Strunzo goes to work!!!!!

one of the surest signs of spring!

Last Saturday was absolutely gorgeous... I got the bike all polished and cleaned and the fluids changed and took it around the block just to check things out......... then , today, I rode the (former) 71 basketcase,( now 2009's most improved winner 'strunzo' )to work.

I live on cape cod and had to drive on the national seashore just as the sun was coming up over the ocean. It was just what the Dr. ordered to cure a little cabin fever. Coming home, the wind had picked up substantially... but it was still a great ride (after a not so great work day)

torrential rains tomorrow BUT today's ride really was a harbinger of things to come 8)

Karl

Hi Karl,
Do you find that living so close to the ocean is hell on the finish of your bike. I have an older brother who once lived on the coast in Florida. At the time the car he was driving had some rust starting in places, he claimed that if he left the car parked outside during the on shore breeze you could practically see the rust spots growing.
Personally, I'm a fair weather rider (and proud of it), the last time my Norton saw rain I was taking it to Brookline, MA to the European Day Classic show. It had started raining just as I left, an hour into the trip the rain had reached monsoon level so I turned around in disgust. I put it away wet, big mistake, every rustable piece of metal on the bike started to rust.
I frequently wonder what those guys from the UK do (where it rains 24/7) to protect the finish on their bikes???
GB

Congratulations on Strunzo's big outing - the first of many more to come!

A job well done indeed.

Debby

thanks

Yes, i live a mile from the ocean and it does take it's toll on the bike (and my house) . Thankfully, strunzo is a rider and not a show bike, and the environment here is not conducive to rust prevention. my bigger challenge is keeping those *&^%^%(* Idle circuits on the amal clean so the thing will Idle smothly. I got the left carb right and the right one crapped out........ I'm sure that when I get the right one working right, the left one will bget funky. I'm about one click away from going to sudco and getting a single mikuni!.

I noticed the sea air corrosion issue the most on the polished surfaces. It got stuck in the rain a little bit and the primary cover was spotted and blotchy. Methinks I'll use some carnauba wax over the aluminum parts the next time i polish it. But this time of year, he definitely spends more time IN the shed than out in the sunshine.... we don't have much of a spring round these parts. generally 40 degrees and 20 mph winds from march to june 1st but we REALLY benefit in the fall, where mellow sea breezes keep it comfortable here right into December.....so Strunzo will have plenty of chances to flex his muscles.

I have to say. It's pretty neat to have even the Harley guys give me the thumbs up when i drive around. That and the inevitable crowd that forms when I'm pulled up to the gas station or coffee shop. These bikes are dead sexy!

have a great weekend, all.

kfh

I frequently wonder what those guys from the UK do (where it rains 24/7) to protect the finish on their bikes???
GB

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Hey I live in Scotland where it rains 26/7....

We clean and polish a bit!! BUT never let the rain stop you from enjoying a ride, despite doing some mega trips in monsoon like rain my bike has never shrunk or dissapeared in a pile of rust. Agree with the salt air though, a right PITA !

I find that a liberal spray of WD 40 when putting the bike away does the trick when I get caught in the rain.

I find that a liberal spray of WD 40 when putting the bike away does the trick when I get caught in the rain.

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Duh!..... forever I've used that approach on my bicycles! never thought about using it for the motorbike! Dawn breks on Marble Head!

I went to a British bike swap meet last Saturday in Bolton; I took my spit and polished Mk III to show off. You are absolutly right about the weather, the meteorological gods were smiling on Massachusetts, in March!! The day before I had swapped out the #3 1/2 cutaway slides and put in #3s, with the "Stay Up" floats that I put in a month ago adjusted and the air bleeds set it was like riding a new machine; perfectly dialed-in, I got in just under 100 miles that day.

I wished I had been on the Cape, we didn't get any breeze up here, and you guys have the world's best clam chowder!

RS

Don't worry too mcu about missing the cape in spring..... nothing but wind and more wind...... but lat saturday was GREAT!