays post is gonna highlight Lowbrow Customs and there DIY tech tips page on there website. They have a whole slew of interesting how-to's in picture form as well as a You Tube channel with videos. They cover a lot of stuff and a person can at the very least get a different perspective on how to do something. I know I learned something. Check it out, learn something then go forth and build. 


http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=tech

John Michael Worthey - 7/10/1972 - 4/1/2012 - Age 39

The world lost a great man on April 1st. Mike  “Naguethey” Worthey died in a motorcycle wreck on a country road in Illinois. So much can be said about him and none of it would be lip service. He was a true biker and so much more. He was cool. Women wanted him and men wanted to be him and that's no joke. He had done more with his 39 years than most could ever do in a lifetime. I remember the movie "The Edge" with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin and in it Hopkin's character said he had always wanted to do something  unequivocal. That idea hit a chord with me and hence always stuck with me from my teenage years. Well, Mike Worthey did it. He lived a life that was unequivocal. Thank you Mike for all the influence and motivation that you gave me. You allowed me to ride along beside you in your videos even though I wasn't really there. I lived vicariously through you like so many did. Rest in peace my Honda Chopper Brother. A true HCMF forever.

Check out his Videos on his You Tube page
http://www.youtube.com/user/wagouche/videos

Not another freaking blog.....

Yeah, another one. Because I feel like I have got something to say and maybe by chance I will make a difference. It's gonna be about getting your hands dirty building motorcycles in your backyard, chasing down dreams one gear at a time, working hard and playing hard with your bros and all the trials and tribulation this life has to offer. So please hang out and let me know what you think and email me if you have anything I might want to post up. Thanks for stopping by.


Clint