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Raising of the 30' x 60' flag up the
115' pole in Hawthorne, Nevada.
115' pole in Hawthorne, Nevada.
Well this is me, the man behind Oregon Motorcycle parts. I do most everything
around here: making the parts, shipping & receiving, and cleaning up the place.
I’m also the one that will be giving the technical support. I tend to be generous
with pre-sales support. I'd rather spend some time working with you than sell
you a part you don’t need. I have chosen not to have a separate eMail account
for support. At some time in the future, I may change my mind about that and
add another eMail account but only if I have trouble keeping it all organized.
Most tech support will be by eMail but I will be available for phone support by
prior arrangement.
around here: making the parts, shipping & receiving, and cleaning up the place.
I’m also the one that will be giving the technical support. I tend to be generous
with pre-sales support. I'd rather spend some time working with you than sell
you a part you don’t need. I have chosen not to have a separate eMail account
for support. At some time in the future, I may change my mind about that and
add another eMail account but only if I have trouble keeping it all organized.
Most tech support will be by eMail but I will be available for phone support by
prior arrangement.
I'm a long time bike nut as my friends call me. I've been riding since around 1970 when I got my first machine (no I won't admit
what it was but it got me around.) I was hooked after my first ride. I got my first real motorcycle a few years later. A 1964
Honda CL72, it was old and beat up but I was able to pay for it by working odd jobs when I was in high school. I’ve had
dozens of bikes since then including more than a few old British twins and a couple Italian bikes. I’ve always had at least one
project bike but in my later years I try limit myself to 2 so I won’t spread my resources to thin. Back in the early 1980’s I had
17 bikes. If I can ever find those photos, I’ll scan them and put them up on this page.
Update; I married my long lost love in August 2007 and we relocated us and the business to a new (to us) home in Ceder Mill,
Oregon (just west of Portland.) Getting things up and going again after a nightmare of a move was less than fun but we are
close to full operation and will be well before Spring 08.
what it was but it got me around.) I was hooked after my first ride. I got my first real motorcycle a few years later. A 1964
Honda CL72, it was old and beat up but I was able to pay for it by working odd jobs when I was in high school. I’ve had
dozens of bikes since then including more than a few old British twins and a couple Italian bikes. I’ve always had at least one
project bike but in my later years I try limit myself to 2 so I won’t spread my resources to thin. Back in the early 1980’s I had
17 bikes. If I can ever find those photos, I’ll scan them and put them up on this page.
Update; I married my long lost love in August 2007 and we relocated us and the business to a new (to us) home in Ceder Mill,
Oregon (just west of Portland.) Getting things up and going again after a nightmare of a move was less than fun but we are
close to full operation and will be well before Spring 08.
This is my daughter Lydia and her fraternal twin boys. Kit is on the left and James
on the right.
Lydia has done some of the electronics assembly work and shipping for me but is
currently pursuing other things. She brings the grand kids over from time to time
to help keep me entertained. The twins specialize in making messes and getting
into things. For this I usually reward them with cookies and ice cream. After all,
a grandparent's job is to sugar them up and send them home.
on the right.
Lydia has done some of the electronics assembly work and shipping for me but is
currently pursuing other things. She brings the grand kids over from time to time
to help keep me entertained. The twins specialize in making messes and getting
into things. For this I usually reward them with cookies and ice cream. After all,
a grandparent's job is to sugar them up and send them home.
These 4 pictures are the best ones I took on the twins first fishing trip.
I've been planning this since the day the boys were born.
I've been planning this since the day the boys were born.
| A little history |
Oregon Motorcycle Parts hasn't always been an on-line only business. Over 20 years ago It was a real bricks and mortar bike shop in
Portland, Oregon. If you had visited the shop in those days you would have most likely found me either behind the counter or turning
wrenches in back in the shop. Prior to starting at the shop in 1979, I had been a motorcycle mechanic and partsman since 1976. I ran
the shop until the economy of the time coupled with other unfortunate personal instances caused me to close the shop in October 1983.
I got started in electronics making hobby projects when I was as a young teenager. I wired up my first rectifier to convert the AC
from a model train transformer to DC for a model helicopter I was trying get working. Anyway I never got the model helicopter
working right but I did learn how to make a rectifier. The only time I got the helicopter to do more than hop on the ground was when
I connected it to the battery on my older brother's Fiat. I can't find the scar from the helicopter blades any more but I let go of the
wires when it flew into my upper arm. The 3 volt motor I was using was fried anyway and I never got around to finding a
replacement. By this time I was getting interested in motorcycles anyway and the rest is history...
