The Vintage Motorcycle Mechanic
A few weeks ago I started "working" at my friend's vintage BMW motorcycle shop. Rick Monahan, owner of Black Kat Motorwerks, needed some help and I wanted to learn how to fix old motorcycles. I think this particular sort of manual labor is good for me, a useful contrast to the more cerebral stuff I do in the dotcom space.
I split my time between helping him with the bikes and helping hi on the business side. I re-launched his website (redid the one I originally made for him 3-4 years ago). I also have been promoting his shop and getting him out to promote it himself, such as at the recent Venice Vintage Motorcycle Rally.
^Quinxy
Osita Rides in the Chang Jiang Sidecar
This week I fixed up my Chang Jiang motorcycle (and sidecar) and got it back on the road. And I got Osita, my dog, all set up to ride with me. I customized some open cockpit aviation goggles with new straps to fit a dog, and reworked a genuine Soviet-era tank commander's helmet to fit securely on her head. To ensure her safety she wears a harness which I clip to a mount attached to the inside of the sidcar bucket (she can sit or lie but otherwise stays put).
Tonight we went for a ride all around Venice, got chai by the beach, then went to Swinger's in Santa Monica for dinner. Everywhere we went people were highly amused.
^ Quinxy
My Triumph Thruxton
My friend Rick had been looking to get into motorcycles and had been looking for something with the beauty of a vintage bike, but the reliability of a modern one. I'd recommended he look into the Triumph Thruxton. He did, and subsequently bought one. After he had his for a few weeks and I got a chance to ride it and appreciate all that it could do, I got one, too.
I've done quite a few cosmetic mods to my bike, most of them coming from the New Thruxton store.
Cosmetic Modifications so far:
- Quinxy von Besiex's racing number: "09"
- Fender Elimination Kit (including new front and rear turn and tail lights)
- Dart Flyscreen
- White stripes (to cover the bike's gold stripes)
- HID headlight bulb
- Taillight flasher
- Turn signal canceling device
- Aluminum billet gas cap
- Oil temperature sensor
- Easy removal rear seat cover bolts
- Battery tender connector
- and more...
On my list of things to do next is replace the clutch springs with performance clutch springs, rejet the bike, and remove the airbox.
Quinxy