Title Update!

Well with all the options I have come up with to title the bike the most legal one is to go with International Title Service. I send them a power of attorney and a notarized bill of sale, selling them the motorcycle and they go to a state like Maine where they don't title vehicles older than 15 years. And they get a registration, license plates and a letter of title. The letter of title basically explains the states policy of not titling vehs over 15 yrs old and that the registration is proof of ownership. Then they sell it back to me and I go to the DMV with my registration and letter of title and trade them in for a Florida title.
Their end of the deal costs $175 and take a few weeks. Then I just have the regular Florida registration expenses I would have anyway. The only draw back is my bike will be titled as a 1994 but the engine is, so it correct anyway.

Bikers Creed

Amen, if only I could write like this.

Here a dirty bastard there a dirty bastard eveywhere a dirty bastard!

As many of you know I am in the process of trying to get a title for the bike. Well, it's going about as well as I had imagined it would. The biggest snag, and by that I mean the insurmountable obstacle, is the great state of Florida wants the 17 digit vin number of the frame my engine came from. I do not have that. Those of you that remember the story of my engine will recall that the seller said he took the engine out of his bike to put in a 110 in. stroker. Well after enough messages to let the guy know I wasn't going away he called me back with a new story. The new story is he bought the engine a front end and some sheet metal 4 years ago for his own project and when it came time to register his project SURPRISE!!!!! They wanted the 17 digit vin off the frame too. The message he left contained this little jewel "sounds like you are in the same boat I was, that's why I sold it." dirty dirty bastard. I will put the whole message he left on my machine as soon as I figure out how.

Success!

Yeah! Just got back from the first completely successful shake down ride! Everything worked, nothing didn’t . Marie and I putted all around Largo sticking mostly to the back neighborhoods. We did venture out onto Indian Rocks and West Bay a few times to work up a little speed. Yeah!

Rectum? Damn near killed him!

Well the bike shop called today. I won't mention the name of the shop all you that are close to the project already know it anyway. Any way, they called today and my bike is "done". By done I mean in the last 20 days they managed to put in a new battery, turned down my transmission sprocket to straighten my chain(someone remind me to have my laser, you know that unbend able beam of light, straightened) put on a new chain, fixed a couple wiring "issues" and spent a couple hours trying to fix the carb but they couldn't figure it out and put on a used one. However, on the test ride my shift lever fell off, don't ask me how. The cover holding the rear brake lever on fell off, once again don't ask me. And my rear brake doesn't work any longer it developed a spontaneous leak. Must have been a hell of a test ride!
All this joy for a grand total of $983. Let this be a lesson to all you out there. They don't call them stealerships for nothing!!!! Anyone here that echo? Its my rectum.

I miss my baby!

I am heading up to the shop tomorrow to take a look at the progress of the work on the scooter. I miss not having it around. After 13 months in the living room and then a few weeks in the garage I am having a hard time adjusting to it not being around! I am so used to spending almost every spare minute tinkering on it, I find myself wandering around the house looking for something to do:)

No Mas! No Mas!

I finally have thrown in the towel. After another wasted five days and a new problem everyday. From a carb that leaks fuel out the overflow when parked at night magically quits some time in the garage to a start button that only works on odd days of the month. To turn signals that become marker lights as you ride.
So I have swallowed my pride and it's sitting at Manor Cycles as we speak getting a old school rewire and possibly a new carb. After 13 long months I just want to ride!

Debugging and more debugging

I am actually off the next 5 days, time to knock out some serious bugs in the machine. The headlight will be rewired, I have a new spring seat I am going to try and install but if I don't like it a new seat will be made. Also hopefully the carb rebuild kit will arrive and I can do that as well. I also need to break down and get a more powerful battery so I can start this thing up right.
Also I have some new front turn signals en route to be sure I pass the inspection and on payday I will order up the speedo which will be the last thing I need, besides the cash, to go ahead and get my inspection done.
So maybe the first week of September I will get the inspection done and can finally get out and ride; unless some new problems develop.

And the winner is…

After giving in and pulling the carb off and apart the winner is a badly worn and cracked accelerator diaphragm. This is the cause of both the fuel leak and the stalling out while on the throttle. I would twist the throtttle but the diaphragm wouldn’t lift so the arm to the high speed jet wouldn’t activate. Also the split allowed fuel to where it shouldn’t causing the leak. A $15 rebuild kit and an hour or so should solve the stalling problems!

