At last, the Big Block can be classified in the state of Washington as a Collector Vehicle. The annual rego was due last Wednesday, and typically costs about $105 per year. On Tuesday I visited a department of motor vehicle office - where the ladies behind the counter actually smile - with title and rego papers in hand, and for a one-time fee of $71.50, was able to secure a lifetime rego! This can be done in WA state as long as the vehicle is currently registered, and at least thirty years old.

A handful of years ago I converted the bits of the bike to a 1993 K1100RS V-tube frame for a more sturdy backbone as compared to the '87 K100RS single tube frame I had originally used.

Of course, the state is far behind in allocating actual metal plates, so I've been given a plasticised paper, temporary number plate which expires in October of this year. Free reprints are handed out if it exceeds the date stamped.

No club membership or inspection was required. I'm limited to riding to events, to workshops for repair or maintenance, or "casual" use. Since it's so ill-defined, and I don't use the bike but half a dozen times a year, a few longer rides here and there oughta be fine. I reckon it's the best way to keep extra money in my pocket for petrol.

Chuffed.

It's forty years old here and the classification is 'Historic Vehicle', but I know the feeling. Low Flying Brick has just gone through its last government-mandated annual test and as of May 24th next year, I no longer have to pay annual vehicle excise duty (commonly and incorrectly known as 'road tax') on it either.

Dai wrote:It's forty years old here and the classification is 'Historic Vehicle', but I know the feeling. Low Flying Brick has just gone through its last government-mandated annual test and as of May 24th next year, I no longer have to pay annual vehicle excise duty (commonly and incorrectly known as 'road tax') on it either.

The woman who processed my application asked whether the bike was modified or customised at all. I demurred. What do they know!? No one's looking at it and there's no fine print on the application.

don't ask (well, they did), don't tell  

pls do remember the 11th commandment:
just don't get caught 

bad boy wrote:don't ask (well, they did), don't tell  
pls do remember the 11th commandment:
just don't get caught 

As I often say...We know which rules we can break!

Just arrived, my lifetime licence plate. No expiry tag. I am meant to have 'limited use' restrictions, but there's a workaround, as long as I'm not flagrantly violating it we should be all groovy.

I'm glad there's a K on it, but the 225, if we're talking kilos, is a bit on the heavy side. Let's see what we can come up with.

Sun's out, 12° (54f), I've got time for a burble.

I’ve never given the collector plate a second thought. If I’m proud of the bike, well then I’m always just out to show it off!

Should be a nice crisp few days for us!

Happy birthday BB.

The frame BB is currently using - which I obtained from a guy years ago who'd given up on his masterfully creative cafe racer idea - was built into a complete K1100RS on 14 December 1992, in Berlin. Yesterday was an atypical December day in the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia region. It was just above 50F/10c, a light haze kept the sky from being fully sunny, but there was little wind and the dense, morning fog had lifted. I rolled Big Block out into the driveway, the first time since receiving the collector plate from the State of Washington, and went for a celebratory birthday ride.

There are no piccies, which is alright as we had an uninhibited time together, no pressure to stop for a photo op, as I'd left my phone at home, thus no speedometre to warn me off twisting the throttle on empty back roads. 

There is certainly a lot of moss growing on the tarmac this time of the year, which forced me to be extra careful in bends. I was able to stop at a station selling ethanol-free gasolina, so sufficiently tanked up, adding some Sta-Bil, she's good until another day when I can roll her out under the winter sun again.

From the day before.

My gal just showed me some photos she took of me taking my first ever ride on Big Block. It was a reminder on that Facecrack thing (I don't subscribe, haven't for over 12 years) from eight years ago!

I began to gather the bits to piece it together in late 2014, and over the winter of 2015. By spring of '16 it was ridable. It's changed a bit with various components over those years but is still one of my favourites.*



*No running or ridable K bikes were stripped or dismantled in the making of this motorbike.

Great outcome - so rewarding.
No one else is up yet so I’m off to brew a cup of tea and sit down to read the whole 8 page saga (motivation to get out and tidy the workshop).

