Back to the future...

Inspired by the recent work of Matthew Cicanese, I dug out my old circa 1974 55mm Micro Nikkor P•C macro lens, and slapped it onto the front of my Olympus EPL-2 mirrorless.
1974 meets 2011
Initial tests seem to indicate the 40 year old lens is very sharp and contrasty and plays well digitally. Here are two initial test shots, made just outside the backdoor of the studio where I work:

Lichen on a piece of oak bark, frame covers about 2" across

Clover and leaf detail shot at 1:1

My 2015 Motorcycling Resolutions

1. Finish my darn bike!

The salt bike I raced in August 2014 suffered a setback when the salt corrosion from Bonneville attacked critical parts more aggressively than I would have imagined. While I *think* I’ve managed to remove all the salt and halt any new corrosion back in September, everything from the carbs to the steering stem to the pushrod tubes needs to be disassembled, polished and refurbished or replaced in order for it to even run again, let alone be race ready.

BMW salt corrosion post-bonneville

2. Finish my other darned bike!
My prized Honda GB500 has been languishing in the stable for years (and years) in semi-running state. Last year I resolved to refit her properly and ordered $1200 worth of parts and paint to do so. Sadly, all those parts are still in their boxes and the GB still sits waiting her turn at some TLC. I vow that before Labor Day weekend (The weekend of the Bull City Rumble in Durham NC) I’ll have her fitted and road ready.

1989 GB500

3. Squeeze in another “father-son-son” ride this year.
Our last was in 2012, and too far in the rearview mirror. I, my Dad and my brother all ride and live within 50 miles of each other, so its a shame we don’t find/make time to ride together more. I’ll take it upon myself to plan another ride, epic in personality if not in achievement, knowing that no one can promise us tomorrow.

4. Push myself into the unknown or unfamiliar.
I started riding on the street, and have only ever done so. I consider myself an above average pilot on the road, so maybe this year is the year I attempt some dirt or dual-sport riding. Or maybe Trials riding. Or track school at Virginia International Raceway. Attempting something I’ve not done before is why I have medical insurance.

5. Get heated gear for my spouse.
My wife loves to ride, and while I need solo rides from time-to-time, I also love riding two up . But while anything over 45º and under 80º is perfect for me, that range runs much cooler than my southern raised gal likes it. She could easily continue to wear a heated jacket up to the high 70’s, so its about time (20yrs??) I get her one. Having her along for even more rides is a win-win, and keeping her as comfortable as possible is my primary goal anyways.

What about you - do you have any Motorcycle-related resolutions you’d like to share?

Updates elsewhere...

Seems its being easier this trip to post prates at my ShutterPilot Racing Facebook page, so please check there for updates to our efforts out at Bonneville:
https://www.facebook.com/shutterpilotracing

Bits and pieces...

My number plate for the Salt Bike...

Got a few odds and ends sorted last night, and a mystery solved...

Ready to race! Well, almost...

BMW R65, rolled out and started for the first time since January.

Over the long fourth of July weekend, I managed to complete the reassembly of the beemer. She's now as complete as she was when manufactured in October of 1980. 

Good news: she started right up and ran pretty strong.

Bad news: she seems to slip in 5th gear just a bit, so we'll need to investigate and sort that out real soon.

Other than that, I have some safety wiring left to do (the first two bolts drilled real nice and easy, and I even managed to finish the holes off with nice beveled edges so nothing catches.

Another photo:

Not showroom, but not too bad for going on 34 years old.
She's not looking much like a race bike, 'cause for her race class she has to be 100% bone stock,
and let me tell you, 34 year old stock bikes are hard to come by.
I'm really happy with all I've learned on this project so far - and soon we'll get to run her at Bonneville.
Pretty cool anyway you look at it.

Making Progress...

What am I looking at?! L-R: Cylinder, Piston, Wrist pin, Connecting Rod

I finally got a large enough block of time to install the newly worked piston, cylinders and heads onto the salt bike…

My very own "Altar to the gods of Speed"...

Over $1000 worth of machine work and parts, ready to re-install!

Got the pistons back after de-carboning, with new rings and scrubbers. And the cylinders have been cleaned up and re-honed, and of course the heads have been rebuilt.
You can see in the photo above the parts are divided between the right and left sides of the engine, so I can keep track of what goes where on install, and to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Now? I've just got to get it all back together and see if she'll run!

Here's a cut-away of a BMW "airhead" engine, showing where a lot of the stuff currently on my bench goes...