GRN

I moved to Long Bch in 82 to go to Cal State. At that time it was pretty run down, coulda bought an entire city block of abandoned buildings downtown for $100K just off of Ocean Ave. It's really changed for the better now. Long Beach today is really nice. Remember the Pussycat Theater? it's a Westin Hotel now. Belmont Shores is the same and it still a great place, that's where I lived in the college days. The 80's in SoCal were the best of times!

The image of the illusive Hub is beginning to form.

* Last updated by: knovikov on 1/14/2018 @ 9:08 PM *

It was 17 degrees here this morning. I was geared up (with heated gear) and ready to ride but the bike wouldn't start. It is kept on a battery tender but in my rush to change things up once it didn't start I didn't check to see if the extension cord the battery tender is plugged into had come out of the socket. Once I get home I'll know if I need to go get a new battery. Most likely I will replace it either way. It would suck to come out to the bike after work and have it not start. It had been sitting for a couple of weeks due to snow and ice.

Do you wear a snowmachine suit at 17 air temp - crazy. How do the tires even begin to grip the road? I would think just simple stopping on dry pavement at that temp would be dicey

the coldest I have ever ridden in the teens and it's bearable because of the engine heat and wind cover but it is no fun at all. I was always riding very gently and it was uncomfortable. Using the car seemed better to me. Also, I would rather store the bike well before the temp outside gets this low for a few other reasons.

How do the tires even begin to grip the road? I would think just simple stopping on dry pavement at that temp would be dicey

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In the winter, tires take a lot longer to warm up. I've ridden my bike in the winter, the coldest was 18 degrees. As long as you are careful and wear the proper gear you should be ok.

It was 30 degrees fahrenheit the day this picture was taken, on my way to Phoenix, AZ from Brooklyn, NY. I installed a set of "Hippo Hands" (remember those?) to cover my handlebar and keep my hands warm, and wore a ski jacket and snowboard pants with extra layers for cold weather.

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"Pussycat Theater?"...yep.Got my first tattoo down at the Pike...it aint there anymore.Think I was 16...tried to hide it from my folks.Growin up there(near Lakewood)was good times...most of it anyway.

Cool bike Kof.900?

Cool bike Kof.900?

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Yep, it's the old trusty Z1-900.

@islandninja
Aren't those jeans a little too tight? Either way you are quite the poser.
Takeaway, come to our Indonesian bed and breakfast and you will walk away with a slight limp.

* Last updated by: knovikov on 1/16/2018 @ 4:08 AM *

In the late 80's, Midwest in February, I found myself riding my little KZ400 to work. For about 2 weeks of that month the morning temps were between 10-20F. It took me about as long to dress and warm the bike and then undress when I got there, as the trip itself. On one of the Monday mornings there was still packed snow and ice patches left from the weekend storm. When I got to work that morning, I promised myself never to be that stupid again!

The short route included roads in a small town, some highway and then airport roads. I was surprised how well the little Kz did in the cold, although I didn't put a lot of faith in the stopping, so tried to keep my distance. I didn't have cold weather riding gear, so used some old work clothes including two pair or overalls, long johns, lots of layers and mittens! I looked and felt like a butter ball and was sweating by the time I got fully dressed and going, to then freeze along the way.

To answer the question about what I wear for 17 degree weather... A sport touring jacket, heated liner, heated gloves, leather track pants with thermals and balaclava. I don't need anything else up top besides the shirt I am wearing to work. I do of course change out of the track pants when I get to work. The cat calls from women at work from time to time makes the effort even more fun.
I do take it easy in the corners of course. I have found there is more than enough grip for breaking. One of the beautiful things about the 14R or any other late model performance bike is the traction control. When it is this cold you can queue off of the traction control how much grip you have before you even get on the binders to stop.

* Last updated by: BigSarg on 1/16/2018 @ 12:07 PM *

Aren't those jeans a little too tight? Either way you are quite the poser.

Hey, man--if you can wear jeans from 20 years ago, I say wear them and be proud. If they squash your junk too hard, you either go on a diet or buy bigger pants.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/17/2018 @ 8:31 PM *

@knovikov
@rook
both of you are spot on!... the old 501 i have been wearing for the past 20 years
apologies for this bit of narcissism... this was meant to be a weather thread...

I just wore my 20 year old jeans yesterday. The pair I bought last year were loose and they got a hole in the knee. They don't make em like they used to.

Jeans no longer fade except on the knees. They do not shrink. The threads do not wear a slow gradual hole after hundreds of washes. Now they just let go and the hole is huge about 5 hours later. These were Levis.

yes... jeans are like the home appliances
in the old days, they were made to last.. nowadays, they are just made to sell
hopefully this trend will not get to motorbike manufacturing...

Finally made it to Florida. Built this bike to ride around in the backwoods. The motor came from a scotter 150cc, the frame from a BMX bicycle, the wheels from older dirtbike. I think it weighs around 100lbs so its manageable. This is my last bike build.

* Last updated by: knovikov on 1/20/2018 @ 6:51 PM *

That's an interesting seat. Don't wear any 20 year old jeans with that thing!

You do some nice work and I'm amazed how fast you get things together. I bet you can get some nice wheelies if you stand and lean back. With a seat like that, you will probably be standing a lot.

I tried a few.variations to the seat, but it looked better down low. Had to make seat from scratch so it would work. It pretty comfortable to sit on, jest need to cut down handlebars.

Had to make seat from scratch so it would work. It pretty comfortable to sit on

OK well don't blame me when your testicles migrate up to your heart.

You are correct. Just would have been easier to buy a pit bike and call it done. Thats why no more builds.

Just would have been easier to buy a pit bike and call it done.

Story of my F-ing life! Oh well its your nuts that will be climbing up your esophagus. No one else's.

I do very much revere the bikes you build though, Nova. Don't let a little nut crawling stop you in the future. It's not so much about your nuts as it is the creativity and the bikes.

January 1976, I had a 1974 Z1900 and a 1970 SST Javelin. I drove the Javelin to the local Bowling Alley. While I was inside someone poured BB's into the Carburetor. When I started the motor it ran for 5 seconds bending valves/pistons rings breaking. I pulled the motor and rebuilt it myself, took 2 months. I worked at a Wholesale Bakery and the company let me borrow a Freezer Suit to ride to work. One morning it was 10 degrees. Bike always started. Those were the days. I lived in Kansas at the time.
I really wish I had kept some of my Cars, too.