The Ascot gets a new monocle

Well, not a new monocle, really. But check out the new look:

The new bracketry lowers the gauge cluster and cleans up the tall profile a little bit. Compare this to how it used to be (excuse the scale, but I can’t seem to find any other pictures of the bike!):



A small change, perhaps, but I really like it.

I’m a bit on the fence about the new short exhaust, but I’ll give it some time to see what I think.

Here are the newly-fabricated, freshly-painted pieces for the Ascot’s aesthetic upgrade. They are hung on wires suspended from a piece of twine, which makes painting all sides much easier than laying them down flat on newspaper. They are painted with brushed-on Tremclad enamel paint, which is cheap and durable. Spray paint is definitely easier for complex and tube parts like these, but hey - brushing is cheap and I had a can of paint kicking around already!

From left to right, the pieces are:

headlight bracket

warning light bracket

instrument cluster/turn signal bracket

(not for the Ascot) magnetic spotlight holder

turndown exhaust tip (painted in BBQ spray paint for heat durability)

Another continuing project is my 1983 Honda VT500 Ascot. The Ascot has seen both a replacement engine AND frame, and lives on thanks to the donated parts of other bikes.

It is currently receiving some aesthetic upgrades to the headlight and instrument cluster, lowering its tall/skinny/awkwardness into a more low and sleek profile.

Allow me to introduce one of my continuing projects. Here is my 1987 Suzuki Samurai, or as he is better known: Samuel.

Sammy has been out of commission for a while, receiving a new engine, suspension, and countless other upgrades. He currently sits in the garage, patiently waiting for the Golf at left to be sold off, making room on the insurance policy.

Welcome to fixbroke

As I look around at all the little DIY projects I seem to be constantly involved in, it occurs to me that this information may be of use to some!

In these entries I hope to keep track of the little things that keep me occupied - the repair and modification projects for home and moto.

There will be moments of zen, and there will be moments of kludge. Some things will work and some things won’t. There will be things for you to point and laugh at, and (hopefully) there will be things to learn from and be inspired by.

Oh, I’m also really cheap! Everything here will be done with minimal investment of money - for better or for worse.

Welcome!