In late December I wrote about my friend Greg, and a his newly acquired 1978 Kawasaki KZ 750 (read here).

Here’s an update…

Greg brought the motorcycle back to the shop to evaluate it more closely.  Would this bike be a candidate for a full restoration or a dependable everyday commuter?  After giving the “old girl” a thorough inspection, the decision was made to go the daily commuter route.  Once that issue had been settled Greg laid out his plan of attack.

• Order a manual.
• Break the bike down, clean and inspect.
• Rebuild the carbs.
• Rebuild the brakes.
• Upgrade the electrical system.
• Decided on paint scheme.
• and on and on…

Greg is making good progress as the Kawasaki has now been disassembled and is awaiting paint.  Not long ago Greg’s wife, Teresa, stopped by the shop and asked where his bike was,  Greg replied, while pointing in all directions; “Here, there, and everywhere!” They both had a good laugh about that.  If you have ever tackled a job like this, you know exactly what he means.

Its exciting to see the progress this project is making and I for one, am looking forward to seeing the end result!

to be continued…

When was the last time you received a traffic citation while riding your motorcycle?

I met Greg several years ago and he has always wanted a motorcycle of his own. In fact he has wanted a bike so much that early this summer he ordered a helmet in preparation for the big day. Well Sunday was the day!

Seems Greg met a fellow who owned a 1978 Kawasaki KZ750, but due to illness hasn’t ridden the bike for a long while.  In fact, the bike has been sitting outside under a tarp for the past 10 years.  Greg decided to purchase the bike as a project and was undaunted by it’s current condition, to be honest, he seems rather giddy about the whole thing.

I met Greg on a cold and blustery, Sunday afternoon to bring the ole’ girl to her new home.  KTRSD will keep a close eye on this restoration and will keep you abreast of the progress.

How far into the future do you think?  A day?  A week?  Well, designer Miguel Cotto, was thinking 10 years into the future when he designed his Harley Davidson concept motorcycle. 

A magnificent autumn day is in store for residents in my neck of the woods.  That means a hearty breakfast, some yard work and a leisurely ride, will fill my schedule.

Earlier this week I had the great pleasure of riding St. Route 56 from Springfield, to Athens, a trek through the lovely Hocking Hills region of Ohio, complete with exciting twisties and gently rolling hills.  So today’s ride will be closer to home.

Recently I read of a milestone in Husqvarna’s history.  The famed manufacturer of off road motorcycles, rolled it’s 25,000 motorcycle off the assembly line since becoming a member of the BMW name brand.  Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, the company became part of BMW in October of 2007.  Congratulations to Husqvarna and here’s to 25,000 more motorcycles.

Here’s one of the latest Buell ads, some call it anti-social, I like it!

Listen, we’re not against waving in general.  There are dozens of situations where a well-executed wave is in the best interest of all parties involved.  If you should find yourself on the top tier of a parade float, or on the deck of a departing cruise ship, or protruding from the sunroof of a stretch limousine, waving is the perfect way to let someone out of earshot know how you care.  But a Buell is not a social networking tool.  It is a performance motorcycle, and it’s meant to be ridden as such.  So the next time someone with an extended swing arm and neon ground effects waves at you mid-apex, it’s ok if you don’t return the gesture.  Your hands have better things to do.

After 10 years the era of the Buell Blast comes to an end. A great beginners bike is all this bike was supposed to be and I think it fulffilled it’s role admirably. In this video Buell founder, Erik Buell, gives the Blast a crushing send off.

Congratulations to Shawn Bowshier and all the gang at Competition Accessories for being named one of the top 100 dealers in the country by Dealer News Magazine.  This is an award they have received for two consecutive years.

Competition Accessories is located in Springfield, Ohio and have partnered with KTRSD on a number of occasions including this years Bike Night. 

If you are looking for any of the following brands, parts or service, I recommend you give them a call.

Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki

Here’s the newest addition to our stable, a 1996 Triumph Daytona 1200. Sorry for the brightness of the video.

With plenty of great riding ahead don’t forget to do a few simple maintenance checks to be sure your fall trip isn’t spoiled.  Even experienced riders can sometimes forget.

 Tires

• Check tire pressure
• Any cuts or cracking?
• Check bolts

Engine/ Fluids

• Time to change the oil?
• Air filter
• Check Coolant/hoses/clamps if water cooled

Brakes

• Check pedal and lever travel
• Brake fluid level
• Inspect pads

Electrical

• Lighting (stop light, turn signals, high beam, instrument panel)
• Examine battery terminals
• Any loose wires hanging or frayed?

This list should get you started

Keep The Rubber Side Down!

No question the “shop till you drop” mentality has ended, but will it return as our economy turns around?  My guess is no!  Although belt tightening is normal in a difficult economy it quickly falls out of fashion as the good ole’ days return.  Yet this time I think things will be different.  Seems too many folks are tired of living with the crushing weight they bear due to loss of work, high limit credit cards, medical expenses, and poor spending habits. So much so they are willing to make lasting lifestyle changes.

A new study by AlixPartners concludes that once this recession ends Americans will spend at about 86% of their pre-downturn level.

What about you?  Any new motorcycles in your future?