Called In Sick

A post from my sick bed...been battling a super cold for the past two weeks.  Couldn't really post anything of interested.  Just wanted to say I have a couple of winter projects in the works.  Nothing too ground breaking.  Just another Dio Polini E50 and a classic Autisa ZA50 motor setups.  Stay tuned...

Abunai!! Soma Crash!!

About a couple of months ago my Two-Stroke Tomo (friend) Soma-san got into an accident.  He was on his Yamaha 250Z coming off of the highway and then BAM!!!  He hit a bad patch of gravel on the turn and spun out.  He was fortunately OK but suffered some major road rash.  It's a good thing he was wearing full protective gear or it would of been worst.

S.S.M.M...Soma Some More Mods

Soma-san was at it again.  He was busy installing a crap load of aftermarket parts (courtesy of Treats) before going on his All Honda MB5 Meeting.

Puch ZA50 Pull Starter (Part 2)

In Part 1, I showed how to modify the pull start to make it rotate in the counter-clockwise direction for use on the ZA50's flywheel.  In Part 2, I will show how to modify and mount the prawl onto the flywheel and mount the pull starter to the bike.

Puch ZA50 Pull Starter (Part 1)

Installing a pull starter on mopeds is the latest trend for those who want to give up the pedal, push, or kick starts.  I've seen a lot of variations around the web on this concept.  The most popular is the use of a go-ped style pull starter with pawl.  The GS MOON pull starter and pawl combo seem to be the cheapest and easiest to use.  The pawl is connected to the moped's magneto flywheel and the pull starter is rigged onto the magneto cover or a custom bracket.  As you pull on the starter, it engages the pawl, which in-turn spins the magneto flywheel to starts the moped.  Here are a few examples:

Crazy Asians

Keeping it in the Asian scooter theme, check out this crazy contraption:

Get Your Kulture On

Instagram-D...

"Getting ready to head down to Pacific Kulture Fest..."

32 Sprocket Installed

I finally installed my long awaited 32 sprocket on my bike.  It took a while to find one and get it made.

ZA50 Clutch Update

Good time to do a clutch performance update on my ZA50.  Installed these first and second gear clutches about a year ago.  I blasted around Japan at least a good 100 miles on them.  Typical Gila wear and tear starting to show.  I'm gonna try to use better transmission oil to prevent this.  I'm was using Type F but will try 0w20w or 5w10w synthetics next.

Weird ZA50 Failure

I had a weird failure with my ZA50 motor this weekend.  After a hard night pushing the limits of our bikes with Soma-san on Japanese Hwys 129 and 246, I rode my bike the next morning to a rude awakening.  When I was at half throttle, my engine started to make a violent shaking sound.  I immediately thought it was the Gila's death rattle of seizure!!  But soon realized I heard this sound before.  I next thought it was my clutches blowing up.  In any case, I was lucky to make it home on 1/4 throttle.

Taiwan Scooter Life

Chan Kai Shek Memorial

I recently got back from a trip to Taipei, Taiwan. For all you scooter fans, this is one of the meccas for scooter lifestyle.  A ton of bikes and parts come from this Asian island.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go to the many performance shops around town.  I didn't see too many two-stroke scooters or mopeds either.  It was a plethora of four-stroke Yamahas, Kymcos, and SYMs.  And they were everywhere!!  And I mean everywhere!!  I haven't seen this many scooters in action other than Vietnam.  They even have devoted scooter lanes on the freeway.  Enjoy some of the sights around town:

Puch 32 Tooth Rear Sprocket

I've been looking for a 32 tooth rear sprocket for over a year now.  I've scoured the forums and asked my friends with no success.  I have two of them, but they're trapped on my bikes currently stored in Hawaii.  So, I decided to make one.  I initially contacted Chris at 1977mopeds to see if they could get or make one for me: