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| 1966 Tissot Seastar |
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Laid It Up For The Winter
I couldn't find indoors storage for the bike this year so I had to park it under a piece of cheap tarp in a gateway in the block.
Next step was preparing the tank. Finding fuel stabilizer proved to be quite a task so instead of sourcing some online I chose just to take off the tank, drain it and take it inside. It now sits warm and safe in the cellar.
Next step was preparing the tank. Finding fuel stabilizer proved to be quite a task so instead of sourcing some online I chose just to take off the tank, drain it and take it inside. It now sits warm and safe in the cellar.
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| My Man-Cave |
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Hang on
I see it's been a long time since my last post here. A lot of stuff has happened in the last two months as well as increasing pressure at school.
However, I am still here and have a few ideas on my mind. for instance: In the future you will get a review of bespoke gloves from England as well as posts on some home made stuff and the occasional school update.
So hang on folks and make sure to subscribe to the blog to recieve notice when there's anything new.
However, I am still here and have a few ideas on my mind. for instance: In the future you will get a review of bespoke gloves from England as well as posts on some home made stuff and the occasional school update.
So hang on folks and make sure to subscribe to the blog to recieve notice when there's anything new.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Revamping Controls
Suddenly I discovered that the brake master cylinder was leaking so I started looking around for a rebuild kit. These kits turned up to be rather expensive so I figured I might as well just buy a complete working cylinder/resevoir with lever and all and do away with the old ugly and rattling one. One thing led to the other so right now I am in process of completely redo the handlebarcontrols and front brake.
I got:
Stainless steel braided brake line and fixings.
Stainless steel speed bleeder nipple.
Sintered brake pads.
Gum coloured Tomasselli replica grips.
The levers, perches and resevoir/master cylinder are from a '91 Kawasaki GT550.
Switch housings, levers etc. are powder coated matte black.
A lot of stainless allen head bolts.
I got:
Stainless steel braided brake line and fixings.
Stainless steel speed bleeder nipple.
Sintered brake pads.
Gum coloured Tomasselli replica grips.
The levers, perches and resevoir/master cylinder are from a '91 Kawasaki GT550.
Switch housings, levers etc. are powder coated matte black.
A lot of stainless allen head bolts.
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| Reference photo |
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| Reference photo |
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| Before powder coat. |
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| A post coat mock-up. |
Brrrrrrrrrrrr Volvo 544 B18
Somehow I have developed a liking for these old Volvos. This one in particular is beautiful, red rims and all.
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
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| Volvo 544 B18 |
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Merino Undershirts
I have been experimenting with technical baselayers as undershirts under a shirt and jacket for some time. The need for good temparature regulation is as strong in the summer as in the winter.
However I hate the feel of the polyester stuff you get most places. That's why I got pretty excited when I saw these. Extremely light, thin and soft 100% merino undershirts. The flat seams and lack of bright flashy colors and prints make these perfect for wearing under a dress shirt. And they are cheap too.
I have been testing these for about a week now and I have been perfectly warm all the time and most important; I haven't shed a single drop of sweat.
So now that I know they work in cold weather it's going to be good to see how they perform in the summer.
My only regret so far is that I only bought two.
However I hate the feel of the polyester stuff you get most places. That's why I got pretty excited when I saw these. Extremely light, thin and soft 100% merino undershirts. The flat seams and lack of bright flashy colors and prints make these perfect for wearing under a dress shirt. And they are cheap too.
I have been testing these for about a week now and I have been perfectly warm all the time and most important; I haven't shed a single drop of sweat.
So now that I know they work in cold weather it's going to be good to see how they perform in the summer.
My only regret so far is that I only bought two.
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| Planet X merino base layer |
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| Planet X merino base layer |
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| Planet X merino base layer |
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Another CB Four
What a complete and utter brutal exhaust! The twist grip also looks like the bike is not as fast as the owner thinks it is...
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
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| Another CB Four |
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Stainless
The other day I recieved a nice little package. I must admit that I really surprised myself with the level of sheer excitement over some bolts.
I plan to change as many bolts and nuts as possible on the GT500 to stainless starting with the handlebar controls as they are getting a makeover. More to follow...
If you need stainless bolts - imperial or metric - this supplier stocks the most. and they sell individually which is extremely nice if you don't need a thousand of each size.
I plan to change as many bolts and nuts as possible on the GT500 to stainless starting with the handlebar controls as they are getting a makeover. More to follow...
If you need stainless bolts - imperial or metric - this supplier stocks the most. and they sell individually which is extremely nice if you don't need a thousand of each size.
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| Stainless steel bolts |
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Shiny Sunday Ride
Check out this ride. This is the kind of bike bike that makes you wonder if this is an extremely well kept original or a restorer with OCD...
I like the use of bar end wheighs to finish of the 'horns' of the club man bars. Definately going to do that on mine.
I like the use of bar end wheighs to finish of the 'horns' of the club man bars. Definately going to do that on mine.
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
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| Honda CB750 SOHC |
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Crazy Tuned '77 Z1000
I found this one parked at the site for our new school project. Amongst a lot of mods the engine has been bored to 1300ccm, been fitted with new cams, flat slide Mikuni carbs and exhaust. The guy who started this build even chose to modify the main bearings heavily. And mount totally overkill carbon fiber wheels.
The owner told me it's a complete blast to rideas it boosts a good 100 bhp. I guess the 4 into 1 Supertrapp exhaust sounds amazing too.
The owner told me it's a complete blast to rideas it boosts a good 100 bhp. I guess the 4 into 1 Supertrapp exhaust sounds amazing too.
