(don't) Flip This Bike!

[Brant]

Good news Roady, good news.

[Oldewing]

Take your time Steve, it will come. Winnie sounds happy

[Fred Camper]

Roady wrote: (Re-reading David Hogue's "Proficient Motorcycling" to freshen myself up.)

Yet this is something I have yet to do again this year. I see it as a once a year responsibility. Those of us that put on less than 10K miles per year really benefit and once every other year for the over 10K miles per year riders.

[Roady]

I haven't read it in years, yet, it is the biker's bible.

Now, as I chastised in another thread, "Pics or it didn't happen." I've been really remiss with this build and have done a seriously bad job of sharing with y'all.

Time for that to end.

Here's a shot of the left side with covers off. She wasn't this clean even when I finished the first time through. Now, bear in mind, the engine's never-ever been out of the frame and she is a 31 year old girl. Yes, there are blemishes and a few scars but those are badges of her miles, now at 49k and change.

[attachment=4]leftside.jpg[/attachment]
The covers after a soap and water bath

[attachment=5]coversbefore.jpg[/attachment]
And here they are after rubbing compound and the first coat of wax. Picked up some Carnuba Paste this evening so they'll get a bit better.

[attachment=6]coversafter.jpg[/attachment]
But, you ask, where's all the bling? It's in the pretty wife's studio, slowly getting touched up.

[attachment=8]bling.jpg[/attachment]
My attempt with model paint ... quite the fail IMHO.

[attachment=7]blingfail.jpg[/attachment]
And for safety's sake ... there is now a tiny switch down by the kickstand. The bracket is attached to the left rider's footpeg.

Kickstand up:

[attachment=2]kickup.jpg[/attachment]
Light is off:

[attachment=1]lightoff.jpg[/attachment]
The light is mounted on the left handlebar mount. A simple, flat piece of aluminum is fitted to the top bolt.

Kickstand down (=DANGER!):

[attachment=3]kickdown.jpg[/attachment]
Light is on:

[attachment=0]lighton.jpg[/attachment]

[sunnbobb]

Bravo my friend!!!

[Whiskerfish]

Most Excellent!!!

[KYpondman]

Great safety device!
Claude

[polkadot]

Thirty something is a great age. Took a last minute vacation to Paris and thinking about you even here. Killing time before Moulon rouge!

[Fred Camper]

I truly think all of us need a side stand light. Roady, you had to pay a bigger price, but for the rest of us it was an inexpensive mod.

[Roady]

You're right, Jeff. For the time and money there's really no better investment in these bikes.

[ritalz]

Did you get your seat back yet?

[Roady]

Not yet, he said it would be near the end of the month. First motorcycle seat he's ever done but he's made halters, reins and such for us and does excellent work. I didn't want to rush him.

I did do a bunch more cleaning today. I think she lost weight with all that dust coming off. Being in that shop things get awful dusty. We store hay in there and the East and West doors are usually open. I found a big piece of drapery liner that serving as a cover but I need to shop around for a real one. Either that or I need to build a hermetic machine shop, hey, yeah, that's what I need!

[ritalz]

I picked up a decent cheap cover at Big Lots for I think $10. I can check the store about 3 blocks from me to see if they still have them.

[Roady]

Big Lots!?

That place never would have occurred to me. Yes, please. Check it out for me, you know there's not one of those anywhere near me. All we have is Rural King, Buckheits, etc.

[ritalz]

The still have them so I picked one up for you. I'm working 2 -10 for right now or maybe tomorrow we could meet somewhere.