New Website and Blog - The Pacific Express

James Dean's original and now restored Triumph Scrambler

I thought I better finish of the year with one more post here.

As the title of the post states, I have a new website & blog called The Pacific Express.

It is a much more regularly updated version of ashortnote-aje, similar content and topics of interest. Accompanying the blog is a small online store that will be carrying anything I have an interest in. These items may vary from artwork to clothing & footwear or to anything else that I find interesting or enjoy.

I hope to really grow both the blog and the store in 2010. Currently in the store you can find footwear and accessories from NYC's Common Projects. I will be adding some new lines to the store in January consisting of both International and Australian lines.

Please take a look around, leave a comment or feel free to send through any suggestions you may have.

Old Times

Yes, new posts are rare on this piece of interweb junk. But time has come for one. Its not really about anything, they never are these days. Anyway, I'm a little bummed today and was looking through old photo's from happier days, I came across this one a friend sent me a couple of months ago. That is my Honda Cb500 being cut up with an angle grinder. The photo was taken beginning of winter and was the last time I was able to work on this bike. I miss both my bikes right now.

Honda cb500

Time for another update. The original reason for starting in the blogging business was to document the journey or restoring my vintage motorcycle. Well it mite be time for episode two!

I don't know why, but something compelled me to buy another motorcycle. Only this time, my decision making was not so calculated, more irrational and impatient. So, I ended up with numerous boxes and bits of motorcycle. Joy! Plenty of new parts, restored parts and plenty of old spare parts ie. 450cc twin engine etc. Mostly everything is there to finish it.

I purchased this in early June. It was originally a Honda cb500cc Twin. It still is, but is no resemblance of the bike it once was. This build will be inspired by early model vintage Honda race bikes. It is well underway with lots of time and money spent, but has a long way to go. This will take sometime to finish. The only problem is I'm not sure when I will ever get to it. I'm currently overseas and not sure if/when I will be returning just yet.

With this in mind, I will be open to reasonable offers if anyone is interested. Contact me for more information.

July 2009

L.A's warm weather reminds me of the day i took the above photo last summer on my Pentax SLR

I'm pretty slack with my blogging efforts. I just feel I should find more productive things to do with my time. Anyway, whilst I'm wasting time i thought i would update.

Earlier this year I won myself a Green Card VISA for the USA. So, this month I quit my full time day job to be unemployed and visit the states. I arrived yesterday in L.A. and will be staying with my friend Drew for the next couple of weeks. A green card has both positives and negatives, and is actually somewhat more restrictive then initially thought. I have really been asking myself how i want to live my life over the next couple of years. Its a hard question to answer. No matter what happens there will be some hard decisions and sacrifices to be made.

I will make a trip out to NYC shortly to see some friends I lived with when in NYC a couple of years ago. That will be great fun. I have missed that city.

Anyway, I will try to post photo's when I can as I should have some spare time.

I'm really looking forward to what the next few months have to offer. Whether it be in the states or Australia. I'm reading a great book at the moment which is motivating me for adventure.

I had forgotten about this blogging stuff I got myself involved in, hence no posts for a long time. I thought I would keep my latest post motorcycle related. Here are some photographs taken a few weeks ago on the Mornington Peninsula. The weather was amazing, reasonably warm, no wind and plenty of sunshine. Days like this are meant for Vintage Motorcycle's. I had been riding a 2009 Triumph Thruxton 900cc around this time for a week or so and then went back to my small Honda. It was still great fun, although very different to what i was becoming familiar with. Here are the two bikes pictured together. This was the most amazing days riding I had ever experienced.

Above you will see the latest progress photograph of what I have been working on when I find a moment of free time. It is not yet fully finished, however it can be ridden and is running well. It has only been on two short five minute rides in order to test and make changes. Hopefully today I will take it on a journey around the Mornington Peninsula and enjoy the sunshine! From now it will require minor adjustments to suit, some sidecover badges and other minor things.

I have a new set of bars from Modak Motorcycles, 299 Elizabeth Street Melbourne, which are a classic British bend. The 100 year old lady that runs the shop is amazing. The bars are pretty much the same shape as the originals, just much lower, only two inches high rather then five. These will give the bike a much sportier Cafe' look, but will be the only item that is not the same as the original. Should I put them on? Let me know your thoughts.

Hopefully I will get a chance to take some more photo's and post them soon for those interested.

Thanks.

Honda CB250 Twin

After waiting patiently for almost 8 weeks, I finally had my Fuel tank and other parts in my possession and fully painted, yesterday. It took sometime!

The process undertaken to get this done meant all parts were sanded back and prepared for paint. Silver is first colour to be applied in order to create the base for the Candy Ruby Red. Paint is transparent and can sometimes require several coats to get the right result. Over the top of the silver, Four coats of red were applied to achieve the right colour and depth desired. Over this a couple of clear coats were applied for extra depth and protection.

I have started to finish off the assembly, its coming together ok. The biggest challenge was placing the fork covers and forks back in position. It definetly requires two people. Still someway to go, however shouldn't be too much longer now.