Always in motion, the future is.
No one knows better than Master Yoda about such things, except maybe me. And I've decided that, since that future and, honestly, this bike's future is somewhat an unknown, I'm just gonna carry on, not look at that crazy thousand pound gorilla elephant creature in the room, and just talk about building a bike. Life will always have challenges, a riposte and repartee, that's how it goes. It's part of the duel. So regardless of what's needed to be done, there's a bike to build.
And to talk about here. So there.
Despite being somewhat limited on what I can spend for the build this week, I think I need to go ahead and get some turn signals coming my way. Since the rear sets arrived, I think there's not going to be very many parts arriving with that same fanfare and adoration. Now, it's just things I need and when they get here, I'll bolt 'em on.
Still, that one side of the bike, with the pegs mounted, look soooo much more like a bike. Silly, but the things needed to still get fixed up or tightened down are getting fewer by my count. And more than that, it feels like working on a motorcycle now. Which is a strange sounding thing, I will concede. Maybe it's more like it's in a category of 'maintenance' or 'adjusting' a motorcycle vs. constructing one. Which again, I know I've not actually constructed one as much as I've changed to tweaked, so I can't take credit for inventing a wheel or a microwave oven here. I'm just looking at something, figuring out how to change or alter.
It's also one of the cool parts of owning stuff, or vehicles, for me. (No, I think I'm actually like this with everything I own.) It's the way I look at things. How something sits or lays or looks, to my eye. Maybe it's a 'design' thing, and maybe it sounds good to phrase it that way for the dinner parties and such. But I think it's just my wanting to clean up or tweak -just slightly- so it's more like how I would have done it.
Perhaps it's a little like when someone gets a new object, the first thing they want top do is take it apart. See what makes it tick. Or tock. I do that, too. Sometimes. With cars, I usually want to remove many of the emblems and badges because it distracts from the lines of a car. While living in Chicago, I used to refuse to mount a front license plate because it ruined the look of my various cars from the front. Yes, legally you had to have one, but I was never ticketed for it. The wife was once, but actually got out of it once she explained the husband lunacy and reasoning for it. (though was instructed to tell her husband to remedy it). I usually wont use a license plate frame; why advertise the dealership I bought it from further? And for free. A good buying experience got the word of mouth endorsement, which is miles better anyway.
Just to continue down this rabbit hole even further, warning labels go. Stickers go. Clean lines, remember. Simplicity. But to get back to the point I was going to make before being rudely interrupted by my own sidebar, all the other motorcycle I've owned in the past, while I've done simple things to achieve said simplicity of lines, they were mostly nice design choices already. Which is, I'm sure, why I was drawn to them in the first place. Heck, even the MV Agusta F4 - my pride and joy- needed some reflectors and stickers removed.
I've done the same thing to this bike, but went so much further. The point of all this? This bike is now so far beyond what it was when I bought it- so different - that I am, in a way, creating something from scratch or from thin air. Not really, of course, but that design approach of simplicity was at the forefront of this build from the very beginning. And continues to be.
So back to the turn signals. There are very small and nondescript ,while maintaining a subtle theme.
What a surprise there.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
And then the tide turns
The wanting to get this bike build completed and ride again has been growing for the past several weeks and months. I had admittedly become somewhat lackadaisical in my desire and/or abilities to finish the task. Sure, there have been more than one or two instances where money was a solid wall to get around to continue the journey, but sometimes just my own lackadaisical-ness has been the culprit. It happens. I'm not perfect.
Surprisingly, I know.
It's been nice seeing new parts arriving, the few remaining bits I've needed to get it running again. Soon it shall be so. I don't think I'm off track too far to not get it running soon. The rear sets should get finalized this weekend or maybe sooner. It may take some extra time considering how many things have to be removed (again) and reinstalled in this new order to function properly. But considering it's a holiday weekend coming up, I should get some progress made.
The troubling thing is, I woke up today to another one of those irreversible or unchangeable life things. Another one. Yep. They seem to keep rolling in like the tide; always on time and always relentless. This one really can't be ignored, as good as I can sometimes be at such things.
So it's looking likely that the Virago will be finding a new home, and such as that is, I will need to get her running soon. The investment is great enough that a semi-top dollar take would be most welcome, so I need to polish her up well and get her running right. Starting at first try, all lights and such working as they properly should, etc. Don't have to last now, but do have to work now.
Luckily, or mostly so, there's not a ton of parts still to buy. And except for the battery (which is a big except) most things are pretty cheaply bought. The speedo and tach gauges are fairly cheap from eBay, as are the rear turn signals. It looks like I'm gonna try and make the current headlight that I own work in this setup; not ideal, but sometimes ideal is something that can't be reached and we must do what we must do.
I'm also assuming the prior wiring harness will be reusable. It worked before so should once again. It isn't the way I wanted to finish things up, but I'll have to think on whether or not an additional $300 gets me that back or helps it sell faster or more better. More better is always a good thing, but more better isn't likely this time around. Not sure what the market is for 33 year old half-assed cafe conversions, but I'm guessing it won't be very great. I wouldn't pay what I've got in this thing so far, so unlikely another will.
But, like with most thing... we shall see.
Surprisingly, I know.
It's been nice seeing new parts arriving, the few remaining bits I've needed to get it running again. Soon it shall be so. I don't think I'm off track too far to not get it running soon. The rear sets should get finalized this weekend or maybe sooner. It may take some extra time considering how many things have to be removed (again) and reinstalled in this new order to function properly. But considering it's a holiday weekend coming up, I should get some progress made.
The troubling thing is, I woke up today to another one of those irreversible or unchangeable life things. Another one. Yep. They seem to keep rolling in like the tide; always on time and always relentless. This one really can't be ignored, as good as I can sometimes be at such things.
So it's looking likely that the Virago will be finding a new home, and such as that is, I will need to get her running soon. The investment is great enough that a semi-top dollar take would be most welcome, so I need to polish her up well and get her running right. Starting at first try, all lights and such working as they properly should, etc. Don't have to last now, but do have to work now.
Luckily, or mostly so, there's not a ton of parts still to buy. And except for the battery (which is a big except) most things are pretty cheaply bought. The speedo and tach gauges are fairly cheap from eBay, as are the rear turn signals. It looks like I'm gonna try and make the current headlight that I own work in this setup; not ideal, but sometimes ideal is something that can't be reached and we must do what we must do.
I'm also assuming the prior wiring harness will be reusable. It worked before so should once again. It isn't the way I wanted to finish things up, but I'll have to think on whether or not an additional $300 gets me that back or helps it sell faster or more better. More better is always a good thing, but more better isn't likely this time around. Not sure what the market is for 33 year old half-assed cafe conversions, but I'm guessing it won't be very great. I wouldn't pay what I've got in this thing so far, so unlikely another will.
But, like with most thing... we shall see.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Lipstick on a Gorilla
Fantastic day in the garage yesterday. Well, not technically fantastic since I did have some hiccups, as per usual, but the overall effect was stupendous.
And I for one do not use that word very often.
