Found a mechanic! - BARF

tea2jay · 01-22-2021, 10:44 AM

I recently picked up this bike and posted here in Vintage Cafe and shared my struggles finding a shop willing to work on the carbs of my 73 Honda CB500 Cafe Racer.

I got turned away by a bunch of shops and received a quote from someone else in San Jose, but price was very high and I had to ship the cars to and from his place.

Well, I got a PM referral from budman to a retired factory trained Suzuki mechanic Wobbie. Wobbie did alot of race, stunt, and street bike work for a long time before selling his shop. He recalled working on budman's race bike back in the day.

Wobbie, despite his recent poor health, he is still working on bikes out of his garage in Santa Theresa. my bike was there for about a month, but that is because he had to shut down for 2 weeks to quarantine and also because there was a que of 4-5 bikes at the time. Once he got started on the bike, it went real fast.

He reached out to me this week on Monday to let me know he tested compression and pulled the carbs. He explained the issues and work required as well as the price for parts. Carbs were done on Wednesday! However, he said he heard some noise coming from the valve and and offered to adjust the valves for a really good price. Got a call the next day, yesterday, that it was done and ready for pick up.

in less than a week, he had rebuilt the carbs, jetted the bike for pod filters and 4-1 exhaust, and adjusted the valves. Wobbie also changed the oil, checked tire pressure, checked all fluids and performed other courtesy task without me asking and without extra charge!!!

Wobbie is old school and from the looks, works on all types of bikes. there was a harley with the tranny out, 2 stroke banshee, other 70's and 80's bikes etc... I should note that Wobbie does often communicate via text or with the help of an assistant. He is a bit hard of hearing and talking, so he also needs to read you lips from a distance when talking in person. He takes on alot of bikes but is honest about timelines. As such, I dropped off my bike and never bugged him for updates. He would reach out often enough that i did not feel a need to call or text him.

Thank you Wobbie and thank you Budman!!! I took her out for my first ride last night and it was amazing. she really sings.

Here's the pics

tea2jay · 01-22-2021, 12:05 PM

If you would like to reach out to Wobbie, his preferred form of contact is email and he can be reached at Wobgsxr1@yahoo.com

MikeGyver · 01-22-2021, 12:27 PM

Good lookin' bike!

1962siia · 01-22-2021, 03:49 PM

Nice and congrats!

**Butch** · 01-22-2021, 04:24 PM

Good news! Yea! We need that good stuff

GPzPop · 01-22-2021, 04:35 PM

the bass boat sparkle helmet looks like it totally goes with your lovely bike

--S

**budman** · 01-22-2021, 04:42 PM

Right on tea2jay!!

Glad it worked out for ya.. enjoy the smiles!

kpke · 01-23-2021, 11:39 AM

That is really cool.

Glad you got it sorted and the mechanic story is nice.

This is a formal request for a ride video.

tea2jay · 01-23-2021, 10:01 PM

Well, today’s ride was quite eventful. Left my wallet and phone at home as I was in a hurry to ride. Ran into some battery issues. Met a really cool group of moto/car enthusiast; thanks again for letting me borrow your phone and keeping me company. Grabbed some tools and got her started again and headed on home. Absolute blast to ride.

Overall, pretty good day

In case you were wondering, Lithium battery died and the negative terminal had vibrated loose

**budman** · 01-23-2021, 10:41 PM

The pic in front of the art is really cool.

SFMCjohn · 01-24-2021, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman

The pic in front of the art is really cool.

+1 ... really fun thread, and super cool to see this neat bike being ridden.

Pushrod · 01-28-2021, 01:23 AM

Always felt a motorcycle was proper if you could see daylight through the engine bay.

01-22-2021, 10:44 AM	#1
tea2jay Veteran Contributor + 5% Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: san jose Motorcycles: 1973 Honda CB500 Cafe, 2001 Ducati 748s, 2017 Ducati Supersport 939s Name:	Found a mechanic! I recently picked up this bike and posted here in Vintage Cafe and shared my struggles finding a shop willing to work on the carbs of my 73 Honda CB500 Cafe Racer. I got turned away by a bunch of shops and received a quote from someone else in San Jose, but price was very high and I had to ship the cars to and from his place. Well, I got a PM referral from budman to a retired factory trained Suzuki mechanic Wobbie. Wobbie did alot of race, stunt, and street bike work for a long time before selling his shop. He recalled working on budman's race bike back in the day. Wobbie, despite his recent poor health, he is still working on bikes out of his garage in Santa Theresa. my bike was there for about a month, but that is because he had to shut down for 2 weeks to quarantine and also because there was a que of 4-5 bikes at the time. Once he got started on the bike, it went real fast. He reached out to me this week on Monday to let me know he tested compression and pulled the carbs. He explained the issues and work required as well as the price for parts. Carbs were done on Wednesday! However, he said he heard some noise coming from the valve and and offered to adjust the valves for a really good price. Got a call the next day, yesterday, that it was done and ready for pick up. in less than a week, he had rebuilt the carbs, jetted the bike for pod filters and 4-1 exhaust, and adjusted the valves. Wobbie also changed the oil, checked tire pressure, checked all fluids and performed other courtesy task without me asking and without extra charge!!! Wobbie is old school and from the looks, works on all types of bikes. there was a harley with the tranny out, 2 stroke banshee, other 70's and 80's bikes etc... I should note that Wobbie does often communicate via text or with the help of an assistant. He is a bit hard of hearing and talking, so he also needs to read you lips from a distance when talking in person. He takes on alot of bikes but is honest about timelines. As such, I dropped off my bike and never bugged him for updates. He would reach out often enough that i did not feel a need to call or text him. Thank you Wobbie and thank you Budman!!! I took her out for my first ride last night and it was amazing. she really sings. Here's the pics