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| Crazy Tuned '77 Z1000 |
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| Crazy Tuned '77 Z1000 |
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| Crazy Tuned '77 Z1000 |
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Sambuichi
I had the great opportunity to participate in a one and a half day seminar lead by the great japanese architect Hiroshi Sambuichi.
Yesterday he held a lecture to tell us a little about his work and filosophy. I find his whole thought about making architecture part of the cycles of nature extremely inspirational.
Sambuichi tried to learn us that the earth consists of inert and moving material in a mutual influental relationship and that we should consider all the possible ways we influent the movements of air, water, etc. But it's not as much taking natural phenomenons into account as it's about controlling them and using them to your advantages.
For this short seminar my co-student and I seeked to use and intensify the howling winds at the western coast of jutland. Basicaly our structure consists of a big funnel that leads the winds into a giant organ pipe. We found that leaving the mouth of the pipe the only opening facing south creates a concentration of light at the flue. This emphazises the small space where the sound is actualy generated and makes this a very special area to experience. I can't imagine it's a very pleasant place to stay, but it was really fun and educational to make.
And please excuse the grimey cell phono photos.
Yesterday he held a lecture to tell us a little about his work and filosophy. I find his whole thought about making architecture part of the cycles of nature extremely inspirational.
Sambuichi tried to learn us that the earth consists of inert and moving material in a mutual influental relationship and that we should consider all the possible ways we influent the movements of air, water, etc. But it's not as much taking natural phenomenons into account as it's about controlling them and using them to your advantages.
For this short seminar my co-student and I seeked to use and intensify the howling winds at the western coast of jutland. Basicaly our structure consists of a big funnel that leads the winds into a giant organ pipe. We found that leaving the mouth of the pipe the only opening facing south creates a concentration of light at the flue. This emphazises the small space where the sound is actualy generated and makes this a very special area to experience. I can't imagine it's a very pleasant place to stay, but it was really fun and educational to make.
And please excuse the grimey cell phono photos.
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| Our model |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
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| Sambuichi seminar |
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Magpie
Today I finished a watercolour painting of a Magpie. It is based on a photo I found with imagesearch. My wife is contemplating having this as a tattoo on the back of her shoulder and I really think it could turn out beautiful.
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| Watercolour magpie |
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| Watercolour magpie |
A List of Planned Mods
A while ago I posted a drawing of how I like my GT500 to look. Here's a list of the modifications that I have in mind. Most of them are in the drawing. Some of them I forgot while making it...
It is important to me that the bike is ridable all the way through the process so this will take some time. A very limited budget doesn't help and neither does my lack of skills and disposable time. Any way; I guess that in a few years time it will be done. Or I will have changed the route completely.
Chassis and appearance:
New skinny seat
Footpegs moved back a bit and controls shortened
Natural GT grips
Rear mudguard replaced with clear pvc sheet
Front mudguard trimmed
Painted panels on the tank
Electrical and lights:
Small tail light
Lowered head light
Smaller indicators
Battery etc. relocated
Speedo relocated to the tank
Engine
K&N filters
Expansion chambers
New oil tank
Wheels
Hubs and spokes painted black
It is important to me that the bike is ridable all the way through the process so this will take some time. A very limited budget doesn't help and neither does my lack of skills and disposable time. Any way; I guess that in a few years time it will be done. Or I will have changed the route completely.
Chassis and appearance:
New skinny seat
Footpegs moved back a bit and controls shortened
Natural GT grips
Rear mudguard replaced with clear pvc sheet
Front mudguard trimmed
Painted panels on the tank
Electrical and lights:
Small tail light
Lowered head light
Smaller indicators
Battery etc. relocated
Speedo relocated to the tank
Engine
K&N filters
Expansion chambers
New oil tank
Wheels
Hubs and spokes painted black
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| Artist's conception of a custom Suzuki GT500 |
New Filters
The airbox rubbers were pretty rotten and the engine was starting to act up so I decided to have go at pod filters and rejetting.
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| Hard and cracking rubber |
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| Cars themed socks! |
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| New cheap ass pod filters |
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Artist's Conception
First of all, let's be clear that I am not an artist. But what do you do when you have a lot of ideas, but lack both workshop, tools and skills to carry them out? Not to mention money. I'm always planning a lot of modifications I'd like to do to the GT500. So I tried to mock up some of them in a drawing.
I love working with watercolours and I know a little on the technique, but there's still a lot to develop. I think the next thing for me to work with is layering. That should make the chrome and other shiny stuff come out better.
For this rendition I traced the base drawing to a piece of paper directly on the laptop screen using a softish pencil and a light hand. I taped that drawing to the light table and added my planned modifications on another piece on top of that. Lastly i fixed the watercolour paper over both the other layers and started colouring it in. I do one colour at a time and one area at a time and make sure not to start a new one before the one directly next to it is completely dry.
I love working with watercolours and I know a little on the technique, but there's still a lot to develop. I think the next thing for me to work with is layering. That should make the chrome and other shiny stuff come out better.
For this rendition I traced the base drawing to a piece of paper directly on the laptop screen using a softish pencil and a light hand. I taped that drawing to the light table and added my planned modifications on another piece on top of that. Lastly i fixed the watercolour paper over both the other layers and started colouring it in. I do one colour at a time and one area at a time and make sure not to start a new one before the one directly next to it is completely dry.
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| Sketching |
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| Adding colour |
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| Artist's conception of a custom Suzuki GT500 |
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