The rear sets arrived last week. Glorious. Italian. I would just put them on display on the coffee table or something. Installed in a matter of minutes, too. Which was awesome. The thing is, after finishing the left side and sitting on the bike and making a small adjustment, and tightening it all down in one fail swoop and declaration of 'it's finished'- I sat back and I noticed one thing.
This bike doesn't deserve these pegs.
Now, there are reasons why I wanted to splurge on these. The place I bought them from (www.fastfromthepast.com) is a great shop and they put everything I needed in a single kit with instructions (didn't read) and pictures (looked at) and all the necessary bolts and correct lengths, etc. So super easy and perfect to install. Literally took 5 minutes to complete.
Also, I needed the quality of the pegs to be there. I had bought a cheap set on eBay months ago, and after playing with them I realized I really do want this part to be quality. It is after all where the feet go, where the shifting and braking forces exist, where the drag on the ground (sometimes)... all things that I don't want to fail while riding.
So these are 100000% quality and beautiful crafted by hand by Italians virgins while stomping grapes in a large vat and smiling seductively through wisps of dark hair hanging in front of their faces. OK, likely not that part, but even a fat Italian dude name Gesepi can make these things and I'm alright with that.
So I stood back and my thought was this:
I've just installed 22" chrome forged wheels on a 1983 Buick.
But, after that. I also thought other things, of which I am a fan of:
Drinking a 1997 Silver Oak Cabernet while grilling out.
Playing a Taylor acoustic guitar on a plastic chair in the your backyard while the sun sets.
Or maybe parking a Jaguar F-Type on a hilltop with a pretty girl and just talking all night.
So, despite the fact that I've installed parts that were literally a third of the cost of the entire bike, the safety of the ride and the 'getting it right' parts of the build have been satisfied whole-heartedly, and in the end it's a great thing to not only check off a box, but also know and have pride in knowing, it was done right, no expense spared.
The hiccups came, when installing the right side pegs and realizing the exhaust isn't perfectly lining up, and upon moving into position once too many times, the sub-tubing came apart once again. So, before I decide I have to remove the rear tire once again and the rest of the pipes, again, I'm gonna try something else that perhaps will work. I have a plan, I tell ya!
I do have to remove the peg sub frame, which I knew I would, since I need to fashion a bracket or some way of rigging up the stock rear brake switch. You know, so when I apply the rear brakes, a light will come on, you know, telling people I'm slowing down.
Probably a good thing to have. Always good, in my book, for people to know what your intentions are.
And I for one do not use that word very often.
The rear sets arrived last week. Glorious. Italian. I would just put them on display on the coffee table or something. Installed in a matter of minutes, too. Which was awesome. The thing is, after finishing the left side and sitting on the bike and making a small adjustment, and tightening it all down in one fail swoop and declaration of 'it's finished'- I sat back and I noticed one thing.
This bike doesn't deserve these pegs.
Now, there are reasons why I wanted to splurge on these. The place I bought them from (www.fastfromthepast.com) is a great shop and they put everything I needed in a single kit with instructions (didn't read) and pictures (looked at) and all the necessary bolts and correct lengths, etc. So super easy and perfect to install. Literally took 5 minutes to complete.
Also, I needed the quality of the pegs to be there. I had bought a cheap set on eBay months ago, and after playing with them I realized I really do want this part to be quality. It is after all where the feet go, where the shifting and braking forces exist, where the drag on the ground (sometimes)... all things that I don't want to fail while riding.
So these are 100000% quality and beautiful crafted by hand by Italians virgins while stomping grapes in a large vat and smiling seductively through wisps of dark hair hanging in front of their faces. OK, likely not that part, but even a fat Italian dude name Gesepi can make these things and I'm alright with that.
So I stood back and my thought was this:
I've just installed 22" chrome forged wheels on a 1983 Buick.
But, after that. I also thought other things, of which I am a fan of:
Drinking a 1997 Silver Oak Cabernet while grilling out.
Playing a Taylor acoustic guitar on a plastic chair in the your backyard while the sun sets.
Or maybe parking a Jaguar F-Type on a hilltop with a pretty girl and just talking all night.
So, despite the fact that I've installed parts that were literally a third of the cost of the entire bike, the safety of the ride and the 'getting it right' parts of the build have been satisfied whole-heartedly, and in the end it's a great thing to not only check off a box, but also know and have pride in knowing, it was done right, no expense spared.
The hiccups came, when installing the right side pegs and realizing the exhaust isn't perfectly lining up, and upon moving into position once too many times, the sub-tubing came apart once again. So, before I decide I have to remove the rear tire once again and the rest of the pipes, again, I'm gonna try something else that perhaps will work. I have a plan, I tell ya!
I do have to remove the peg sub frame, which I knew I would, since I need to fashion a bracket or some way of rigging up the stock rear brake switch. You know, so when I apply the rear brakes, a light will come on, you know, telling people I'm slowing down.
Probably a good thing to have. Always good, in my book, for people to know what your intentions are.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Many fewer
I sat at the breakfast counter this morning. Yeah, the same counter that doubles as the lunch counter and the dinner counter, too. It's a very versatile counter. Anyway, I sat at the versatile counter with my iPad and looking, or rather counting the days remaining until the ride. The big day. The deadline. D-Day.
(no disrespect intended.)
And to my amazement!!... there are fewer days left than there were the last time I checked.
Weird, I know.
Trouble is now that it may come down to a money thing. There's roughly $500 or so out there needed... unless I can get lucky and the stock wiring will somehow function without major surgery, of which I am no doctor or surgeon. The stupid, ultra-cool and modern technology battery I need - since none of the old-school and normal and cheap batteries will FIT in the crazy thing - is half of that remaining piggy bank, which kills me. Plus, given the AZ heat, I can't let a battery like that go un-attended and un-charged, so I'll need to buy a trickle charger- and, you guessed it!, those are special and cost more, too!
Now this is a roll I don't prefer to be on.
The thing is, I've spent so much time and energy on this bike, and when I've not been in the garage for several days and haven't seen her in a while, I still get that smile and that wanna go ride tender feeling in my nether-regions (heh heh, heh heh), so I'll likely find a way. I've come so far, and although this ride schedule has thrown my ones and zeros a little upside down and is moving that elusive decimal point the wrong direction in the bank account, I'm still very close to getting her on the road again.
Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway.
(no disrespect intended.)
And to my amazement!!... there are fewer days left than there were the last time I checked.
Weird, I know.
Trouble is now that it may come down to a money thing. There's roughly $500 or so out there needed... unless I can get lucky and the stock wiring will somehow function without major surgery, of which I am no doctor or surgeon. The stupid, ultra-cool and modern technology battery I need - since none of the old-school and normal and cheap batteries will FIT in the crazy thing - is half of that remaining piggy bank, which kills me. Plus, given the AZ heat, I can't let a battery like that go un-attended and un-charged, so I'll need to buy a trickle charger- and, you guessed it!, those are special and cost more, too!
Now this is a roll I don't prefer to be on.
The thing is, I've spent so much time and energy on this bike, and when I've not been in the garage for several days and haven't seen her in a while, I still get that smile and that wanna go ride tender feeling in my nether-regions (heh heh, heh heh), so I'll likely find a way. I've come so far, and although this ride schedule has thrown my ones and zeros a little upside down and is moving that elusive decimal point the wrong direction in the bank account, I'm still very close to getting her on the road again.
Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Calls for 100
Well, I've (sorta) collected and accepted some mechanic assistance for the bike. Should I require it. There's a local shop in town that's got a guy and he's got a Facebook presence and we've connected a few times. Even texted on actual cell phones, too.
(is my desperation for making friends show much??)
Thing is, he sounds like a good guy and put out there today that he has a flat mechanic's hourly rate and knows my bike model well, so just in case I get it started and it runs, well, not well, I gotta place I can go. And yes, you read that right- I'm gonna get it started on my own. All on my own. I've gone this far, so that's something I feel strongly about. And I think it's doable.... just a few more parts and a few more weekends to go.
Thing is, I should probably start taking the remaining days till the ride more seriously, too. Or maybe not more seriously, but maybe should pad that number somewhat, Things are always bound to happen, and I don't want to be left with no days left with which to do some motorcycle magic.
And when I think about it running again, that part's pretty cool in my head. And in my hands and bones. There's always something really cool about sitting on a running, idling motorcycle. It's also pretty cool running it through the gears wide open, too.
(just didn't want to get too far ahead of myself here...)
I've decided, too, that I think I'm gonna have to hang onto the garage, at least for the time being. It's got some stuff in it that I just couldn't possibly fit in the apartment, and those things, along with a big toolbox and an actual motorcycle, and well, the garage space has become a necessity of sorts. And while I don't like the cost associated with it, the space associated with it is a good thing right now. And so, she shall remain.
So back to the bike. I've had on my 'wishlist' on eBay collected parts and bits for the bike that I would purchase when the time and/or the money showed up. And while I don't have the money yet, I do need to review that list once more and sort of prioritize the purchases. Both in order of need and the order of installations, so that I'm not waiting on a $20 part after I've bought the $200 part. Or something like that.
Ultimately there's not many more things. Turn signals have been agonized and researched and measured and selected... and they're not too much, coming from China likely, so I could throw down a twenty and get those ordered. As I said, I don't want to have the $200 battery hooked up but not be able to wire up the $20 turn signals...
Regardless, I see some progress getting progressed this weekend. I do have some apartment living arrangements to settle in with, paintings on the walls and dishes to put away, things like that. A hike probably, too, since it's been a couple weeks since I've been out in the great outdoors. But I should get some bike work down this weekend...
'Cause the forecast calls for 100. And that, for us here in AZ, is a special kind of summer day.
(is my desperation for making friends show much??)
Thing is, he sounds like a good guy and put out there today that he has a flat mechanic's hourly rate and knows my bike model well, so just in case I get it started and it runs, well, not well, I gotta place I can go. And yes, you read that right- I'm gonna get it started on my own. All on my own. I've gone this far, so that's something I feel strongly about. And I think it's doable.... just a few more parts and a few more weekends to go.
Thing is, I should probably start taking the remaining days till the ride more seriously, too. Or maybe not more seriously, but maybe should pad that number somewhat, Things are always bound to happen, and I don't want to be left with no days left with which to do some motorcycle magic.
And when I think about it running again, that part's pretty cool in my head. And in my hands and bones. There's always something really cool about sitting on a running, idling motorcycle. It's also pretty cool running it through the gears wide open, too.
(just didn't want to get too far ahead of myself here...)
I've decided, too, that I think I'm gonna have to hang onto the garage, at least for the time being. It's got some stuff in it that I just couldn't possibly fit in the apartment, and those things, along with a big toolbox and an actual motorcycle, and well, the garage space has become a necessity of sorts. And while I don't like the cost associated with it, the space associated with it is a good thing right now. And so, she shall remain.
So back to the bike. I've had on my 'wishlist' on eBay collected parts and bits for the bike that I would purchase when the time and/or the money showed up. And while I don't have the money yet, I do need to review that list once more and sort of prioritize the purchases. Both in order of need and the order of installations, so that I'm not waiting on a $20 part after I've bought the $200 part. Or something like that.
Ultimately there's not many more things. Turn signals have been agonized and researched and measured and selected... and they're not too much, coming from China likely, so I could throw down a twenty and get those ordered. As I said, I don't want to have the $200 battery hooked up but not be able to wire up the $20 turn signals...
Regardless, I see some progress getting progressed this weekend. I do have some apartment living arrangements to settle in with, paintings on the walls and dishes to put away, things like that. A hike probably, too, since it's been a couple weeks since I've been out in the great outdoors. But I should get some bike work down this weekend...
'Cause the forecast calls for 100. And that, for us here in AZ, is a special kind of summer day.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Then there were 32
[Trying to get back to the concept that this bike and this build are one of my saving graces from the rest of the space in my head. And I need saving grace from time to time. So, here goes...]
32 days remaining until the ride. 32. Trenta-due.
I was looking at my iPhone's calendar prior to typing the rest of this, just to check and see if there's anything on it that prevents success for this weekend coming up. Yes, it's Monday and I'm already looking for the next set of days off work. Not that that is really unusual, for sure.
The rear sets have shipped. Woohoo! That's a huge thing (or in Trump speak- UGE!). Those will exciting to mount up, and will encompasses other parts as well, so not a small task these, but big steps toward competition, and towards looking more complete, too. I'm gonna have to balance a few apartment necessities that will take up some time, since until I do those my living scenario is crowded at best, and annoying at worst.
Still, I've spent some thought time over the weekend wondering if I don't just keep a garage in the budget, since the new apartment really is small. I could unload some things that either are taking up a lot of space or will take up a lot of space inside, and instead store them in the garage. Then I'd have a place for the bike to live even when it is running, plus the toolbox is messes and dirty and will eat up half my bedroom closet to have it inside. So there's that.
Then my bicycle could go in there vs. along the wall or in front of the laundry room doors, then those keepsakes boxes, too... on and on. Starting to seem like a good idea, and I guess I'm still gonna be saving a couple Benjamins by renting a smaller place, so maybe maybe maybe...
I think I will be asking if there'a garage space closer to my pad, which last time there was a couple. Since I'm gonna have more of my stuff in there, may as well make it close by.
Anyway, enough of that. The point is, more space means more happy brain waves, and that's never a bad thing. On to the bike...
I'm gonna have to look at the clutch cable and determine the routing for that. Since the new bars are much lower than previous, the clutch cable is probably a foot or more too long. Fiddling around with it a month ago, I though I could route it through the engine cylinders and out the right side, then to the bars, which eats up some slack for sure and may work out OK. Right now the cable itself just feels a little bit slack and needs fine tuning. Could be because I have new levers now, too.
Will have to sort this soon, because the rear sets on the left side will be for shifting, and to dial that in I'll need clutch to be sorted. Other side is rear brake, and although I rode an Italian monster of a sports bike for years and never even touched the rear brake, this one I may as well make functional. Especially since it's a single disc up front, so probably more stopping power would be good.
Yes, the ability to stop is always a good thing.
Now, all I need is some really cool semi-raining weather and some good times and a six pack of Fat Tire and I'm set.
32 to go...