01-22-2021, 03:49 PM	#4
1962siia Veteran AMA #: 424261 Contributor + + + + + + 4% Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Rohnert Park Motorcycles: xr100 350exc-f Aermacchi/HD Sprint 250ss 950 ADV 200xcw C&J XL350 T100SC Eldorado Name: Daniel	Nice and congrats! __________________

01-22-2021, 04:24 PM	#5
Butch poseur AMA #: 1093637 BARF Moderator Founding Member BARFie winner 2014 & 2017 Contributor +++ Barf Dirtbike Political Advocate Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Jose, bottom of dirty 130 Motorcycles: '18 Alta SM025, ‘18 Alta EX006, ‘17 Alta MX019, 06R6, 05TM530 Black Dream, 01TM250 2T, 91ATK406 Name: Butch	Good news! Yea! We need that good stuff __________________ Butch Hodaka Ace 90. I've been riding these things too long. What can I say? How about that Combat Wombat? Terms of Service: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/info/tos.php and get a dirtbike! preferably a 2 stroke... Or... Electric!

01-22-2021, 04:35 PM	#6
GPzPop Ask me about my B-1-D AMA #3295113 Contributor ++ 2% Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: L i b m o Motorcycles: zzr & xsr Name: Simon	the bass boat sparkle helmet looks like it totally goes with your lovely bike --S __________________ Rust is my thread locking agent * 1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."

01-22-2021, 04:42 PM	#7
budman General Menace AMA Life Member #203453 Highway Aviator Founding Member Top Percent Poster Community Contributor + BB Moto Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Palo Alto, Ca. Motorcycles: Keep me rocking life Name: Budman	Right on tea2jay!! Glad it worked out for ya.. enjoy the smiles! __________________ Your friendly neighborhood.... Budman BARF Terms of Service Be a BARF Contributor! Support those that support Barf! BARF Sponsors 1Rider introduction on KFOG Bone heads and bikers podcasts Racism and RIP threads on Barf - FYI Barf is more than a dub dub dub dealio Godspeed Mom Pit Ho Godspeed Nicky #69 Hoho AMA #203453

01-22-2021, 12:05 PM	#2
tea2jay Veteran Contributor + 5% Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: san jose Motorcycles: 1973 Honda CB500 Cafe, 2001 Ducati 748s, 2017 Ducati Supersport 939s Name:	If you would like to reach out to Wobbie, his preferred form of contact is email and he can be reached at Wobgsxr1@yahoo.com

01-22-2021, 12:27 PM	#3
MikeGyver :) AMA #2840783 Contributor ++ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Folsom Motorcycles: 916, 996, Street 3 Name: ekiM	Good lookin' bike!

01-23-2021, 11:39 AM	#8
kpke Veteran Contributor + Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Livermore Motorcycles: many 2 strokes 06 R1 LE 158 Name: Ken	That is really cool. Glad you got it sorted and the mechanic story is nice. This is a formal request for a ride video. __________________ Yes! Teh BRAF is O-K! Ken's Garage Motorcycle rides, shows, custom builds, and other stuff

01-23-2021, 10:01 PM	#9
tea2jay Veteran Contributor + 5% Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: san jose Motorcycles: 1973 Honda CB500 Cafe, 2001 Ducati 748s, 2017 Ducati Supersport 939s Name:	Well, today’s ride was quite eventful. Left my wallet and phone at home as I was in a hurry to ride. Ran into some battery issues. Met a really cool group of moto/car enthusiast; thanks again for letting me borrow your phone and keeping me company. Grabbed some tools and got her started again and headed on home. Absolute blast to ride. Overall, pretty good day In case you were wondering, Lithium battery died and the negative terminal had vibrated loose Attached Thumbnails Last edited by tea2jay; 01-23-2021 at 10:03 PM..

01-23-2021, 10:41 PM	#10
budman General Menace AMA Life Member #203453 Highway Aviator Founding Member Top Percent Poster Community Contributor + BB Moto Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Palo Alto, Ca. Motorcycles: Keep me rocking life Name: Budman	The pic in front of the art is really cool. __________________ Your friendly neighborhood.... Budman BARF Terms of Service Be a BARF Contributor! Support those that support Barf! BARF Sponsors 1Rider introduction on KFOG Bone heads and bikers podcasts Racism and RIP threads on Barf - FYI Barf is more than a dub dub dub dealio Godspeed Mom Pit Ho Godspeed Nicky #69 Hoho AMA #203453

01-28-2021, 01:23 AM	#12
Pushrod Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Florida Motorcycles: VTR, R100RS,CB500 Name:	Always felt a motorcycle was proper if you could see daylight through the engine bay. __________________ I am now old enough so that there is no one left to dispute how fast I used to be.

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