I rebuilt the top end of an ’85 Suzuki GS450L. I put together a series of YouTube videos I thought I would post here. It includes, honing the cylinders, rebuilding the head, adjusting the tappets, camshaft installation and timing, etc. Bike will put back to running condition..
Part III is installing the camshaft, timing chain and chain tensioner
I rebuilt the top end of an ’85 Suzuki GS450L. I put together a series of YouTube videos I thought I would post here. It includes, honing the cylinders, rebuilding the head, adjusting the tappets, camshaft installation and timing, etc. Bike will put back to running condition..
Part IV is finishing up and starting the bike
https://youtu.be/oc2-AXi5ZTQ
What a great start to a day… I was up fairly early and decided to work on the blog. Sat out looking over the lake. Walked over to the lodge where they had coffee, homemade muffins and all sort of stuff. Nice.
Blustery out. As I sat out the wind kept picking up. Sunny. After a bit the owner comes walking over with fresh biscotti she just pulled out of the oven. Yeah. Can I have 2? After about 4 cups of coffee we pulled our gear together and mounted up. 20 miles and we were on I-75. 10 more miles and we were at the bridge. Through the toll booths and prayed the paved lanes were open, they were. The big LED signs flashing the high wind warnings. Probably 30-35mph. We were stopped in the middle for about 5-10 minutes. Working on the grates. Just hoping the bike wouldn’t blow over… Continue reading
Today is the day we start to head back east then south. While the UP extends another 100 miles or so west, not enough time this trip. Mike has a late flight out to go back to his family on Tuesday night.
Winds abated over the night. Sunday morning in Copper Harbor was beautiful. There was a small bakery and fishery right next to our room (thanks to Carol Hutchinson for this tip). Sat out on the ole Adirondack chairs on the lake, drank several cups of coffee and again pushed out the blog. Packed up, stowed all the weather gear, pulled the liner out of my jacket and headed south. Continue reading
So, last night I scanned the weatherbug app and figured out Saturday would be nice. It wasn’t. Woke at 8a to a robust rain. Cold. Windy. Etc. Etc. Made coffee. Mike still asleep.. Sat out on the porch, out of the rain except for my feet. Got the blog out.and my shoes soaked.
Continue reading
Up early to catch the sunrise on the Lake. Love it. Had to make do with the little packaged coffee in the room. You know those little tiny coffee makers that take only their little packets..Finished putting together the blog but couldn’t get wifi to kick in. Just a great morning.
730a was the departure time.. I kept coffee to a minimum to avert stopping every 30 minutes. I did however make it strong. We decided to put miles under us to get to the UP then meander. 
Always love going up there. It’s labor day and I-75 SB will be a test to the patience of all who travel it. Especially tonight. Everyone eking out what they can on the last day of Michigan’s summer. Heading home from ‘up north’. Toys in tow. School starts tomorrow..
I am deviating somewhat from my usual boating or motorcycling related posts.. This one is truly ‘pure rambling’. Have no fear.
Almost 6 weeks ago I retired after working for 35 years for the same company (and 10 years before that). The company was great. The people great. What I wanted to share is a kind of gradual ‘transformation’ (for lack of a better term) that I have noticed over the last few weeks. It was expected, but much better experienced.
Retirement is something you plan for (hopefully). There are a zillion articles on finances, social security blah blah blah. They all say the same thing. There is not much to talk about the mental state. I am talking about the first few weeks. It’s a big change. Continue reading
Thursday, Aug. 4
Always tough to end a visit. Spent the early morning with coffee, getting packed, wiping down the bike from the rain overnight and getting it loaded, waiting for the conversation – ‘well, I guess I should get going.’
Light rain in Henderson. I forego-ed the rain gear. According to the ole weatherbug app, we were on the tail end of the system. Full tank from the night before, mounted up and Laddie got on his bike and navigated me to the interstate. A thumbs up between us and I got on the ramp and headed north into the morning rush hour traffic in a light rain. Continue reading
