I thought it would be a good idea to ride a bike out of an estate auction and not check the weather. Everybody Needs A Craig shirts still available! thebeardedmechanic.shop/
How many men would screw around with an old bike in a frigid parking lot with the snow beginning to fall? This video is testimony to Craig's utter determination and skill in the pursuit of what may well be the sweetest sound known to man: that glorious moment when an old engine comes back to life.
As a guy who also gets cheap/free bikes and tries to get them going cheaply, I watched a few videos about lock picking and got a cheap lock pick set. I get lots of bikes without keys, and being able to get in the tank or turn on the ignition for initial troubleshooting has been a game changer. You should give it a try, it's actually pretty fun!
@@aculpoca yes, Lock Picking Lawyer is what motivated me to attempt picking. I used to drill out motorcycle ignitions and tanks but now I can get most open in a minute or two…I am not skilled at it so a pro could do it in seconds.
Lock picking is definitely a useful skill to have. I helped a friend get back into her Chevy Traverse with a $20 wave tool I found at Duluth Trading Co. It was a random find, but it worked lol
@@ATi1300RamiroMost automotive locks especially on old vehicles are shockingly basic, easy to open, hence why chips in keys and other non theft devices become the norm.
I was about to comment the same thing, been using a cheap lock pick kit for a while now for getting under the seat or into the tank of old bikes that didnt come with the keys
I had the opportunity to get the same bike my dad said he had back in the ‘80s. He has a KZ750e, and the “e” model is what gave me such a hard time. So, after years of looking, I finally found one on Facebook Marketplace. After messaging the guy, he ended up being on a trip for two months. Out of the blue, he messages me saying he’s back, and long story short, I drove 3 hours the next day to pick it up. It wasn’t running, and it obviously was sitting for a while. So, I got it home, and it took me 15 minutes to get it running, and I took it for its first ride down my driveway. I had my dad on FaceTime, and it was such an amazing moment to share with him. He hadn’t seen that bike since he sold his almost 40 years ago. I ended up getting it painted, and I was able to work a deal where I could put the new pin stripes on to match the original before he put the last two clear coats on. I had to make it look exactly like my dad’s, so I changed the exhaust and headers, put yellow spark plug cables on (he had Yellowjacket cables). I had to go through the carbs and rebuild and synchronize those, which was a learning experience since it was my first bike with carbs and of course it has four of them. But hey, I was 25 at the time, so I had to learn as I went. I will never sell that bike because it’s such a peach and I ride the snot out of it whenever the weather is nice or there’s a cars and coffee. Hopefully one day my dad can make it down to Texas so he can throw a let over it and enjoy what I’ve spent so much time working on so it could be perfect.
Working on one of these at the moment. No key, found online there is only like 45 different keys made for the 76. Found a 3 digit code on the helmet lock. Ordered a key with that number and it works for all three locks.
Back in the late eighties I was involved in a 7 car pile up that totaled my car. It was early February in northeast Ohio. It snows. Had no cash, but I had a Yamaha TT500. Rode it until spring then I switched to my Sportster. Didn't buy another car until the following winter. I'm older and wiser now but a couple weeks ago my truck wouldn't start. My 79 Gold Wing did!
As a bike mechanic I am known as the Bike Whisperer. All the bikes I work on I still have that passion for these stories. I remember. Jim Outback Australia. Love your channel!
Ha! Watching you trying to kick that bike to life, in a snow storm, with bare hands and no grips on the bars makes any shitty thing I have to do today seem easy. 🙂 Thanks!
I had that exact bike when I was 16 years old ,78 Kawi kz 400 ,u can't kill them ,even never change the oil & run it at a motocross track ,u still won't kill it ,lay it down going 50 mph ,pick it up off the ground & keep riding ,they are indestructible
Good Luck buddy 👍, one of my eldest Son is a mechanic he's now 50 years old and still spannering , one of my cousins started off as a Mechanic and has done that well at it he's now a Millionaire with his own business in Canada, hope your dreams come true Buddy 👍
@@carlarthur4442 very noice! and kind of funny, one of my dreams is actualy moving to canada, maybe someday i can meet your cousin sometime! it would be great!
