Autohaus Breytenbach

26/08/2026

Aermacchi racebike first start attempt, after many, many, hours of work.

Step 1: select top gear
Step 2: fuel tap on
Step 3: tickle the carb (that's a real thing)
Step 4: manually re**rd the timing
Step 5: manually adjust full choke on
Step 6: clutch in
Step 7: right foot press bike starter pedal
Step 8: clutch out
Step 9: throttle and start
Step 10: clutch back in
Step 11: right foot off bike starter pedal
Step 12: roll off the starter machine.

This is not a machine to pop out for bread and milk that's for sure!

Racetrack only! Where one should probably also wear shoes.

25/08/2026

Back to work on the Aermacchi this week.

We have been delayed by having to hand make some tools. Special bikes need special tools!

Made a special socket that fits over the crankshaft and inside the basket, to tighten the castelated nut, along with an inner clutch holding tool.

These are needed to properly reassemble the dry clutch. Fabricated the socket from scratch and made the clutch holder out of a pair of clutch plates I managed to import from Italy.

I had to remove the clutch to replace the gear selector shaft bushing which had broken in half and the clutch was not properly assembled so I managed to get it apart without the required tools.

But putting it back together correctly will require these tools.

We made this new bushing out of phosphorus bronze.

If all goes to plan and the motorcycle gods smile upon me, we will be riding this bike by the end of the month.

25/08/2026

The little Puch MS50 is complete, not the pinnacle of a sportbike but still has a place in my heart.

In the months ahead I will be restoring quite a few of these motorized bicycles. I'm going to do another Puch or two and then moving onto the DKW'S.

Someone described this to me as more than a mode of transport, it's a representation of the industrial revolution.

Art mixed with 2 stroke.

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

Dark Knight rising...

If Batman had a NC30...

Carbon VFR400 coming along, next up we will ceramic coat the period correct Yamamoto exhaust in black, which has, you guessed it, a Carbon end can.

Thereafter we will begin trial assembly of the carbon bodywork ahead of prep for clear coat.

I don't usually like black bikes but this one has grown on me!

18/07/2026

Little 1979 Kawasaki Z200 ready to rock and roll again.

Compared to what I usually do this was a "quick and easy" rebuild. Bike was running well I just took it apart, coated, painted, polished and cleaned everything up and put it back together with a fresh set of tyres.

One of my favorite little bikes this Z200, tiny and nimble, classic Japanese fun.

Bikes still got the original toolkit, owners manual, original keys (with a spare) and very low mileage. A nice insight into what getting a new one must have been like.

I just gotta clean up and fit the side mirrors and it's 100% complete again.

Love the candy emerald green color really very pretty with all that chrome.

10/07/2026

And this beautiful VFR400 went to her forever home today.

Sad to see her go!!

Feels good to share these VFRs around, this one went to a buyer in South Africa!

10/07/2026

Three very rare DKW Hummels. Come home with me last week.

Wasn't easy to find these, I adore the pedal motorcycles, a very niche market.

My son helped me offload, he's my not so little helper

10/07/2026

Picked these up this week, a 1946 New Hudson (powered by Villiers) and a 1965(ish) Honda supercub 50cc

10/07/2026

The Puch MS50 project is coming along, been quite busy in the paint department lately.

Managed to get my hands on some period correct white wall tyres, still busy with the chrome work and a bunch of other stuff but the paintwork is mostly done now.

Got the bike running before stripping it down had to replace the piston and rebuild the carb but she fired right up after that.