The Saddest Day ('72 Kawi H1b Build)

[Huckleberry]

So I've been meaning to post this build thread for a while. 1 spent just shy of two years working on this build in my condo office and just finished about 2 weeks ago.

This is how it started

 

[Huckleberry]

I did a complete tear-down, had the engine bead-blasted, a new seat made and the frame painted.

 

[Huckleberry]

I also had the rims painted and ordered new tires.

 

[Huckleberry]

We're getting there. Trying out some ideas I decided I needed the seat to be black.

 

[Huckleberry]

So anyway, after much effort and work I got it on the road a few weeks ago, ultimately deciding to it looked better without the rear fender, I went with the side-mount brake light and modded a couple of bar-end lights to fit in the open frame tubes at the back.

 

[Huckleberry]

Turns out the "two-smoker" moniker is well-deserved. Anyway, here comes the sad part, remember I got it on the road two weeks ago.

So my girlfriend and I are at a movie and this is what we see when we come out.

 

[Kamn]

Dude! what happened (other than the obvious)? was it torched? or electrical fire?

That is just sooo shity, sorry to hear and see that

 

[Barkingmadspeedshop]

It looks torched.

 

[SONICJK]

What.
The.
Fuck?

 

[scrambledpegs]

My condolences

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Huckleberry]

The cops were waiting for us when we got out. Apparently there was a witness and a video to corroborate that some drunk scumbag was around it with a lighter or cigarette or something and moments later it was up in flames.

I didn't cry. More heartbreaking photos follow.

You can see the turn signal work in the rear shot.

The tank, seat, instruments, clip-ons, headlight, wiring harness, cables and maybe carbs and alternator are all toast.

 

[Huckleberry]

Yeah. It's a bit of a personal setback.

And the most expensive movie I've ever seen.

So anyway, if anyone has a line on some H1b parts...

I need a bunch of stuff.

 

[Huckleberry]

If it weren't for the witness and video I'd tend to think it was a wiring fck up but there was no current. The ignition had to be off to kill the engine. And the positive terminal on the battery was still insulated by rubber and one of the few wires that wasn't burnt, by that I mean it wasn't sparking against the metal in the battery box or something. The only thing I can think of is maybe the stuff I sprayed the seat with (to go from tan to black) was flammable enough that a cigarette could light it.

 

[OGsmakdade]

terrible to see, sorry for your loss.

 

[Matts69cbproject]

Very sad to here Huckleberry!!!! I'm hurting for you and your loss. I'm glad to hear that she will live again, instead of moving on to the blacktop in the sky. She was beautiful, and I know she will be again. Can't wait to see the build thread on her rebirth.