You two guys have given me the inspiration to service/ fix my own bike So far all is good and no nuts / bolts are left over after ive finished Love the image at the end with the fuel wrapped around your neck Keep making me laugh guys Thanks
Most 70s Japanese motorcycles just had a spring lock on a gas cap in other words an open cylinder with a pin and a spring. Anything with a rough shape the same as the ignition key. I proved this to a friend of mine the other day by using my John Deere tractor key to open the gas tank on his 76 Honda 750.
I would have put it in the trailer the moment I realized there was no key. But Craig and Dan have that never give up attitude that makes for such great entertainment. 👍
Drum brakes on a bike are wonderful as they'll never dry out and seize like hydraulic versions will on an old neglected bike. You guys have more gumption than me....well done!
Stay in upstate NY. I left for CA and wish I had never left, I miss it so much but I am stick here now. Ithaca NY my home. Trust me I have been to all the lower 48, and you are in the best Stay put.
@@Kordziel getting out of Binghamton was the best decision we ever made. After 31 years we just couldn't do it anymore. Ithaca is a nice place to visit, but I really could never live there.
Hey Craig, Watching you and your motorcycle antics is like watching the Irish Try channel when they are doing drinking games! A whole lotta fun to watch without the hangovers or the pain! Keep it up and always stay sunny side up.
An idea for fuel problems like this - modified Camelback. Or a homemade camelback. Couple gallons of gas with a fuel line and a pocket full of adapters. Safe? Probably not. Effective? Should be.
I was so excited for this channel, and it has went above and beyond my expectations! Absolutely love the content! You should do a bike meet when the snow melts!
My toes hurt watching that video. I also have plenty of time with wrenching outdoors in the weather. Brings back memories. Great video, hope to see that bike again. PS. Call a locksmith, dont mess up the locks. That bike will clean up well and be good for years to come.
I remember those bikes back then but the really cool bikes were of course the KZ900. That is a very nice bike though and super clean like it was stored in a clean place.
Bought my first bike last year, 79 kz400 ltd, i’m the second owner (only 8k miles!) Had to go through similar stuff to put it on the road, even put on the same exact tires. Struggled with those keihin cv carbs for the longest time until i found out you adjust the floats with a wet setting, 3mm +/-1 from mating surface, now it runs like it’s brand new. Such a fun bike, love 70’s kawis
Good job Craig. Just so you know, it's not much better here in Tennessee. Maybe a little worse in places. I bet Sean isn't out riding an Alley Glide type scoot either!
I had the same bike in 1985.top end was 70 m.p.h. Sold it and the new owner put the KZ 650 motor in it. He used a torch to heat the front frame tubes and a jack to spread the tubes, it worked out beautiful.
"... cause i'm an idiot..." i felt that :D love buying dumb stuff i really shouldnt and then pumping way too much work and money into it. but it's always a joy watching you craig! btw your merch shop seems broken
I bought a ‘76 KZ400 in 1978. It was a good bike. Same color. My bike had an electric starter. It was my only transportation for about a year. Nice to see one in such good condition.
funny with the locks - when I was at motorcycle school back in the 80's, we were ahead of the rest of the class at one point, so one of the instructors showed us how to make a lock pick out of a spoke. good times.
Dad bought his first harley in 1949/50. He used to call motorcycles; motor-sickles. HAHAHA. Always. Never the other way. It used to bug me when I was a teenager because none of my motorcycle buddies pronounced it like that and I figured he was just being a hillbilly. I'm thinking I need to bring it back the way you do and help make it a thing. I rather like it. Windjammer fairing. Another thing I used to think was goofy looking. Now I want a bike like that with one. Funny how that works. Another really good one here. Cheers. 👍 Edit; clipping the gas bottle to your jacket made me burst my gut laughing.