Sorry the pics are blurry but the split is obvious and in the other pic it should be solid black rubber no light shinning through and its 80 percent exposed.

Off again!

WooHoo! Off again tomorrow! Time for another shake down run. I have to admit to being a little scared. Everytime I shake it down more stuff falls out of the tree. I haven't seen the headlight in the last 3 ride but the short indicator on the wiring harness is no longer lit. So I guess that solves that problem, time to run a new set of wires to the headlight and my own hi low switch.
However, the last 2 ride have left me stuck a couple blocks from the house. It starts to sputter and then stalls like it is out of gas but its not. Either the plugs are fouling out which is a possibility from all the wd-40 I sprayed into the cylinders while the engine sat or I may have a carb problem. Last week I had gas dripping from the bottom of the carb so I thought the float had sunk and gas was continually flowing into the bowl. But, that would not cause is to act like it is out of gas that would cause it to flood and when it stalls I am hard on the throttle so to much gas couldnt be it. So maybe I have it backward and my float is stuck up and isnt letting in enough fuel. Or there could be problem in my fuel line.
I noticed when I ran the fuel line the inlet on the carb faced up at the 2 o'clock position. So I ran the fuel line down from the tank then up ovet the carb mount then down to the fuel inlet so that could be it too. I am hoping for the easiest most obvious problem of fouled plugs. I need to get this reliable so I can get to the inspection and get my tag.
But anyway I am off tomorrow so......



"We don't do fear. Over the last 105 years in the saddle, we've seen wars, conflicts, depression, recession, resistance and revolutions. We've watched a thousand hand-wringing pundits disappear in our rear-view mirror. But every time, this country has come out stronger than before. Because chrome and asphalt put distance between you and whatever the world can throw at you. Freedom and wind outlast hard times. And the rumble of an engine drowns out all the spin on the evening news. If 105 years have proved one thing, it's that fear sucks and it doesn't last long. So screw it, let's ride."

And I know its just an ad campaign but Harley sure knows how to hit the demographic. I read this and I want to run outside jump on the scoot and take off at 100mph with my hair on fire. I'm weak, so sue me.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Go away rain daddy wants to ride!

Half day off tomorrow!

Only 2 hours of overtime tonight and 4 tomorrow heck that's almost a day off!


The more I think about it the next one will definitely be a bobber w/a 2 under springer and some nice apes!

Loserville

Color me there next 12. On the upside I think I found the new direction this will be taking, or maybe a new one. But more on that later.

Directions

Now that the bike is all but done. There is not going to be much to blog about. All I really have to do is get the inspection done, pay my taxes and have a semi professional photo shoot done. It’s the one guilty pleasure I promised myself. One photograph good enough to enlarge to poster size So I can roll it up and put it in the closet for the grandchildren to find one day. Me and a girley in a bikini with a bike I built myself for myself. Other than that a trip to Sturgis is about all that’s left on my things to do before leaving list.

I got to admit to being a pretty lucky guy. At forty I have done almost everything I have ever wanted. Or maybe somewhere I just lowered my expectations. Either way no point in bitchin’ no one is going to listen and even fewer will care.

The direction of the blog is a bit of a conundrum. Until my 4 year exit plan comes to fruition there aren’t  going to be a lot of adventures to have and blog about. I refuse to taint this sacred spot where I bear my soul to the emptiness with the troubles of my retarded job. What I do have is a lot of experiences some funny some not that would be interesting to share. So maybe I will scatter some of those in here from time to time and who knows maybe there will be a new build if I can work it into my exit plan.

I just rather enjoy this and don’t want it to end.I Know in reality how few people actually read this but it really does make me feel better when I am stressed and happier when I am happy. So for me it’s a win win situation.

Friday

I have been holding onto this picture since the very beginning of this build. Probably since before the first part was ordered. And I feel it today more than I have in a long time. Once again I was reminded of how few friends I really have.

I have no one that watches my back and I have no one that warns me when trouble is coming. I miss my real friends Jim, Pit Bull, Alvin, Dennis… where ever you guys ride now in your hearts know I miss you and I didn’t appreciate nearly as much as I should have.  For all my old friends…here’s to having your knees in the breeze!