I remember the feeling of excitement I had of that front tyre reaching the tarmac for the first time.

Two Wheels Better wrote:
I remember the feeling of excitement I had of that front tyre reaching the tarmac for the first time.

Completely get it. In a very much smaller way. I had never really wrenched much in my 50 years of riding beyond servicing plus a bit. When I bought my K in 2019 it had stood in the open unused for many years, and was a big learning experience to bring it back to health. I let Dai convince me that anyone could build stainless brake lines and I felt like Carroll Shelby when I took it out and no one died. ATM I’m looking at converting it to a single SU carb. 

From about 7 June through 10 June, my birthday weekend, I'll be riding Big Block from each corner of WA state, across the bottom from Ilwaco, along the Columbia River/Oregon border to Clarkston/Lewiston near the Snake River, then north up along the Idaho border to Metaline Falls. I'll then head west along the British Columbia, Canada border as close as the roads allow, at least. I'll then go from Mt Baker/Deming to Blaine WA (the border Peace Arch), just below Vancouver BC, down onto Fidalgo Island/Deception Pass to Coupeville, where I'll take the ferry across the end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Townsend. From there it's west on fabled Highway 101 to Port Angeles on out to Neah Bay/Cape Flattery, the furthest NW point on the mainland US, then south again on 101 from Forks past the rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula to Aberdeen (Kurt Cobain's hometown), then further down along the pacific coast beach towns to Ilwaco, back to the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. The circle completed.

Fantastic. I used to love the US miles I could cover in a day compared to the UK. Although I know they don't compare to Oz miles where you limit yourselves the flying ambulance range.
Gotta love a K in a Big country.

Washington state actually has quite a few less open, more curving roads than imagined. Sure, there's the fertile, rolling hills and prairies of the Palouse region of wheat, legumes and some corn fields, that seem to go on forever, but that's mainly the furthest east/southeast portion and on into Idaho and a bit of northeast Oregon. Otherwise, it's quite wooded and mountainous, with expansive views from mountain passes and alongside year-round flowing rivers, as well as the Pacific coast. Still, one can make time easily here. The rural state and local highway speed limits are often 60 to 70 mph with limited police coverage in many places, bar the more urban areas, which are mainly over the west side of the Cascade Range. 

I am asking a bit of myself to think I can cover the distance in four days on this bike, built more as a power cruiser than the touring bike its various pieces once were. The sheepskin seat cover and softer suspension settings on the Hyperpro rear shockie will come in handy.

I stripped the original equipment belly pan and bracket off my K100RS Down Under that Charlie now owns and secreted it away in my stowed luggage. That's going on soon, I just have to work out a way to relocate the Ducati oil cooler from in front of the timing chain cover. It's not really needed, nor is the three row radiator, but it's good to know the bike won't cook itself due to the combination of cooling apparatus, but perhaps it will me, as there is very little in the way to divert the hot air around the rider. I do plan to fit a fuel hose mini-radiator beforehand, as well.

I have a second set of K12 wheels from a K1200RS that were powder-coated semi-matte black by a previous owner. I'm putting a set of Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyres that I've had in storage for a coupla years, onto them. Fresh sport touring rubber and an even more black look.

I just want a nice, slow solo roll out in the sticks on a bike that's spent its life since being fettled together in 2015 being ridden mainly round town, commuting to work, and a few summertime road trips over the mountains.

II admit it's been a coupla years since I've crawled on my knees to change the oil & filter, gearbox & final drive oils on an early K. The K40s take my attention, & have their own quirks & charm. I am reminded of how therapeutic a K100/1100 can be. Then the filter is stuck & takes a 2-1/2 foot-long breaker bar on the Hazet tool to spin it just free of unstuck. Then I drop one of the 5mm allen head screws into the dirty drained oil, and my arm receives a glaze of oil. Then the oil filter cover o-ring wasn't flat so I had to sit it & the cover out in the sunshine to warm it so it'd sit right in its groove. Then the tool for measuring the trans oil level was in the last drawer of my tool box. Why do I need it? Just plop 850cc in & "I'll be laughing." The 75W140 Belray jug I used was less than full & so I poured in the <800cc it contained. What usually takes me half an hour took twice that, but it gave me reason to look around & notice small issues here & there.

