I live in NYC, the land of hipsters and ppl who dont wear gear for city riding.
Last Easter Sunday I met up with some friends in Williamsburg Brooklyn - (where all the hipsters hang out and a 2 bedroom apt is $3,500 per month. I kid you not!
Anyhow, after meeting up with them i journeyed across the Wiliamsburg Bridge in Manhattan. Normally I do about 65-70 on the bridge, but all morning long, something told me "theres no need to go fast on these old bikes. Slow down."
FTR, I have 4 vintage bikes, a 1972 Honda cb 750, a 73 Honda cb 500F, a 77 Yamaha XS 650 and most recently, a 77 Kawa KZ750.
I stopped at a restaurant in downtown manhattan, ate and headed down broadway to Houston street to get back on the Williamsburg Bridge. As I went along Houston street, I blew through a light, leaving no one behind me as I approached the next red light. THANK GOD i did this.
As I approached the red light, with no traffic behind me, the bike rear wheel locked and I was like "WTF!" I didnt panic, I was just wondering what the hell was going on. The bike started leaning over and it took all my strength to hold it up, I reached over and turned off the engine, Finally I couldnt not hold the bike up any longer and was able to put it down, without a scratch. I was a bit stunned and didnt know what was going on. A man came over and was like "your chain snapped" and sure enough it had. It snapped and wedged around the rear wheel causing it to lock. The PO had used a half link, a NO NO with these torque monsters. And I was too eager to ride it, only having had it for 2 weeks, on easter sunday, without changing the chain and sprockets which i do on EVERY old bike when I first get it.
I only had on a pair of dress trousers, a 3/4 helmet and a TSHIRT!!! Thank GOD i wasnt going faster. I was only a quarter mile from the bridge, and had I got on it, going at speed, and the chain snapped, man, i would have been bad.
Got a new chain and am changing the bearings too as the wheel now squeaks when I turn it, so Im guessing the bearing is shot.
Any advice guys on the new chain and sprocket install and what MAY have been damaged? The engine runs fine and the crankcase is solid.?
Thanks. Here is my bike getting towed after it happened: