The Rusty Cowl

2011-08-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've been busier and busier. Here's proof I still think to post here when I see something cool. I've been saving each of these individually but I didn't want to totally spam you up.

Fun lil race bike from ThrottleYard

info here: http://throttleyard.com/2011/06/15/track-trainer-1977-honda-mt125r/

My favorite Frenchie custom gents.

The Blitz Boys, full article on Vintagent here: http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2011/06/blitz-boys.html

Too bad we don't live in Austria.

For Daniel T. from Derestricted: http://blog.derestricted.com/travel/4-hours-through-the-valleys/

For Aaron M. and Craig H. It just takes a little bit of vision. Or maybe a lot in this case.

More pics here: http://blog.derestricted.com/design/82-yamaha-virago-750/

Spanky little monkey here: bike exif monkey (url way too long to paste here)

And last but not least, the best use of a Blast motor that never happened, but might still.......

From Bubble Visor, hype mobile, and I hope it happens some how: another long url

More to come, hopefully sooner than later.

A post about 4 wheels!

2010-02-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, the land of the free. Where we get the most limited choice.

Once again vehicle manufacturers only provide America with the 'biggest and best', while the UK and Europe get choices galore. I was talking with a friend last night about the need for better designed and more efficient family transport. In particular I was thinking about the Ford Transit Connect, which does come available as a five seater wagon as pictured above, but what we discussed was the need for additional seating. The Transit is cool in a utilitarian way (it's billed as a commercial vehicle), it's small but spacious, and has a Euro appeal that I like. However I would like it even more if it had a third row of seats, and I'm not the only person with this opinion, this blogger is thinking along these lines as well. The fact is the Scion XB, the Honda Element, and the Ford Flex are cool family cars/utility vehicles but they just don't accommodate a family with more than three children, not to mention friends or dogs. So what's a growing family on a budget supposed to do to get where they are going?

So in the United Kingdom they get the option of the similarly styled Tourneo Connect (a 1.8 liter Diesel with available seating for eight). Sounds perfect. Also the Transit Connect available on the other side of the pond is available with a diesel, and manual transmission, and AWD! We won't see that here for the foreseeable future, unless we the public can convince Ford to give it a try here.

For me? I want a 1.8L TDCi Tourneo Connect with a manual transmission, eight seats, and AWD. (If it was lifted, with rugged steel wheels and semi knobby tires, had a grill protector, fold flat bench seats, and a popup camper roof with a roof rack and a ladder on the back door, and a hitch for a scooter/bicycle hauler, that would be just great!)

Tourneo pics.

With the tall roof.

And looks a little better without the tall roof, but I bet that head room is worth it.

What do you think? Should we petition Ford USA for more options?

Post about Lily.

2010-01-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

I wanted Lily to be more comfortable during our chilly walk this morning, so my shrunken wool sweater was installed.

I adjusted the clip for a custom tailored fit a couple times, and re-rolled the sleeves after her running undid them.

Lily received a couple doggie toys for Christmas and the best kinds have squeakers in them. The remains pictured below are from a bone shaped toy that didn't even hold her attention until I squeaked it.

I'm not worried about her eating the squeaker because she dismantles every one just like in the picture above. Once she opens and unstuffs the stuffing she chews the offending noise maker with focused glazed eyes, and renders the diaphragm and air bladder completely inoperable. And leaves the carcass in favor of cuddling.

Example of cuddling from recent visit from J and M Hess. Hope everyone had a fun and relaxing break!

Plausible excuse for lack of new posts?

2009-12-13T06:45:00.001-08:00

My wife and I made a baby!

I do have lots of things on my mind and even some promising new leads.

Firstly a new conspirator that I met at Metro who is contemplating moving here from Elmira NY and has a background in both Machining and bike enthusiasm.

Secondly Parker let me in on a new moped racing group out of L'ville who want to race at an unnamed kart track that I've been meaning to ride at for a while. Check it out via Magnum Dash.

Christmas break is coming up, and I hope to get some projects further underway. Stephan will be along to wrench with me on his Moto Guzzi 850 T3, I hope to get the body finished on Daniel Matt's scooter, and maybe even mount the dash and talk with Rick about body work for his Kan-a-tuna!

The real gift to remember this season is our individual value, which overwhelms me. Curious? Write me seth.hershey-at-gmail for more.

Simple Carb

2009-09-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Exploded and identified view, and reassembly steps. For Elena, Matt, Brad, and Amanda.

Click for larger images.

Feed throttle cable (not shown) through goose neck adjuster, compress throttle spring, and attach throttle cable tip to throttle plate.

Screw down Carburetor top.

Detail of carb bowl, float, float pivot pin, needle jet, and main jet.

