Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Sounds like Fred has really logged some miles!!!! What an animal!!!!! Anxiously awaiting the pics of yours at 99,999.9, going to have fun showing them to my Yamaha rep buddy!!!!!

The coupe is coming along nicely, heck the rear fenders even match now! Did you get the pics I emailed you yesterday, Tom????

OH, I forgot that you don't get E-mails..... I sent you a reply right away. I said: WOW !!! I'm empressed that the fender looked soooooooooooooo good.

Hope you don't mind that I show your handywork on here, but the picture tells it all.

Fred put on more than 35,000 miles this year on his Venture, last year it was over 42,000 the picture of him was taken a year ago last Spring, on the south side of Lake Superior when I drove up there to Yooper land to work on my bike.

Looks a bit chilly to be biking! It's great to see a motorcycle with 100k! I had an old Honda 750 with 60k, and my current Harley has about 65k and still runs strong, just needs a lttle suspension work!

Wow. I'm impressed too! When I worked for Kawasaki I bought a ZX7RR in November. Got to uncrate and put it together...if you can call it that. There's not much to put togther. By the time spring rolled around I had already logged 5000 long, very cold miles on it. You fella's have got some reeaaal thick skin.

I rememberrrrrrrr a 1 hr trip home from Fayetteville in 25 degree weather. We had to stop in a little town called Dry Fork just to get warm. Upon stopping I tried to put my feet down but they didnt respond. Down to the ground went bike and I. Legs cramped up. Couldnt feel them. Of coarse you fella's have fairings...but I'd still concider you tough with that weather in the North.

Dave G

Just to date myself a bit, the year Tom's Venture was built was the same year I went to my last Yamaha new bike school...... Even got to have one very similar to Tom's as a demo that year.... gettin' old, ain't I??????

Naugh Dave! We age to perfection is what my granmother always said. Its just a shame we dont live much much longer.

Dave G

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Just to date myself a bit, the year Tom's Venture was built was the same year I went to my last Yamaha new bike school...... Even got to have one very similar to Tom's as a demo that year.... gettin' old, ain't I??????

"New Bike School"?

Then you will appreciate this picture of my '88, doing a little maintenance.

And other picture show me, my bike and a iceberg

I went to my first Yamaha school in 1970. I went to my last one in 1984. I did nothing but bikes the first half of my life.

I'm puttin' around now on this '04 V-Star 1100 Yammy.

Daver.

Nice looking bike!!!
I had a 2001 V-Star 650 that looked almost exactly like yours. The 650 didn't have enough power so I sold it and got my '88 Venture. This is my 5th season on it and I've put over 50,000 miles on it. This one is the second '88 Venture that I've had, the other one was identical even the same color.

Originally Posted by Daver

I went to my first Yamaha school in 1970. I went to my last one in 1984. I did nothing but bikes the first half of my life.

I'm puttin' around now on this '04 V-Star 1100 Yammy.

Daver.

The V-Star 1100's were nice, had one of them, it too was underpowered so I moved up to a 1600 Road Star--no more power problems..... My only new bike ride this year was a quick (and I do mean QUICK) test ride on the new R-1 Yamaha! Man, what a rocket ship that thing is!!! Zero to warp speed in about 10 seconds!!!! Oh yeah, and one quick burst on the new design Kawasaki Concours--very smooth, very fast, and totally redesigned from the old 1000cc Concours. Would make a great tour bike---on the Autobahn!

....yer' right, Dave....the 1100 didn't have much steam. I put the Vance and Hines exhaust on mine and tweaked the carbs. It runs much better now. As you can see, my scoot is set up for solo flight, so I get around OK on it.

Besides....I got all the go-fast stuff out of my system in the 70's. That's all we did at the Yamaha shop....worked on, and raced bikes. Early on, I raced Bultacos....then I switched to the Yammies.

Daver.

I cut my teeth riding in the Hare and Hound (aka 'Harescrambles") series. Loved it so much I quit my industrial maintenence job and started turning wrenches for Kaw. Started running with the 'rocket' crowd. I've ridden soo many bikes...but my most inspired was the Mr. Turbo charged Hayabusa. 220 mph and she was just starting to stretch her legs. I decided after that....to chill and place four tires under me. My favorite bike was the new gen ZX9. What a machine.

I dont how you guys rode the bikes in the 60's/70's. Suspension technology was barely existent. I helped a guy restore a mid 70's Hodaka Super Combat and rode it a few times. Made me grin when I got back on my KLX650C2 desert bike. Even it didnt have the suspension my mx bike had.

Man...you guys have me daydreaming about bikes again.
I'd be more likely to graduate to a big bike now....love the Roadking...its just a bit big for my scrawney bod. More likely to be interested in a Dyna Low rider now.

Daver. Gotta love those two stoke road bikes! Also helped do a restore on a 72 Kaw H2 Mach IV. Love those two strokes!

Dave G

Daver, we certainly have come a long ways since those days, huh??? I played with a couple of the old 350 Yamahas in a variety of configurations resembling road racers, unfortunately around here there was just no place to race them (well, legal places anyway).

One of my most favorite bikes "back then" that I would love to duplicate today was a Norton 750 Commando! Had one and thought it was the baddest thing on the planet.... Turned it over to one of the local tuners for a bit of engine and suspension work, and for it's day it was very, very fast!!!!

Now it's so easy to just walk into a dealership and buy a ready built racer, don't know if it would be fun anymore or not... Though I do remember a couple of differet wannabe racers who plunked down Daddy's cash for their brand new racer (one an R-6 and the other on a Ninja) who proceeded to dump their brand new toys within a mile of the dealership, one in the driveway about 20 yards out of the shop!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Now it's so easy to just walk into a dealership and buy a ready built racer, don't know if it would be fun anymore or not... Though I do remember a couple of differet wannabe racers who plunked down Daddy's cash for their brand new racer (one an R-6 and the other on a Ninja) who proceeded to dump their brand new toys within a mile of the dealership, one in the driveway about 20 yards out of the shop!!!!!

I know what you mean. The truly scarey part....these bikes will drop a 10 sec quarter and will easily go beyond 170. Really...who are these bike for? Our young folks with very little experience...thats who. For a short time I rode with a group of 50+ bikers (hoolagin rocket racers)....I can tell you I saw some real stupid stuff. Then one by one over the course of a year they were dropping like flies until the count got to nine. 4 dead and 5 that wished they were. I dont mean to sound insensitive....but these guys were really asking for an accident. I finally came to my senses, realizing I was 32 years old and had two boys that depended on me and that I loved more. I was told that I was old and boring. In one sentence I said "I love old and boring!"...and payed my new found buddies a farewell. I do miss the gutwrenching addrenaline rush....but I'm happier knowing I got to see my boys grow up. Wish these guys would save it for the track....I dont like seeing any1 busted up like this.

Dave G

The trunk lid for Tom's coupe was really hammered...not bad for rust but lots of nasty dents and creases.... I removed the skin from the inner structure and began the straightening process on it.... Going ok but sloly....

Spent a bit of time on the Bronco this evening. Getting rid of the window channel for the side windows in preperation for the new skin that will be installed instead of the glass. Going to be a kewl little truck, but as with all projects, quite labor intesive!!!!