(don't) Flip This Bike!

[TM1(SS)]

Well done and you and your machine deserve the BOTM honor. I have read the first post edit at the begining of this thread and find it apropos. For years I have scoffed at the Goldwings, slow, plodding, beasts. And now I am infected. I get frustrated at how long things take but can't stop. Then I get to see how many hours you and others spend laboring over your passions and then the unvailing of all the effort. You encourage me and I'm sure others as well.

Again well done, she's beautiful.
Angus

[Wingingit2]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I liked the pipes in the pic. Would they work on a 1000? where did you get them?

[newinger]

What a beauty! Nice job and a great read. I learned a lot and thank you for sharing your project.

I noticed the lower bars and am looking for some for my 83. Might have missed it, but if you don't mind, would like to know what they're off of / where you got them and if you kept the stock cables, or what you replaced them with. Thanks!

[Roady]

I just got back from Greg's Meet & Greet and would like to report that the bike ran great. 5 tanks of dyno juice got burned up and the results were very nice (except for one odd one). All were fillups with the cheapest Regular.

MILES...GAL....MPG
173......3.8......45.5 -- (Hwy 50, 1/2 way)
170......3.9......43.6 -- (Hwy 50 & around Aurora)
180......4.1......43.9 -- (Aurora to Gahanna)
202......4.2......48.0 -- (Slab, I-70 West)
161......4.1......39.3 -- (!? Slab, same but B-P Regular ?! What was in that tank?)

That last one went to reserve after just 152 miles. The only other one that went to reserve was the next to last that did it at 191 miles. After that bizarre last tank I stopped near home to fill it and then drove 12 miles home. There was a definite change and power surge as the new fuel flushed out that B-P crap. Hmm, maybe it had some duck feathers from the Florida Gulf in it. I usually avoid B-P because of their obvious ethics problems and only succumbed this time because I was running on fumes.

While at Oldewing's place he was kind enough to flog the bike a bit to help me diagnose a bit of a stumble that's been bugging me since getting her back on the road. Lo-and-behold, he recommended that I go thru the basics [slap-own-forehead] and do a valve adjust, set the pilots at default, sync. (Yes Greg, I did suck on the tube and it clunks just like yours. BTW, I forgot to say bye-bye to Kathy, please give her a hug for me. )

Angus: Some mighty nice words there. I'll just say that I am more than happy that you have been infected by me.

Wingingit2: Those are Harley Sportster mufflers and they will fit with a bit of backyard engineering. I got them free from a buddy who swapped them before he even started his new bike. Do a search for "harley pipes" and you'll find enough info to keep you going for a week or so.

Newwinger: I got them from Crescent Moon but I'm not sure that shop is even open anymore. They are called "Sportster" bars but that's just referring to the style. I think the specs are somewhere in this thread. What I did was sit on the bike and reached out to the imaginary, perfect spot for my hands. Wrists straight, elbows slightly bent. Comfy. Then, Pretty Wife marked the position and measured it. Then I found some that matched those specs. To be ergonomically correct, the shape of the bars should fit you, not just look good. I wear a 37" sleeve, so these fit me.

[newinger]

Thanks Steve! I think Crescent Moon is still in operation, but he's closed up shop for 6 months while he relocates, IIRC.

[Wingingit2]

Thanks, I'll look around.

[sunnbobb]

Those LED rear lights really show up. Pretty nice, and I like how you tucked them in.

[Old Fogey]

Steve, you have no idea how much it gladdens my heart to see you in good health and riding, and Winnie looking like a Beauty Queen, after feeling your despair in your posts immediately after your spill.

Congratulations on BOTM, well deserved. Perhaps we should have a Biker of the Month too; I nominate you to be the first!

[postrucks]

Steve, congratsulations on the BOTM. Glad to see you back in the saddle. Winnie is lookin good!

[Hoosier Daddy]

CONGRATS ON BOTM!
Winnie is an ICON!
Not used to seeing her without cartoon pointy fingers all over the place.

[Pokegama]

Wow...what a story and what a bike! Congrats on BOTM

[Fred Camper]

I just got back from Greg's Meet & Greet and would like to report that the bike ran great.
MILES...GAL....MPG
173......3.8......45.5 -- (Hwy 50, 1/2 way)
170......3.9......43.6 -- (Hwy 50 & around Aurora)
180......4.1......43.9 -- (Aurora to Gahanna)
202......4.2......48.0 -- (Slab, I-70 West)
161......4.1......39.3 -- (!? Slab, same but B-P Regular ?! What was in that tank?)

Nice record of mpg from different terrain options. Looks pretty good from here.

[Roady]

Thank you kind sirs. As I've said before, this one is all because of you.

Pics from Greg's Meet & Greet have been posted in the run thread.

[CYBORG]

and great pictures they were. it was great to see you there, and back in the saddle. the constant smile on your face, told the whole story

[Roady]

While at Oldewing's place he was kind enough to flog the bike a bit to help me diagnose a bit of a stumble that's been bugging me since getting her back on the road. Lo-and-behold, he recommended that I go thru the basics [slap-own-forehead] and do a valve adjust, set the pilots at default, sync

(I've always wanted to quote myself. )

Since I haven't adjusted the valves since I wrote the tutorial (8/8/07?!), it seemed to be time. Pulled the covers and spun her to the mark. 3 good ones, intake on #1 a bit tight so fixed that. Spun it 360º and found #4 exhaust, #2 intake and #3 intake were tight, fixed 'em.

Then I spent an hour shining up the plastic and simichroming the sparklie bits.

Set the pilot screws to 1-1/2 turns out.

Rode the crap out of her for a few hours and found the quick that I've been lacking. No more bog below 3k RPM and it really opens up above 5k.

YeeeEEEEEHHaaaAAaaWW BUDDY!

Tons of thanks to you, Doug.