Round and round

So, here we go again. I think. Time will tell this weekend, but it seems for every 2 or 3 positive steps we get a negative 1. And so this progress of getting 1 step ahead at a time is taking forever, and taking it's toll. And I hate paying tolls.

Last night all eager and chest thumping as I stroll down to the garage... got some kicking tunes playing and taking a last swig of the Mich Ultra (I know I know, yuck), I roll out the floor jack once again and get the place prepared for the nights surgery. Got the front wheel removed and the fork tubes removed and the old clip-ons removed... lots of removals going on. And while I had everything removed I figured it would be a good thing to go ahead and paint the top and bottom triple clamp a nice shade of rattle-can semi black, like the rest of the build.

Because it there's two things I've learned, it's that one, things look better with a fresh coat of satin black, and two, while the paint is drying it gives me an opportunity to go get another beverage from the house. So it's a win win really.

After the paint has dried (no, not really- I don't have the patience for that crap), I start to reinstall the forks tubes and the new clip-ons and the front wheel. Yes! Back to the same place I was 2 weeks ago! Progress! Anyway, new parts usually equals the right parts so I suppose it is indeed progress, so I'll take it.

I'm having some disagreements with the front end and alignment issues now. It's creeped in once before and not something I noticed when the bike was 'old', so I'm still not sure if something went back together differently than came apart and that's the culprit, or something more serious or terminal. I would absolutely love to do a Yamaha R6 front end conversion on this thing and that would definitely fix the problem, but I can't even remotely look at the price tag for that kind of talk right now. It's a little bit like buying an Audi S4 because the Mercury Cougar is too large to wash effectively. And I've never heard of someone doing that sort of silliness before...

I've gotten some advice on a few things to try to straighten the alignment and maybe they will work, maybe not. It's always something I can tackle later, so I'm likely just going to press onward with things. I'm getting anxious to ride again and so even if it's not perfect it can be mostly so.

And sometimes, if it's close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades, it's close enough for me.

For now.

On with the show already

I'm thinking this week is gonna be a good one to get back on track. Word has it that a vital piece is sitting in the Chandler Post Office down the street, and once that's here I can get some things dialed in and sorted.

It's funny how it's nerve-racking taking things apart for the first time, wanting to make sure I mark it all and remember it all and think it through... and all. But having done it once, or twice, already, it's not concerning me to take it apart and then put it all back on. Funny how that 'experience' thing works like that.

So, pulling off the front wheel once again, then removing the fork tubes enough to take off the old clip-ons and mount the new clip-ons. Then reinsert the fork tubes and figure out a good ride height, which is sorta sorted already. Originally, I was going to mount the clip-ons on top of the top triple tree; both to hide the lower fork tubes which will be poking up somewhat now, but also 'cause I'm a little bit old and super low bars are not that much fun unless you're going 170 mph, and this bike will definitely not go that fast. However, this bike is not only very narrow but it's not very long either, and I'm finding that even with a lower bar height they're still just 'right there'. So, I can get a better look and live with the lower bars. Win win.

Anyway, back to the taking things apart part. I'm finding it an easy trap to fall into, just tooling around and not really making any progress. Yes, some of this is due to financial issues that keep some needed parts away, but it's more of a stalling issue, I think. Or a non-deciding thing. I've been mulling over tank painting ideas, and when I think I've got that idea solid and planned out, I put it off until I get the mechanical things done, or the wiring done (since I know I'm gonna have to remove the tank for that step anyway.) So basically, because one thing affects the other thing, and this part will only be able to be temporarily installed until and later date... nothing is really getting done.

And that is starting to bug me. And this bike will never get finished with that attitude, mister.

So enough of that. We're gonna press on and get 'er done. Since I'm getting familiar with certain things on this bike, I can feel confident in adjusting or removing or refitting things in the future, should they be needed (and probably will be).

The point is to get it back together and ride.

That, and my short attention spans sorta needs a kick in the pants.

As Diamond Dave once said, "That's the thing about self-improvement.

Don't get me wrong, I plan to get some soon."

Idol

So, it's Monday again. And yes, I'm expecting some deliveries today that I had hoped would arrive a few days ago; beginning to be a broken record, that tune. Anyway, not a lot of progress this past weekend, though maybe some enlightenment.

