Alley rat to Soho

Alley Rat Speed Shop is now SoHo Speed Shop...I'll Explain

http://sohospeedshop.blogspot.com/

As first a Southern and then a Hoosier I have been torn between two world.  You wouldn't think that a river and a bridge would make that much difference in a person life or the life of a motorcycle shop, but it does.  When I first started out on the quest to become a motorcycle builder I was under the influence of the Louisville bike scene...(bicycle that is) and I was looking to my alley cat roots to build upon, and I did.  The first bike that I built was a play on the load bicycles that were being built at the time and to the Japanese culture that I hold so dear, but that was just the beginning   As I have matured in my thoughts on motorcycles I have begun to go back to the roots of cafe bikes even more and I wanted to more generalize the name of the shop to reflect that.  I'm still a rat at heart but it's not all about rat rods and and bicycles anymore....and I feel like a name is needed that more reflected the refinement and style that I want to put out into the world.... edgy style with home town flair and a southern twang.
With this in mind I have re-branded the shop Southern Hoosier Speed Shop...SoHo Speed Shop for short.  We are focused on building fast two stroke Japanese bikes with style.  We are primarily interested in cafe racers but have been working on several designs for bikes that are going to highlight our fabrication abilities.  Our current build is a 1973 Suzuki GT250 that will be a billboard for what we will do in the future.  It has many unique feature that we hope will draw attention to our mission.  We hope to debut the bike at Beatersville in Louisville Kentucky Sunday May 27 2013.  Then we are taking it on the road to AMA Vintage Days July 19-21 2013 and will be posted up at the Cafe Racer TV pavilion  hanging with the folks from Louisville Vintage Motorworks.  Then its on to Barber Vintage Festival October 11-13 2013, with what ever events we can find in between, with the bike finally coming up for sale at that show.

The Next Rat

Ok I know I haven't been writing much but the weather has been so good I have been doing more riding than working on bikes.  Now that the weather is changing I have had time to start on a new project.  Many changes have happened.  At AMA Vintage Days I scored a 1973 Suzuki GT250 and sold the Wes Cooley that I had picked.  The Cooley went to Rice Paddy up in Columbus OH and is in the process of being restored.  The GT rides fanstatic and didnt raelly need to have anything done to it...BUT....me being me I just CANT leave things alone....so I have begun to tear it down...clip ons are in place and the tank is being fit to it.  Interesting thing about the tank is that it is off of a Montgamy Ward Benelli bike and its plastic.  Normally I would not have used such a tgank but it was so sexy I had to use it.  It is thin and sleak kind of like an Italian super model...but I digress...

Wes Cooley Fade Away

So I just got back from AMA Vintage Days and sold the Cooley...I just didn't feel a connection with the bike....but it was sold to a guy that wanted it for restoration...so alls well that ends well...so I picked up another bike while I was there and it is a 1974 Suzuki GT250 2 Stroke...I've never built a 2 stroke so it should be a learning experience...for the most part it is stock but I have some definite ideas on how to take it from plain Jane to over the top...in fact it was dubbed "Godzuki" by the LouVin guys at Vintage Days...I will have to post about it soon

The Next Step....Cooleyo'

Here is my next project...GS1000S the Wes Cooley Replica....engine first....picked from a barn in Southern Indiana...

What a Long Strange Trip it's Been reprise

WOW....what an amazing journey... I have just finished up...I took it to Beatersville this year finished...people loved it ....I was so amazed at the out pouring of love I simply can't express it enough...the I promptly did a completely Buddhist thing just to prove to myself that I had no attachment and sold it...the buyer is a really cool cat...in fact one of the coolest most outstanding bros I have ever met...see he came over after seeing it on Craig's list and rode it and promptly bought it...I was happy he was happy...then he calls me that evening and says it won't start...so the next day Cahill and I go over to check it out...we put it on a charger double check the wires....can't find anything wrong...so we have him bring it back over to the house...and here is how cool the Louisville Vintage Motorworks people are...Guzzi John comes over leaving his family after diner and help trouble shoot the issue... With the new owner there we figure out its the TR Ignitor ....I look on line and they are going for $400 dollars ..I go to Magnum Cycle and they don't have what I need so Guzzi turns me on to this place in Indy called Cycle Recyclers 2...they have one for $75 but I have to come up there with the bike to check it out....so I call the new owner and we agree to split all the cost of gas and the part...I drive up with Cahill and my kids in tow and we hit the road with the bike on the trailer...I finally get to cycle recyclers and plug in the new part and it works perfectly...thanks to Rob for knowing what I needed, holding it for me and letting me test it out...they are my new favorite place...thats the short version of what happened...thanks to the new owner of the Zero I hope you have as much fun riding it as I did both riding it and building it...the bike you startle has changed my life, given me back a great friend and given me a all new set of people who I can call on in a time of need...that bike has a lot of soul and I know you will have many great adventures on it as I have...peace and grease all...
By the way the next project will be coming soon ...a Wes Cooley Replica ...:0)

The complete build...sort of

These pics are a representation of the elements of the bike that became final elements of the build.  Often the build went off on tangents and became dead ends, so i did not include them in this series...enjoy...glad its over with, but i still am doing some engine work....it will be for sale after I have finished....Thanks and enjoy
Jason