A Student Budget Bike

[Skateguy50]

I checked my wife's facebook album from Moosehead... 80ish pictures and only 2 have motorcycles in them. Oh and none are her bike. I might have something on the hard drive at home though.

Seems you had your own broken clutch cable experience, I would have loved a picture of my wife and I on her rebel together going into town. I drove of course

[BentRod]

You get what you pay for

You ever have one of those times when you think you're smarter than you really are, and realize later that your great idea is dumber than anyone expects of you?
well I thought I had a grand idea.

It was at the end of my first season. The headlight on my gsx400 had blown out, or at least the low beam was gone. I popped into the local shop to look up a replacement and discovered that the recommended unit was about 80$. I thought that was a little over the top for a light, so I humphed and started thumbing through the Parts Canada catalogue to find something that will connect and fit.
Sure enough I do. It's a sealed beam light, the right size, with the right connection. The price is about 10 or 11 bucks. Beauty! What I did not see what a small foot note made at the bottom of the page stating

"*models with asymetric lens pattern."

About two weeks later I got my new light in, and I installed it that day. Later on that chilly october night, I pulled the bike out of storage and went for a ride through escarpment country. I had to pull over a few times to aim my headlight, but for some reason, unknown to me, i couldn't really get it to center well on the road, and the adjustment screw had the light angled way over to the left. I was starting to worry if maybe I had installed the headlight at a slant. I thought I had the better part of it sorted out and was confident I had installed the light correctly when I rode to a less populated area. I flicked on the high beams and immideately illumated the opposite lane! infact, the light pointed so far left that the right hand shoulder was DARK!
I turned back to the low beams and went home, but I was down right confused.
The next day I removed the head light and examined my problem. I would like to tell you that I immidiately examined the lens to see the asymetric pattern, and would have immidiately realised that the low beam is designed spread right, light a car's head light. I would like to, but that isn't what happened. Instead I reinstalled the headlight so that the highbeam pointed forward, as did the low beams. problem solved right?
Well I thought the problem would be solved, so I took the bike out for another ride that night. as I hit the single lane side roads, I noticed that my my low bean had a really strange, and rather ineffective diagonal kind of spread to it, and I was getting highbeams from on comming traffic!
I didn't get very far. I went home to ponder my problem.

After lubricating my brain with a few beers (they still help my thinking, and my good ideas!) I went back to the bike with a piece of ply board, painted black, and a pocket knife. I placed the board infront of the head light, and flicked on the bike. I switched between hight and low beams, trying to find where they were focused relative to each other, and looking at the light spread as it was projected on the board. This really isn't that easy a task, but I am proud to say the idea of using the board made it much easier at least. Well, at least compared to the alternative of staring Directly into the headlight.
Eventually I reached a point of frustration I figured I would reach, and pulled out the pocket knife. I started the engine to get the battery a little more juice and pulled the headlight wires down from the headlight bucket.
Looking directly at the black ply board I connected power to the hight and low beams simultaneously with the knife. In that moment I saw the light patterns a-glow on the board and I realized the reality of my problem and the asymetry.
And then the new headlight blew out from over heating, which I supposed solved my problem, depending on how you look at it.

[Charlie G]

Bentrod,


Maybe this explains why my son xt-250 only lights up the right hand shoulder of the road. Food for thought. Spent a little vacation in the Kitchner and Port Elgin areas a few years ago. Love Ontario.

I duct taped a car lamp, without the chrome rim, into a 1977 gs 400, until I could afford one of those highway robbery bulbs, 30 years ago. Worked flawlessly.

cg

[BentRod]

I eventually replaced the entire headlight assembly with a smaller stunt fairing from Taiwan. I have discovered I like the light spread of this assembly, and now use a 35watt bulb in it, at a cost of about 7$ for a replacement.
I am rather impressed with my self for never considering the use of duct tape to mount a head light. I suppose it could do the job, but with my luck it definately would have been bad news.

[BentRod]

Time to let her go

I am sorry for my absence, for those of you who actually have so little to do you read my rambles

I have been busy with Lola again. This time it is for the last time. Just this past week I said goodbye to my very first GS. I have spent the last while getting her into top shape for her new owner, a business admin. graduate who wants a tough bike to learn on. I have to say, watching your own bike ride away from you can really sink your day. however, spending that money to restore a 550 kat can make you all better.

I must say I think I'm better off, and I'm starting to have the same wide-eyed dreams about the Katana that I used to get three summers ago about riding, well, anything really. I'm in a bit of a financial bind but I'll get this new ride on the road eventually, and this time I'll do it right.

Oh, and btw, the Katana is to be name Leila.