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.

Riser mods (and rumor has it someone is painting...)

The kick-ass 1" risers I saw at J&W got sold (guess I'm not the only guy who wants 1 inch risers on the cheap) - while I was there one of the fellas made an off-hand remark about modding the 7/8 risers I already have. Boring them out to 1". Considered it, but one thought led to another and another idea sprung up. Below is what happened.

Started by putting the risers on my father-in-law's metal chop saw. Took about 3 inches off - no more pull-back.

But this won't do me any good unless I can bolt it on to the bike.

The inside of the riser needs a hole for a bolt. It also needs a recessed area for a washer and the head of the bolt.

Started by drilling a half inch hole about a half inch deep, this was the start of the recess for the bolt head. Then I drilled a hole all the way through for the bolt.

After these two drillings were done pulled out a 7/8 inch Forstner bit and bored it out a bit more. Now it's not only big enough for the bolt head and a washer - but it will also acomodate a socket head.

All put together.

Here is the new sitting next to what was removed.

Commuter bike

999cc

193 hp

412 lbs

Nice little lane-splitter

head case

Flathead "Sport Model" 1919 - 1923
Flathead "Single" 1924

DL 1929 - 1931

RL 1932 - 1936

WL 1937 - 1952

K Series 1952

Knucklehead 1936 - 1947

Panhead 1948 - 1965

Shovelhead 1966 - 1984

Evo

lunch

the man on the motorbike

It's like old German techno. It goes like this: Follow the man on the motorbike. Who is the man on the motorbike. I am the man on the motorbike. Follow the man on the motorbike.

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so ... this happened

Didn't always look like this...

Grocery Getter #1

Spotted at Costco in Lancaster, CA. What could he possibly be picking up?

As a guy with a serape for a seat, I'm diggin' the bandana upholstered seat.

Like the idea of the drag bars on the risers with no pull back. Maybe I should look for a set of 1" risers for the Shadow while I get the 7/8" Clubmans hooked up.

Shot glass tail light and super tiny blinkers. Well done sir, well done.

September 6th, 2010

Second ride. 1 Buell, 1 Honda Shadow. Only 1 wrong turn. Lots of twists, lots of fun.

Started out early and on the way to the meet up, realized I had no breakfast. Made me happy that the meet up was @ Denny's.

Headed up the PCH after some good ol' Moons over my hammy and country fried steak and eggs. Weather a bit on the chilly side if you were to be just laying around, but perfect for being on the bike.

The map made Los Flores look like a good way to head up into the hills. First impression was that it might have been a wrong choice, but once we got past the first few houses, turned out to be a killer choice of streets to take.

One stop at a turn out. Snapped a few pics and then headed back out for some more crazy hairpins and beautiful scenery.

One wrong turn at the bottom of the hill on The Valley side of the hill - but quickly realized the temperature was getting hotter (driving into The Valley) instead of cooler (driving towards the beach). Quickly corrected and used the 101 to get back to Topenga.

Only kinda sour note was the always-annoying-clueless-jackwagon deciding that his windshield NEEDED to be cleaned as I'm closing in to pass. There's this whole world around you dude, open

your eyes and check it out.

The rest of Topenga was beautiful and uneventful. I remember in high school heading down the water side of Topenga and hitting 60 mph on my 18 speed Nishiki.

Back down PCH to the 10 and off our separate directions. Killer second ride for 2WW.

August 29th, 2010

First ride. Solo. Just needed to get out. It's a start of something.