Dad's Garage
Dedicated to a man who taught me everything I know about engines, about patience, about doing things right the first time. Who restored a DR650 so meticulously that every bolt was touched, every surface perfect. Who took me to the races. Who worked on the Widowmaker together. Who showed me what dedication looks like.
I love you more than the moon and back, Dad. Thank you for showing me the way.
Ask the AI Mechanic About Any of These Bikes
Every bike below has deep service modules in the knowledge library — the AI pulls them automatically.
Carburetor Sizing Calculator
Accurate CFM & venturi sizing for any engine — 50cc minibikes to 1000cc superbikes.
Carburetor Sizing Calculator
Accurate CFM & venturi sizing — jet sizes are starting points, always confirm by plug reading
60.0 CFM
250cc per carb
1.7 mm
Nearest: 14 mm
65
Range: 60–70
18
Starting point
How it's calculated:
CFM = (CID × RPM × VE) ÷ 1728 — 2-stroke fires every revolution
Venturi sized for ~300 ft/s air velocity (optimal vacuum signal for fuel atomization)
Jet sizes are empirical starting points calibrated to Keihin PWK (2T) & FCR (4T) — always tune by reading the spark plug after a full-throttle run.
The Bikes
Every machine that shaped a mechanic's life. Full specs, rebuild data, and carburetor tuning — all free.
Suzuki DR650SE
2014–2016“The Bulletproof Thumper”
Dad's meticulously restored dual-sport — every bolt touched, every surface perfect.
Known For
50,000+ mi with basic maintenance. The Swiss Army Knife of dual sports.
Watch Out For
Countershaft seal leak, regulator/rectifier failure (upgrade MOSFET), starter clutch, BST40 diaphragm cracks
Honda CR125R & CR250R
1990–2007“The Red Rocket Legacy”
Two-stroke motocross icons — the smell of premix and the ring of the power valve.
Known For
The RC Valve power valve, premix smell, and the most iconic 2-stroke motocross bikes ever built.
Watch Out For
Piston seizure if run lean, RC Valve carbon buildup, reed petal cracking, crank big-end bearing wear
Honda RC51 (VTR1000 SP-1/SP-2)
2000–2006“The WSBK Champion”
Colin Edwards' WSBK weapon — gear-driven cams, V-twin torque, and racing pedigree.
Known For
WSBK Champion 2000 & 2002 (Colin Edwards). Gear-driven cams. V-twin torque. The last Honda V-twin superbike.
Watch Out For
Rectifier failure (upgrade MOSFET), stator connector melting, water pump seal, cam gear wear (rare)
Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV 'Widowmaker'
1972–1975“The Widowmaker”
The fastest production motorcycle of 1972 — a 3-cylinder 2-stroke terror. Worked on together, father and son.
Known For
The fastest production bike of 1972. The 'Widowmaker' — power came on like a light switch. Triple expansion chambers. A collector's dream.
Watch Out For
Crank seal failure (air leak = lean seizure), center cylinder running lean, points burning, drum brake fade, swingarm flex
Yamaha YZF-R6
1999–2024“The 16,000 RPM Screamer”
Dad's first superbike — the one that started it all. High-revving inline-4 magic.
Known For
The first 600cc bike to hit 16,000 rpm. The high-revving inline-4 scream. A track-day weapon and 600cc supersport racing basis.
Watch Out For
2nd gear jumping out (2006–2010, worn dogs/bent fork), rectifier failure (upgrade MOSFET), stator connector melting, cam chain tensioner rattle
Custom Build Dual 250cc Shifter Kart
Custom“The 180 MPH Winged Monster”
Two 250cc 2-strokes, full winged body, sequential shifter — 180 mph of pure badassery.
Known For
180 mph land speed builds. Full winged bodywork for downforce. Sequential shifter. The fastest kart class on earth.