 

I remember and smile at the all out blood baths for the big salad bowl. The Little Feat Playing while the chicken cooks. Pulling the 6 staples out of my back to get my vest off. The .22 round in the calf (still real sorry bout that:). The sparks as they flew in the darkness from the dragging extended pipes on the FLH. The danforth plum moonshine in Martinsville. “ Watch out” you said “ that will turn up the gravity on ya.” The foggy 130mph hammered out of reality on Jim Beam run back into Daytona from Crazy Daves. The six hour run from St Pete to Key West. Can’t be done? My ass we did it! Where did you all go so fast? Where has the wind taken you? And most importantly why did you leave me here?

No ride in today!

Well I won’t be riding the scooter into work today. After finally figuring out the brake problem, yes is was a p.i.c.n.i.c. problem, I was out test driving it and broke the chain when second dropped in out of nowhere.

A very nasty sound and the master link unfortunately had to pay with his life. I will get a spare tomorrow and aim for another day. I still don’t trust the battery to reliably start the bike either so I am a little hesitant anyway.

They say it isn’t  a Harley until you have pushed it a mile. Well I got my mile in today and that’s enough of that. Note to self get AAA membership!

Update to this post. I couldn’t let it sit there without a chain so I fixed the chain rode to the gas station and filled it up starting it was no problem so if I can decide which route is least likely to get me pulled over maybe I will ride in!

Punch List

Well for a first time bike build my punch list is pretty short. First of all and most antagonizing is the front brake. I can’t get this one to bleed either so it’s one of 2 things; 1 I am a retard, completely possible and a lot more likely than 2 I have gotten 2 bad master cylinders in a row. That a million to one shot.

The second is the short in the electrics after a days absence it has returned at first no low beam then no headlight at all and the control box shows a tail light overload.

Third I need to stand off the oil bag a little the top clamp is banging the frame and leaking oil.

Fourth a battery that can start the bike on its own reliably, after my first earlier ride and just now after sitting for a couple hours it started the bike on its own; but just now after my longer ride I shut it down and tried to restart it right away  and it wouldn’t  turn over just click away.

But other than that no tires rubbing fenders or chains rubbing tires. Everything I left with came back with me, even the hat that I had to go back for that blew off in a high speed run from 3rd gear to 5th. I got to say she runs like a raped ape. And if I didn’t have a inspection to go through I would hard wire the head light to the auxiliary post on the key switch in hi beam and cut the rest out of the wiring harness all together and solve that problem.

Houston WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After fixing rear caliper binding clutch would not engage. Took clutch apart re-installed  clutch fired her up under her own battery power( I guess it just needed to be cussed at) and took off around the block.

Not to self while in a haze of rigid chopper induced euphoria do not forget that rapidly approaching stop sign should remind you that you haven’t bled your front brake and that sprotor  set up is notoriously weak on stopping power in back and you are a 300lb lard ass doing 50 in 3rd gear. Thank God there were no cars as I did not reach anything remotely resembling a stop as I shot through the intersection. I did however get down to about 35 but I need new shoes and my feet  hurt:)

Can’t talk now gotta go try that again!

The morning update…

The rear wheel has been re installed for about the 6 time and it hasn’t moved 20 yards yet. However, the wheel is on and spaced correctly the rotor is free turning through the caliper.The battery that had been charging all night is now back in the bike. But I am flight engineerless but I do have his ok to keep trying to get it running so I guess I should just quit putting off the inevitable and go start her up and see if I can’t catch a gear or 2. Ok then where did I set those balls again?

She ran but she didn’t move

When everyone got here yesterday at 13:00, when it just couldn’t be any hotter, the flight engineer and myself went to roll her out to the end of the drive way and……She wouldn’t roll?

Everything seemed fine last night after I put the chain on but it was almost 1am and I was a little delirious. And on thinking back I didn’t try to roll it because I had been rolling it around all day sitting in the seat going “weeeeeeee” so I knew it rolled.

The problem discovered later that day was when I put the rear wheel back on, after wiring it, I put the spacers on in the wrong order so the caliper was binding up the rear wheel so it wouldn’t turn.

But back to the good stuff. In great need of salvaging some of the last 2 looooonnnngggg days of filling in all the little problems I just disconnected the chain  popped the caliper loose with a screw driver and rolled her out to fire her up and ……nothing. Just a bunch of clicking. The battery did try but just didn’t have the sack  to turn the engine over. So ended up jump starting it off the car. She fired right up but had to be on the choke for about 15 minutes before she warmed up enough to idle on her own. I also had to adjust the mixture of the carb due to the extremely free flowing exhaust.

