Part XI: Blue Smoke!
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Posted September 2 2010 12:08 PM by Ari Henning
Saturday morning I sprang out of bed and was at the workbench by 8:00 am. The frame was back from the Doctor’s and the only thing keeping me from starting the MB5 for the first time was assembling the thing! I forwent my...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Part X: A Trip to the Doctor's Office
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Posted August 25 2010 12:59 PM by Ari Henning
Viewed from the street, John “ the Frame Doctor ” Fromberg’s shop just looks like another crowded mechanic’s bay in a busy industrial park. But walk past the racks of metal stock and rows of dusty bike frames into the back...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Part IX: Back On Track
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Posted August 16 2010 10:20 PM by Ari Henning
In my last update the MB5’s fate was uncertain. I’d discovered that the frame, swingarm, and both wheels were bent. Well I’m pleased to say that things have taken a wonderful turn. Immediately after realizing my stuff was...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous
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An inside look at Galfer's custom brake line operations
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Posted August 10 2010 09:08 AM by Ari Henning
Motorcyclist recently had the opportunity to stop in at Galfer’s U.S. headquarters in Oxnard, California to learn about their custom brake line service and take an impromptu tour of the facility. Galfer has been in the...
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Filed under: Motorcycle Accessories
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Part VIII: Paging Pauline A. Jackson
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Posted July 28 2010 09:31 PM by Ari Henning
At some point in the last three decades, the MB5 must have been crashed. Hard. As it turns out, both Comstar wheels and the beautiful powder-coated X-frame are badly bent.
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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2010 Honda VFR1200F Update
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Posted July 14 2010 06:31 PM by Tim.Carrithers
Those who read Motorcyclist on any quasi-regular basis probably remember how much our Aaron P. Frank loved the automatic dual-clutch transmission version of Honda’s steamy, 1237cc V-4 in Japan. But the basic manual-shift...
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Filed under: Motorcycle Evaluations, Honda
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Part VII: Like a Big Puzzle
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Posted July 8 2010 08:03 PM by Ari Henning
The contents in the various boxes and crates are steadily dwindling. When I started this project 3 months ago the shoebox-sized plastic bin I use for random fasteners weighed about 10 pounds and was fist-deep. Now the tub...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Sealing the deal
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Posted June 25 2010 10:31 AM by Ari Henning
A few posts back I had Rusteco purge the MB5’s fuel tank of 28 years worth of rust. The procedure was a success, but removing all that iron oxide left quite a few pinholes, and that bare metal is awfully susceptible to...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Part V
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Posted June 19 2010 08:31 AM by Ari Henning
It’s been a while since I’ve posted; the MB5 project was put on the back burner while I flew to my hometown on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to marry my girlfriend of 9 years. Now I’m back in LA, and with the sun just...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Bigger vs. better
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Posted May 22 2010 09:30 AM by Tim.Carrithers
If the prospective adventure tourist’s first question is which bike do I buy, question number two usually comes down to which BMW GS. If you’re asking me, the next question is standard 1200GS or Adventure? Judged strictly...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, BMW
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Part IV: Into the engine
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Posted May 16 2010 10:35 PM by Ari Henning
I can only imagine what my neighbors thought of the persistent metallic tapping coming from my apartment well after the dinner hour last night. When darkness interrupted my efforts to separate the MB5’s case halves, I...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous
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A Minor Miracle
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Posted May 8 2010 07:39 PM by Ari Henning
My dad taught me that you can clean up a rusty tank with a handful of nuts and bolts and some serious shaking. That rudimentary remedy has worked on countless tanks, but the MB’s reservoir is rustier than anything I’ve...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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Reviving a Honda MB5: Part II
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Posted May 8 2010 07:37 PM by Ari Henning
The tranquilizing effect of this project is a godsend. While I run near redline most of my waking hours, when I’m wrenching I am able to roll back the throttle and idle for a while. The din of Santa Monica Boulevard...
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Filed under: Miscellaneous, Honda
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BMW's 2010 R1200GS
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Posted May 1 2010 09:40 AM by Tim.Carrithers
BMW’s brochure copy is 99% right. Neither rain nor sleet nor snow, rocks, ruts, mud or a deranged hillbilly/rancher could stop the 2010 R1200GS at its North American press debut this week. Only the California Highway...
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Filed under: Motorcycle Evaluations, BMW , BMW
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Dodge Dakota Research
Finding a fuel efficient automobile today is easier than ever. Check out the Dodge Dakota buyer's guide providing information on car specs, reviews and fuel economy. The Dodge Dakota has comparable fuel economy to other vehicles in its class and comes with a comparable transmission and drivetrain. You also might want to research the Ford F150 and the Ford Flex.
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