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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2 Smoke

This is a clear sign I have too many projects. I blew the engine up on my RD 3 1/2 years ago going on a second date with my now wife. I was stranded on the Bay Bridge for 4 hours. She thought I was blowing off our date.


Then it took me 2 years to finally get around to rebuilding the engine. I added performance parts like chambers and a y-boot to air filter.






And I had some buddies help get it running right.


And then it sat some more as I couldn't quite tune it right, and I still needed a few pieces. Well, finally, I'm going to get her back on the road with some help. She doesn't need much, just some experience in tuning. I have lost way too many years of enjoying this thing, it's time to get back on the horse.

Bicycle Motorcross

Some kid rockin it at the Ferry building.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Cast iron is for more than skillets

Kevin hooked me up with a replacement exhaust manifold for my Desoto. He's building a Model A hotrod with a Desoto 276 Hemi and had this as an extra. Mine is cracked, so this is a big score for me.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Weekend Roundup

Fixed the forks. The binding issue was having a piece put in backwards, oh snap!
Realigned the seat rail.
Mounted the oil tank, partially, will expand it next weekend.



Zip tie jig.




Got the chain clearance cut from fender



Shit takes forever. But it's starting to look like a bike. I've become very intimate with every nut and bolt on this thing.





Friday, May 21, 2010

Ooh that smell

Last night I was in my garage dorkin' around when I smelled this really chemical odor. The closest thing I could equate it to was the smell of old gas that had turned to tar in some gas tanks. I started sniffing all over. I sniffed the new oil tank, I sniffed every motorcycle, every fluid I had. I just couldn't find the source. It was really concerning me because it was really strong. The flickering fluorescent light above me was not helping matters. Then I looked up at the light...



The light fixture was to about take a giant white poop on my garage floor. And then who knows what else. I'm glad I caught it before things got really bad.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Texas Tea Container

At long, friggin' last. Well almost. This is actually my second preference for an oil tank on my Triumph. My first preference was a rigid pre-unit oil tank, but those are harder to come by and much more expensive. And it's a bit competitive to get one. This is an oil tank of a Tiger Cub, probably a 50's model. The filler is in the front. I was convinced to get this one because it looks great on a vertical downtube Triumph frames like my '62. Only 2 issues. I'm going to need to move the feed tube to the front bottom corner. And I'm going to need to increase the capacity of the tank or I'll need to run an oil filter. This tank works good on a little 200cc Tiger Cub, but the 650 engines need some more juice. I have 2 ideas; find a donor tank, or just make deeper wall. I'll skin the back off, add 2" of metal wall, and seal it back up. The tank will sit partially beside the downtube, and the tank addition will actually go behind the downtube. Cosmetic surgery. Thanks to Jared from the Throwbacks and Paul from Show & Go for the advice and Tim who's building a '59/'61 for selling it to me.







So close I can taste it. It's all coming together.


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Copperopolis Report

So Jared from Pacifica and I headed out Saturday morning at 7 A.M. from South City for a very cold ride to Grass Valley. I was on my XS650 and he was on his 92 Evo chopper. Cold, wind, fog, everything I hate. We pretty much froze until we got past Sacramento, but once we got on 49 we started shedding the layers and actually enjoyed riding. All my gear I strapped to my sissy bar went no where. There were no problems whatsoever.



We finally got to Grass Valley at Paco's Tacos and met up with Jared, Ronnie, Ken, and Chad in the chase truck. We grabbed something to eat and headed out on the best ride of the trip. Down 49 to Copperopolis, taking a quick detour on Pool Station Road. It was warm and gorgeous, and so much fun. Jared's Triumph ran great and we hit the curvies.













We got to the Deathtrap's party in Copperopolis and got front row parking. A much needed bbq, some Wild Turkey, and some bands and I was about dead. I only had 3 hours of sleep the prior night, then the 8 hours of riding that day. I managed to fall down a hill of jagged rocks trying to take a pee out in the dark and was feeling it pretty good. I got my sleeping bag and hit the dirt and took a nice long sleep until I was woke up by 1000 roosters just before 6 A.M.







Jared and I hit the road at 8 A.M. and bee-lined it back to Bay where we once again froze. Great trip. It was great meeting everyone and I had a great time.

You can see all the pictures, including some really cool bikes here.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Yeaahhhhhh!

Lori and I got Giants tickets for last Friday, right behind home plate. Garlic fries, hot dogs, and hot links were consumed. It was fun. Lil John made a surprise dj appearance. Many "what's, come on's, uh's, and yeahhhh's" were expressed. And Giants floored the Astros. Once again the Kiss Cam missed us.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Copperopolis

This weekend is the Death Traps motorcycle club chopper campout.
http://www.deathtrapsmc.blogspot.com/

I pleaded and begged Lori to let me go, and she did!



I'll be riding 4 hours east to Grass Valley with another rider. Then we'll be meeting up with another pack heading 3 hours south to Copperopolis. It's a weekend of shennanigans.

To make things easier on myself for the trip I busted this sissy bar out this afternoon so I'd have some thing tie my pack to. It's a rush job but it came out alright. Leaving at 7 AM tomorrow!







Thursday, May 13, 2010

Just Because

About 2 weeks ago I got the idea to get Lori a gift, just because. She had mentioned to me a while ago that she wanted some wooden crochet hooks. So I joined a crochet forum and talked to a few old ladies, asking what I should get, since I knew nothing about crocheting. They gave me some ideas and I ended up contacting Bill at Turn-Of-The-Century. He worked with me and custom made 3 different hooks.

I used PayPal to pay him. Now, I know Lori manages our bank account like a hawk, so I had to be sneaky. Luckily Turn-Of-The-Century sounds like it could be old motorcycle or car parts. But when I PayPal'd him, I forgot that the PayPal is under Lori's name, so he emailed her asking what the order was! Luckily he didn't mention anything incriminating and my plan was still secret. I just told Lori it was for some motorcycle parts I "needed."

Yesterday they came in the mail. I found an old wine box and bought some yarn. She was surprised and happy! :)



Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Wyatt *BURP*

Like I said Lori's parents, from Arizona, visited over the weekend and we did a few togetherly activities. Lori has been on a Western movie kick and discovered that Wyatt Earp is buried in Colma, in a Jewish cemetery of all places (his wife was Jewish). We had to hunt him down.


Then her parents wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, so we gave them the $6 tour. We froze our butts off at Vista Point, so we didn't stay too long.


Then we went to Amoeba Records, and bought some records, then had some drinks.


I got some cool in-laws.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Clearance Bin Raid

Except the Op Ivy & Against Me

Oakland Cruise Night #8

Lori's parents visited all weekend. I suckered them in to joining us at the Oakland Cruise Night/ Art Murmur. It was the first time I'd made it to the Oakland Cruise, bunch of cool cars and cool people. The Art Murmur gallery hop was pretty sweet too.

Here's the Royal Jokers site with pics: http://royaljokers.blogspot.com/

More pics: http://vorhese.com/gallery/album385