Some personal, and some mechanical. I guess if you (or I, in this case) spend enough time in the sun, some things become clearer. Perhaps a bit like Moses wondering around in the desert all those years past, I sometimes find some clarity or some interesting conversations while wondering around my own desert here in AZ. And there's lots of desert around here to wonder around in.

And yes, I sometimes talk out loud to myself while wondering around said desert. Luckily no one seems to bear witness to such things.

Anyway, mechanical enlightenment in the form of solutions and plans to solve the remaining issues. It's beginning to look like the "what's gonna be on the tank?" is the final remaining puzzle piece yet discovered, so I'm still unsure what to do with that thing. Likely will be whatever might be easiest/fastest/look the bestest kind of solution, but given that it can actually be the final thing to take care of - literally - I'm probably gonna move on and take care of some other things and deal with it at some point later.

Probably last.

I did mention my ability to put things off, right?

The weekend wasn't without it's share of progress though, as I rolled her out of the garage and into the sunlight for a couple hours while I cleaned up the space a bit, threw some parts away, piled up the parts I'm selling, and generally made it a little bit more organized in there. Once the new clip-ons arrive, I can do and re-do the front end once more. I think I've figured out where best to mount them, so it's back to removing the front wheel, then the fork tubes, then the existing clip-ons I currently have, then lower the forks, remount the front wheel and the brake caliper and the gaiters, etc.

I also mentioned the part where I do things twice, too, yes?

As for the personal enlightenment, yes, it's probably not hard to read between some of these lines every so often and see that there's another side to all this. This build, this bike, where I happen to be in my own universe these days and the things that cruise around inside my head and the thoughts that seep into my sleep at night- all these things seem to be intertwined within me right now. And I don't think it's by accident. I believe that God places things and ideas in our head and in our path at times when we need them. And sometimes when we need them most.

This bike is just a motorcycle. It's metal and rubber and some other things I couldn't possible detail. This build is hardly the first time anyone's done this to this bike, and I'm no pioneer with mechanical guinness or design ability. But the timing of the build along with the culmination of these events, coupled with my own issues and shortcomings and hard-comings and everything else that has happened that I feel badly about and would take back, or the things I wish for the future or for myself or my children and all that esoteric wishingness that I do - I couldn't possibly think that it all doesn't have Someone's hand at work, and at play.

That's just His style.

So I'm enjoying the build, and loving the effort and the hours and the busted knuckles. And I'm also enjoying the wondering around the desert. The time inside my head, and the clarity that comes from being out there.

Just like Billy said (sorta)...

Well there's nothing to lose, and there's nothing to prove.

So I'll be talking with myself.

simple

Sometimes life is about chances. Sometimes it's about a choice. Sometimes things fall into your lap and sometimes you have to work for them a bit more. Sometimes a lot more.

This bike, for me, was taking a chance. It was also a distraction, but I'll leave that for now. It was a gamble. Can I afford it? Can I do this and make it work again? Will it be safe? Can I really figure out what I'm doing here? Funny how when it's not Photoshop with it's unlimited 'un-dos" it suddenly gets a little more serious.

So, I jumped. I went for it. I researched the bike I wanted, sought one out I could quote "afford" un-quote. And yes, that can be interpreted as impetuous and irresponsible and some of that may be true. But it's also a true statement about me. Let's be frank for a second here (which is also one of my favorite lines from "M.A.S.H."), I sometimes do things quickly without thinking them through. And sometimes I think that fact may make it seem like the things I am doing didn't really get their due attention or thinkingthroughness (gawd I love making up words). And that also be true. (are we able to keep up here? )

Ultimately, my point is this...

sometimes it's the leap off the cliff that's the most enlightening of them all.

Sometimes that leap of faith or hope or want or need or desire for something better, that's the leap we must go for. Fight for what is important to you. Desire the things that make life bright and put that smile on your face. If there's nothing I've learned in the past year, it's this: there are few things better than smiling.

Sometimes that sunset or that beer or being in that moment or a look or a feeling or a chill on your skin, sometimes that's the leap we must take. Sometimes the answer isn't really a solution to a problem or a situation or a fix. Sometimes the answer is just the answer.

Sometimes it is just about the sunset.

Sometimes it is simple.

And sometimes, simple is the only way to be.

So now what do I do

Been a few days since my last update. Had a birthday. I'm old. I forget.

