Steeven First Bike Build. I call it the Black Bike

[gregforesi]

It always amazes me how much steel bracketry was used on bags on older bikes. There is just so much weight there compared to modern sport tourers, and all that weight is hung over the rear wheel.
Good start on it. Strategically placed dryer sheets will keep critters out. Mothballs in old socks works too.

[ericheath]

We need to get back to basics. Snapped this pic a week ago in the Philippines on a steep, very steep, road. Real saddle bags with 120lbs of rice! You can't really see in the pictures, but most of the bikes have rebar welded, L-shaped supports to allow this or up to three passengers. They are like floorboards for Goldwing passengers but long enough for a Sasquatch foot.

image.jpeg (78.2 KiB) Viewed 280 times

I saw 125 cc bikes with homemade side car type attachments carrying 13 people to church the same day. Saw several times where the driver stood up with his family jewels above the triple trees so 2-3 could squeeze on behind him.

[Steevensi]

Finally got my new filter bolt, so I completed my oil change last night.
That was some dirty oil.
I poured some new oil in the engine, shake the bike a bit and let the new/dirty oil drip out.

I then pour the good quantity of oil and called it a day.

The good thing about the new filter bolt is that the head is a 17 mm instead of a 12 mm. It also seams to be made of tougher material, which I hope will prevent future bad surprises.

Cheers

[Rat]

17 mm is good but be careful not to over tighten it .....

Gord

[Steevensi]

Finally had some free time this morning so I decided to wrap the headers.
Not that complicated, just have to take your time.
I could probably have done a better job, but I'm quite happy about my first wrapping job.

I bought 2 rolls of 15' from DEI.
The new wrap doesn't required to be soaked in water to be flexible. You just need to pour a bit of water on it and then you work it a bit to loosen it.
I first wrap the short upper pipe. Then I I wrapped the lower pipe and overlap the small one and continu to wrap the whole thing.
I used stainless tie wraps.

The next step will be to seal the wrap with HT silicon coating from DEI. I selected the white silicone because...just because.

Cheers

[CYBORG]

looks good

[Steevensi]

I was given a few more hours to play with the bike today.

I decided to hit the polishing and see what I could do. I used the old method with some old clothes. I did not use an orbital polishing tool as the one I have is a 8" which is way to large.

I've started with the rear shocks. There was some pitting and rust bits here and there. I'm pretty surprise how good they look after a bit of elbow grease (I think that's the good english expression?).

I then attacked the inlets and then the cylinder covers and the carbs. It's not perfect, but it's better than it was. I wonder how I could go to the next stage and make them look better.

I also painted a few small parts to make them look new-ish.

Cheers

[Easter]

They do indeed look good. Nice work. The hard part of course is keeping them looking like that.

[CYBORG]

looks pretty good to me

[Steevensi]

Pretty excited!
Just ordered a headlight, headlight brackets, new handle and new grips!
I'm still hesitating on what flashers to get.

[82aspy]

[HOTT]

Looks good from my house.

Pretty excited!
...I'm still hesitating on what flashers to get.

there are a lot of them out there. Be bold my friend


HOTT

[Steevensi]

Finally, I went with these.
Pretty small...
You can't really see it when they are lighted up, but the lense is smoked.

[Steevensi]

I got the first draft of my remodeled seat.
I chatted with the gentlement who is doing it for me and I think we agreed on the final look.
There is still some cutting to do before he gives it his final shape.

You can maybe see it, but I'm having the plastic base cut to give the base of the seat a rounder look. I've marked up what I wanted.

I fells so good to lose the bump that separated the 2 "seats".

Cheers

[Steevensi]

I felt like doing something on my bike but I didn't felt like doing maintenance.
So I decided to paint something!

I sanded, primed painted and cleared the side stand. It looks a lot better now.
And I don't know who came up with the penny method to remove the spring, but I would like to shake his hand. It's so easy to remove it when you know about it!

Cheers