32 days remaining until the ride. 32. Trenta-due.
I was looking at my iPhone's calendar prior to typing the rest of this, just to check and see if there's anything on it that prevents success for this weekend coming up. Yes, it's Monday and I'm already looking for the next set of days off work. Not that that is really unusual, for sure.
The rear sets have shipped. Woohoo! That's a huge thing (or in Trump speak- UGE!). Those will exciting to mount up, and will encompasses other parts as well, so not a small task these, but big steps toward competition, and towards looking more complete, too. I'm gonna have to balance a few apartment necessities that will take up some time, since until I do those my living scenario is crowded at best, and annoying at worst.
Still, I've spent some thought time over the weekend wondering if I don't just keep a garage in the budget, since the new apartment really is small. I could unload some things that either are taking up a lot of space or will take up a lot of space inside, and instead store them in the garage. Then I'd have a place for the bike to live even when it is running, plus the toolbox is messes and dirty and will eat up half my bedroom closet to have it inside. So there's that.
Then my bicycle could go in there vs. along the wall or in front of the laundry room doors, then those keepsakes boxes, too... on and on. Starting to seem like a good idea, and I guess I'm still gonna be saving a couple Benjamins by renting a smaller place, so maybe maybe maybe...
I think I will be asking if there'a garage space closer to my pad, which last time there was a couple. Since I'm gonna have more of my stuff in there, may as well make it close by.
Anyway, enough of that. The point is, more space means more happy brain waves, and that's never a bad thing. On to the bike...
I'm gonna have to look at the clutch cable and determine the routing for that. Since the new bars are much lower than previous, the clutch cable is probably a foot or more too long. Fiddling around with it a month ago, I though I could route it through the engine cylinders and out the right side, then to the bars, which eats up some slack for sure and may work out OK. Right now the cable itself just feels a little bit slack and needs fine tuning. Could be because I have new levers now, too.
Will have to sort this soon, because the rear sets on the left side will be for shifting, and to dial that in I'll need clutch to be sorted. Other side is rear brake, and although I rode an Italian monster of a sports bike for years and never even touched the rear brake, this one I may as well make functional. Especially since it's a single disc up front, so probably more stopping power would be good.
Yes, the ability to stop is always a good thing.
Now, all I need is some really cool semi-raining weather and some good times and a six pack of Fat Tire and I'm set.
32 to go...
Thursday, August 18, 2016
I have you now.
I'm not sure I should be feeling optimistic or not. Probably not. I'm not sure it would be fair to say I'm on schedule, or on track, or on budget. Definitely not that last one, and probably not the others, either.
And with a move of my own coming up this weekend, it's doubtful I'll get to the bike build this weekend, but stranger things happen from time to time, so who really knows.
I am however, feeling good about the deadline and getting there. Pretty good, anyway. Funny how there have been moments in the timeline of this build that I've found excitement or comfort or this feeling of being at a stage or a new chapter or something. Like, getting the new subframe and seat installed, or the tires mounted, or the painting the forks. All these were kinda of big changes and steps toward completion that felt good, were good, and on and on.
And I had the same thought last night.
Here's some context. I've had the rear view mirrors in for some time. Still sitting in the box. I've not installed them because, in my weirdo way of looking at things, they are a finishing touch. A final add. And in a practical sense, can get damaged while I'm doing the heavier lifting stuff.
Same with the rear sets, though I've had to put off purchasing them because I couldn't... purchase them. But that ideal still remains- they would have been a little bit in the way had I mounted them already. And while they seem important, and they are, installing them feels more like a final touch.
I told you I was a weirdo.
Thing is, mechanically, the bike is all but completed. So I gotta install them when they arrive, since that's about all there is left to do mechanically. And once I install them, the bike is gonna look very finished. It's one of those small things that likely only a rider would see, since I doubt most passersby would look at the bike and ask how do you shift it? It has no shift lever... But I will very soon look at it and it will look very finished.
Still won't be, of course, because never has there a project that's actually 100% completed in all respects. That's just not how we do things here at Mitchell Moto.
The point is, when the pegs arrive I wanna get them installed. it's a big piece of the finished pie. And along with them, I want to install the rearview mirrors. I want to finish up the front brakes. I want to get the taillight mounted, and the turn signals mounted, and the headlight mounted. Finished. Tightened up. Buttoned up. All these loose ends and loose nuts and bolts; tightened down. Oiled up and lubed and road worthy.
Because once all that is done- one thing remains...
Vader. You must confront Vader.
Sorry, breaking off into Dagobah for a second there. Still, the fact that all that will be left to take care of, will be the electrical. All of it. The bike will look done and be done mechanically... so that's what's left.
....and it's very appropriate to refer to the electrical work as the Sith Lord. Since it's likely to have it's own set of dark side force powers to combat.
But I shall remember my failure in the cave. I will not give in to fear or hate. They lead to the dark side, and this bike has spent way too much time already, sitting still.
Sabers up, people.
And with a move of my own coming up this weekend, it's doubtful I'll get to the bike build this weekend, but stranger things happen from time to time, so who really knows.
I am however, feeling good about the deadline and getting there. Pretty good, anyway. Funny how there have been moments in the timeline of this build that I've found excitement or comfort or this feeling of being at a stage or a new chapter or something. Like, getting the new subframe and seat installed, or the tires mounted, or the painting the forks. All these were kinda of big changes and steps toward completion that felt good, were good, and on and on.
And I had the same thought last night.
Here's some context. I've had the rear view mirrors in for some time. Still sitting in the box. I've not installed them because, in my weirdo way of looking at things, they are a finishing touch. A final add. And in a practical sense, can get damaged while I'm doing the heavier lifting stuff.
Same with the rear sets, though I've had to put off purchasing them because I couldn't... purchase them. But that ideal still remains- they would have been a little bit in the way had I mounted them already. And while they seem important, and they are, installing them feels more like a final touch.
I told you I was a weirdo.
Thing is, mechanically, the bike is all but completed. So I gotta install them when they arrive, since that's about all there is left to do mechanically. And once I install them, the bike is gonna look very finished. It's one of those small things that likely only a rider would see, since I doubt most passersby would look at the bike and ask how do you shift it? It has no shift lever... But I will very soon look at it and it will look very finished.
Still won't be, of course, because never has there a project that's actually 100% completed in all respects. That's just not how we do things here at Mitchell Moto.
The point is, when the pegs arrive I wanna get them installed. it's a big piece of the finished pie. And along with them, I want to install the rearview mirrors. I want to finish up the front brakes. I want to get the taillight mounted, and the turn signals mounted, and the headlight mounted. Finished. Tightened up. Buttoned up. All these loose ends and loose nuts and bolts; tightened down. Oiled up and lubed and road worthy.
Because once all that is done- one thing remains...
Vader. You must confront Vader.
Sorry, breaking off into Dagobah for a second there. Still, the fact that all that will be left to take care of, will be the electrical. All of it. The bike will look done and be done mechanically... so that's what's left.
....and it's very appropriate to refer to the electrical work as the Sith Lord. Since it's likely to have it's own set of dark side force powers to combat.
