Pony problems <-> Backyard butcher

  Got up this morning thinking I could have this running in a few hours....

  The clutch mechanism in the stator case seemed fishy so I opened it up.....

The clutch mechanism was corroded.  

I thought I could clean it out and lube it up.....

but just ended up wasting over an hour to find out part of the case was corroded beyond repair.

The shift rod looked fishy......but it was fine.

I wanted to make sure the clutch basket was good too before I filled it with new oil.

So I opened up the other side........  

Clutch plates good.

The friction plates were a little rusty.

 I cleaned them up and put them back in.

This is what the clutch mechanism is supposed to look like.  

I am glad I have an extra engine.... 

Willie's XL350 race bike from out in Terre Haute saved me again.

It's a butcher shop out in the back yard today. 

I need a break...

Done for tonight.

Left is stock with about 3000 miles I think.....

Right has a big bore kit, was raced, and smokes worse than a Chris's Kawasaki triple.

Moyou couldn't figure out where the engine went.

Right before chopping the knob off for chain clearance. 

Night shot.

Riding around in the alley before sunset tomorrow?

Fish and chips

This was possibly the worst fake meat item I have ever eaten.

Ate about a fourth of it and that was just because the tartar sauce was soo good.

Masaru took a bite and gagged.

Fish and chips

Brake linkage

Moyou doesn't really care about this.....

....but it was what was keeping me from finishing the pony.

Can't feel safe riding unless your rear brake is legit, right?

This is a gsxr shifter linkage welded to the stock brake pulley from my XL350.

I am using a shifter rod out of another Suzuki engine to cross over the linkage to the left side.

Moyou helping out with the S65.

Relaxing under the hammock.

This work space has seriously changed my life.  

I can't wait to finish it off with a building.

Skatepark bound.

Germ action.

Thanks Masaru!

Masaru time!

TYSON!

It is Masaru time!

Martinsville swap meet

Got my junk buying on but held back on a lot of stuff.

This is a C95 from Canada.  

It looks a lot like my CA95 Dream.

I want to make something nasty out of one of these someday.

Somebody beat me to making this thing nasty.  

I wonder when it was made....

Venice, A Wonderland

On my trip to Europe at the end of 2010, arriving in Venice was just as magical as what people say about it. I don't think anything can prepare you for this amazing city in Italy. There I was, walking alongside the main canal in Venice looking for hotel rooms. We had arrived on a busy Saturday afternoon and most of the hotels were fully booked as Italians go to Venice for weekends with their friends and family and of course there were thousands of tourists just like us. As we expected the hotels were very expensive but luckily we found the Biasin Hotel right on one of the many canals. The owner, a feisty 85 year old, was a very clever business woman but a little bit eccentric. Her hotel was fully booked as well but she offered a partitioned off section of the attic, which we shared with several backpackers. We didn't mind as she had promised us a room across the canal in her other hotel, with actual views over the canal. because we were staying four nights, she gave us quite a good deal, too. In the hotel, most staff were students from around who had come to Venice for study were working here part time. The young receptionist who looked after us was actually from India.

I have to admit that Venice is gorgeous; no traffic, nice shops, great food and ice cream!!!! The Italians make the best ice cream in the world, I reckon. Another thing I have to admit is that, even though it was almost winter, I ate at least one ice cream each day we were in Italy.

Over the four days in Venice, we walked around town and it was like a difficult game of chess with the walkways, bridges and canals making it hard to get back to the hotel - or anywhere else for that matter. But I absolutely loved it. We took so many photos and checked out lots of beautiful shops for Venetian specialties like carnivale masks, they are brilliant!!! I kind of regret that I didn't buy one even though I know it's just another dust-collector. Next time!

We decided to visit Murano Island, famous for its glass, which is about 20 minutes by ferry and it was truly worth the effort. The beautiful scenery from the ferry - seeing Venice from a distance - was another time to say "Am I really here in Venice?". I bought some champagne stoppers and other small souvenirs for my friends and they were pretty cheap and very special. We wandered around this small village for an hour before visiting the other islands of Burano - famous for it's incredible coloured houses and Torcello, a more peaceful and spiritual experience.

Back in Venice, we visited the incredible San Marco Square and cathedral. My friends took a trip to the top of the building while I walked around the square and nearby promenade taking photos of the pigeons and gondolas. There were also people dressed in opera costumes trying to sell tickets - it was a pretty special atmosphere, even though it was cold and raining. On the way back to the hotel, we walked over the Rialto bridge and watched the boat traffic as the skies got dark. We used the city's great vaporetto system to get around as well as walking. Seeing Venice from the water is important, I think.

Four nights in Venice was not enough for me as there is still so many things to see and discover but that means I have a reason to come back.

I still have to pinch myself to believe I've been there.

New shifter

No longer a mangled CB72 shifter, but homemade alloy.
Also ran the rod over the top instead of the bottom, to get more clearance in all directions. Sort of CR93-ish.

Testride today went okay, the final transmission might be a bit high for this 110cc motor, with 16/33 sprockets. It does 100km/h in 3rd gear, but it doesn't really pickup in 4th unless I've got a tailwind.