Reader Submittal

Honda VLX 400 Chopper/Bobber. A Totally Awesome Budget Build.

You guys know how much i love a well executed budget custom. Simon Tay of Singapore sends in another fine example of why imagination and creativity is always necessary no matter how much money you have… or in this case DON’T have. Congratulations on such a nice bike!

Simon wtites in:

Hi there,
Here’s a Honda Steed VLX 400 I had customized. Did it on a super low budget of S$450. I used an old front fender and widen it to make the rear fender. Found an old leather chair by the dumpster and turned it into a leather seat. Paint was rattled can sprayed but I had the paint shop to do a 2K clear over it for durability. Custom made bars with internal wiring and flushed fork caps. I hope you like it! I’m working on another bike now, hope it’ll turn out better than this!
Cheers!
Simon Tay
Singapore

 

Thanks again Simon!  I Love it!

 

 

 

Reader Ride. An Interesting Buell.

Ricardo Alcivar sends in some pics of his stealthy and unusual Buell. He writes in:

These are pics of my 1996 Buell S1 Lightning. It is my first motorcycle, purchased in 2001, and still the only. We have a lot of history together. On first glance, it may simply look like a stripped-down Buell, but it’s been upgraded everywhere with a mix of aftermarket, Buell, and even some Harley parts. It’s a pretty polarizing bike; I hear a mix of comments ranging from, “awesome,” to “crazy,” to “what happened to it,” and my favorite, “does somebody actually ride that bike?!” It is still the funnest bike I’ve rode to date as well as one of the best handling despite having time riding everything currently out there that I have an interest in.

I have to say it does look a bit harsh on the back. Nice ride though. Thanks!

Reader Ride. A nice “budget built” Yamaha SRX600.

I love seeing interesting bikes built on a budget.  There’s always something to learn.

Norman writes in:

My name is Norman, I am 26 years old, studying.
I`ve been following your blog for some time, and just love the work you`re doing.
Since a few years, i own a 1987 Yamaha SRX 600, and i`ve been working on it ever since – as far as a very tight budget allows it (and the german regultations concerning customizing bikes).
In it`s most recent incarnation, it went from flat black cafe racer to sky blue, little flakey roadster; see attachment.
It is not yet done, but if you like it, I will send some pictures when it has progressed further.
It is not a high class build, especially as I am “learning by doing”, and have a tight budget and limited tooling, but maybe you want to show it – in this case, I will send you more and hopefully better pictures when it is set up for the season (probably March).
Here`s some data:

1987 Yamaha SRX 600, Type 2TM (swiss import)
bored out to 675ccm, K&N, stage 3 dynojet kit,
Progressive fork springs,
Koni shocks,
braided brake lines,
BSM stainless steel exhaust,
homemade seat and rear section,
vintage Granturismo flake grips,
Rattle can paintjob and so on.

I see that you have certain standards for the material you post, so I fully understand if you leave it out.

Keep up the good work,

Regards
Norman

Actually Norman if I have standards I’m not sure what they are exactly lol.  I generally go with my mood on these things.  I don’t think that there is enough attention paid to what people are doing when on a budget.  Anyone can get their vision out with an unlimited budget.    It’s the people who are constrained by time/space and money that really have to get creative and even if it doesn’t quite “get there” it’s interesting to see how the compromises play out.  Thank You for the Pics!


Reader Ride. Beautiful Bultaco Restoration.

Jesus Buisan of Spain writes in:

After many months standing in the garage, today I started my Bultaco Sherpa T, and I felt like Steve McQueen in “On Any Sunday”, it was fun again feel the pull of the small two-stroke.
Greetings from Zaragoza, Spain.
Jesus

That is an excellent build! Thank you for the photo’s. I’d love to own a nice Bultaco someday. They are growing on me a lot!

Yep! We definately have a new theme “Winter Riding”! I even created a new tag for it.