But I shall remember my failure in the cave. I will not give in to fear or hate. They lead to the dark side, and this bike has spent way too much time already, sitting still.
Sabers up, people.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Close eyes and jump
OK. Well, I did it. I dunno how, but I bought the rear sets pegs.
Well, actually I do know how. Sold some stuff, that's how. Since I'm moving into a tiny 1 bedroom apartment for my next feat in this thing we call life (yeah, I'm a little bit bitter this week about it... can you tell??), I won't have room for such novelty items like a kitchen table and chairs, or a futon that was in my bedroom. I'm looking with an evil eye at some guitars and other things, but those give me hope and a purpose and well, chicks dig em, so they stay. For now.
The guitars. The chicks, well, that's another story...
I also met up with another Virago owner in town, who came over to look at a few items I have in my discarded pile. He seems to really like his Virago just as it came from the factory 30-some years ago, which is all well and good. A very nice guy, too, so I threw in a bunch of other things that I definitely won't be using and maybe he can, so karma and all that- I could use all the good parts of that right now, too.
Anyway, a few bucks here and a few more bucks there, and I was able to make the deal. Having the rear sets on the way means one step closer to successfully launching this thing, so feeling good about that. The rest will still be a tall order, but once these moves (my son's off to college again, and my smaller and cozier one) gets wrapped up, I can settle down and hunker down and, well, get down on it and start saving those nickels once again.
There's a few more things from that discarded pile I should throw up on eBay and see if I can get a few coins for them. They aren't doing me any favors laying around, and honestly don't have the space to store them anyway.
Yeah, it's a little bit that bad. Little bit crowded...
But who knows, maybe this bike will have to end up in the living room while I finish working on her.
It's happened before...
Well, actually I do know how. Sold some stuff, that's how. Since I'm moving into a tiny 1 bedroom apartment for my next feat in this thing we call life (yeah, I'm a little bit bitter this week about it... can you tell??), I won't have room for such novelty items like a kitchen table and chairs, or a futon that was in my bedroom. I'm looking with an evil eye at some guitars and other things, but those give me hope and a purpose and well, chicks dig em, so they stay. For now.
The guitars. The chicks, well, that's another story...
I also met up with another Virago owner in town, who came over to look at a few items I have in my discarded pile. He seems to really like his Virago just as it came from the factory 30-some years ago, which is all well and good. A very nice guy, too, so I threw in a bunch of other things that I definitely won't be using and maybe he can, so karma and all that- I could use all the good parts of that right now, too.
Anyway, a few bucks here and a few more bucks there, and I was able to make the deal. Having the rear sets on the way means one step closer to successfully launching this thing, so feeling good about that. The rest will still be a tall order, but once these moves (my son's off to college again, and my smaller and cozier one) gets wrapped up, I can settle down and hunker down and, well, get down on it and start saving those nickels once again.
There's a few more things from that discarded pile I should throw up on eBay and see if I can get a few coins for them. They aren't doing me any favors laying around, and honestly don't have the space to store them anyway.
Yeah, it's a little bit that bad. Little bit crowded...
But who knows, maybe this bike will have to end up in the living room while I finish working on her.
It's happened before...
Monday, August 15, 2016
Fill 'er up
The nice lady that lives in the complex across from the garage stopped over yesterday afternoon while I was in there- and it was hot yesterday!- and she said...
"you don't have that motorcycle finished yet??"
Yep. Happened.
We had a nice laugh about that, but I am getting closer. Down to several little projects as I've mentioned now, and it's fun to start checking some of these off the list(s). Each of these, of course, opens a few more cans of worms. And I hate worms. But such as it is.
One such can was with the tail light mounting. The third (yes, 3) tail light combo I've bought arrived on Saturday; just a simple and clean follow the seat lines application. Subtle LEDs. Nothing special, but it's a solution. Then came the can of worms...
The mount it came with needed to be modified since it was too wide. But that by itself was no problem. The 'problem' or challenge is the place to mount it. It fits best if it's mounted directly to the seat pan; I can just epoxy it directly on there and be done with it. Of course, it has to be wired up, and the wires have to travel to the under seat area where the electronics will be. OK, not a huge problem either. The thing is, I can't bolt the seat on without first connecting the wires together, and can't reach the wires unless the seat is off.
The wires will need to be able to be disconnected and reconnected easily, to allow for removing the seat to get at all that stuff... under the seat.
My MV had a setup like this actually, so it's not something that can't be remedied. Still, the ideal solution is to mount and wire the lights to the seat pan vs. the seat itself. Then, the seat can be removed for servicing easily without disrupting anything else. So that's where some metal work shopping at The Home Depot tonight will come in...
Once more, one step forward, two backward.
I'm also moving apartments in the coming days, so I gotta juggle that part a little. But I happened to notice the empty gas can in my back patio.
And it's just sitting there, waiting for a trip to the gas station...
...and get filled up
...and brought back to the bike
...so she can start up once again.
Yeah, Mr. Gas Can, I'm waiting for that part, too.
"you don't have that motorcycle finished yet??"
Yep. Happened.
We had a nice laugh about that, but I am getting closer. Down to several little projects as I've mentioned now, and it's fun to start checking some of these off the list(s). Each of these, of course, opens a few more cans of worms. And I hate worms. But such as it is.
One such can was with the tail light mounting. The third (yes, 3) tail light combo I've bought arrived on Saturday; just a simple and clean follow the seat lines application. Subtle LEDs. Nothing special, but it's a solution. Then came the can of worms...
The mount it came with needed to be modified since it was too wide. But that by itself was no problem. The 'problem' or challenge is the place to mount it. It fits best if it's mounted directly to the seat pan; I can just epoxy it directly on there and be done with it. Of course, it has to be wired up, and the wires have to travel to the under seat area where the electronics will be. OK, not a huge problem either. The thing is, I can't bolt the seat on without first connecting the wires together, and can't reach the wires unless the seat is off.
The wires will need to be able to be disconnected and reconnected easily, to allow for removing the seat to get at all that stuff... under the seat.
My MV had a setup like this actually, so it's not something that can't be remedied. Still, the ideal solution is to mount and wire the lights to the seat pan vs. the seat itself. Then, the seat can be removed for servicing easily without disrupting anything else. So that's where some metal work shopping at The Home Depot tonight will come in...
Once more, one step forward, two backward.
I'm also moving apartments in the coming days, so I gotta juggle that part a little. But I happened to notice the empty gas can in my back patio.
And it's just sitting there, waiting for a trip to the gas station...
...and get filled up
...and brought back to the bike
...so she can start up once again.
Yeah, Mr. Gas Can, I'm waiting for that part, too.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Dork
OK, the last couple days I've been really pumped about the bike. No, nothing has changed in the checking account to warrant such excitement, but I'm getting excited again just the same. I'm feeling it. Can see the finish line, or at least the 'starting' line ahead.
See what I did there??
Yeah...
Yesterday I was so in the bike zone that, after visiting the garage and getting some thoughts and some measurements together for the next nuts and bolts aisle trip, I thought I should break in the helmet a little and make sure it fits and is OK to sit on the noggin for a bit at a time. I do have a ride coming up, after all.
