My 2nd 86 1200 aspy

[Gc33]

Hi all... I've been absent for a while. Passing of my wife and my 2 akita dogs a couple of years ago took the wind out of my sails.
My will to live was at a very low ebb. I was improving then lost my best mate... You all knew him as pedrotq.
2 days before my wife passed away my 1st 86 aspencade arrived. 35k kms on clock. I removed the engine to tidy it up... Paint etc... 2 years later the engine is still on my bench... Just trying to figure out where to start... Gotta start somewhere I guess.
Moving forward to 17th of July, I went and checked out another 86 aspy... With only 25k km on clock. Usual things to do... BELTS! tyres, brakes, full engine flush and treatment... Oil filter etc, new set of Michelin commanders going on next week.
A bit of spit and polish should bring the ole girl up pretty good.
I must say... Meguiars ultimate interior/exterior protectant is just awesome. Bought the nearly 40 year old plastics back to almost if not better than orig condition.
Didn't know what to expect on first ride... Thought the front brake was just sh... Crap. Was thinking of trialling a de-link that I have floating around in my head. How I envisage it doesn't usually come out like it so may leave well alone... Except new seals, decent clean out of calipers and seal grooves. May treat it to braided lines.... Think they're still orig pads.... I stripped and cleaned left hand caliper... Pistons were difficult to remove... Fair bit of build up behind seals. One of the easiest calipers and brakes I have had to strip clean, bleed in some time especially after doing my blackbird and st1300... DCBS is a pain in the ar.. Rear.
It looks as if the top box lid has had a repaint... Seems a different shade of silver in different light. Not a major... I'll get that done a bit later. It does show signs of age.. But if I can hold up as good I'll be happy.
I so wanted one of these when they came out... I only had my 76 1000....wish I still had that now..
Becoming a bit of a collection now...
2x75 gl1000s
2x 81/83 gl1100s
2x 86 1200 aspys
2x 07 cb1300s
1x cbr1100xx super blackbird
1x ST1300
1x Vtr250....
Hope Pedro is looking down on me with a smile...

[Gc33]

Few more pics

[Gc33]

My other 86...

[Track T 2411]

Very nice bikes! Brakes are always a PITA, lol.
I'm sorry for your losses. It sounds like you're doing better. FWIW, I also suffer from depression, and some days it can be quite difficult. Hopefully some wrenching and wind therapy will help. I'm sure pedrotq is watching over you!

[Whiskerfish]

Keep up the good fight! I have said goodbye to many friends and Many Akita's I have been working with an Akita Rescue for about a decade now. Have held more than a dozen when they crossed over. Often the dogs were harder to say goodbye to than the friends! We have to go on. Good on ya for starting back up!!

[Gc33]

Keep up the good fight! I have said goodbye to many friends and Many Akita's I have been working with an Akita Rescue for about a decade now. Have held more than a dozen when they crossed over. Often the dogs were harder to say goodbye to than the friends! We have to go on. Good on ya for starting back up!!

I love my akitas! A very special breed. And yes.. I'm not sure who I miss more. My 2 akitas or my wife... Maybe equally.