I have also determined that a K100RS belly pan metal bracket (& belly pan) does not align with a K1200RS engine! The exhaust headers sit directly in the way of the upturn in the bracket. Oh, well, that saves me from having to relocate/remove the engine oil cooler.

The mechanic, like a good doctor, should have his tools to hand before beginning. 

But still, it's somehow oddly satisfying. 

What you get with a bitsa, put together over years and from various other bikes, is sometimes curious. The left hand side Marzocchi fork had a phillips head drain screw with a 6mm allen head (tool size, not thread) fill screw, while the RH used a 4mm allen head drain screw with an 8mm allen head fill screw. 

The left fluid came out quite scummy grey while the right came out near clear. 10W green Belray went in, 350cc left & 400cc right.

Front & rear brakes bled with Castrol DOT4 LMA fluid.

The Big Block is close to prepared for its 1700+ mile (approx) June, Washington state road trip.

What do you do for luggage on that machine TWB?

88 wrote:What do you do for luggage on that machine TWB?

Minimal carry ons. An expandable Oxford tankbag & Chrome courier bag over my shoulder. My summer sleeping bag is half a football-sized in a compression sack, my riding gear will have to do for multiple days, clean socks & undies don't take up much space. Maps are flat or digitised. My thinman holds just enough for several nights of sipping. My tent on this trip will be a tarpaulin stretched out away from the leaning bike and spiked into the ground at the other end. 

I described it to my daughter when she asked, "A bit like rough sleeping."

If it pours with rain there's always a motel nearby, and I'm not getting up and making a pot of tea of a morning.

Today, I pulled off the rocker cover and checked the valve clearances. It sure was clean in there. I had to Helicoil two of the 6mm retainer screw threads. All valves were within their respective range bar two which are close, above minimum, but intakes, so I'm not overly concerned at the mo'. 

New sparkies went in, and didn't I have to scrounge through my bits 'n' bobs tin for plug tip bobbins due to NGK HT lead ends that aren't stud style. It's a bloody good thing I'm a hoarder. The Bosch sparkies that came out were fixed end bobbins.

I also wired in a fused GPS mount on a Ram Mount 1" ball so my mobile phone can act as a speedometre, GPS & Bluetooth music source if the lovely low lope of the K12 engine and Delkevic exhaust note isn't music enough.

Test ride successful, at least as far as discovering a minor oil leak, which could've been disastrous. Left boot slipped off oil-soaked footpeg. One of the rubber seals on a rocker cover hold-down screw was decidedly angry at being reused and made a real show of its discontent, twenty minutes into a pleasant burble out around the quaint 'burb of Steilacoom. 

Degreased engine, exhaust headers, footpeg, riding boot and trouser leg, oh, and edge of rear tyre. Replaced with known pliable seal with a smidge of DreiBond around its conical base. Success.

The sparkies have always read a bit brown, like not enough milk in that strong cuppa. I'm using an adjustable FPR. Setting it down from 3 bar to 2-1/2 seemed to take the often sludgie-sluggie power delivery to a crisper feel under moderate acceleration. I'll cover a few more miles before doing a shutdown and plug reading, like we used to do, and sometimes still do, on our Airhead's Bing carbies.

I'd always believed removal of the massive and intricate factory K12 airbox in place of four individual K&N pods over the 38mm K12 TBs would automatically lean it out considerably, the O2 sensor & Motronic 2.1 impact considered.

The black front wheel (K1200RS) went on yesterday arvo along with a Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyre,  of course in 120/70ZR17. A similar PR4 Trail in 170/60ZR17 goes on the 5x17 rear wheel manaña when I am able to utilise my mate Bob's workshop. It's not fun busting down a phat tyre on the floor, even with leverage. Heaps easier on a stable platform which holds the wheel firmly. I am enjoying the black rather than silver look. Easy to swap back later, despite the original Pirelli tyres, tho' with half their tread life left, are 10 years old since manufacture.

This map, courtesy of the Google Gods, is as close as I can get on sealed (paved) roads around the edges of Washington state. As you can see the distance is a bit over 1614 miles (2597 kms) and with five days to ride the distance, stopping when a view catches my attention, or my arse is sore, or I need a pee, or petrol (but have to ask for 'gas'), is an easy 323 miles (519 kms) per day. I'm off on 6 June, arriving Spokane 8 June, heading out and arriving back home 10 June. The only major decision is weather dependent - I don't mind a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Washington is the 18th largest state in the US ranked by size, and being bordered by two other states (Idaho & Oregon), a vast ocean (Moananuiakea), a long river (the Columbia), and a province (British Columbia), means some kinda diversity. It's often drier over the mountains to the east, often very wet around the Olympic Peninsula up by Forks & Neah Bay, & down to Ilwaco. I'm travelling light, but well represented, clothing-wise, for all weather conditions bar one of the semi-active mountains blowing its top, à la Mt St Helens back in 1980. That might stuff things up a bit...

Anyone ready for a beer & some popcorn? Nine days & counting.

300-and-a-bit miles a day on asphalt. Sounds like an easily doable ride. I'M JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Wheels Better wrote:. . . stopping when I need . . . petrol (but have to ask for 'gas')

  If you need to ask for either, you may have mistakenly pulled into a McDonald's. Stay alert!

Laitch wrote:

Two Wheels Better wrote:. . . stopping when I need . . . petrol (but have to ask for 'gas')

  If you need to ask for either, you may have mistakenly pulled into a McDonald's. Stay alert!

Macca's gives me that for sure. Most unpleasant.

Reminds me of seeing old images in my US grandparent's magazines from travelling in America in the 1950s & '60s.

"Billy Bob's Restaurant & Service Station. Eat here & Get Gas!"

Two Wheels Better wrote:"Billy Bob's Restaurant & Service Station. Eat here & Get Gas!"

FFS!!!!

it's a thang.

Didn't I get my nice, new (2019) Michelin Pilot Road Trail 4 rear tyre mounted on the black K1200RS rear 5x17 wheel this morning? By the time I got home to fit it to the bike it'd lost 20 psi. It even had a new Michie sticker on it, but between the treads there was a slender pinhole with no 'foreign object' within to be seen. Truth be told, I did get it for free, but it was presented as an unwanted tire (most certainly!) and as-new. No road or mounting marks anywhere on it.  I think I have it plugged successfully after two tries with a Stop'n'Go mushroom plug. The first one slid straight in too easily. The second one required a slight bit of reaming the hole larger. Shame, really, 'cause I'd wanted fuss-free new skins to leave on. My mate Bob has an internal hot glue vulcanising technique he uses that lasts the life of the tyre, but it's a dismount from the rim to perform. I might wait a day to do that.

What I'm about to say sounds rough as guts, cause it is, but here's a way I've fixed punctures in tubeless tyres that have lasted the life of the tyres. I've cut patches from an inner tube and stuck them on tyres with roof plumbers silicone. Cheap as chips.

I recently had a puncture on the rear Metzeler of my R1250RS. Used the sticky rope to repair with lots of glue, the tyre is maybe 50% worn so I intended to wear it out. I do have a new Road 6GT waiting at home for it too.  The TPMS is showing that it's losing pressure slowly. As it will.cost me to fit the new tyre or to fix the puncture better I'll probably just fit the new Michy and keep the Metzeler as a usable emergency spare.  Lost 4psi in the last week just sitting.

AL-58 wrote:Lost 4psi in the last week just sitting.

I got a leaky rear rim on LFB that does that

I've used the mushroom plug-style Stop & Go kits for over twenty years. Only once or twice did I ever struggle to get them to seal. Mainly they've given me peace of mind, and upon teardown of the worn tyre you have to have a good look for where they are hiding as they're blended into the tyre's carcass. Mostly it's down to the puncture not being reamed 'smooth' before insertion of the tapered guide tool, if they don't seal the first time. It was third time lucky yesterday, but those two now useless rubber tips will be spinning endlessly in their own dark dank universe for all of eternity, or at least until I send a rescue mission after them, which I'll do today when we hot patch it from inside - essentially, a cut piece of tube that's melted on with hotted up glue. Nothin' fancy, proprietary or revolutionary.