The thing is, I'm driving to work this morning and I pass the garage door on my way out and start thinking "OK, what's next and what's on tap for this weekend and work progress can I make". All that pre-planning that's still not really 'planning' in the truest sense of the term. That's for normal people to do. Still, I try to have a somewhat plan of attack for this lunacy.

Trouble is, I can't really get one together. I'm getting to where there are still lots of small things to do and take care of, but the larger ones are sitting idle (no pun intended- oh wait, I think I did intend that one). And with the bike sorta looking like it is a motorcycle again and has two wheels and attitude, it feels like I just want to climb on and go to Payson for lunch.

And I do.

So now I'm fighting against several demons. The temptation to finish and ride this thing is getting harder to resist, but the Dark Prince of Paper, that evil demon of the checkbook refuses to stand aside and let me pass. So, there's some big items on the list now with equally big dollar signs next to them. And considering I've probably already invested more so far than the bike itself cost, it's probably better that I rethink a couple things and look for some alternatives routes to getting there.

Not unlike what a person does while actually on a running motorcycle out on a country road somewhere with nowhere to be.

See? I did it again.

One thing that's cool about having jumped into the deep end with some of these things that I had no clue about what I was doing- I figured out that while there are serious things to have right and work properly, there's a simplicity to it for the most part. This part does that, pushes/pulls/clamps/etc onto this other part which in turn does this or that. It's not a car with A/C or a stereo or a phone charger and a heated seat. It goes and it stops, and everything is there for that purpose and nothing that isn't.

Except for that pesky wiring harness. That had some redundancy issues.

Probably like my writing style does...

So maybe that's the plan. And maybe I'll borrow a couple sheets from one of those big easel things we probably have around the office, and actually write them down on the garage wall. Maybe that's what this next step needs; map out the steps a bit more. Specifics. Put one foot in front of the other.

And yes, I'm gonna be humming that tune for the rest of the day now.

You're welcome.

The car came back three weeks later.

So I'm still digging this 'Christine' '58 Plymouth Fury paint scheme idea today. Which sometimes doesn't happen. Usually, as a creative guy who spends his career and working hours trying to be, er, creative, I sometimes recognize that the latest idea can sometimes be the greatest idea. Then after awhile, it can become not so great or not so special. I guess that's when the training and education and the 'creative process' takes over and helps gets you beyond the initial concepts. Or something like that. Who knows...

Anyway, enough hyperbole for now. This is is about Christine...

For any of you who have not seen this movie, you may now pause the interweb machine and go do so. I will wait.

Anyway, I'm a movie going and movie watching type and remember this one fondly. A pretty girl and car with a bad attitude; what's not to like... So I started thinking of some of the similarities between this bike build and perhaps myself, and the movie. And yes, some are a little bit of a stretch.

It was the main character's Arnie's first car, spending all his free time working on it and fixing it up. 

Arnie was a bit of a nerd in high school without many friends.

He bought it from a guy missing front teeth. Truth. 

And the car like’s 50’s music.

Thankfully there are also many things not so similar. Like, the bike hasn’t caught fire; yet.

Bike won’t rebuild itself; that I've noticed anyway.

Bike hasn’t helped me pick up chicks; yet.

And yes, I'll leave out the whole possessed or demonic or revenge-esque angle, since motorcycling is a little bit superstitious as it is.

Anyway, at the end of it all, it is just a paint job on just a motorcycle tank and just a thing to fuss over or write about on some silly journal, so I put little importance on the whole thing. It's a good book and a good movie and has a bit of nostalgia in there, too. And these days I'm a little bit about that part, too.

Plus, we'll have to see if this idea doesn't outlast the next one that comes along. 'Cause that's part of the process, too.

A couple of Kings

A lot of people, especially these days, talk about Photoshop. A lot. And not in so many flattering ways. Too much retouching, too much manipulation. Things like "I am not that bald" ringing in my ears...

Whoops.

Anyway, perhaps that's true about the Photoshop thing. However, it's not the tool but the tool-er, or the direct-or (see what I did there?) that's making those decisions, and frankly I'm not gonna comment more than that here. A hammer is just a hammer; in one set of hands it can build a house. In another, it can tear one down. The publisher can be the tool, too, it would seem.

