MACKAZ

Cosmetic rebuild starting this weekend I think. The bubbling on the tank has got really bad. Got a few holes to weld up after Captain Harleys lowering job on the back guard. Might have a go at making a combined backrest/saddlebag mount out of aluminium 

This is going on the market very soon. It's been a great boat but need something a bit bigger to accommodate the entire family. So I'm looking for something around the 15ft+mark to graduate to. 

Just waiting for a free selling weekend on TradeMe....

I'm away at that time....

Interesting. That's something I haven't encountered on it yet. Seems to have a decent amount of engine brake. Mind you I haven't been on a bike in years

God no. It's already too obnoxious. Those "mufflers" have been gutted and straight pipe shoved in, or so Captain Harley told me when I bought it. 

Part 8 in picture is the primary muffler. It's had sections of pipe installed to remove it. Has been done very average

So I've covered a whopping 163kms on this in just under a month. I'm getting used to the weight and size of it. Had a front header pipe nut disappear as well as both holding the top muffler on. Thankfully they're just a standard metric nut so after spending an hour at my storage unit I found my stash of hardware as well as my MIG, vice and drill press.

Thanks man! I've found the biggest change was getting used to the forward controls and the toe/heel changing. I've clocked just over 100kms riding on it. I use it to go to work on on fine days. I got caught out second time I rode it and it pissed down. It's an experience in greasy conditions

I've been all blah blah about getting another bike for quite a while

On the 4th December I bought this thing

1997 Kawasaki Vulcan VN1500 D2 Classic. I call it the 10 footer. As in It looks mint from 10 feet at 10 miles an hour.

Been owned by a "tough biker type not man enough to admit its not a Harley”.

He's lowered the back guard. I lifted it up to original but didn't like it. I have lowered it back down.

It's got some Aliexpress chrome taillights with dead sections. Bought some more then...



Ones a non worker. Another one coming. While at it I've rectified some mean as twist and tape wiring/whole new loom for the taillights. The brackets for the pillion seat were completely missing which i have sourced and fitted.

Plans are a cosmetic rebuild over winter involving a colour change. The paint on it is nicely done (black with green metallic fleck/green pearl over top but the prep on the tank looks like its been bogged and sanded with 36 grit and primed with no rub back. The filler can be seen clear as day. Apparently it was hit by a woman with a tomahawk. It may need a new tank. Cross that bridge when I get to it. I need to tidy the horrendous muffler "delete". They've hacked it out and made a hash of it. Its rowdy and my neighbours hate it. Good...

I'm also looking for an original taillight to fit back on.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I appreciate that. It was cheap (I think) at $6200. I didn't need to travel south and fell well within my budget. My wife likes it and that is the biggest hurdle.

It's got torque for Africa but it's not super fast. It is HEAVY!!! Weighs 292kgs. It's like riding a barge. Far cry from all of my other bikes in the past.

It turns heads, gets thumbs up and I'm stoked with it

1 hour ago, Bearded Baldy said:

Looks like a new way to die right there.

BIG

FRICKING 

BALLS

H4 led headlight upgrade worthwhile? Also looking into legality/ required function of lights

Dude i bought this off said he had a hard time at work time. Personally I think it was attitude as he's one of the leather vest/patch fingerless gloves type

Pretty sure I remember the OG up here while back.

Bit late to the convo but wifey is keen to get one between me and her once we actually have a bike. I'm a total n00b when it comes to this technology but probably the most simple we can get would probably suffice.

Bikes are slowly becoming popular at work. Admin lady's got a 300 KTM. One of the senior techs got brand new Benelli 502 apprentice got a CMX500 Rebel. All the other apprentices have dirt bikes as well as the foreman and 3 senior techs. 

Just now, Indiana_Jones said:

*Looks at Jaguar and BMW bike*........shit I'm under 40....

Everyone to their own. I've never found BMW bikes appealing. I don't know anyone under 50 that owns a BMW. I know they can do phenomenal mileage if looked after.

Just now, Indiana_Jones said:

That's a pity, my old man's 2007 one is a blast.

Are you dead set on a cruiser? If not, one of the BMW tourers can be had for reasonable coin.

And BMWs fall into the same category as Goldwings. 

I suggested a Goldwing to wife initially, she said we're in our 40s not 60s. I loled. I'm seriously looking at Vulcan 1500s. 

8 minutes ago, Indiana_Jones said:

Triumph America _b

I've looked at them, we exceed the "recommended" weight carrying capacity. I'm looking at nothing under 1200cc now, and no I'm not buying a Sportster. If I could find a Dyna Wideglide with less than 30kms on it I might be tempted, but well exceed my budget

1 hour ago, governorsam said:

do not get a c50 boulevard. at any price.

worst bike I haver ever owned.

camchain tensioners are inside the barrels.

starter clutches are crap.

comfy, but shit mechanicals.

brought another low mileage motor for the one I had, rattled and knocked worse.

pushed into the back yard and let it rust.

(only took a winter)

this was a 40 000 km motor.

sold if for $1500 or abouts.

thats my experience with them, have met other people who had the same happen to them.

cheers.

 

 

 

Funny you say about rust. Was watching one on the tard. Was dirt cheap and had a lowish KS on it. Every chrome surface on it was rusty. Someone else bought it. 

Boulevards are on the not so desired list now

Step closer yesterday. Bought 2 new helmets, Scorpion EXO-920.

Same as this but clear visors.

I've got my eye on something big and Japanese. See how Bank looks after my Territorys visit/overnight stay at Ford goes. Cambelts, both. Engine out job.

I'm looking for a flip style helmet x2. Recommendations? Budget is around the $400ea mark. Wifey wants one to have a sneaky vape on the road. Last bit of kit. Next up, buy the bike!

There's some cool LAMS stuff out there.

The old 250cc or lower gambit was just bullshit back in the day.

Two stroke fairing bikes, power to weight were absolutely mental to ride on your learners. OK if you had done a bit of riding like hooning around a farm or motocross but for someone new, nah.

I sold my RG and bought my 850 before it killed me.

On 02/10/2022 at 17:37, jessemk2 said:

Yeah was funny the old learner bike rules

nothing over 250 then buy a rgv kr1s nsr tzr and nothing could catch you

I had RG250 when on my restricted. It had been a race bike (so i was later told) prior to me owning it, everything had holes bored in it, all steel brackets replaced with real light aluminum. It scared the absolute fuck out of me and I promptly sold it, dude wrote himself off on the way home.... didn't make a corner and hit a power pole halfway on the way to Dargaville

This old Ford supporter approves. I have a soft spot for XYs as my uncle had an HO and a replica built out of a GS Fairmont. He restored both of them at the same time, replicating the HOs extra spot welds into the GS. All other parts were OG Ford and not repro.

He did this in the early 90s and sold them about 3 years before his passing about 15 years ago.

Got mega coin for them when he sold the pair. Enough to buy a truck, digger and a house in the backwater town of Te Kopuru just out of Dargaville with a fair amount of change