Most older motorcycle locks can be opened using a fork. Bend the 2 outer prongs back so just the 2 middle prongs are straight. Use those, stick it in and wiggle it, twist it etc. It might take a few minutes but it will work
Neighbor of mine is 68. Im 58. Known him since 1975. In 76, he bought a new KZ900, and still has it. He also has his high school car, a 68 GTO with a real Chevy L-88.
you should watch a few LPL videos about getting in locks, it's way easier than most people think and you can have a little carry kit that will get you into any bike...
I was wondering if there was a bloopers real coming up but thankfully you left it all in the original cut. Your enthusiasm is so infectious. Well done guys now go and get warm. 🥶
As soon as I see the notification that a new video has posted, the day just got way better!! Especially on a cold, snowy day here in Maryland. I need riding weather back now!
I loved this video. Respect for going back out in the snow. I think the guys in the space station saw the flash from the headlight when the rectifier died.
This one was hilarious, Mr. Craig!.. You promised your wife to not do anything stupid, right!.. 😂. We didn't see the setup with the fuel(bomb) hanging from your jacket, coming.!! - had to Lol, hilarious! 🤣.. And the tryout in the snow was bringing myself back some 50 years!! Thank you for this entertaining video! You did fix it! 👍😃
Someone should gift Craig a hospital iv pole to hang his fuel can on. I imagine him riding through a parking lot with the IV pole rolling next to him. LOL
Good work getting it running guys. It definitely seemed like you blew the fuse, the way the headlight flashed then went off. I'm a couple hours south of you guys and these last two weeks have been cold. I used to like the snow... but that was before I started riding motorcycles.
Thank you for all the great content. It is a Godsend in these times of constant bad news to have something to watch that is both educational and entertaining while also being humorous.
I always feel sorry for ‘estate sale’ bikes, as someone stuck that away way back when promising to get it going again one day, and just never got round to it before they passed. That’s how I justify coming home with 3 in the trailer AGAIN to the wife, anyway.
I can’t express enough how much I enjoy this channel. The way you work on bikes is inspiring and very informative. Seriously considering trying this out just for a kick, or two, or 100😉. Keep ‘em’ coming 👍👍
This Is my new favorite RU-vid channel I started fixing vintage mopeds that's how I got really in the bikes and plus a lot of the stuff you do here is very helpful when it comes to bikes scooters mopeds ETC keep up the good work love to see these things be in revived That's why I start to fixing those mopeds
Had two of these bikes.. Ran good. Those side covers come off at speed if you dont get new grommets.. "I knew it was comming, it just came a little earlier than expected" How many times have I said that before 🤣
One of the best motorcycles of all time. Virtually indestructible. And faster than you might think. Criminally overlooked, imo. These were quite common in the early/mid 80’s. Fun fact, the electric start version had _both_ elec and kick start.
Was jumping with joy the moment I saw the headlight light up. Such a beautiful episode. Rode a motorcycle with points ignition most of my teenage years and this is pure gold.
The weather in the video is about what it's like in Portland, on the other coast right now only we have freezing rain with a layer of ice pellets underneath. You guys working together add so much fun 😂 to watch!!
Great videos! I dont know jack about rebuilding a carb but just watching ur vids and how many i’ve seen u rebuild. I prolly still couldnt do it but props to u man! Awesome job thanks
Everytime that bike starts on a episode you guys getting so excited makes me get excited I'm so glad you made your own channel. Yes you and the bearded had great chemistry but the 2 of you now are very bit as good keep it up Craig I know Sean is rite by are sides rooting for ya
i had a 76 kz400. it was a fun bike and watching this video brings back memories. eventually sold it, due to repair time exceeding ride time. Keep the great work because "everyone needs a Craig".