Repaired. It only took two 7 gram (1/4 oz) weights to balance perfectly. I have had Michelin tyres not require balance weights at all - rare but true. One more step closer to go.

Today, tool roll contents and minimalist camping gear to select. I reckon this is the longest process to go on a ride that I've ever experienced. It's usually just me throwing some I think I might need it gear in a tankbag, tailbag and panniers, and we're off! But that's it, because I have so little available space I'm having to think it through - plus, this bike and I have only ever done one night out together. It's all been local-ish rides.

There she be, ready for some sport touring. A concession to comfort is the sheepskin seat cover bought on a trans Canada ride in Ontario above the Great Lakes back in 2018.

Two Wheels Better wrote: Nothin' fancy, proprietary or revolutionary.

Of course it's revolutionary! It's on a bloody wheel, isn't it???

Dai wrote:

Two Wheels Better wrote: Nothin' fancy, proprietary or revolutionary.

Of course it's revolutionary! It's on a bloody wheel, isn't it???

Ba dum!

BA DA BOOM!

When the ride is done and one is reflecting on the day, especially if feet are up, relaxing, a view of forest or lake or mountain is especially wonderful. What helps in this effort is a fine drop that warms the bones, soothes sore arse syndrome & lubricates the cogitative nerves. And sometimes you just feel like sucking on a bottle and getting a result!

I carry a 'thin man' in my tankbag. It's usually got a single malt inside. On this trip I chose a new drop for me. In researching who makes it for Trader Joe's, a US based grocery chain, I found that it's bottled by Jameson's in Ireland.

At US$15.99 plus Washington state sin tax, it's a good deal on a pretty good drop. In fact, I'm sipping some now.

Just FYI: 'special reserve' usually indicates a blended malt.

Dai wrote:Just FYI: 'special reserve' usually indicates a blended malt.

Wonderful, at ride's end I shall enjoy it as intended; my own special reserve in a flask.

I got a quick morning 'hundred' in on the bike with the tailbag and tankbags both loaded up and strapped on as they'll be next week, and everything felt solid. Except for the large and rude lady who cut me off in her lowered Dodge Charger as she aggressively merged left into my lane as her lane ended, and then flipped me off for her efforts, it was a good ride. Two car lengths ahead was all she got as a reward, and at the next light she yelled towards me, "You do that again and I'll knock you off your bike." I turned away and never saw her again. The sunshine brings out the idiots. But so does the rain.

With the incoming rain storms s'posed to be dropping 2"+ on the west side and 4"+ in the mountains, with snow above 5,000 feet (1500m), through Tuesday, that gives it a day to dry out before I head out on Thursday. Then next weekend is forecast to be high 90s F (36 C) over east of the Cascades. The cool-vest is packed.

Away early, coolish temps, but sunshine all around.
I'm headed towards Neah Bay, the most NW tip of the contiguous US states. Home to the Makah tribe.

I consider it an omen that as I was slowing in the Skokomish res, a large seagull opened his bomb bay door upon me, depositing a large white message of luck, which now oozes down the right hand side of the engine. 

Neah Bay to Kalaloch. A 10-1/2 hour ride all up produced about 400 miles, making the second day easier across the bottom of the state along the Columbia & Snake Rivers and on to the Idaho border. Bright & shiny as it was, the temp never rose above 60° F.

Big Block performed admirably, despite the rough as guts road surfaces along the Strait of Juan de Fuca on highways 112 & then south to 101 again on highway 113. Remote roads, though vital to the people living out there, rarely get the politicians' attention.

There could be worse places for a Shorai battery to utterly fail - 9.6V now down to 8.7V an hour later - dunno of course whether it's the 50 amp alternator until I get it going again and can check output with my multimetre. 

Halfway between Westport & Raymond WA.

I have a really strong AGM but it's on the floor in my garage - three hours drive away - in all of its 12.8V glory.

