Happy Mid Winter Festival of Lights

Thanks Teenie Clause!

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Dry lube?!?!

Me: My throttle is kinda sticky with the new riser/bar set up. What's going on?

Interwebs: You're cables might be kinked.

Me: Okay, I checked - that's not it. I did notice the paint on the bars was uneven, so I sanded that. I also noticed two separate pinch points - sanded those as well. It's better, but still not right.

Interwebs: Well, a lot of people will tell you that you don't need it - but there are those that will recommend a "dry lube" like powdered graphite. Using a "wet lube" will cause dust and dirt to become trapped.

Me: Dry Lube? Powdered graphite? Does that stuff really work?

Me: Uh ... YUP!

Powdered Graphite Lubricant by The Hillman Group. Just over two bucks at places like: OSH, The Home Depot, Lowes and Ace True Value to name a few.

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Kinda cute ... kinda annoying ...

...how my bike keeps asking me to prove I'm the man.

Throttle is un-stuck. It was a combination of about 4 things. But I got it. Solved it one issue at a time. M.V.T (Most Valuable Tool) goes to the rotary tool (generic name for a "Dremel"). Ground one thing down after another and just kept asking for more.

Also - man I dig my shed. It's 45 degrees outside. But not in here. And it's away from the house so I don't wake my babies or my ladies.

Look lady, I like you. I think you are a great bike - but if we're gonna get along - you're gonna have to access your un-crazy side. It's crazy to think you're gonna beat me.

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Let's go clubin'

Scratched the tank on the right side - scratched and dented the left. 'Nuff said. Clubman's look sweet I think. Throttle still sticks - that's what Google is for, right James?

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Riser mods finished up (and a rattle?)

When we left it last night the risers had been chopped and drilled. But they still needed a collar/shoulder set up to hold the vibration damper. Also the shaft of the bolt needed to be beefed up a bit to mimic the original shafts.

Step One: Rig up a jenky grinder/cutter. Used a hole-saw to get the process started and then my cutter to cut off the excess.

Here is the riser with no collar/shoulder set up.

And here it is with the collar/shoulder.

Set on the bike to just to see how things are coming along.

Starting to look good, in my opinion.

Next to beef up the shaft. I couldn't find a spacer that was exactly right, so I found the closest one they had at Lowes. Then put that on the cutter. Squeezed it together. Cut it again. Squeezed it again. Almost perfect.

Then grind off the pinch point. Damn dude, like factory!

Put the risers on the bike, put the handle bars into the risers. Hellz yeah.

Man, that looks good! But I gotta lower the rear next payday - that fo sho!

I've heard about making cut-outs in the tank for the super low bars. Now that I have a scratched tank, I understand.

Timing is everything...

Roof finished and tools put away at 5:15. Rain started just after 6:00. Dry tools - dry scoot.

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Took the long way home...

November 24th, 2010 - early close day.

Finished up the last leg of the Mulholland run. From Hollywood to the Pacific Ocean.