Hello from Brazil!

Greetings gang!
I made it safe and sound. Lousy flight, someday they will invent seats you can sleep in without permanantly tweaking your neck and back. It´s been raining for three days now.
Anywhichway...
My wife´s cousin tells me there have been three fatalities here in Sao Paulo from little turds tying string across the road that has been dipped in glue and covered in ground glass. Unstinkin´believable. I was asking what was with all of the antennas on bikes when I got here. So if you are planing to ride here, be forwarned...
On a brighter note, if anybody needs/wants something, sing out and if space and money permits, it will be obtained. Next door neighbor has an impressive restoration going down on his 74 Suzuki GT750. Water-cooled 3 cyl, with external oil pump and footpegs for three... Never seen one of those before. He also has a bike built by the CCCP, called a Mneka(?) 125. Anyone ever heard of that before? Beefy little thing, electrical looks like a VW system.
Enough for now, I´ll check in as availability of a computer and the internet permit. Pictures might be available too.
Peace to you all!

 

Glad to here the journey was safe, enjoy your self.

I was there several years ago and was amazed at the many different bike available there that can't be found here. The wide selection of dual sport machines is envious.

String,glue and glass....... thats a new one. what those impoverished mines won't dream up. They obviously are in need of a community center or something.

The Buff

 

I was asking what was with all of the antennas on bikes when I got here?

What does an antenna on a bike have to do with a glass encrusted rope?

 

*My guess*
the 'antennas' are likely indicators, or protection/deflection from the glass encrusted rope.

Several years ago, Near here some kids were stretching shrink wrap across roads and they did injure a few motorcyclists.

 

Hound, the antennas serve to deflect the string over the rider or at least indicate that a string has been encountered. Not much good it will do to stop it but it will keep the string from nailing your unprotected throat and really tearing you up. I´m just agast that someone would do this, although the way the fellows ride down here does leave much to be desired. This is reminiscent of the wires strung by the resistance in WW II. Have a look at some old photos of the shears that were installed on many German and American amour for the same reason.

 

If your going to install an antenna on your bike maybe you should consider attaching a rope saw (or cable saw?) to the leading edge to help slice the wire across the road. Here in Canada you can pick these up at camping outfitters for a couple bucks and they work extremely well for cutting down small trees, yet they can be coiled up and stuffed in your pocket.
A little bit of solder would attach it to an antenna with ease (or spot welder)

 

Robert, could that old Russian bike be a "Minsk" 125? Russian letters would be "Минск" (if they show up right on your PC). Can't think of any other ones that start with "M".. although there were a handful 125's back in the day.

 

I am jealous, have fun! Post pics of interesting sights! Well, work safe pics, if there are any in Brasil, LOL.

 

Damn!
What will these assholes think of next.

 

Stereo, you nailed it! I don´t know Russian but that is precisely what came up under the Google search for Soviet motorcycles. Really odd little critters. Spin, you aren´t missing much, it rained for the first 3 days. I was really getting stir-crazy about Monday. Went to a small city to the east to get some paperwork done (I´m still single in Brazil...). Next door neighbor let me take his 82 CB400 for a spin this afternoon. Beautifully maintained and completely original. Front brakes were so stinkin spongy, I didn´t take it very far. I told him that he should replace the lines with stainless and hang on to the originals if he was still wanting to put it into a museum. Exchange rate is 1.6 Dollars to the Real so the funny money isn´t stretching too far, I´m going to see if I can´t score a set of control clusters and an instrument panel from a scrap yard here. I like the idea of a headlight switch that will allow you to turn off the headlight.
More musings to come, stay tuned...

 

I would guess that antenna acts as sort of ATGM wire cutter found on the military vehicles.
ATGM wire cutter is used to prevent decapitation from all the wires in the battle field.

 

Ok folks, touched down yesterday. I cannot tell you how much travel helps me count my blessings that I live in the US.
I got a chance to see one of those antennas up close. It had a cap with a blade machined into it to cut any string/wire that got pulled into it. Neat little bit of engineering. Clearification on the string issue. There has been a recent resurgence of kite fighting and the leftovers are not being properly policed or individuals are intentionally hazarding the road. Scary either way.