Motorcycles, lets see em.

[Baz]

Tried a new technique today for tire removal. Take a hook bladed Stanley knife and slice off the tire leaving just the part around the bead. Then use levers for those pieces.

Seemed to work pretty good for my needs. I did two wheels today and will do another 6 tomorrow.

The goal is to re-paint the rims and then mount them with new rubber. Then it's just a matter of swapped wheels out on any of my bikes to give them new rubber. Which many of them could use!

[Baz]

Struck another deal this morning on what will be my 22nd Interceptor.

Another RC 24, which will make my 3rd.

I started the year out with none and halfway through 2025 I now have 3. None in running condition - yet. That will all change by end of year - it's coming together.

I have to share - this latest one I am buying from the owner of Pit Bull stands. No kidding. Super nice guy. He owns 2 RC24's himself. We had about an hour long chat this morning exchanging stories and information about the sale. The bike is coming with a bunch of parts.

I can get it running with parts I already have on hand plus some labor to go through the brakes, clutch, electrics, and fuel system.

He also has L and R side lower fairings plus a tail fairing for the RC24, all in almost perfect condition and we will do a separate deal on those.

I found his FB MP classified very late last night and immediately sent a message to him stating I will buy it at his asking price (which I thought was super reasonable). He sent a reply early this morning with his phone number saying "Finally someone who knows these bikes!"

The classified had only been up for about 6 hours so I got very lucky someone else didn't swoop in on it before me. Finding these bikes takes a little investment in time, some dogged determination to beat the bushes a bit, and finally sometimes just luck! I've certainly put my time in so I feel vindicated to some degree.

The seller said he felt good knowing the bike would be going to a good home where it would be restored back to running condition and not left outside somewhere under a tarp.

Not sure when transport will be but not in any hurry.

Couple pics of the bike & parts.....

[oldE]

22nd?

Baz, my friend. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

To which he replies, "I have space: no problem!"
Live the dream, old buddy.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Baz, you MUST get this bike. Must!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/674158998842706/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

[Baz]

Sorry no can do, Shaun......from his ad....."For trade only!!!!"

I do not have what he's looking for.

I prefer bikes with single headlights anyway....

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Baz, you MUST get this bike. Must!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by oldE

22nd?

Baz, my friend. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

To which he replies, "I have space: no problem!"
Live the dream, old buddy.

Yep......livin' the dream, Big Les......just like you, my friend!

Oh BTW - another bike just got added today. That will make 23, eh?

That transport will consist of 3 bikes now because in addition to the one mentioned above....he's also bringing a parts bike - I didn't even count that one...

[oldE]

You know, if you run out of space and you get tired of working around that old Beemer, I might be able to find a corner to stow it until you come out of the rabbit hole.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by oldE

You know, if you run out of space and you get tired of working around that old Beemer, I might be able to find a corner to stow it until you come out of the rabbit hole.

Thanks, Big Les - really appreciate the offer. I'll never run out of space though....

Decided to get back to work on one of my Blue bikes that's been occupying my lift table since last August!

Life sometimes gets in the way, as you know.

I had already stripped it of it's fairings, fuel tank, carbs, brake calipers and masters, and clutch master and slave. I had rebuilt the carbs, clutch slave, and brake calipers but got another bike in better condition but needed all those same things done so used the Blue components on that bike. So now I have to start over for the Blue bike. No biggie - routine - just time consuming. Anyhoo....yesterday I removed the mirrors and headlight cowl and tonight the radiator. Tomorrow I pull the plugs and squirt some MMO into the cylinders then later this week I will turn the engine over by hand just to make sure nothing is froze up.

But here's the big news. When I removed the headlight cowl I discovered it was one fabricated by the late great Charles Crites! The OEM fairings are ABS but he created some molds and was replicating them with fiberglass and carbon fiber. He did an amazing job - his fairings were super sturdy and they looked fantastic.

Here are some pics of the cowl made of FG and the windscreen made of CF.

For anyone involved in restoration of these bikes, Mr. Crites is a true legend.

You can't get these any more either. NLA!

Quite a score for me and I may not even re-use this cowl on this bike, it's such a nice piece.

[oldE]

Those are some seriously cool pieces! Each of those machines has a story. Teasing out the clues is half the fun.
Enjoy the tales!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by oldE

Those are some seriously cool pieces! Each of those machines has a story. Teasing out the clues is half the fun.
Enjoy the tales!

Thanks, Big Les....so true, my brother.

You should see what's arriving here tomorrow.......

[Baz]

Moved a few bikes around and also reattached some lower fairings I had removed while doing work on the bike. This Blue one with the Yoshi exhaust is just ridiculous sounding. The carbs are also in perfect condition, recently rebuilt, and synced to all 4 cylinders. On a V4 it really makes a difference!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Brand New 26-Year-Old Ducati 996 SPS For Sale in Original Packing Crate

This rare high-performance motorcycle has fewer than 2 full miles on the odometer.

[Scott Watkins]

Looks like she sold for €63,000.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1999-ducati-996-sps-2/

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Leaving work, getting home, never get tired of walking to and looking back. Perfect riding weather last night.

[Scott Watkins]

She's a Beaut, Shaun!!!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

and looking back

Gorgeous machine, Shaun! Enjoy my friend!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thank you Gentlemen, it has been such a joy to commute to work with it this summer. Hope to make a trip up to NH with it late August.

[Baz]

Worn out from going through parts that were delivered this past week. Washing and cleaning them alone is time consuming. Then sorting them and getting them ready for safe storage. Bubble wrap for some of them, others just go into a bin which is labeled, and all eventually have to go somewhere!

Got one good condition and running bike I will post a pic of tomorrow. The others are a parts bike the same model, a First Gen '83 Interceptor, and the RC 24 I mentioned upstream.

I'll get those all running except for the parts bike. Not sure what that one's fate will be at this juncture.

I feel like this week's "haul" of spare parts might have set some kind of record for these 1st and 2nd Gen Interceptors.....seriously. Not just in quantity but also quality.

Here are a couple of spare RC24 tanks & a rear shock, for example......



And this is the tank from the RC24 itself. I removed it to clean it. I have it filled with Evaporust at the moment.





After these three tanks I have three more tanks to give the ER treatment to so will simply move the product from one tank to the next until they are all treated. I have an electric transfer pump to do this, naturally.

Here are some spare headlight cowls, battery covers, and tail fairings for the First Gen that came with that ('83 VF750F) bike. Not perfect but I can and will repair them all....

[Baz]

Treating a fuel tank with Evapo-Rust. My latest technique is to put it into a 45 gal. tote while the ER does it's job......

I like to leave it for a week or so.

[Baz]

My latest Blue '87 RC26. My 5th one! Someone glued that Kerker sticker on the muffler. I gotta get it off. Those are factory mufflers. Don't need any stickers on them!