I am, however, a highly trained professional type person with regards to Photoshop (not really) or can at least fake my way through this project or that project. So given this fact and the other fact that I have a hard time sitting still or leaving my mind to relax for anything other than a few minutes at a time, I did throw a recent pic (technical speak for 'picture' or 'image') into the Photoshop machine and threw a couple tank painting ideas at it.

And hit the go button.

My grandfather (my mom's dad) passed away when I was too young. I was about 14, I think. I remember him telling me stories of being a prison guard and my grandmother yelling at him to stop telling a young boy such things. About how he met Billy The Kid. And wrestled bears for fun. (I made that last one up. Though maybe...). So he was a cool Grandpa and I still miss him.

I also remember being driven around in his Plymouth Fury. Probably late 50's or early 60's, though I'm not too sure since this was before I would look for such things and was probably starting to like girls at this point and was easily distracted.

Apparently, I am still easily distracted.

So one idea was to add a Fury emblem off eBay and go for a retro teal'ish paint scheme. And I dig it.

Then, of course, it got me thinking of another Fury in my life. One of the best Stephen King movies ever and one I remember watching it fondly many times, probably with the gang in Garden Grove. That red 1958 Fury will always be one of the coolest movie cars...

So a couple options. And since I'm probably not getting back to work on it for a few days, it will give me time to process my thoughts further.

And if this build is anything like the actual Christine, she will be all fixed up again by the time I get back.

All by herself.

Assisting the elderly

No, not me. Though some would say I'm getting more elderly than ever before, and with another birthday around the corner it seems truer than ever. Funny how it seems like it was just a year ago that I had my last one, too...

So no, not elderly for me just yet. However, it did feel somewhat like I was visiting one last night. Headed to the garage per usual, to see the sick and needy. Or in this case, a bit like visiting the laboratory where the Six Million Dollar Man was created. And if you don't know that show, you definitely are not elderly.

Or cool.

Anyway, I decided to tackle mounting the front wheel. Permanently like. (Though yes, that's not likely to be the last time, I know). And once I figured out that removing the brake caliper altogether makes it a lot easier to mount the wheel (yeah... maybe I am getting slower in my waning years...) it became a pretty easy chore. And hey- no one got hurt or maimed either... Victory!

And with every victory comes a celebration. And since this patient has been cooped up in the old-folks home for far too long, and she now has her legs reattached. (and nice legs, they are. Sorry, couldn't resist), she and I went for a stroll.

Well, I went for a stroll. And pushed. She's not up for actually putting forth any effort on anything just yet, but was happy enough to be outside just the same.

So, breeze in my hair and bugs in my teeth it wasn't, but nice it was. And the cool part was that nothing major fell off. Minor, yes... strips of electrical tape and and occasional errant cable became loose from it's 'I'll just stick it over here for now out of the way place', but otherwise she was a solid rolling 500 pound mass of metal.

After a few pics and some staring I rolled her back inside and got her tucked in once more. Not likely getting any more work done tonight and will be heading to Chicago tomorrow for a quick weekend with my daughter. Though Sunday I will be back and probably feel the calling to go read her a good story and sneak in some beer.

She is my girl, after all.

Look where you're going

I've seen those chopper build shows from a few years ago. Probably faithfully watched most episodes of Orange County Choppers; at least in the beginning before it got ridiculously stupid. Some shows were better than others for sure, more technical, more creative, more better...

But the one thing that each of them had- that moment they all shared, was when the rider would climb on board the latest creation in the making, and hold his (or her) arms out in position and feet up in position and hold their head up... and look out at the horizon in front of them. See it. In front of the bike. The road ahead.

Even in the most ridiculous of motorcycle builder shows, looking closely, you can see each of these people, for just that moment - they forgot the cameras and the jokes and the lines and the producer... and saw the road ahead.

So I had my own little moment last night. I'd done my usual head home after work, gathered the mail and changed into the 'don't care if these get greasy' clothes routine before walking over to the garage and sip my Guinness while I watch the door climb slowly up. I did have some decisions to make, and I think I've arrived at a solution for a couple new things that have cropped up and been discovered. But in the middle of those, with fresh clip-on handlebars 'sorta' installed and the front wheel 'sorta' installed and the brake and clutch levers 'sorta' not dragging on the ground... I just wanted to climb on.

First thing that struck me was how narrow the bike is. Second thing was how loose I'd left the front wheel... but that's another story. Anyway, climbed on, leaned forward, imagined where the feet will go, grabbed ahold of the bars -

- and looked out.