I went back to turning wrenches until 1994 when I completed a college degree at Portland State University and went off to work in the
computer industry. I gave up riding about then having blown up the engine in my Moto Guzzi (and I stupidly sold my Z1 to get my
car fixed.) Around July 2002 I helped a friend get a bike going and I got hooked on bikes all over again. Now I have a bunch of old
bikes again.
Being both broke and cheap I ride 20+ year-old bikes but they are sill great machines. However some parts that should be commonly
available can only be bought used. Back when I ran the bike shop, I found that I could not get enough good used rectifiers to meet
demand and I started making up my own. From there I've expanded my line of motorcycle electrical parts as demand requires or I
depending on what I figure out. I'm mostly self taught on both computers and electronics and my college degree is in something that
it's all that useful. I've had or at least attempted several careers over the years but I always come back to my first love, motorcycles.
I always felt the loss of my bike shop and when I made the decision to go back into the bike business, the name of the company was
easy.
Portland, Oregon. If you had visited the shop in those days you would have most likely found me either behind the counter or turning
wrenches in back in the shop. Prior to starting at the shop in 1979, I had been a motorcycle mechanic and partsman since 1976. I ran
the shop until the economy of the time coupled with other unfortunate personal instances caused me to close the shop in October 1983.
I got started in electronics making hobby projects when I was as a young teenager. I wired up my first rectifier to convert the AC
from a model train transformer to DC for a model helicopter I was trying get working. Anyway I never got the model helicopter
working right but I did learn how to make a rectifier. The only time I got the helicopter to do more than hop on the ground was when
I connected it to the battery on my older brother's Fiat. I can't find the scar from the helicopter blades any more but I let go of the
wires when it flew into my upper arm. The 3 volt motor I was using was fried anyway and I never got around to finding a
replacement. By this time I was getting interested in motorcycles anyway and the rest is history...
I went back to turning wrenches until 1994 when I completed a college degree at Portland State University and went off to work in the
computer industry. I gave up riding about then having blown up the engine in my Moto Guzzi (and I stupidly sold my Z1 to get my
car fixed.) Around July 2002 I helped a friend get a bike going and I got hooked on bikes all over again. Now I have a bunch of old
bikes again.
Being both broke and cheap I ride 20+ year-old bikes but they are sill great machines. However some parts that should be commonly
available can only be bought used. Back when I ran the bike shop, I found that I could not get enough good used rectifiers to meet
demand and I started making up my own. From there I've expanded my line of motorcycle electrical parts as demand requires or I
depending on what I figure out. I'm mostly self taught on both computers and electronics and my college degree is in something that
it's all that useful. I've had or at least attempted several careers over the years but I always come back to my first love, motorcycles.
I always felt the loss of my bike shop and when I made the decision to go back into the bike business, the name of the company was
easy.
| Customer Feedback |
This is the place where I put the comments customers make about my parts. I have chosen to not put up all the "thanks for
making these" type comments but instead I say "you're welcome." The feedback I will be putting up here is the stuff were the
customer had a little more to say.
making these" type comments but instead I say "you're welcome." The feedback I will be putting up here is the stuff were the
customer had a little more to say.
Adam wrote:
Got the rectifier today and it bolted up great and keeps my bike voltage at 12.22 steady (the old one was about 10.5V idle
and 10.0 under a load -- doesn't even compare), even with the headlight load and blinkers on it only
drops to 12.10 -- and the lights run full brightness at idle. Keep up the good work and thanks for the great product -- email
me if you ever build anything else that will fit on my '72 CB350.
Got the rectifier today and it bolted up great and keeps my bike voltage at 12.22 steady (the old one was about 10.5V idle
and 10.0 under a load -- doesn't even compare), even with the headlight load and blinkers on it only
drops to 12.10 -- and the lights run full brightness at idle. Keep up the good work and thanks for the great product -- email
me if you ever build anything else that will fit on my '72 CB350.
John made a page on his personal web page to document the experience of installing one of my R38a2's on his early Honda
CB175.
CB175.