I think I've got the remaining things into two categories. The first being things I can do that won't cost a lot. I still want to give this motor a good scrubbing and with the whole bike sort of just sitting in a garage for months, well, the whole thing could use a scrubbing, too. I need to add fluids and change the oil, and get the front brakes sorted. Which is something I've been talking about doing forever and still haven't. Guess I'm easily distracted by shiny objects floating near me.
The second category is the money pile. And due to my electrical discovery of late, it's an even bigger pile than it was. And honestly, after that excitement dies down I may come to accept that I won't be able to do that electrical wizardry part of this build right now, and that's OK and I can accept that. But the thing is, I gotta get it running and get out there on it. And if it proves I need that unit to make this happen, well then I'll have to find a way. Maybe selling a guitar or two, or some clever Cragislisting or eBaying objects... who knows. Plus my son is moving out (or so he says... last I heard it was going to be the 8th. Today's the 12th...) and he takes a decent chunk of the grocery budget with him, so there's maybe some savings on the ramen noodle aisle...
Anyway, the larger pile consists of the rear seats / linkages / levers kit. Then there's the battery itself. And, if I do or need to do this electrical M-Unit, then that's another big hit. In fact, adding the cost of those three things alone equals what I bought the whole bike for. In addition to the grand I've got in it otherwise, plus the not a small amount help from others along the way, well, it's adding up.
Which is sort of my mental point in my head lately. And one that I got excited about in a previous post- making this a bike that's reliable and good to go and can be counted on. Because it's getting to be not such an inexpensive ride, and getting this far and not making it solid... I'm not sure that's even something that makes sense.
Still, in the end I must do what I'm able to do, and that often times isn't something I can do much about and must toe the line and make the best I can with what I have.
But having said that, I still bought an old cheap motorcycle, I still had a vision to make it into something different, I've had a blast making it happen, and I can sit on my couch wearing a motorcycle helmet and smile.
And I love being called a dork.
See what I did there??
Yeah...
Yesterday I was so in the bike zone that, after visiting the garage and getting some thoughts and some measurements together for the next nuts and bolts aisle trip, I thought I should break in the helmet a little and make sure it fits and is OK to sit on the noggin for a bit at a time. I do have a ride coming up, after all.
I think I've got the remaining things into two categories. The first being things I can do that won't cost a lot. I still want to give this motor a good scrubbing and with the whole bike sort of just sitting in a garage for months, well, the whole thing could use a scrubbing, too. I need to add fluids and change the oil, and get the front brakes sorted. Which is something I've been talking about doing forever and still haven't. Guess I'm easily distracted by shiny objects floating near me.
The second category is the money pile. And due to my electrical discovery of late, it's an even bigger pile than it was. And honestly, after that excitement dies down I may come to accept that I won't be able to do that electrical wizardry part of this build right now, and that's OK and I can accept that. But the thing is, I gotta get it running and get out there on it. And if it proves I need that unit to make this happen, well then I'll have to find a way. Maybe selling a guitar or two, or some clever Cragislisting or eBaying objects... who knows. Plus my son is moving out (or so he says... last I heard it was going to be the 8th. Today's the 12th...) and he takes a decent chunk of the grocery budget with him, so there's maybe some savings on the ramen noodle aisle...
Anyway, the larger pile consists of the rear seats / linkages / levers kit. Then there's the battery itself. And, if I do or need to do this electrical M-Unit, then that's another big hit. In fact, adding the cost of those three things alone equals what I bought the whole bike for. In addition to the grand I've got in it otherwise, plus the not a small amount help from others along the way, well, it's adding up.
Which is sort of my mental point in my head lately. And one that I got excited about in a previous post- making this a bike that's reliable and good to go and can be counted on. Because it's getting to be not such an inexpensive ride, and getting this far and not making it solid... I'm not sure that's even something that makes sense.
Still, in the end I must do what I'm able to do, and that often times isn't something I can do much about and must toe the line and make the best I can with what I have.
But having said that, I still bought an old cheap motorcycle, I still had a vision to make it into something different, I've had a blast making it happen, and I can sit on my couch wearing a motorcycle helmet and smile.
And I love being called a dork.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Is it live? Or is it memorex.
So, secretly, or perhaps not so secretly, since I'm writing a blog and putting it on the freakin interweb... I've been worrying about and fretting over and putting off until the end... to deal with all the electrical.
Yeah. That.
Lemme back up a bit... I was looking over some old pictures of some bikes I've owned over the years and one thing hit me. One impression or thought hit me. They seemed bullet-proof. They ran. They worked.
Most people jump in their car and turn the car and it just works. It works in the morning, works in the afternoon, etc. You get the idea. So I've had many motorcycles and all of them had this in common. They worked.
Except this one.
Now, I only had it for a few days before I tore into it, but even then I just really wasn't sure if it would start getting it to the DMV. Or getting out of the DMV, for that matter. Still, I guess it's not completely fair that I make this assertion about this bike.
But I've seen it naked now, and I know what's making it tick and what's gonna be trouble down the road.
So while it would be really nice to get this bike into that same category and be able to feel like I can rely on it and be comfortable knowing it's gonna work, I've always sort of assumed that riding 'not too far from the safety of home' would be this bikes future. And I was OK with that, since most if not all of this build was an exercise in finding myself plus having something productive and constructive to do with my mind and free time.
Chicks, man.
But now, a revelation has been discovered. One that can change all of that. And, it's only gonna take a lot of money to do!
Figures...
Found a device custom builders use, and since researching have discovered two other similar devices with the same basic principles. A completely self-sufficient device that makes all electrical worries gone.
Lemme just geek out here for a moment, bear with me... 100% solid state power distribution and control module, featuring ignition cut-out, starter relay, turn signal relay, LED relay, replaces all relays, is a fuse block replacement, has an alarm function, and is fully programmable and customizable.
Throw out ALL original wiring. All relays. All fuse blocks. All of it. Everything old and tattered and iffy and make it gone. All new wires, through the entire bike, plug into this unit, turn key, gone.
OMG so easy.
It of course kills the budget like mad and I would have no idea how to wing this purchase, but I'm already working on that part, so will see. Because the thing is, this unit immediately takes the bike from an exercise in project form to an actual, daily, working, fully functional machine.
And that might be reason enough to try and find a way to do this. And besides, it's only food...
Yeah. That.
Lemme back up a bit... I was looking over some old pictures of some bikes I've owned over the years and one thing hit me. One impression or thought hit me. They seemed bullet-proof. They ran. They worked.
Most people jump in their car and turn the car and it just works. It works in the morning, works in the afternoon, etc. You get the idea. So I've had many motorcycles and all of them had this in common. They worked.
Except this one.
Now, I only had it for a few days before I tore into it, but even then I just really wasn't sure if it would start getting it to the DMV. Or getting out of the DMV, for that matter. Still, I guess it's not completely fair that I make this assertion about this bike.
But I've seen it naked now, and I know what's making it tick and what's gonna be trouble down the road.
So while it would be really nice to get this bike into that same category and be able to feel like I can rely on it and be comfortable knowing it's gonna work, I've always sort of assumed that riding 'not too far from the safety of home' would be this bikes future. And I was OK with that, since most if not all of this build was an exercise in finding myself plus having something productive and constructive to do with my mind and free time.
