1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates.

A good start, but miles to go…The tank appears to be a 60’s-70’s 500cc model that was modified to accept a custom tank-top rack and knee pads. The fork is 1967-70 legs with a modified 1957 lower triple, and top clamp from a 1962.

Lysette-style seat springs. Pretty comfy even without a cover. The brass container is an oil catch can from a hit-and-miss engine that has a spigot to oil the chain.

Working on the 1993 H-D FXR.. Without the battery and oil tank, the bike looks a little lighter. The battery box will need to be modified a little to allow for a swingarm mounted rear fender. A rear monoshock conversion is being contemplated.

The Harley Wide-Glide fork innards. The spacers fit on the fork cartridge plungers and drop the front end by a couple inches.

The rear shocks look like they could be a little longer to get the stance right. Factory mid pegs and controls replace the forwards the bike came with. A set of low tracker style handlebars are coming from Biltwell.

Some of the carnage inside the 1973 Yamaha CT-3. Apparently the bike was wrecked during an errant wheelie. My guess is that the kickstart was jammed on while the engine was revved, shearing off the gear and end of the output shaft. The sheared tranny shaft gear normally lies between the primary shaft of the tranny and the kickstart gear. A coming parts engine will hopefully have intact replacements.

A new Wiseco piston kit is on the way to replaced this scored one.

Some of the right engine case destruction. Blow-out of the kickstart spring notch, a deep gouge where the gear went wobbly, and an oil galley wall (that sprays the primary gear) that got ground through. Pretty trashed, but it can all be fixed.

Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye.

One of the crown jewels of the meet was this beautiful pre-war Norton thumper, just back from once again completing the Portland Maine to Portland Oregon Cannonball race. Just out of the frame are two more near-identical bikes from Peckerhead Racing finishing the Cannonball without missing a segment!

I roosted my shirt a little on some of the field events, but this was nothing compared to what was yet to come…

The “H8-R Honda Z50R featured in an earlier post with the freshly re-painted tank I meant to show off when I had a chance. After several Motos, the race official told me he had some good news and bad news: “ The good news is that you made the Main in the minibike flat track event, the bad news is that you made the Main in the minibike flat track event.” It was a wild, muddy slog that ended with little idea among the riders or officials about who even won the event! So much fun, my victory was that I finished at all. Big thanks to Bell Helmets for their race gear!

The Jason Lee Triumph TR6C took second in the competition class. Behind is the Ariel/BSA racer that took the top award. I finally had a chance to give this bike a ride with all the dirt and mud we had, and was not disappointed.

After the flat track main. My shirt weighs about five pounds in this picture, and the parts of my hair hanging out of the helmet were thoroughly caked with chunks of mud. I was on street tires that slid horribly, but did a fine job slinging mud at me or anyone trying to get around me.

My buddy Shawn Henry and his teammate following a victorious run in the field events. The requisite congratulatory slug of Malort awaiting the victor. In that case, probably better to lose.

The burnout board. Late night burnouts are a custom, and pinstriper Alton Gillespie fashioned this one onsite. Kind of hard to read, but it says: ” Absolutely positively No Burnouts!” The Norton Club has a sense of humor and little regard for rubber tires.

Amazingly, the three hours the bike show was going on were relatively dry.

A couple of BSA beauties that caught my eye. Many of the bikes in the show were finely restored and modified, but there were grungy competition and street examples as well. By the end of the morning bike show, the rain was starting up again.

Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else.

This 1972 Honda CT70H custom left the shop with a new owner this week. Sporting a headlight from the 1971 CT70 K0, alloy wheels, 88cc cylinder and piston, 20mm carb and intake, high flow air filter, oil cooler, temp gauge, and Honda SL70 head and cam, it is quick and fun. It came with a factory 4-speed with hand clutch. This is the second year of the CT70, and the first year for hydraulic forks.

Lots of extra bling, and accessories like stainless steel dual exhaust, ignition key-matched helmet holder, grab bar, rear rack, folding shifter, and chrome engine dress-up kit. The seat is an ST70 model. Tires are Bridgestone from Japan. A smaller rear sprocket and larger counter sprocket are there to take advantage of the additional engine power and provide a higher top speed.

Hand controls and levers are from a 1971 Honda SL70. That silver thing on the left handlebar is a drink holder. CT70’s are popular as pit bikes and at swap meets, and a drink holder comes in handy. The footpegs are from a Z50 K3 model.

Another bike heading out the door with a new owner was this 1975 Honda CL360 seen in past blog posts. Still one of my vintage favorites as far as handling and looks. The Mikuni 30mm carbs make for easy starting and impressive acceleration.

Another bike searching for a new home is this 1971 Honda CT70 seen in past blog posts. Tons of new parts, a 108cc engine, it runs strong and is ready to go. This picture is from the Dentonmoto Movie night and bike showcase, where we had four bikes for sale.

Finished Fabian’s tank and it is now back on his bike, “Morrison.”

A pulley guard made for Jason’s motorized bicycle.

The guard mounted up. When I first test rode the bike, my leg contacted the exposed pulley, prompting this mod.