Keith in Florida had this to say:
I got your parts today, they look great and work even better than that, thank you so much, I will recommend you to all my
friends, thanks again.
I got your parts today, they look great and work even better than that, thank you so much, I will recommend you to all my
friends, thanks again.
One of my customers sent this eMail back to me after I explained how to sets a few things...
You are officially the ultimate resource for my electrical questions... Using your suggestions I have diagnosed my broken wire
problem... Not part of your tests but the solution came from your tests. In short I appreciate the help... You're a life
saver..thanks again,
Kane
You are officially the ultimate resource for my electrical questions... Using your suggestions I have diagnosed my broken wire
problem... Not part of your tests but the solution came from your tests. In short I appreciate the help... You're a life
saver..thanks again,
Kane
More to come, for the first couple years I didn't save feedback comments....
| My other project |
This is my 1966 V Baja Bug. It has a 1971 engine and transaxle. I rebuilt the engine and got it installed with a lot of help from
my brother in-law. My brother in-law Dan also did the cool camo paint job.
The engine is 1690cc with forged Mahl pistons, an Engle high performance camshaft and it was balanced and blueprinted at Dan
Hall's machine shop in Portland, OR (not my brother in-law Dan.) I wanted more torque for hill climbing but I wasn't after a
racing engine (when I want to go fast I ride a bike anyway.) I had the engine balanced and blue printed at Dan Hall's machine
shop in Portland, Oregon and that was well worth the expense. It's much smoother than the stock engine ever came close to.
For those in the know, the early transaxle is different from the later ones. Import Transmission Exchange (also in Portland)
converted the later transaxle to take the earlier differential. After that it bolted right up and good thing too as the later gearbox
had ratios much better suited to the later engine. Anyway like all good projects there's much more to do...
my brother in-law. My brother in-law Dan also did the cool camo paint job.
The engine is 1690cc with forged Mahl pistons, an Engle high performance camshaft and it was balanced and blueprinted at Dan
Hall's machine shop in Portland, OR (not my brother in-law Dan.) I wanted more torque for hill climbing but I wasn't after a
racing engine (when I want to go fast I ride a bike anyway.) I had the engine balanced and blue printed at Dan Hall's machine
shop in Portland, Oregon and that was well worth the expense. It's much smoother than the stock engine ever came close to.
For those in the know, the early transaxle is different from the later ones. Import Transmission Exchange (also in Portland)
converted the later transaxle to take the earlier differential. After that it bolted right up and good thing too as the later gearbox
had ratios much better suited to the later engine. Anyway like all good projects there's much more to do...
Tony,
Wanted to say Thanks again for all the help. I installed the rectifier & regulator today. I was not making 12 volts @ any
RPM's before replacement. I am now getting 11.85 +/- at idle (like I said.. The buffalo is poor at idle and that big headlight is
eating up juice) and up to 14.25 + at 3,000 RPM's and up. After searching for N.O.S replacements of rectifier and
regulator.. The CHEAPEST I could find was about $230.00. I feel you have a superior product and half the price! Plus... All
the helpful technical support!
John R
Wanted to say Thanks again for all the help. I installed the rectifier & regulator today. I was not making 12 volts @ any
RPM's before replacement. I am now getting 11.85 +/- at idle (like I said.. The buffalo is poor at idle and that big headlight is
eating up juice) and up to 14.25 + at 3,000 RPM's and up. After searching for N.O.S replacements of rectifier and
regulator.. The CHEAPEST I could find was about $230.00. I feel you have a superior product and half the price! Plus... All
the helpful technical support!
John R
Hi Tony,
Just wanted to have you add my name to your happy customer list. I HAVE A CHARGING SYSTEM!!!! I have owned
my KZ for about a year now and have ridden thousands of miles, it's never charged this well. One leg of the rectifier must
have been dead for a long time before it finally melted down and almost caught my motorcycle on fire. My lights are brighter
and my turn signals flash as fast as my ZX-7R..
Thanks again!
Dan
Just wanted to have you add my name to your happy customer list. I HAVE A CHARGING SYSTEM!!!! I have owned
my KZ for about a year now and have ridden thousands of miles, it's never charged this well. One leg of the rectifier must
have been dead for a long time before it finally melted down and almost caught my motorcycle on fire. My lights are brighter
and my turn signals flash as fast as my ZX-7R..
Thanks again!
Dan