Halfway There ...

So, during my vacation I spent a lot of time fixing up a 1973 Yamaha XS650. I bought it already chopped into a frisco style bobber, but the finish was pretty hasty in the details and the candy color scheme was not really my taste.

I repainted the tank and fenders into WWI olive drab. I repainted the risers, the chainguard and some other smaller parts black. I installed a Ford Model A brake light. I removed the old, beat up pipes and installed 29" fishtail exhausts. I installed a new mirror and handlebars, a speedometer and added new grips.

I did some refurbishing of the carburetors, installed a new fuel hose and an inline fuel filter.

There are still quite a few things to do - mostly the alternator, which is too old to charge the battery. I'll probably have to get it rewound and install new brushes. Lastly, the fishtail pipes will need some baffles, because, oh boy, are they loud!

before:


after:

I Call It ...

... the cockpit! So I finally got my Korg Mono/Poly back from service. Tim Prebble here in Wellington did a quick and excellent job! He's looking at my Roland System 100 right now, which is the only analogue synth missing from this picture.
I had forgotten what a crazy machine the Mono/Poly is since I hadn't been playing it for a couple of years now.
Please look at the B/W photo for a description of the different machines in the photo.

I Love My Bicycle Helmet ...

... because yesterday it saved my life. Pretty much 24 hours ago I was laying on the side of a road here in Miramar, bleeding, moaning and yelling for help.

Here's what happened:

After work, I decided to go for a bicycle ride up on a hill that I'd never been on. Going up wasa nice steady climb - I love going uphill. Finally on top, where one can find a now defunct jail, I turned around to go downhill.

It was a wonderful summer evening and I was starting down the hill, faster and faster - the road had wide turns so that I ended up with a speed of about 50 kph (30 mph). Coming around a turn I noticed a speed bump a few meters away from me - and I'm headed straight for it - it was poorly marked, so I didn't notice it sooner.

I panic-braked and unfortunately locked my front brakes. The bike went up over it's front wheel and flung me down the road - while still doing between 40 and 50 kph. Wheeee!

I saw stars when I hit the road. Next thing I remember is me laying in the middle of the road, bike a few meters down. I rolled myself off the road and just laid there, whimpering.

My iPod waas still playing, but I really didn't feel like music anymore, so I pulled the headphones out of my ear. It took me a while to find the shuffle and turn it off.

So, there I was on the side of the road. Unable to move. No cars coming by - but finally, after abot 10 minutes of calling out for help, a bus arrived. He called an ambulance and took my bike off the road.

Today I'm really hurting and am sporting some massive bruises on my bum. My back is scratched and I think I was using my right calf to brake - a lot of skin is gone. It'll take a while to heal.

But if I wouldn't have worn a good bicycle helmet, I'd be dead now.

Wear your protective gear people! Seatbelts, motorcycle helmets, gloves, leather, etc. - because you never know when you need it.

I'll be posting photos as soon as I feel a bit better ...