I’ll be honest, rebuilding the wheels on our 1975 Honda CB550F was a job I was hoping to put off a lot longer. The process of lacing and truing wheels is tedious, and there are plenty of opportunities to scratch a fresh rim when you pull the tire irons out. Considering a shoestring budget is…
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Any clown with an adjustable wrench can take a bike apart (the term basketcase exists for a reason), and if you go in without a plan, that’s exactly how the next owner will take delivery of your abandoned dream—in boxes. But you do have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, and for…
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They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we’ve certainly dragged our fair share of trashed motorcycles home. Wherever we scrounge them up, the rose-colored glasses wear the heaviest tint after you’ve bagged a neglected classic for cheap. But before you get carried away, it pays to take a good look at what…
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Like most things in life, building a custom motorcycle is certainly a process. It starts with a vision, and (hopefully) ends with a functional expression of speed and style—but you’ll have to get your hands dirty to get there. Lacing wheels, trimming tabs and building an electrical system are just a few of the less…
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Mikuni round-slide carburetors are some of the most common and reliable carburetors found on classic motorcycles and powersports equipment, and rebuilding one…
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Ready to tackle your first motorcycle paint project? In Part One of this guide, we outlined the first three steps: theory, planning…
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Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks, or you just like the challenge of doing everything yourself, at some point you’ll…
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Whether you’re customizing a bike or building your own work stand, welding is a great skill to have. In Part One of…
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Most of the bikes that grace these pages that have had some welding done on them, somewhere. If you’re building your own…
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If you’re working on your bike, even if just doing mild maintenance, you need to be aware of torque. It isn’t only…
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This week, I want to talk about one of the most indispensable tools in my shop: the Dremel rotary tool. I love…
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Our resident expert mechanic Matt McLeod reveals what he looks for when buying an angle grinder. Where would we be without the…
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Nearly every time you’re working on your bike, there are three types of tools that you’ll need: Wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers. Let’s…
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Our resident expert mechanic Matt McLeod reveals how he plans a custom motorcycle build. I’m not sure about you, but I hate…
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Our resident expert mechanic Matt McLeod reveals what he looks for when buying a used motorcycle. I take a checklist with me…
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