2010/08/28

Honda Ads: The Nicest People

See the World, well Europe, on a Honda ~ fantastic graphics, colours and character.

The story of a motorcycle: lost, found and made Whole again.

The state of the bike in January 2010 when picked up from Melrose Park. In definite need of TLC!
The pick-up; a lift with the help of Dean Rennie and his truck. Then used his garage to break the bike down to its component parts for rebuild evaluation...

Frame cleaned off and sent to the powder coater came back looking spiffy... likewise the tank was sandblasted to base metal for new filling and painting.
The rebuild in stages...

The rebuild commenced in the basement; then progressed to the kitchen.
Wheels on to make it a roller; and more bike-like!
Fun with electrics! Finally the headlight, indicators and stop light work! Easier said than done! However back to the tank and fenders. The inspiration:
Steve McQueens blue #20 Gulf-Porsche 917K from the 1971 movie Le Mans.

"A lot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing’s important to men who do it well. When you’re racing, it... it’s life. Anything that happens before or after... is just waiting."
Now all the chassis parts are assembled; it's off to Morries Place where the engine was rebuilt and will be installed.
At Ed Zenders in Ringwood.
A few weeks later, 'gin reinstalled and the bike raring to go!
Then back to the ranch!

A few adjustments... replacing incorrect fork tubes with shorter legs. Garden acts as temporary garage!
One kick and the engine roars to life!
The Open Road awaits...