Chicks, man.
But now, a revelation has been discovered. One that can change all of that. And, it's only gonna take a lot of money to do!
Figures...
Found a device custom builders use, and since researching have discovered two other similar devices with the same basic principles. A completely self-sufficient device that makes all electrical worries gone.
Lemme just geek out here for a moment, bear with me... 100% solid state power distribution and control module, featuring ignition cut-out, starter relay, turn signal relay, LED relay, replaces all relays, is a fuse block replacement, has an alarm function, and is fully programmable and customizable.
Throw out ALL original wiring. All relays. All fuse blocks. All of it. Everything old and tattered and iffy and make it gone. All new wires, through the entire bike, plug into this unit, turn key, gone.
OMG so easy.
It of course kills the budget like mad and I would have no idea how to wing this purchase, but I'm already working on that part, so will see. Because the thing is, this unit immediately takes the bike from an exercise in project form to an actual, daily, working, fully functional machine.
And that might be reason enough to try and find a way to do this. And besides, it's only food...
Don't put that there
Dinner with mom Monday night. Showed her pics of the motorcycle and my homage to grandpa. She was touched...
...and then it was the usual earful about riding safely and all that.
Moms...
So sometimes, you gotta just get out the tape. Have to tape something on and just stand back and look at it. So, with this in mind, I did just that.
Lemme back up. I've been toying with this 'concept' idea for a few weeks now. This retro 1950's thing, that started with the tank and hasn't quite let go of itself yet. So I started looking at headlight designs and tail light designs to accent this theme, instead of just having the tank be it's own thing and calling it a day.
Well, the tail light that I was quite excited about going with, showed up a couple days ago. And at first inspection of it and the bike together, I was struggling to find a place to mount it, or a method in which to mount it. And the size of it is just maybe 15% bigger than I had hoped.
(I guess a convenient side note to all this is I've picked a few of these up on eBay and they're not too expensive. Hence this is the second attempt at a brake light solution I have sitting around).
The thing is, the hang up is... I'm a sport bike guy first as a rider. I'm also a sport bike guy first, as a designer and a fan of motorcycling. I watch motorcycle racing. A lot of it. So, now that we've established those places from which my heart and mind and preferences reside, this is the rub...
... sport bikes tend to have a clean back end.
I've spent some conceptual time and made some design choices around the cleanliness of the rear space. The simpleness of the rear half of the bike. I've located the license plate off the left side and down low, vs. the center and up high. All the lighting solutions have a simplicity in mind to preserve this clean line thing. And although I love this retro light thing road I've gone down... it's cluttering up my rear end.
So to speak, of course.
And I needed to see it 'in action' so that's where the tape comes in. Just needed to step back and look at it objectively. Well, not really objectively since I'm the only one with an opinion on this thing, and arguing with myself means I never win an argument. Ever.
Anyway, I taped in on, but as I said, it's really fighting with the cleanliness of that horizontal front-to-back belt line the bike has. So my thinking is now more like this (and subject to change, but hey... I think I've got it down now).
I'm thinking I'm gonna move the concept of the retro lights to the front headlight- which can certainly be a highlighted item and won't compete with anything else. And the turn signals, which I originally wasn't going to even worry about for now since I have to wire them and figure all that out. But, using some cool retro turn signals in the back, since those can be mounted on the side and semi-hidden yet make a statement nonetheless... that is a good compromise.
Then I can just get a simple curved brake light that I've found but not purchased yet, that will follow the flow of the rear seat hump, hides in there nicely and probably will not even be noticed until it lights up. Not causing any trouble; just standing in the back and agreeing with everyone kind of light.
Like most plans, this is, too, is subject to change. but I think this is part of the process. And as messed up as my 'processes' can be from time to time, I guess it's part of the challenges of this build. Getting these things figured out, and whichever way works the best to get there.
Getting there is half the fun, after all.
...and then it was the usual earful about riding safely and all that.
Moms...
So sometimes, you gotta just get out the tape. Have to tape something on and just stand back and look at it. So, with this in mind, I did just that.
Lemme back up. I've been toying with this 'concept' idea for a few weeks now. This retro 1950's thing, that started with the tank and hasn't quite let go of itself yet. So I started looking at headlight designs and tail light designs to accent this theme, instead of just having the tank be it's own thing and calling it a day.
Well, the tail light that I was quite excited about going with, showed up a couple days ago. And at first inspection of it and the bike together, I was struggling to find a place to mount it, or a method in which to mount it. And the size of it is just maybe 15% bigger than I had hoped.
(I guess a convenient side note to all this is I've picked a few of these up on eBay and they're not too expensive. Hence this is the second attempt at a brake light solution I have sitting around).
The thing is, the hang up is... I'm a sport bike guy first as a rider. I'm also a sport bike guy first, as a designer and a fan of motorcycling. I watch motorcycle racing. A lot of it. So, now that we've established those places from which my heart and mind and preferences reside, this is the rub...
... sport bikes tend to have a clean back end.
I've spent some conceptual time and made some design choices around the cleanliness of the rear space. The simpleness of the rear half of the bike. I've located the license plate off the left side and down low, vs. the center and up high. All the lighting solutions have a simplicity in mind to preserve this clean line thing. And although I love this retro light thing road I've gone down... it's cluttering up my rear end.
So to speak, of course.
And I needed to see it 'in action' so that's where the tape comes in. Just needed to step back and look at it objectively. Well, not really objectively since I'm the only one with an opinion on this thing, and arguing with myself means I never win an argument. Ever.
Anyway, I taped in on, but as I said, it's really fighting with the cleanliness of that horizontal front-to-back belt line the bike has. So my thinking is now more like this (and subject to change, but hey... I think I've got it down now).
I'm thinking I'm gonna move the concept of the retro lights to the front headlight- which can certainly be a highlighted item and won't compete with anything else. And the turn signals, which I originally wasn't going to even worry about for now since I have to wire them and figure all that out. But, using some cool retro turn signals in the back, since those can be mounted on the side and semi-hidden yet make a statement nonetheless... that is a good compromise.
Then I can just get a simple curved brake light that I've found but not purchased yet, that will follow the flow of the rear seat hump, hides in there nicely and probably will not even be noticed until it lights up. Not causing any trouble; just standing in the back and agreeing with everyone kind of light.
Like most plans, this is, too, is subject to change. but I think this is part of the process. And as messed up as my 'processes' can be from time to time, I guess it's part of the challenges of this build. Getting these things figured out, and whichever way works the best to get there.
Getting there is half the fun, after all.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
In your right mind
So I had to do a test fitting this morning. 'Cause I'm silly like that.
Originally I was gonna go with a braided stainless steel fuel line - and have those purchases I now won't be using to prove it- (hush it!), but after doing this paint scheme and the emblem concept, it seems like retro is more the way to go here. I'm not quite sure yet how far, exactly, I want to go with this 'theme' and since I'm having some trouble figuring out the rear tail light mounting, maybe not very far at all.