So after the warm up time and the adjustment time and after cracking the throttle a bit more than necessary I found out my room mates car alarm works; so I cleaned up called it a successful day. I just need to figure out how to get a bigger battery into a smaller hole.

Ants in my pants!

Well the chain is on and I am fairly confident in my clutch adjustment the tranny is filled the oil bag is filled and I have just shy of 2 gals of fuel on board with a can of starting fluid and a spare quart of oil  on hand just in case.

Now all I need is my flight engineer who should be arriving the next 3 hours. So back to the waiting. Yeah, I am supposed to sit here for the next 3 hrs? Child Please! In about 5 minutes I am going to go running down the road yelling intelligibly at strangers until the heat gets me. Which in my current condition will be about 100 yards!! See ya in the funny papers!

Mission Control Update

The chain is on, and after a few hours of messing with the clutch I actually found neutral. That was a first. She is also full of oil now so the only fluid she’s missing is gasoline. I had a few links of the chain kinked up under the tranny  sprocket cover; so after cutting the chain and all that grief I rolled it forward got a loud awful clunk and grind then I had several inches of extra chain. So I had to recut it again and start over.

There is still a little drag and clank somewhere. And the rear wheel feels like it’s dragging but that, I hope, is because everything is new. And it will loosen up in the first few miles tomorrow. So first thing in the a.m. I am going to get some gas and starting fluid and see what we get when Tommy gets here.

Can’t Talk Now!!!!!!!!!!

The Fed Ex dude just delivered and my baby is still outside the pad. Gotta go gotta go! 2hip gotta go cyabi!!!!!

Update Pictures

In a fit of anxiety I rolled her out to the launch pad and touched up the paint. Polished up the chrome a little and before I could get back outside with the camera my biker neighbors were out taking pictures so I guess it must look pretty cool. But I will let you decide. After 13 months I know every flaw and failure so it’s hard for me to be objective. Don’t forget that the pictures are all clickable for a larger version. Go ahead get in there and sniff the chrome she don’t mind!

Come on Jireh, Come on Jireh!

Now I sit and hope and wait for my parts from Jireh.Through this whole build they have been my main supplier. The parts are priced well and delivery is free on orders over $100. But they don’t give you any tracking info. The only sign your order is on its way is they don’t charge your card until the order goes out the door. Then you just sit back and wait. And you know how good I am at waiting:)

Actually the parts from Jireh come by Fed EX but after a 30 page google search I was unable to find a female, good looking or otherwise, dressed in a Fed Ex uniform. I won’t speculate on what that means. The only thing Fed Ex has over UPS is they deliver on Saturdays. So if the parts don’t come today the rest of the weekend may not be a waste. But until some Fed Ex driver gets a girlfriend we will carry on as best we can…

Holy Schiznit!

I removed the rubber grommet from under the headlight and everything works as it is supposed to. No short or overload indicators, I have a high and low beam, and the tail light stays steady.

I am going back to bed before I get hit by lightening! It’s never that easy! If God calls, you haven’t seen me!

Update

The rear brake line is on, bled and the light switch is functioning. However a new electrical problem has popped up. My low beam headlight doesn’t work. When I flip the switch to the high beam the high beam comes on and my tail light gets brighter. Then after a second or 2 of that the control box shows a short for the tail light and the head light, both high and low beams don’t work.

So more fun lays ahead with the only part of this whole build I knew was going to be a problem. The wiring is gonna kill me.

Old School vs New School

Old school…

New school…

Old school brake line…

New school brake line…

Old school fitting…

New school fitting…

Old school brake light switch…

New school brake light switch…

So while the new school stuff looks better and is 100 times easier to work with it is, as all things like it are, more expensive. The old school way was between 20 and 30 dollars. The line for new school was 20 dollars the fittings were 10 each x2 and the brake light switch was 20. Easily twice as much but they look a lot better and as I mentioned before; much easier to work with.

Let me go and get this on before work tonight and if Jireh can just come through one more time and get the new master cylinder here tomorrow we could be in line for another attempt on Saturday!

Houston We Have a Problem…

Actually a couple problems. First off the front master cylinder is a dud. Since it has been hanging on my bars for 4 months the 3 months warranty is up. So my brand new never used $100 master cylinder is no longer under warranty and was dead.