Saw the road. The curves. The highway. The route.

And I must have gotten lost in that view for a few seconds too many, after getting pulled out of my thoughts and back to reality of garage space and a friendly neighbor chuckling to herself and throwing a compliment of the bike coming along my direction.

I hope I wasn't making any engine noises...

A one, and a two, and a five, and a six

Motorcycling is about balance. Results in balance. Made possible by balance. And I guess building one takes that, too.

So, fitting the front wheel. That's actually a rear wheel. Since this bike comes standard with a 16" rear and a 19" front, the look is decidedly cruiser like. So someone who shares similar taste buds to my own (and also happens to be an engineer-type smarty pants) figures out how to take the wider and smaller diameter rear wheel (with a drum brake) and adopt it to the front (with a disc brake). Made it all into a kit and used to sell 'em. Probably like hotcakes, too.

Anyway I stumbled onto someone on that trusty (mostly) eBay who not only bought the used '83 rear wheel but also bought this kit to make it go, and put it all together for me. All I have to do is give him money for it and it's mine.

Funny how that last part is always there.

Anyway, it wasn't part of the plan and agenda and budget and it's created a bit of a crowded queue behind the checkbook for some much needed parts that will just have to wait a while longer (everyone in this line- please be patient, take a number and I will get to you as soon as I can). Still...

matching the two wheel sizes looks really cool...

So here's the balance part.

(I know, I get sidetracked. You should talk to me in person- it's probably worse.)

So, although the wheel is smaller or maybe because the wheel is smaller, the brake disc and caliper are a tight fit. I mean a tight fit. This resulted in requiring the wheel to get into position from directly underneath the forks, which resulted in jacking up the front of the bike to these absurd angles of trepidation. Well I suppose it would have looked really funny until it fell over on top of me, with nothing but a rubber mallet and a grin to protect myself from the forces of stupidity.

So wrestling the wheel into position, noticing the brake pads are pretty worn and making a mental note to replace those right away (which is now causing me to not worry so much about getting the wheel perfectly aligned since I'm gonna now be removing it again in a few days), then of course because the new tire is wider than the previous one that takes some finagling and swear words to get that to work right, while the forks themselves want to twist under the forces and the rest of the bike is sort of just laughing at me a bit... must have hysterical to watch.

But at least I'm keeping the same hue of my true colors and doing things a little backwards, or a little bit incorrectly or awkwardly yet still somehow managing to not get too badly injured or dead. (Ask me sometime about grinding the tabs of the frame with showers of sparks falling atop the full gas tank...) After all being true to yourself is a good thing, even if that self is a little bit self-deprecating and a little prone to disaster from time to time. The self always means well.

This evening was in fact though, what I was hoping to see and was hoping to like. The bike is coming along, this step makes for a much clearer picture of the final product and it feels like progress is being made. If only long enough to take a couple pictures and not look too closely at all that remains yet to do.

I'm eager to ride more than ever now. And that, my friends, was also the feeling I was after.

What a difference a line makes

I wasn't able to mount the new front wheel and tire combo yet, nor the forks tubes or the clip-ons and other bits I wanted to this weekend, but it was still a productive time again. Sort of. I guess there's maybe never enough time to get to all the things I wanted to; certainly not enough money to do that, either. But I did manage to continue to disassemble, deconstruct and otherwise throw out things no longer needed.

Always a fun part.

(though there is getting fewer and fewer things that fall into that category, so this fun part is very soon fall into the 'careful now you're gonna need that later' category).

Anyway, there's one thing I've been seeing in my head the last couple weeks that I did get to try out in a practical real-world i.e.: it's really happening and not just in my head sort of thing (always good to differentiate what's real and not...).  The stock 1983 Yamaha Virago gas tank. It's not what you'd call a fine example of modern engineering or motorcycling greatness. Still, very Harley for 1980's and was probably also very appropriate for the cruiser mentality this bike was originally created to be.

But it has curves. And generally I really like curves. A lot.

OK. Now, moving on...

Anyway, here's the tank, in it's pre-" I'm sort of still working on the primer stage" glory:

It's fine. It's a tank. But it bugs me. Wrong look. Too curvy, too loose. And there are many aftermarket tanks I can throw on this build that will fix this right up. But the budget doesn't have room for that and the conscious won't allow not buying groceries for my son. Go figure.

