Oh... Mr. J.V.

what on earth people do such thing... thank god nobody was hurt. oh, mr. J.V....

since i saw the "the world's fastest indian"

when i tell people that i have never been to the states, they are quite surprised. just because i ride harleys and speak english doesn't mean that i have been there. But, of course, i would like to visit one day. since i saw the movie "the world's fastest indian," i really want to see the bonneville during the speed trail week.
so as one of my students... he just went there and got me the key chain and post card. it was february so the lake was dampy and he couldn't drive on the salt he said but i envied.
today my friend and i took our racing harleys to our home circuit for the first time this year. the new set of andrews #1 cam seems working good. it accelerates faster than before. my friend said it didnt sound like xr1000 anymore... it got too fast so i ended up in the gravel at the first corner! it was a great fun.

10yrs and 4months

i bought the xr1000 in october 1999. it had 5,500miles on it.
it hit 50,000 mile mark yesterday on my 40th birthday... it had been a commuting bike than nothing else until i started taking it to track rides. it is definitely not a comfortable bike to ride but once you get used to, you kinda enjoy the "discomfort". i'm looking forward to see the odometer goes back to 00,000.0mile... maybe in 10yrs time.

a little detour...

the weather's been pretty funny lately... i thought it's gonna rain whole week but got sunny today so took my xr1000 to meet a customer. on my way, i took a little detour to see special plum blossoms in Okuyama-kogen.
mercury went up over 20c degree again, it was way too warm to ride with my winter jacket. i tried to hit 5,000rpm a couple of time when i stopped at red light. it definitely got power but it needed a lot more gas. i had to open throttle more than i used to... larger jet in my carbs, or lift the needle up for another clip...

luxury...?

so the xr1000 is now ready to hit the road. i rode my panhead to zero and swapped it with the xr.
i think i'm very lucky to own 2 harley-davidsons, and very lucky that zero can keep one of my bike at their garage.
i rode about 100km yesterday. xr1000 seems running okay. i haven't tried to push the bike yet but it definitely got louder exhaust sound now. next race is in 10weeks. i have plenty of time to practice... if the engine endures.

zero test course

about 5 miles from zero engineering, there is a nice park got a museum on top of the hill. mindscape museum.
i got my xr1000 engine running yesterday and took it for a short test ride. i didn't try anything above 3,500rpm but it was running good. i hope i don't have to assemble the engine again this year.

problem solved...?

finally we got the machinings done and it was ready to check the valve-to-valve clearance again.

assembled the new camshfts and head without cylinder. the xr1000 engine always reminds me of Vartan from the Ultraman... anyway, with the 1mm sinking of the exhaust valve made enough clearance now.
now the engine is on the chassis... i should be able to assemble transmission and all the rest next weekend. i hope the weather gets warm by then.