I bought a new pair of gloves. It's been raining a lot lately and tired of drying my old gloves in front of the fireplace. They looked great on the Internet (don't they all?). They came super fast across the Atlantic from London. Must think about those who involved in delivering my indulgence. Globalization is a great thing.
Not loving them so far. I'm not used to these highly structured motorcycle gloves. I've been using hardware store leather gloves too long. I hope I get used to them. They're warm though. But then as soon as I put them on, rain stopped. And my GS is equipped with a wonderful grip heater. Do I really need them? Well, it's too late.
I actually did a lot to the XS650. It had been left outside in a friend's property in Colorado. He told me that someone messed with the carb and that's why it doesn't run anymore. But they look fine to me. It'd been long time, so I decided to install new piston rings. Easy job. I've done this before with this very same bike 15 years ago or so as a wedding gift for him. He's then moved back to France and he's now a rockstar. Who needs a dirty XS then?
The tank had a horrible pinkish color, so I decided to repaint. I stripped it and immediately regret doing it. I was hoping to find a nice sheet of steel, but it was covered with shitty patty job. But a buddy of mine who is going to ride this bike does not care about small things. So I just painted right away without prepping too much.
Got a new battery. But then I saw that there were many wires that were melted and rusted. No good. Reconsructed the most of wiring with used yet clean wires. Still, it took a long long time to figure out that the starter motoe had (occasional) internal short. I could have removed the motor and left only with a kick starter, but the guy who is going to ride is not gonna ride often.
To make a long story short(er), I pretty much changed any components that are relevant to the functions of the bike. Who cares about the cosmetics? Then, one day, it run. I should have stopped there. But I thought it was a good idea to install an electronic ignition kit.
I trust the point ignition system. I think it's brilliant. I can see mechanically when it is ready to fire. Easy to work with. No mistery there. But perhaps not for a beginner. Who's the beginner here? I didn't set the ignition timing well and got a painful kick-back. I also replaced the alternator with a new magnet system. Then, I ost confidence in locating TDC. I thoght I marked well, but since it wasn't starting, I felt like I didn't know what to do.
I searched the Internet. Just like when you feel like you're sick, you should never search the Internet because you WILL find anything that matches with what you have and that could be terminal. But then, I saw many cases that folks having hard time with this system. Something wrong with this? I remembered the times when I bought a similar kit for my R69US and it failed me twice and made me stranded on the road (the point ignition never did that to me). Should I bring back the good ol' contact breaker system? I'm so lost.
It's such a great event. Unlike musuems, people actually race cars. Great sound. I have to say old F1 cars are better than the current ones at least in terms of their sound.
これは泣けた。ジルの314T2がシェクターのWR1の隣。WR1はGPチャンプのローソンが運転!
This made me cry. Gills's 312T4 next to Jody's WR1(dirven by Eddie Lawson).
ローソンだよ。お馴染み赤白メット。近所のイベントでは彼がぶっちぎりで優勝してた。
Lawson is here. He is fast no matter what he drives and rides.
1977 Lotus 78
日本人が運転してた。いいなー。
Beautiful.
こういうのにジルぶつかっちゃったんだよね。マーチ。
Gills run into the back of one these March cars in 1982.