Slot needle jet into float.

Fit needle into the needle seat of the underside of the carb, fit pivot pin to hold float and check for freedom of motion.

Thread in main jet.

Install float bowl

Detail of carb side, fuel filter, banjo fitting, and screw with gasket.

Fit filter. It's probably directional, pay attention for best fit.

Fit banjo fitting and screw with gasket

Fit air filter into carb or into air filter cover/housing.

Fit air filter cover, and voila! Sometimes it's easier to install the carb onto the intake, and then install the air filter and cover, depends on available space.

Good luck!

Metro scenery: Symba and the girls.

2009-09-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Stella!

2009-09-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Mint Mangle (Rusty Cowl) in it's not-so-natural environment. Fun.

Moto Parking in Cincinnati.

2009-09-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Way to go Cincinnati, good for you for using every nook and crannie that those cagers can't park their cars in. Keep up the good work. Now if only I could find some space to squeeze in.

OH, there's a space.

On the Road.

2009-09-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago I rode to Spring Valley for the Gem City Rollers' Roll in the Hay camping rally.

It was a bit dark leaving Metro, but we only got rained on for a bit while in town and it dried quick enough to be forgotten. I didn't even have time to think that my rain gear would be necessary. Dave and Kim probably didn't even have any, so I would've ridden along wet to commiserate.

The Rally was entertaining despite missing most of the active events like rides and shenanigans. We did still get to see the Gymkanna, which was kinda sad. And we saw people try to bite a hot dog from a moving scooter. The rest of the night was good for hanging out, and I had my yearly ride on Kevin C's rare Lambretta, in the dark, on winding corn field perimeter roads.

These cows have always been here. I think they are pets/scenery.

Beautiful bright morning on the farm.

Sleeping on the ground always makes me crave road trips and more camping, so the following Monday Bob and I rode out to Portsmouth to scout out more camping and to visit his parents on the Ohio side of the river.A visit to Augusta, parked by the Ferry, but that we stayed on the KY side, and visited a lonely Amtrak station in Maysville that is unmanned and always open.

Bob, his R100GSPD (Paris Dakar replica) and my CBR400 at Heritage Honda (boring) in the ugly modern part of Maysville, vs. the pretty old town part that had the cool train station.

After crossing the River just after Portsmouth we visited with Bob's folks and had some delicious pasta. We rode back via 125 through Shawnee State Park, they had just treated the road with a fine spread of small gravel and signs warning us to go 30mph, it was strange and made corners feel kinda funny.

Bob hit a Vulture outside of the park.

I don't mean to make it sound like a small deal, I hate to see any casualty of road sports, but Bob was so unfazed that I wanted to convey that with my delivery. This was the last buzzard to leave a banquet of deer at the guard rail; he should have just stayed put. Bob's Beemer suffered only some smear on the mirror and broken turn signal and brush guard.

Anyway, Shawnee State Park looks like a great destination for a scooter ride and camp. Who's in? We'll try to avoid the wild life.

2009-08-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Thinking a lot about the Peirspeed distributed Sachs MadAss 125 which is finally available

Original image

full faired for road courses

and bikini faired for short/kart road courses

I would do one with a number plate/head light holder for the street.

Sarcastic Encouragement Posters for the Moto Crowd

2009-08-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Originally posted by Paul Hood. Share the fun!

Tyga Aero Mockup.

2009-07-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

It's due time I replace the bodywork on my CBR

Before

And after

2009-07-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

Brought (back) home my Kinetic TFR. I consider this to be the first bike I got. It was a gift from my wife for Christmas. I finally got it started a couple years ago, but never had the time and interest in riding it. So I loaned it to Stephan for he and his room mate to enjoy. Stephan bought a few more jets and found this old 4" headlight to make it street legal. Thanks Stephan.

It started with the first kick, but died out from too much air. Jetting was right, but not for the lack of a filter in the air box. I replaced that and it was golden.

I swapped out the moped style high bars for a flat handlebar from a mountain bike donor and rode it to Kroger for some food items. I had no lock, so I wedged it into the bike rack and hoped no one would take it. It was still there.

So I took it off road. I explored the whole construction site at Colerain and Virginia in Northside. And it kept going. Less the headlight, which was a 6volt item. I replaced it with a 12v bulb, and it works gloriously.

Next up, a vanity windscreen. Cute huh?

Beast of Burden: Grocery Getters

2009-05-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Two pictures I've been unintentionally hanging onto.

Seen outside of the Hyde Park Kroger last Friday. I love to see people really using their scooters.

I have no idea what the apparatus on the Chinese scooter is for, maybe golf clubs... that would be some uneven loading, unless you were carrying your comrade's clubs as well.

