Seventy-Four

The bottom photo here shows one of the air boxes, that houses the new filter I bought. They're black, but had so much corrosion and rust on them, that I just sanded them down to the metal - until I either get new side panels or figure something else out.

I also did some more painting on my helmet this morning - adding a '74 for the year of the Honda. It's hard to believe this thing is 6 years older than I am.

Lowering the Bar

I finally got the new bars on a couple days ago. This was the first reeeal pain in the arse I ran into. On the stock bars, the wiring for the lights, starter, and turn signals all ran THROUGH the bar, by way of holes under the housings themselves. Since the new bars have no holes, I had to go and buy a drill, with a grinding attachment so I could make holes in the housings for the wiring, to run it on the outside of the new bars. All this just to lower them a few inches! Geeeez. But I definitely like the look a lot better - it lowers the overall profile of the bike, without looking like I'm trying to create some kind of cafe/crotch rocket monster.

Waiting to Inhale

I found new air filters for the bike on eBay. After pulling these old ones (on the right) and seeing how cruddy they were, I had to do something. It' already running much better with these in.

To All Man's Questioning, the Universe Gave a Dusty Answer

I finally got around to painting my helmet. This is a Biltwell Hustler, that's just flat black - I sketched out the 'praying' bone hands (which looks like only one hand, oops), then just went to town with a square lettering brush, and a pinstriping brush.

Honey Badges

These are the tank badges off the honda. I'm very painstakingly painting them w/ 1shot. The top one isn't done yet to show the difference (not very dramatic in the photo).

Who Needs Bonneville When You've Got Bolsa Chica?

This morning I took the Hornet (yeah, it's called the Hornet. My first '74 CB was affectionately known as the Hornet - which made more sense, because it was green, but still - the same year and model has to carry on the same name - meet Hornet II) down PCH through Seal Beach, Sunset Beach and on to Huntington. I'd been a little hesitant to take her out on the main roads with all the traffic around here, but I HAD to know what this thing could do.

Once I got down out of Seal Beach, to that Bolsa Chica stretch where there's no more lights or stop signs, the Hornet climbed up through the gears like she'd been waiting for this as much as I had! I had the clear visor up and was sucking in that delicious cool breeze coming off the ocean. It was tough with the wind (or the fact that the Hornet is 37 yrs old) to get her much past 65 mph, but I did hit 70 mph before I took her back down. It was completely exhilarating...on a fairly small 360cc from 1974, 65 mph feels like light speed. Awesome morning.

Sham of a Nut Cap

I ordered a Biltwell Hustler and when it came, it was too small. So now I'm anxiously awaiting its replacement. Until then, I'm riding around wearing this bucket I bought years ago in DC. I slapped a few stickers on it and used it for pinstriping practice. While it feels safe being behind all that full-faced, padded plastic, I do hate the claustrophobia that envelopes my face while I'm trying to see and smell and enjoy my god-given senses. I think the 3/4 will be the way to go.