It's funny how downtime gets you thinking. There was a slight knock at day's end yesterday, noticeable at idle, coming from the area where the alternator fits into the block. I wonder if the monkey nuts have failed, or a bearing...

No matter, a mate with a trailer is halfway here, with a battery. Once started, I'll do a bit of diagnostic. 

I did discover whilst having a squiz that the TBs, when opened half way, were catching slightly on one of the hose clamps, creating a notchiness to the otherwise smooth throttle pull. Fat lot of good that does me at the moment. 

It's a beautiful day in this neighbourhood, and the seagulls are ever curious. Perhaps this stranded Crusoe has snacks, they're likely thinking.

Fresh battery in. Starts immediately. Under 12v out of the alternator. She is humbled by a ride home in the back of a Ranger.

The ride resumes on the K1200R today.

I got home that arvo, slid the bike into its slot in the garage for a look later on, unpacked, repacked another bike, had a good sleep and a feed, then set off the next morning to complete the ride. Here's a coupla piccies, not necessarily in the order of travel over the Friday through Monday, but close enough.












It's a great place to ride. I'm headed to the BMWMOA National Rally in Redmond, Oregon from Thursday this week. I'll look for classic K bikes amongst the throng.

hi TWB

thank you so much for sharing pics of places I've never been (and probably never make it) - I am daydreaming all the time
and as today is two days after Jun 10 (me bad), belated all the best to you

g'donya, mate

bad boy wrote:hi TWB
thank you so much for sharing pics of places I've never been (and probably never make it) - I am daydreaming all the time...and as today is two days after Jun 10 (me bad), belated all the best to you

g'donya, mate

Thanks, mate. Meanwhile, Big Block sits dejected in the corner of the garage while all of the other machines get ridden. My June is booked.

I got round to sorting out the charging issue with BB that left me waiting at the roadside for a few sunny hours for my mate with a pickup back in June. The battery was suddenly flat twenty miles after breakfast on the second day out of a five day tour. It had fired up strong that cool morning. My multimetre indicated 9 volts at the battery. I couldn't bump start the engine. No one I enquired of had jumper cables. It was a lovely early summer day at the seaside on the Washington state Pacific coast. I rang my mate Bob. Then I waited.

Fast forward two and a bit months and it's been a heady summer of riding while BB collected dust to one side of the garage. Out came the tools. I'm feeling much better after a 17 day illness had me sofa bound.

I have a coupla spare 50amp alternators so removed the seemingly defunct unit - no connections were dodgy, nothing loose. I mentioned somewhere, I think, that the baby bottle overflow coolant bottle had split. Sure enough, pink Zerex had trickled down the top of the gearbox and possibly been inhaled at the back of the alt. But the bike always did have a slight running rattle that I thought came from somewhere nearby, but I could never ID it. 

The monkey nuts were intact. I slipped a new set in and as I do, gave the three way metal drive tangs a slight shot of silicone spray. This eases the forward movement as I push the alt to home against the block. Aligned, I tightened the three Allen head screws. Ain't that bottom 7 o'clock one a pain in the arse to get to!? Cables attached, spade connector on, battery in, leads tightened, and held down by the belt & buckle I use like the kewl kids do on their café racers.

12.6 volts wasn't enough from the 12amp AGM so I jumped from an old (ancient) Shorai lithium I had lying round with 13.2v in it. Up she fired and settled into a steady idle. I whacked the multimetre onto the battery posts to see barely 12.75v showing. A quick stab of the throttle and it jumped to 13.9v. A real rev and it peaked at 14.3v. And guess what, no running rattle any longer. That alternator may just have been a noisy one. The drive cup does move considerably more in and out than the other units in my spares supply - a bad bearing, perhaps. The one that went in had barely a mm free play, as normal. I replaced, temporarily, the dozen year old baby bottle with a small sturdy Nalgene-type bottle. A metal replacement is incoming.

I ran the engine through two coolant fan cycles on the main stand. No rattle arrived. Don't those three row radiators take forever to warm up!? Rain is imminent so I didn't dress for a test ride. Perhaps mañana.

A definitive fix?