Gear that Makes a Difference: Full Face Helmet

2009-05-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

For the last month I've employed a Bell Star for helmet duties. The Star is Bell's range topping full face helmet, a stark difference compared to the lower end HJC, and Bell Sprint helmets that I've been wearing for the last four years that I've been riding.

I'm using the soft pads (it also comes with firm, which I'll try if the soft set breaks in to be too roomy) which have a luxurious feel. I sized it from the extra small helmets that I wear from Bell, and that was accurate for me.

I decided to try a different helmet after a particularly quick trip on my 400 left me feeling a little rattled from my old helmet (a matte black Bell Sprint) lifting and pressing uncomfortably on my face in the wind.

The solution? This helmet has spoilers!

Aside from looking a lot better, being much lighter and feeling like a much more tailored fit on my head it has technical improvements to the venting system (that works) and aerodynamics, in fact in my Bell catalog they've got a helmet with strip taped all over it for demonstration purposes. I don't know what it is actually demonstrating, but I can tell you that this lid is very stable, at least at scooter speeds.

I've planned a road trip on the CBR from Cincinnati to Athens for tomorrow, during which I'm sure I'll do plenty of thinking about my helmet. I'll try to follow up on this post with those findings.

Already sporting an endorsement for my favorite British motorbike magazine, Performance Bikes.

Metro Scooter Scenery.

2009-05-06T04:36:00.000-07:00

The back room at Metro

Not so secret project

2009-05-04T08:12:00.001-07:00

Late model KYMCO People 50, derestricted.

Lots of crashes, stolen twice, recovered in rough condition,

Given to me.

Lyrical: You don't know me.

2009-05-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

I know me, but you don't know me.
Cause I don't know you,

Lyrics from Peter Bjorn and John's new album Living Things. This album took me a second listen, unlike their totally sweet, poppy first release, but is totally worth the effort. The eighties have weighed heavily on this record, a certain song calls Paul Simon to mind.

If you've ever had Young Folk stuck in your head, be aware there are some addictive melodies here as well. Get it, and enjoy.

Friends Bikes: Pat's Katana commuter.

2009-05-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Well worn.

The odometer is beyond it's mechanical limitations (rolled over)and the springs are a bit soft now, but it's still ridden hard.

Thanks Pat

Friends Bikes: Sam's W650

2009-04-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

Monday this week I helped Sam put the rest of his Kawasaki W650 together. Enjoy the pictures. More later.

Beast of Burden: Tire Delivery

2009-04-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

Tires for a friend of Metro who is working on a Lambretta for designer David Miller.

Frequent Haunts: Lookout Joe's

2009-04-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

I meet another motorcycle friend here once a week before we both ride to work. Lots of friendly regulars, really friendly staff that is always genuinely glad to see us. It's a real place, and independently owned, hard not to love

The Rusty Cowl

2009-04-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

The rusty cowl is a side panel from an old Vespa PX that's been sitting around by the dumpster at Metro Scooter. We've been meaning to dress the scooter up and use it as an outside display. People always ask if it's for sale, but I explain that it's had everything useful salvaged from it already by people that have experience with rebuilding and restoring vintage Vespas.

It took just a little modification to the cowl, and I pushed a big dent out of it, swapped out the rubber trim and turn signal assembly. So hence the new Blog title, as soon as I figure out how to change it.

I remember having a fear of anything rusty when I was a child; what if I wasn't current on tetanus shots? Lock jaw sounds scary. So it's kind of a reclaiming of courage now that I've grown, but I find that other grown ups are afraid of the rust, as if it's going to damage the bike, or give someone lock jaw.

Casio Film Watch Pela

2007-07-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

My favorite wrist watch was a Casio Film Watch Pela. I believe that it was Number FS-00R-7 which was a diagonal hexagonal display. It had 12 or 24 hour time readouts, world time zones so I could scroll through the world's zones and see what time it was in London, or at LAX. It also had a stopwatch, an alarm and a telephone number data storage that I never bothered to use. My watch was broken in a punk show mosh pit in the third year that I wore it. The strap closure broke, and when I found the watch the face had been cracked so that the display looked like an ink blot. I thought about it for a couple of weeks, and have said that I was going to replace it with the same watch ever since. Now years have gone by and I still miss it but I haven't had time, literally, to make it a priority. I got my first film watch with it's reflective face and silver urethane band on ebay for around seventeen dollars, including shipping, prices have gone up, and the choices of styles of the display and the band have changed as well. And so finally today I did some shopping, picked my favorite from the options that are now available and I am now waiting for a response from an ebay seller in Germany. This week my time table needs precision. I may have to borrow a wristwatch from a friend til my new Casio arrives, but at least it's on it's way.