So, onto the fix. I wanted to confirm the voices in my head (enough on that part) and check out how it looks. So grab some electrical tape for a quick experiment. By just adding a simple black line across the bottom of the tank I can straighten out the curves:

Levels it out. Makes a little more sense now. Follows that line of the subframe/seat and carries it through to the front of the bike. And regardless what I do to the tank design or color I choose or stripes or no stripes, I think I'm gonna do this little black lines across the bottom. The curve is still there obviously, but by using color to mask things you want people to notice and using other colors to hide or downplay things you want to hide... I can improve the visual cues to make the whole bike look more balanced and more together.

Which is more than I can say for the voices in my head. They're always up to no good.

Loverboy

Weekends. The next one is all but here, and as I find myself thinking a bit this morning (while I have my coffee and stare at the workload like it's gonna jump off the desk and start walking on it's own any second now) about some bike things I want to accomplish this weekend, it is a little bit of a mixed bag.

It's not looking like some (or any) of the parts I was hoping would arrive by this weekend are indeed going to make it in time. I'm sure it'll be bright and early Monday arrival once more, though that has little comfort in it. Plus, I'm in Chicago to see my girl next weekend so nothing will get done on the bike then. So, needless to say, this one was gonna be a big one.

Still, it will be good and productive and working on the bike during daylight hours does have it's perks, especially when you're old and your eyesight is not what it once was and things of that sort. The giant leap forward I was seeing for this weekend won't happen in it's fullest sense, but it will still be good. There's always lots to do, and once the bike does start looking 70% complete, then 80% complete... I will want these little things to already be accomplished by then.

Anyway, today was also payday. Every two weeks it's a battle between the forces of good and evil, of bills and toys, of wants and needs. If you know me, you may guess which of these two I generally lean towards, even if just slightly. After all, we do have responsibilities in life. But life is always a little more fun when there's some shenanigans going on.

So, we give a little to the man or the grocery store and the electric company, and then throw a few bucks at a small bit needed for this or that... and in the meantime, fret over decisions, colors, tire treads, bolt threads, jacket threads. Blog threads even. And then we wait for said item to arrive and get bolted on or painted or otherwise tweaked to my own specifications. Which lately involves utilizing this part that was actually created to be part X and making it work as part Z.

Part of the fun, actually.

But I am looking forward to tonight and tomorrow and Sunday. No plans to speak of, and sometimes a weekend just needs an openness to it. Friday night is usually a mental 'planning' evening, followed by a beer somewhere or a movie. Saturday early morning hike and coffee and/or breakfast out is fun, then it's get busy time. Probably go see the boy at his restaurant job at some point, so I can spend 3 times what I would otherwise spend on a sandwich and a beer. Sunday is a visit to church to give thanks to the real God before I dive into another epic battle with the mechanical god and a 14mm socket wrench. And a decent swear word thrown in here or there for good measure.

I guess in the end, it is about the build and the journey, so I have little to complain about. Actually quite the opposite, so there won't be any complaining this weekend. And as I said- it's payday.

And we are working for the weekend.

Nip and Tuck

Since I'm in a bit of a holding pattern until a couple of vital parts arrive for this weekend's Big Transformation Occurrence... - yes, it's BTO - I wasn't gonna do much in the garage last night. Was on the phone a bit, was sorta not feeling it, not in a great mood to go see the girl and find out what she needs... Was just gonna stay away for the night. But, that rarely actually works and so I found myself keying in the garage code and beginning again.

And side note- since yesterday was The Force Awakens DVD launch day, my garage code was even more fitting than usual.

What you did there, I see.

Ended up being a fun night. Got stopped by a couple guys in my complex wanting to talk up the bike and ask questions. One of them is about to do the same sort of project fix up and seems to be in a similar boat to mine in that he's not a mechanic either.

Why can't I befriend a mechanic?? Is that too much to ask??

Anyway, was fun talking it up and showing it off a bit. Not much to show off except work in progress and pieces on the ground and 'this is what this will be' sort of things. Still, good times. Beer was shared, bond for life, that sort of thing.

So, since I was in there and it wasn't 3 in the morning (yet) and I did have a nice new Sevendust playlist on Spotify, I was good to go. Good to do something. So, why not start one of those critical 'take your time and do it right' projects instead of something easier or less important? Nothing has ever gone wrong with that mentality before.

