Not Really a Bob, Not Cafe, GS300 Suzuki
- Thread starter Mike Lawless
- Start date
v30magna
Been Around the Block
Most of the time it boils down to coincidence.
Sometimes it is knowing where the quality was lost, like with Chinese carbs. Great little items for about 20- $30 new, if you don't mind replacing the all the rubber gaskets immediately, as they will all start to dry crack in 1-3 months. Chinese rubber components are the worse quality product I can think of that comes from china, followed by the poor metallurgy I have seen in their fasteners. Lifan engines are actually great quality, if you replace the rubber grommets and the exhaust studs. I have never snapped a honda exhaust stud, but I can ring off a lifan stud just by giving it the wrong looks.
Good to see another car guy going bike. Love your ghia, i have always wanted to build one. i was cars cars cars for 10 years or better, being a little younger than you, my star shooter is a built 93 mx6 tuner (2400lbs/200 hp), and it out does my brothers stage 1 Subaru sti in the twisties.
But it has been bikes for me for the past 3 years, and just look at my signature! You'll find you can fit 6 small motorcycles in the same area one car would need...
Sometimes it is knowing where the quality was lost, like with Chinese carbs. Great little items for about 20- $30 new, if you don't mind replacing the all the rubber gaskets immediately, as they will all start to dry crack in 1-3 months. Chinese rubber components are the worse quality product I can think of that comes from china, followed by the poor metallurgy I have seen in their fasteners. Lifan engines are actually great quality, if you replace the rubber grommets and the exhaust studs. I have never snapped a honda exhaust stud, but I can ring off a lifan stud just by giving it the wrong looks.
Good to see another car guy going bike. Love your ghia, i have always wanted to build one. i was cars cars cars for 10 years or better, being a little younger than you, my star shooter is a built 93 mx6 tuner (2400lbs/200 hp), and it out does my brothers stage 1 Subaru sti in the twisties.
But it has been bikes for me for the past 3 years, and just look at my signature! You'll find you can fit 6 small motorcycles in the same area one car would need...
Mike Lawless
2006 HD Softail Deluxe - 2014 Triumph Bonneville
I hear ya on the bikes. I had a very, very nice 2002 Sportster follow me home a couple weeks ago. I'm afraid the "Little Black Bitch" Zooki won't see much road time this season! In fact it will most likely find a new owner soon. I'm trying very hard to simplify my life, and one race car and one motorcycle are in the comfort zone.
The Ghia...I'll own that for the rest of my life. It's been a part of me for more than 15 years now. Racing it throughout the western US in that time was something my wife, rest her soul, enjoyed very much. She enjoyed the travel and the social aspect, and she grew to be very knowledgeable on the cars workings.
But the Chinese stuff...spot on. Some is good, most is crap (ESPECIALLY fasteners!). Especially the lower priced stuff.
Do you still have the MX?
The Ghia...I'll own that for the rest of my life. It's been a part of me for more than 15 years now. Racing it throughout the western US in that time was something my wife, rest her soul, enjoyed very much. She enjoyed the travel and the social aspect, and she grew to be very knowledgeable on the cars workings.
But the Chinese stuff...spot on. Some is good, most is crap (ESPECIALLY fasteners!). Especially the lower priced stuff.
Do you still have the MX?
Mike Lawless
2006 HD Softail Deluxe - 2014 Triumph Bonneville
So, I'm finally getting around to doing the fork seals. I pop off the outer rubber shield and see that the fork seals are in upside down. The seal lips do point toward the fluid end, do they not? On this, the lips are pointing up. Opposite the fluid. Maybe why they were seeping?
Soltesjoey350
21 years young, 1972 Honda CB350.
Awesome build man! Cool to see another vw lover here too! I have a 69 vw bug as my daily, and a 71 bay as another little side project.
Joey
Joey
Mike Lawless
2006 HD Softail Deluxe - 2014 Triumph Bonneville
Thank Joey!
Fork seals done. Much nicer to ride. Except....
Fix one problem, another crops up.
So, I'm out riding around thru town, and everything is going great. The Little Black Bitch is humming right along with a much improved ride quality. Pull into the driveway after about a 15 mile ride and switch the ignition off....
It keeps running. Switch it on and off a few times and it's still running. Headlight stays on while it's running. Switch off the engine kill switch and the motor shut off, and the headlight dies with the motor.
So, apparently, I have some alternator current getting into the ignition circuit. Lovely. Or maybe I should say hopefully. I hope it's not an internal alternator short.
Fortunately, wiring is something I have no fear of. It's just a matter of spending the time and materials. It would have been nice to have ridden it for a while though before diving into another major project.
Old bikes....gotta love 'em!
Fork seals done. Much nicer to ride. Except....
Fix one problem, another crops up.
So, I'm out riding around thru town, and everything is going great. The Little Black Bitch is humming right along with a much improved ride quality. Pull into the driveway after about a 15 mile ride and switch the ignition off....
It keeps running. Switch it on and off a few times and it's still running. Headlight stays on while it's running. Switch off the engine kill switch and the motor shut off, and the headlight dies with the motor.