The second problem was the rear brake line. I got up this morning and hustled out and got a brake line and all the fittings I needed and went home and laid everything out bent the line, made my cuts, put the whole thing together  and no matter how much I tightened the fittings the line kept turning. At which point after a little research I found out no one uses flared tube and fitting anymore. The use 3-AN line with screw in fittings and banjo bolts.

By the time I finished the other things I needed to do I took off in search of a new front  master cylinder. Manor cycles was closed and Fletchers didn’t have a generic 1985 to 1996 front master cylinder for a Softail only one for 2006 and up and it doesn’t match.

Of course they  were aware of the “new” 3-AN brake stuff, which they could of course order, but  didn’t have enough stuff to fabricate a line for me . They said it was more for custom builders than factory riders which I can understand.

So rear brake line parts and pieces have been ordered, from a shop in Florida so I expect quick delivery. And Monday I will head over to Manor Cycle and see if they have a master cylinder for me and if not I will order one and hopefully have it all here in time to try another launch next Saturday!

So on a day of wanting to go not being able to stop stopped me from going. Sounds like a Flomax commercial!

Pre Dawn Update

That’s right folks live from the living room at 3:43 am. Everything that can be done has been done. The only thing left to do is run the rear brake line, add brake fluid to both systems and bleed both systems. Slap on some chain and we will be ready for take off.

Plug wires, fuel line and filter and petcock…

And of course the pipeage. This is gonna get the stink eye from the inspector but what can ya do? 1 and 3/4 inch flares out to 2 and 1/4 with no baffles and they are on the short side:)

That’s all for now. I am going to bed before I convince myself that the Super Walmart in Pineapple park has brake lines:)

Say Hello Dickhead!

Lot’s  to talk about before nap time. I could not decide what to do with the turn signals. I wanted something different and I didn’t want a bunch of holes  in the fender. So this is what I came up with. I drilled into the sides of the tail light and mounted them there and ran the wire internally through the tail light. I like it a lot but it does look like someone with a dick growing out from between the eyes! If I could only get a license plate with a smiley face.

Geometry and physics, my two favorite subjects because there is no gray area, it is either a or b . With that in mind have you ever noticed how you can hold something heavy upright, like say a motorcycle, then you break that magical plane and go that half a degree to far…….Loving Physics!

Dickhead

Chasing down shorts

$6 dollar battery box

Well here you go, a 6 dollar piece of 22 ga  sheet metal, a little tubing, and some Styrofoam and vinyl tape. Why spend eighty dollars buying when you can build for six?

And of course the duo of “who me” and “not us”

Update

The battery box has been roughed out, not bad for 6 bucks and extra junk laying around. Will clean it up and paint it tomorrow. Also, going to get the fitting for the fuel cross over and fuel filter so after I bolt on the VOES I can drop the tank back on.
The plugs should be here Monday so I can finish that end of the wiring. Then the grueling wait for the parts to show up so I can get the rear signals on so I can get the rear tire back on so I can put the kickstand on and she can stand on her own for the first time.
Then its a matter of the exhaust and rear brake line and fluids and she will be ready to fire! WooHoo!

Brake Light Fixed

Brake light problem resolved. It now works like it should still with no ground....go figure.

It Is Alive!

Well the wiring is as done as it can be until I get the VOES for the carb. I did find a plug to replace the one Debo ate but it was from a commercial vendor and I had to buy 20 of them at 29 cents each then a $5 handling fee then $7 for shipping so I am in for about $18 on one plug. But I will have 19 spares.

Also the tail light comes on but not the brake but I think the problem is in the handle bar switch. Remember that is the side of the bars that were flat and the control housing doesn’t come completely together; so I think the hand lever is missing the switch. I will be looking at that as soon as I am done here.

Tail light…

Oil lines and pressure gauge installed and complete….

Current condition…

First signs of life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wired for Sound

Well the wiring is 99% completed. All I need is rear turn signals and a VOES switch for the carb and the wiring will be in the history books.

The last big challenge is to fabricate a battery box. After that its 2 brake lines a petcock (because one is never enough) and some chain and exhaust  and I will be done!

No pictures today as it is just a bunch of wires, but got a lot done over the last 2 days.