Watch Out For
Engine sync (must carb-sync and time both engines), chassis flex (reinforce for 90+ hp), brake capacity at 180 mph, cooling at sustained RPM
Bonanza Replica 1965-Style Minibike (365 Frame)
1965 Style / Modern Replica“The Plum Purple Project”
Father & son build — regusseted, jack-shafted, and ready for a big engine. Painted plum purple, waiting for a fresh coat.
Known For
Father-son build. Regusseted frame for big engine swap. Jack shaft for 440/460cc future upgrade. The Briggs L-head is bulletproof — 40+ years old and still running.
Watch Out For
Splash lube only (no oil pump — check oil every use), governor spring fatigue, Flo-Jet carb diaphragm cracks, head gasket weep, valve seat recession over decades
Honda ATC250R
1981–1986“The 3-Wheeler”
The iconic 250cc 2-stroke three-wheeler — the fastest and most capable sport ATC ever built.
Known For
The machine that defined the sport 3-wheeler. Liquid-cooled 1985-86 models are the pinnacle — 60+ mph, 6-speed, Pro-Link suspension, front disc brake. Highly collectible — clean examples fetch $3000-8000+, restored liquid models $5000-12000+.
Watch Out For
Crankshaft seal failure (air leak → lean seizure), reed valve wear, water pump seal failure (liquid models — check coolant in oil), transmission oil contamination, swingarm bearings seizing, piston/ring wear on 2-stroke. 3-wheelers are inherently less stable than 4-wheel ATVs — learn the body-lean technique.
The Plum Purple Minibike
1965-style Bonanza replica · 365 frame · regusseted · jack-shafted · Briggs & Stratton powered
This is the bike that brings it all full circle. A 1965-style Bonanza minibike replica — bought as a kit from Go Karts USA (or OMB Warehouse), built together, and modified for a big engine swap. The frame is a 365 frame — one of the larger Bonanza-style frames, built for adult riders and bigger engines. It rides on 5-inch or 6-inch aluminum two-piece rims that split in the center for tire mounting.
Frame
365 frame (large Bonanza style)
Wheels
5" or 6" aluminum two-piece rims
Paint
Plum purple (needs a fresh coat)
Gussets
1/2" thick steel plate at all critical joints
Drive
Jack shaft with sealed bearings (#40/41 chain)
Engine (current)
Briggs & Stratton 8hp L-head, Model 19 (~1984)
Engine (future)
440cc or 460cc swap — frame is ready
Engine option
Briggs 12hp Model 21 (drop-in upgrade)
The Build Story
The frame was regusseted with 1/2" thick steel gusset plates at every high-stress joint — the steering head, engine cradle, rear axle mounts, and jack shaft mounts. A jack shaft was added to handle the gear reduction needed for a 440cc or 460cc engine swap. The Briggs & Stratton 8hp L-head from around 1984 is the current engine — a classic flathead with splash lubrication, a mechanical governor, and the simplicity that makes it run forever. The minibike is painted plum purple and needs a fresh coat of paint to look as good as it runs.
Frame Gusseting
1/2" plate at steering head, engine cradle, axle & jack shaft mounts
Jack Shaft Drive
Sealed bearings, #40/41 chain, centrifugal clutch — ready for 440cc+
Briggs L-Head
8hp Model 19, ~1984, splash lube, Flo-Jet carb, grind-to-fit valves
Deep-Dive Service Modules
Six comprehensive service manuals have been added to the knowledge library — one for each bike. They cover top-end rebuilds, valve service, carburetor tuning, bottom-end work, and racing setup. Search the Learning Library or ask the AI Mechanic to pull them.
This whole app exists because of you, Dad.
The minibikes I built. The go-karts. The races. The late nights in the garage. The joy I find in life — it all started with you handing me a wrench and saying “here, hold this.”
Love you more than the moon and back. — Thank you for everything.
For Mom, Katie, Thor, Evie, and Amanda too. Family is everything.
