Okay, so today, I got my hands dirty with an old police motorcycle. I’ve always been fascinated by these things, and I finally decided to dive in and see what I could do with one. It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, to say the least.
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Getting Started
First, I assessed the situation. The bike was pretty rough – rusty in spots, the seat was torn, and it clearly hadn’t run in years. I took lots of pictures from every angle so I’d have a reference for later. Then I started by carefully taking off the obviously broken or rusted parts. I made sure to keep all the nuts and bolts organized in little baggies – I learned that lesson the hard way on previous projects!
The Dirty Work
Next up, I tackled the grime. Years of dust and road gunk had built up. I used a degreaser and a stiff brush, and slowly but surely, the original paint started to show through. It was pretty satisfying, to be honest. I scrubbed and scrubbed, and then scrubbed some more.
- Removed rusty parts (carefully!)
- Degreased and cleaned the entire frame.
- Started assessing the engine (that’s a whole other beast).
Engine Troubles (and a little hope)
The engine is where things get tricky. I pulled the spark plugs, and they were pretty fouled. I tried turning the engine over by hand, and it was stiff, but it did move. That’s a good sign! It means it’s not completely seized, which would have been a major headache. I’m not an engine expert, but I’m willing to learn. I think if the engine turns, there might be a big chance to succeed.
Next Steps
For now, I’ve left the engine soaking in some penetrating oil. Tomorrow, I’ll try to get it turning a bit more freely. I also need to start sourcing some replacement parts, which might be a challenge. I’m feeling pretty good about it, though. It’s going to be a long process, but I think I can bring this old police bike back to life.