So, apparently, I have some alternator current getting into the ignition circuit. Lovely. Or maybe I should say hopefully. I hope it's not an internal alternator short.
Fortunately, wiring is something I have no fear of. It's just a matter of spending the time and materials. It would have been nice to have ridden it for a while though before diving into another major project.
Old bikes....gotta love 'em!
mechdesign2k4
Chop-N-Change
Rather than screw with the previous owners attempts at electrical repair, I made my own harness... Gave me a better understanding of wiring. I was terrified by it.
And a tip, when your starter solenoid is connected electrically, but not mechanically mounted, and your bike is in gear dont be surprised when that wrench you balanced precariously above it says hello to gravity and shorts the solenoid, making your bike chug chug chug exit stage left...... just sayin......
Look forward to hearing what you find, glad your rideing... we gots snow, snow, and more snow.....
And a tip, when your starter solenoid is connected electrically, but not mechanically mounted, and your bike is in gear dont be surprised when that wrench you balanced precariously above it says hello to gravity and shorts the solenoid, making your bike chug chug chug exit stage left...... just sayin......
Look forward to hearing what you find, glad your rideing... we gots snow, snow, and more snow.....
Mike Lawless
2006 HD Softail Deluxe - 2014 Triumph Bonneville
Hey Mech
You know this spring like weather, although very nice to be out in, has a definite downside and is a bad, bad thing in many very important ways.
California needs what you guys have too much of. Since 70% of the nations food production comes from my area, you can expect higher, much higher food prices in the coming months. Livestock has been sold off because they can't be fed or watered, food crops are not being planted, and even permanent crops such as fruit and nut trees are being removed. It's ugly.
As for the wiring, I'll start with a simple process of elimination. Find out what it is NOT. Since there is so much stuff crammed into the headlight housing, it's a good place to start. I'll unplug the ignition switch and use a jumper wire to see if the switch is the culprit first. Then proceed from there.
Very amusing anecdote about the starter solenoid! I get the impression that it comes from experience.
You know this spring like weather, although very nice to be out in, has a definite downside and is a bad, bad thing in many very important ways.
California needs what you guys have too much of. Since 70% of the nations food production comes from my area, you can expect higher, much higher food prices in the coming months. Livestock has been sold off because they can't be fed or watered, food crops are not being planted, and even permanent crops such as fruit and nut trees are being removed. It's ugly.
As for the wiring, I'll start with a simple process of elimination. Find out what it is NOT. Since there is so much stuff crammed into the headlight housing, it's a good place to start. I'll unplug the ignition switch and use a jumper wire to see if the switch is the culprit first. Then proceed from there.
Very amusing anecdote about the starter solenoid! I get the impression that it comes from experience.
mechdesign2k4
Chop-N-Change
Very true, you guys are going thru a bad drought. Thats mother nature for you. Hopefully you will get some prcipitation soon.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mike Lawless
2006 HD Softail Deluxe - 2014 Triumph Bonneville
Took a while to get a "roundtuit" and after dinkin' with it for a while, I have found that it's not the ignition switch. I unplugged it, made a jumper wire from blade to blade at the connector, and it still doesn't shut off unless I hit the kill switch. So, it leads me to think that alternator current is keeping the thing running. Unfortunately for the "Little Black Bitch", another bike has taken up residence. A beautiful 2002 Sportster. Compared to the "LBB" it is such a pleasure to ride. (photo below) I'm afraid the "LBB" will not see the road for the foreseeable future.
I have made one discovery thanks to the "LBB". The clip on bars....although cool looking, and OK for around town for short distances, aren't "all that" for extended riding. At least not at my age.
I have a couple things in mind. Keep it, and simplify it. I'd really like to find a mechanical advance mechanism and a standard points type ignition system that will either bolt on or can be easily modified to fit. That, along with a rewire.
Or, sell it to someone who can dink around with it and have some fun with it.
I'm leaning toward the latter, since I'm a "two-project guy" at most. With the drag race car, and the Harley, I kinda doubt I'll have any spare "rountuits" to work on this thing much.
I have made one discovery thanks to the "LBB". The clip on bars....although cool looking, and OK for around town for short distances, aren't "all that" for extended riding. At least not at my age.
I have a couple things in mind. Keep it, and simplify it. I'd really like to find a mechanical advance mechanism and a standard points type ignition system that will either bolt on or can be easily modified to fit. That, along with a rewire.
Or, sell it to someone who can dink around with it and have some fun with it.
I'm leaning toward the latter, since I'm a "two-project guy" at most. With the drag race car, and the Harley, I kinda doubt I'll have any spare "rountuits" to work on this thing much.
Soltesjoey350
21 years young, 1972 Honda CB350.
Nice man! Sad to see that the LBB isn't cutting it for you, it's a really nice bike! You should be able to get a decent amount for her, though.
I like the Harley's, I started a thread on the new street because I think I'm gunna get that a few months after it comes out.
Congrats though!
Joey
I like the Harley's, I started a thread on the new street because I think I'm gunna get that a few months after it comes out.
Congrats though!
Joey