Getting back on track

Today I am going to finish as much of the wiring as possible. However, I still don't have rear turn signals and while I was off on my New York bender Debo decided to eat one of the plugs from the wiring harness. It's either the right or left side plug I haven't figured out which yet. It appears to be a relatively standard 8 wire automotive plug so I should be able to source one or a good substitute easily enough.
Then next paycheck should buy everything else I need to finish up this long overdue project.
Unless there are some unforeseen problems or massive back orders it will be ready to fire the the next 14 days or so. But enough babbling for now, I have 32 wires to extend and label:)
Here are a few New York City Pictures for you to peruse while I work!

Tommy's joke live from New York!

How do you turn a dishwasher into a snowplow?
Give her a shovel!

Be home soon for the last big push on the scoot!

Sick and slackin'

I apologize for the complete lack of attention to the blog. I ended up working 7 days in a row then got sick. I have done nothing on the bike but have every intention of finishing the wiring tomorrow. And getting it back together before I leave for new York.

Rigatonni ala Tesla

Or as it is more commonly called, electrical spaghetti. I really did not think it would take this long. But I was wrestling with a tail light/ground issue. If, and that's a big if, I understand it right. The tail light is the only thing not grounded on the back half of the harness. And the doubt is slowing me down.

Update

Not much has gotten done lately. The motor mount was supposed to include the mounting hardware and didn’t so it’s not on. The wiring harness was supposed to be universal but did not include pigtails to go to the left and right hand controls so I am short  about 80 feet of wire. At first I was going to just cut off the excess wire from the rear harness and splice it to the hand controls, but if I had a short later I would never be able to tell which wire went where if the colors did not match. So I will have to purchase more wire on payday.

Parts have arrived

Well the limited number of parts I ordered came yesterday. I probably won't have time to install them until this weekend. I need to pick up a soldering iron and oil lines and plug wires from the store and the oil tank and system will be complete and the electrical will be complete with the exception of the battery.

Waiting and Wondering

I am just sitting here waiting for parts. And while I am waiting I am doing what I often do, and that is wondering. I wonder why I wonder while I wait? I guess there is no point to wondering about the wondering I do while waiting and wondering. But I do wonder one thing while waiting for parts and that is I wonder (while I am waiting) why my UPS person looks nothing like this…..

Hmmm I wonder:)

3rd to last order

Theoretically if the money runs the way I think it will. I placed my 3rd to last order this morning. I was going to order a lot more but they seemed to be out out more than half of what I wanted. But I did manage to order the following goodies...rear brake light switch, ignition switch, the wiring harness, the top motor mount/coil mount, and the coil. I know it does not seem like a lot but the wiring will keep me busy for several days. Also I set aside the money for the oil lines and clamps that I can buy at the auto parts store.
So there won't be a lot of big visible changes but a lot will be getting done.

The Phone of Doom!

Sorry everyone a little inside joke between myself and a friend.

Leather Ass Gasket

Or in other words the seat has been redone. And I can say that it is the last time I will do it. Next time a pro will have a shot at it. Probably around the time she gets new paint and engine work!

Almost every one of these has been done, for me and by me.

FRIENDS VS. BIKER FRIENDS


FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
BIKER FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

FRIENDS: Will say "hello".
BIKER FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
BIKER FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
BIKER FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
BIKER FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.

FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
BIKER FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
BIKER FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
BIKER FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' ••• that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
BIKER FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!".

Don't Like Him But He Is Right

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride! ~Hunter S. Thompson

Wise words....

Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.

Ok I give, leather it is!

I keep looking at the seat and the couple of opinions I have gotten have lead me to the decision that I am going to switch to leather. The denim is unique but it looks unfinished and a little to ratty so tomorrow I am off to the store to get some leather and recover it. I am also going to cut off some of the front under the rear point of the gas tank.

Headlights and Hand Controls

Well that about sums it up. The headlight is mounted. The hand controls are mounted. The clutch and throttle cables have been adjusted. Nothing left to say but look at the pictures!

Please excuse the finger prints all over the chrome. And for those of you I talked to about the flat spot on the handle bars I brought in my bench grinder from the garage and ground it down. I didn’t have to take off nearly as much as I thought. So that worked out well!

Steamboat Willy

Ok so he’s no Mickey Mouse that’s fine I aint Walt Disney. Not bad for the first go around. I am sure I will go around and around trying to get the black lines the same thickness. But that’s fine I don’t have anything else to do and its kind of fun. Remember this isn’t supposed to be fine art. It’s rat rod/bomber nose art type stuff