Nathaniel Salzman

March 3, 2013

Wrench Log: Failure is always an option. Part one.

From day one, I knew I wasn’t going to leave my GL1100 alone. The whole point of owning the bike was not just for its size and capability, but as a project. I’ve long admired many of the “naked” Goldwing projects I’ve seen. Last season, I was able to bring the bike up to mechanical snuff. This season, in a terrific change, I’ve mostly been riding it. Sure, I replaced the fuel pump and un-linked the brakes, but besides a failed starter relay, most of the work I’ve done to the GL this year has been elective.

December 1, 2012

New to the fleet: 1971 Honda Trail 70

There are few certainties in life, yet there’s one thing I know for sure: I married well. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard a guy say “I used to have a bike, but my wife made me get rid of it.” I have one consistent, unapologetic response:

“It sounds like you should have married better.”

November 30, 2012

Ride Log: A new bike and a bearded lady. Part three.

I hate riding a motorcycle with a full backpack. It’s uncomfortable and makes it tougher to scan the road quickly. On that muggy July evening though, I didn’t care. Atop my ’74 Honda CB450 Supersport, I was threading through the heart of south Minneapolis, quite literally riding into the sunset. I wasn’t alone either.

November 24, 2012

The new ScooterFile.com and other writing news

I’ve been on vacation this week, but that hasn’t meant a lack of work to do. While there was plenty of time spent eating big meals and spending time with familiars, the bulk of my time has gone to rolling out a new version of my Scooter news blog, ScooterFile.

November 9, 2012

My CB450 featured on BikeEXIF.com

A huge welcome to anyone visiting from BikeEXIF today! I am absolutely thrilled to see my 1974 Honda CB450 featured on what is easily my favorite motorcycle blog. For new readers, I write a lot about my own adventures in fixing and customizing bikes, so do please have a look around. You can find more - Read More -

November 5, 2012

Ride Log: A new bike and a bearded lady. Part two.

In the heat of July, there’s one spot inside of BlueCat Motors where one can escape to air conditioning: the lobby. That’s where I was sitting, iPad in hand, trying to lower my core temperature back down into the upper 90s. While hot, I certainly wasn’t bothered. I’d been bombing around all day on my new ’74 Honda CB450 Supersport. Sitting on the lobby couch, I took in mouthfuls of cold water, holding each until the chill left my mouth before swallowing it down. A little radiant floor cooling for my excited brain.

November 5, 2012

NS Recommends: Cloud Atlas

I don’t get out to see as many movies as I used to. I’m busier, and frankly Chicago audiences are, more often than not, really obnoxious to sit with. That said, last week I braved the possibility of a shitty crowd and went to see Cloud Atlas with The Mrs. I was not disappointed. While - Read More -

October 15, 2012

Welcome!

My site has a new theme and with that, some new formatting. I’ll be making changes in the coming days and weeks, so bear with me. In the meantime, my blog follows below and you can find links to all sorts of me-goodies in the footer (select the little drawer at the bottom of the - Read More -