Cuba vacation

Just got home from a week-long vacation in Cuba. Spent most of the time on the beach at the resort, but also ventured off the resort grounds for 2 days and explored some local villages, and the nearby city of Holguin.  Lots of old American cars, and plenty of bikes you don't see in Canada or the US.

What a terrific week. The resort was awesome in every way, the weather was great, and the people of Cuba are absolutely the nicest folks you'll ever meet. I plan on going back, but for 2 weeks next time!

'58 Opel Rekord

Lada 6-door stretch limousine hack job

off-roading with a rented Jilan 50cc scooter

The scooter rental cost $30 for the day

early 50's Dodge

a proud Cuban washing his pristine Suzuki GN125

I chatted with these guys as they fixed a leaky master brake cylinder

on this '52 Chev

Lots of Russian Lada vehicles, including the 4x4 Niva

an old BMW air head hack

Our taxi for the day was this '59 Plymouth. The original V8

engine died many years ago, and was retrofit with a 2.0 Litre diesel

 engine and gearbox from a Mistubishi pick-up truck. 

Lifan LF125F   - I believe these are a Chinese brand

Lots of horse-powered vehicles

My 9-year-old daughter was at the controls on some rural roads near the resort.

Of course, when in Cuba, just wear a poorly fitting helmet, shorts, and sneakers.

I also brought home some Cohiba Robusto cigars

 ... and some Montecristo IV

Winter upgrades for the WR

Well, it's winter: time for upgrades. When I bought the WR, it came with two sets of rims & tires. The aftermarket dirt wheels were mounted on the bike, and I put the OEM street wheels in the basement. When the previous owner bought the dirt wheels, he transferred the OEM brake rotors onto the new rims, and he bought and aftermarket 13/49 Renthal sprocket set and a 520 RK chain.  Well, I don't plan on swapping the rotors back and forth between wheel sets, so I ordered a new set of OEM rotors to bolt onto the OEM rims. I also decided to ditch the 13/42 OEM sprockets for the OEM rims, so I ordered a set of 14/48 Supersprox sprockets.

I also got 7 oil filters, and a Kenda 2.5mm Heavy Duty butyl rubber 100/100-18 tube as a spare for the rear aftermarket dirt rim. I always like to have a spare tube on hand. I've got a selection of 17" and 21" .... I just didn't have a spare 18" on hand.

Finally, I picked up a brand new pair of side panels, still sealed in the factory packaging. Yes, genuine Yamaha OEM pieces, in the factory WRX black. I didn't need these, but I couldn't pass them up: $36 shipped for the pair!!! That was a steal. For that price, I just wanted to have them set aside as spares.

These are the OEM wheels. There were no brake rotors 

mounted on them, and I don't plan on using the OEM sprockets.

The stock gearing is 13/42 but my new Superspox gearing is 14/48.

The sprockets, oil filters, and tube came from RockyMountainATV.com for $101.

The brake rotors are from RonAyers.com and cost $203.

Interestingly, the OEM rotors are both stamped "Licensed by Galfer" 

 My next order for the WR will include a Safari fuel tank, and Wolfman side racks, and a muffler re-packing kit.  The DR will also need a few things (ex: new battery for sure).