Alright folks, let me tell you about my “moto season” project. It wasn’t some grand, planned-out thing, more like a “I wonder if I can pull this off” kinda deal.
It all started with an old, beat-up motorcycle I found sitting in my cousin’s garage. He was gonna scrap it, said it was too much trouble. But I saw potential! It was a ’70s model, looked like it hadn’t been touched in decades. Covered in dust, tires flat, the whole shebang.
First thing I did was drag it back to my place. Didn’t even try starting it, knew that would be a waste of time. Just got it into the garage and started hosing it down. Seriously, the amount of grime that came off was unreal.
Next, I started tearing it apart. Labeling everything, taking pictures before I disconnected anything. This was key, because I knew I’d forget where half the stuff went otherwise. Spent a good week just cleaning and cataloging parts. Wire brushed the rust off, soaked the carb in cleaner, the whole nine yards.
Then came the fun part – the engine. I’d never rebuilt an engine before, but I figured, what the heck? Found a repair manual online, watched a bunch of YouTube videos, and dove in. It was slow going, let me tell you. Lots of head-scratching, a few busted knuckles, and more than one “what the heck is this thing?” moments.
Turns out, the engine was in pretty bad shape. Rings were shot, valves were leaking, the whole deal. Had to order a bunch of new parts. That took forever. While I was waiting, I started working on the frame. Sanded it down, primed it, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Went with a classic black, simple and clean.
Once the engine parts arrived, I started putting it back together. Followed the manual closely, double-checking everything. Torqued everything to spec, made sure all the connections were tight. It was like putting together a giant puzzle.
With the engine back in the frame, it was time to tackle the electrical system. This was probably the most intimidating part. So many wires, so many connections. But again, the manual and YouTube were my friends. Traced every wire, cleaned every contact, and replaced anything that looked dodgy.
Finally, after weeks of work, it was time to try and start it. Filled the tank with gas, crossed my fingers, and hit the starter button. Nothing. Just a bunch of clicking. Checked the battery, it was dead. Replaced it, tried again. Still nothing.
Turns out, I’d forgotten to connect a ground wire. Rookie mistake! Connected it, hit the button again, and the engine sputtered to life! It sounded rough, but it was running! I let it warm up, adjusted the carb, and slowly but surely, it started running smoother.
Got new tires, new brakes, and a few other odds and ends. Took it for a short ride around the block. It wasn’t perfect, but it was running! And it was a blast!
The Takeaway: This “moto season” project was a lot of work, way more than I expected. But it was also incredibly rewarding. I learned a ton about motorcycles, about engines, and about myself. And now I’ve got a cool old bike that I can be proud of. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
- Tools: Basic hand tools, socket set, torque wrench, multimeter, wire stripper, carburetor cleaner.
- Parts: Engine rebuild kit, new tires, new brakes, new battery, new spark plugs, replacement wiring.
- Time: Several weeks, working evenings and weekends.
