anyone go for a ride today? Pics?

[oldGSfan]

Agree that Norton is very cool, but I would feel a little more macho pulling up next to it on your red twin. "Electric start? That's for sissies!"

That thing doesn't even know how to mark it's territory!

[rphillips]

That Z1 got me confused... I saw Turbo on the air breather, saw the belt and pullies on the crank and thought that's no Turbo charger but a Super charger, then saw the sparkplug wires coming out of it and realized it was over my head. Some kind of ign. system being ran off a belt from the crankshaft, a little out of my league... I had a KZ1300 Turbo for a few yrs. and the OEM ign. ran it just fine, but that was probably 30 yrs. ago.

[oldGSfan]

That Z1 got me confused... I saw Turbo on the air breather, saw the belt and pullies on the crank and thought that's no Turbo charger but a Super charger, then saw the sparkplug wires coming out of it and realized it was over my head. Some kind of ign. system being ran off a belt from the crankshaft, a little out of my league... I had a KZ1300 Turbo for a few yrs. and the OEM ign. ran it just fine, but that was probably 30 yrs. ago.

It's a magneto. That bike is a 'bitsa', the owner used to work for Cosworth (Indy car stuff). It's got an Americal Turbo Pak kit on it, similar to my GS1100E.

[rphillips]

I remember magnetos on the old farm tractors from the 40's and 50's... would have thought the newer electronic stuff would have been better. Does yours have a magneto or does you ign. work OK? Still think it looks like a Super charger with the pulleys and belt.

[oldGSfan]

I remember magnetos on the old farm tractors from the 40's and 50's... would have thought the newer electronic stuff would have been better. Does yours have a magneto or does you ign. work OK? Still think it looks like a Super charger with the pulleys and belt.

My GS1100E had no magneto, just Accel coils, Wolf (?) plug wires, and a Dyna II. My Norton did. There's a lot of hot takes surrounding magnetos, they give more hot spark at high RPM, yada yada. They look the business and have worked on lawn mowers for decades. I think there is an effect that if you spend big bucks you notice big improvement, sort of like $10K tube amps. I'm sceptical. On my Norton I put in a modern electronic ignition in place of the magneto, in a special housing. Cheaper, more reliable, and easier to kick over.

[rphillips]

My KZ1300 Turbo was completely put together by MR. TURBO in Chicago. Thought everything needed was installed, plum down to water injection for a little extra piston cooling. It's been 40 yrs. but I don't remember any changes to the ign. system, pretty sure just the OEM stuff. No matter, that thing sticking out the side of that old Z1 sure is an eye catcher weather it accomplishes anything or not.

[Carter Turk]

Got a few longer rides in over the weekend.

20250713_121730 by Carter Turk, on Flickr

20250712_103321 by Carter Turk, on Flickr

[Redman]

Been getting out 2-3-4 mornings a week, for little ride and stop at coffeeshop (or two).
And been getting out 2-3 evenings a week for little ride before sunset and then stop at beach/pier with the camera.

[Redman]

One afternoon I rode up this fairly steep duneside road down by the beach. Is about 3 blocks long up side of dune to the top.
At top can look back over the Lake Michigan, and can look over the other side, get view of town, and look down at part of the river channel thru town. ANd I got a photo of a lake freighter in the river channel. (Great Republic, 1981, 634ft)



TO ride back down, was in 2nd gear, engine braking all the way down.
At the bottom, I noticed didnt seem to be running well. On way home, didnt have the power, and was jitter shuddering.
Made it home.
Pipe 4 & 3 & 2 were hot hot. Number 1 pipe was barley warm.

Next day, this is plug 1.


Thick oily fouling. Clean it up, and back to its normal running.

now, I am not saying that downhill engine brake is the total cause of this, just that occassion probably added more to what had been accumulating.
Probably related to its oil burning, and puffing on decell, and blowing smoke when start if sits for a few days.
(I need to add oil about 175-200 miles. or sooner at highway speed.)

this is the engine I rebuilt in 2020&21 at 70some K.
I had shop check cyclinders which were in spec.
I replaced pistons with set from a fine GS member, and rings from Custom Cruise.
Had a used head rebuilt by another fine GSR member (lap valves, replace seals) who said had to take to shop to replace a valve guide that broke (I dont understand how/why).
Anyway, so is annoying that I went to that effort, and am yet dealing with oil burning. But I use the bike mostly for local rides.

Maybe I should check the other plugs.

Oh, local newspaper used my ship photo in the Weekly "Ships Log" artical.

[bobgroger]

What would a ship like that carry?

[Redman]

What would a ship like that carry?

When it (or others) comes here (Grand Haven/Ferrysburg) usally delivering stone or gravel from the UP.
Occasionaly road salt. SOmetimes slag from Indiana steel mills.

QUOTE:
The Great Republic is a bulk carrier ship with a capacity of approximately 24,800 tons at a mid-summer draft of 28'04" (8.61m)⁴

[Burque73]

No pics, but I sure enjoyed riding for a while this evening. My 850 has developed a bit of a flat spot between 7k-7500 rpms. Almost feels like it has a governor. I haven't ridden much this year, surely that can't be good for the carbs.

Getting caught up in the business of life, it's easy to forget just how freaking awesome it feels to ride.

[Redman]

Was Muskegon Bike Time over the weekend. Not really suited to me, but is only 20 miles away.

So I went up there only once,
mumble mumble ah once per bike


RT on Thursday evening, Gk on Friday evening, Shadow500 Saturday evening.

Six or more blocks of downtown and some side streets and some parking lots, full of bikes.
And then also the adjacent big HD dealer which is like a suburban shopping mall in itself, but I didnt go there.

Each time: rode thru, had to see someone leaving to find a place to park, walk around to find something to eat from a food vendor, watch the crazyness for a short while, then ride out and go for more of a ride.