I remember when I was a kid living in Montreal I’d take out my DT100 in the middle of winter and just blast around on it.  Everyone thought I was nuts.  I guess times are a changing!

Bear Barinowski (what a great name by the way!) sends in another “chiller”!

Just wanted to let you know some of us fools do ride in the snow!


This cold weather stuff is really bringing out the hardcore!

You guys are freaking TOUGH! If it’s sunny and 40 here in north Florida I shut just down 🙂

For example, Jack Huisinga writes in:

Snow? Ice? I commute every day on two wheels to Seattle but it’s mostly just sort of wet so I can’t claim any sort of extreme weather riding prize. Are we wimps or do we not have enough time to do what we’d like to do? It’s fun to see motorcycles in the many places that people use them that challenge the status quo.

Attached is a picture of my dad (mom is taking the picture) on his Honda Aspencade along the side of the road approaching Worthington Glacier, Alaska in 1986. On this trip they and another couple motorcycle tent-camped from Minnesota to tour Alaska and then back via the Alaskan Highway both ways putting on this 9000 mile trip.

You Win..

Reader Ride. More snow Biking…

You guys are getting int this “snow biking” thing.  This one looks nuts!

Can I play too. Lets see, an ‘Adventure’ shot from White face and a ‘snow’ shot from Tennessee.
How about a ‘snow’ shot from Whiteface?
This was taken on September 12/1987.It was taken on the way up to the toll road. It was closed for the season, but we follow the smaller roads down the backside (turn right just before the toll area).
Things got worse 5 minutes from here when we stopped for more photos. Our buddy Barry went sliding backwards with the clutch out & wheel spinning! We had to get onto the shoulder where the ice hadn’t yet formed under the snow. A half hour later, we were in warm sunshine and dry roads.That’s me on my old GSXR750.

This looks freaking miserable… Glad it worked out. I love the old GSZr’s and Seca’s.   Great Stuff.

What are the odds? Richard Norton’s favorit bike is a Norton. And a beauty too.

RICHARD NORTON <norton920@btinternet.com> to MCPOTD@gmail.com
5:07pm

 

Hello,
Your new site looks great; it’s always part of my daily ‘fix’ along with Southsiders, LeDepassione and CafeRacerCulture.
Don’t know if you have come across my blog, http://nortonsnortons.blogspot.com/ ?
Hope you like it….   Attached is (I think) a really atmospheric shot of me on my newly bought ’75 Commando taken in the back streets of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1988.
Still have this bike plus the Norton that it replaced although the Commando is undergoing a bit of a radical transformation at the moment.  Hope to have both machines back on the road this year after breaks of 7 and 22 years respectively. (due to other bike projects plus family commitments).
Best Regards
Thanks for the photo.  I certainly understand the Family commitment “distractions”…  Need to get cranking on my Project-X soon.  Delays delays delays..

Reader Submittal. A homebrewed CB750 Cafe.

Hi my name is nick, I’m from Wisconsin this is my 1971 CB 750 Cafe that I put together. It took me two years it was my first build.

First Build!  Nice Job!  I like the cutouts on the tank.  I’m a little foggoy on Honda’s.  Is that stock?

Beautifully photographed Yamaha SR500 by a young rider from Germany who “gets it”.

It’s nice te see that there are people in the next generation of riders who can still appreciate  the simple joy of a ride in the country on a well ridden thumper. Thanks Much for the reminder. Time to go for a long ride this weekend and blow off some stress.

Leon writes in:

Hi, I really liked your old blog, I would like to send you some pictures of my SR500, it’s an 82 model, not as fancy as the other bikes on your blog, if you don’t like it fell free to ignore this 😛
I like my bike, especially because it’s not fancy/shiny and it’s my first “real” bike it is cheap, runs and is much cooler than the plastic bikes other people of my age like.  Unfortunately I couldn’t decide on one picture, so here you are.

Greetings from Germany,
Leon