The stock tank had Yamaha emblems. And, since this was built in 1983 and not 2016 where they've actually invented this space-aged polymer of gooey stuff known as 'glue', the emblems are actually screwed into the tank using an elaborate set of pulleys and cams and gears. Well, not really, but it was a lot of metal and stuff all just to stick a couple logos on the side. Perhaps they wanted to really follow the Harley rules of over-engineering technology from the 1800's as much as possible.

Anyway, like many things on this build, they gotta go. So body filler applied. Step one anyway. Maybe tonight more sanding and step 2...  Maybe not.

Depends on the mood. Or perhaps as I'm discovering more and more, moods can be changed.

Left turn at signpost ahead

As expected, it was an interesting weekend. First off, getting the seat and standing back and looking at everything, it is coming together nicely and beginning to see how the final act will be. And will be drama filled, getting there, for sure.

But the topic of recent posts was not going away and needed a decision; a to-be or not-to-be kind of decision. Do nothing and look the other way... Or, take out all the wiring and do it again the modern, contemporary, and 'use what we we know now knowledge' vs. 'what they knew then knowledge'.

Which sounds strange given that I was in high school when this bike was originally built... so perhaps they, like me, thought they knew everything, too. When in fact, they didn't.

Possibly.

At any rate, it wouldn't be 'motorcycling' if there weren't a bunch of 'motorcyclists' who think they know more than the factory guys, so this is likely no exception. Screw them, I'm doing it my way. (though for me, I'm saying that very politely and softly, 'cause I'm less of a bad ass and it's likely I may need their help again, so I don't wanna anger the gods of mechanicalness more than I already have by doing this in the first place).

Which leads me to this mess I currently have; a crumbled wad of wires haphazardly labeled and thrown in the bin of iniquities with the rest of the cast-offs. And what to do, what to do, about it.

Since my son is wanting to learn to ride someday, and frankly I'm not likely interested in braking down roadside either, I thought the best course of action would indeed be... the best course.

Fix it right.

Which brings me some pleasure when I consider my next move. Since the course I've been on has been the course I designed from the beginning, of course. I now get to change course, of course, and forge a new one, for better or for worse. (and no, not that course. That's definitely a different blog. Sometimes you just have to go with the rhyme. Or semi rhyme...)

Anyway, enough mental gibberish and word smithing. Here's the new deal- I'm gonna first get the bike mechanically sound. And then, get it electrically sound.

That may not make complete sense, but here's what I learned. If I'm approaching the build in this manner (which ironically is what most bike builders do), then the things that previously would have have to remain connected or semi-functioning because I won't know how to put them back on - can now all come off. I can just reckless abandon the whole front end and toss it all in a box.

Yes, I'm gonna have to figure it out how to actually make it all light up and function again later. But that's the thing I'm really good at! Putting things off!

So putting self-deprecation aside for a moment, while this is going to create some challenges in the future to get it all running, it will be far more solid in doing it that way. So that's a positive for sure. But for the short term, it allows me to really make this bike look closer to how it will end up looking far more quickly. As in right now.

By putting aside the electrical challenges, it's allowing me to instead really dive into removing things I don't want, moving, painting, altering, changing things I do want, etc. Oh, and it did create a bit of a scramble to try and get some parts I will need for the front end to arrive by this weekend. There's that.

So, while I'm crossing my fingers those parts do indeed arrive in time (and you're welcome to join in and cross yours along with me), I'm getting busy once again looking at the big picture. Those images in my head months ago of how I was seeing how this build might look when it's done. Because now I have to- or get to- figure that out a lot sooner.

One step closer to looking like a motorcycle again. Just don't ask me to start her up any time soon.
For that, she's gonna want some special attention.

Spa day at the electricians, anyone?

Good things come in small Taiwanese packages

Never let it be said that there are not challenges with buying and receiving things from foreign lands. Getting from point A to point F via points B-E can be an interesting adventure. This one arrived in the US, then the AZ, and still seemed to take longer to actually find it and hold it still long enough to open the box than it took to come across the great Atlantic or Persian or Pacific oceans to get this far.

I think I need to look at a map to refresh my geography knowledge.

But it did make for an awesome night by the fireplace and some great reading material...

Oh. And the seat is pretty nice, too.

Well that escalated quickly.

Your prayers are welcome.