But still, like some things, it's always looking good in the mind's eye, so that's how I'll look at it for now.
Anyway, back to the fuel line retro thing. I thought I would instead go with a transparent brass colored line and some simple connectors instead of the braided stainless. The braided stainless was gonna be more rock and roll looking for sure; more hot rod. but somehow I dunno, I'm digging this solution instead, so I'm go with it and considered decision made and move along.
Move along.
It's a little more 'cafe' in it's application, which might help the overall look of this build back into that category vs. the I dunno what it is custom sort of direction it currently feels like it's headed in.
Plus now I can tell if I'm out of gas easily. (Probably not).
I also picked up some 1/4" clear tubing to use for the vent hoses, so that should look good, too. Not pictured above, but again- mind's eye- it's all looking good...
Funny side story- twice now the garbage guys in the truck are cruising through the complex making noise at 6:am, and we wave to each other as they drive past me walking to the garage with my morning cup of coffee and a bag full of motorcycle parts and barely clothed. They must think I'm some sort of weirdo.
(hush it!)
It's funny though, how sitting on a stool in the garage with a cup of coffee, and connecting one end of a new fuel hose and shoving the other end up inside the tank just to make for a better picture - doing that - is still kinda fun. Seeing something, planning something, making decisions on a look of something, then seeing it in the flesh with a real eye instead of that mind's eye - love this part.
And I do like it when it works out, too. That part's always nice...
It's also interesting how, just putting it there and stepping away from it, looking at things from over here and over there, makes it look like it's coming together. Like it's getting done.
It's been a slow train, this build. I could have had this done months ago, should I have found myself in a different personal space, or a different financial space. Which does make me wonder if this is something I'll choose to do again, or again and again, in the future. When life gets normal for me once again.
I wonder...
Originally I was gonna go with a braided stainless steel fuel line - and have those purchases I now won't be using to prove it- (hush it!), but after doing this paint scheme and the emblem concept, it seems like retro is more the way to go here. I'm not quite sure yet how far, exactly, I want to go with this 'theme' and since I'm having some trouble figuring out the rear tail light mounting, maybe not very far at all.
But still, like some things, it's always looking good in the mind's eye, so that's how I'll look at it for now.
Anyway, back to the fuel line retro thing. I thought I would instead go with a transparent brass colored line and some simple connectors instead of the braided stainless. The braided stainless was gonna be more rock and roll looking for sure; more hot rod. but somehow I dunno, I'm digging this solution instead, so I'm go with it and considered decision made and move along.
Move along.
It's a little more 'cafe' in it's application, which might help the overall look of this build back into that category vs. the I dunno what it is custom sort of direction it currently feels like it's headed in.
Plus now I can tell if I'm out of gas easily. (Probably not).
I also picked up some 1/4" clear tubing to use for the vent hoses, so that should look good, too. Not pictured above, but again- mind's eye- it's all looking good...
Funny side story- twice now the garbage guys in the truck are cruising through the complex making noise at 6:am, and we wave to each other as they drive past me walking to the garage with my morning cup of coffee and a bag full of motorcycle parts and barely clothed. They must think I'm some sort of weirdo.
(hush it!)
It's funny though, how sitting on a stool in the garage with a cup of coffee, and connecting one end of a new fuel hose and shoving the other end up inside the tank just to make for a better picture - doing that - is still kinda fun. Seeing something, planning something, making decisions on a look of something, then seeing it in the flesh with a real eye instead of that mind's eye - love this part.
And I do like it when it works out, too. That part's always nice...
It's also interesting how, just putting it there and stepping away from it, looking at things from over here and over there, makes it look like it's coming together. Like it's getting done.
It's been a slow train, this build. I could have had this done months ago, should I have found myself in a different personal space, or a different financial space. Which does make me wonder if this is something I'll choose to do again, or again and again, in the future. When life gets normal for me once again.
I wonder...
Monday, August 8, 2016
Dotting I's
Well, it ended up being a busy weekend of 'other' stuff, which is fine and good for the soul, but not necessarily good for the build. That being said, I needed to get out and was a fun time, plus I sort of ran out of money a few days ago anyway, so to speak, so I've only got a handful of things I can do until the prodigal wallet returneth.
Which is OK in a way, since I did manage a couple small things I had 'started' a while ago. And I say 'started' as in I decided on a direction of something and had just hand-tightened this or that to see what it would look like- or if would look good- and then sort of went on to something else. I guess at some point in the ownership of this bike, I had billions of ideas and there were miles and miles of changes to traverse. So these small things were sort of little dreams of weird things or designs choices, or, well whatever they were, they were unfinished in a the truest sense, and would need to become a checkmark in the 'completed' column eventually.
Even the exhaust pips are not fully mounted and tightened up yet, since I have to mount the rear sets first, and I don't have them yet, so... on it goes.
So one of these little silly things I thought of a while back, was to mount that Guinness bottle opener I picked up in Ireland, somewhere on the bike. Not that I'll likely entertain the concept of drinking and riding (not a proponent of such things) but the concept of chilling in the garage and talking to one's own motorcycle and keeping each other company... well that one I do appreciate, and so having a bottle opener handy would, well, come in handy.
Plus it's my bike and currently there's only my inner voice telling me yes or no, so there.
And this bike could use as many interesting and semi-distracting elements on it anyway.
I also stopped putting off addressing what to do about the other broken Fury emblem thing. 'Cause sometimes it's so much more productive to just ignore a problem and not take care of it, said no one ever.
Which is OK in a way, since I did manage a couple small things I had 'started' a while ago. And I say 'started' as in I decided on a direction of something and had just hand-tightened this or that to see what it would look like- or if would look good- and then sort of went on to something else. I guess at some point in the ownership of this bike, I had billions of ideas and there were miles and miles of changes to traverse. So these small things were sort of little dreams of weird things or designs choices, or, well whatever they were, they were unfinished in a the truest sense, and would need to become a checkmark in the 'completed' column eventually.
Even the exhaust pips are not fully mounted and tightened up yet, since I have to mount the rear sets first, and I don't have them yet, so... on it goes.
So one of these little silly things I thought of a while back, was to mount that Guinness bottle opener I picked up in Ireland, somewhere on the bike. Not that I'll likely entertain the concept of drinking and riding (not a proponent of such things) but the concept of chilling in the garage and talking to one's own motorcycle and keeping each other company... well that one I do appreciate, and so having a bottle opener handy would, well, come in handy.
Plus it's my bike and currently there's only my inner voice telling me yes or no, so there.
And this bike could use as many interesting and semi-distracting elements on it anyway.
I also stopped putting off addressing what to do about the other broken Fury emblem thing. 'Cause sometimes it's so much more productive to just ignore a problem and not take care of it, said no one ever.
Well, I may have said that statement a time or two in my lifetime...
Ultimately, I just eased both halves into enough of a curve to mount and made them get along and went with it. In the end, it is what it is, and it's a story. And in the end of it all, that's all we have anyway- and I do love a great story.
I did also take care of the permanency of the tank mounting issue, too. Since originally this tank would sit flat on the mono frame center section, to get a more sporty and cafe look, the subframe came with a tank mount which rotates it up in the back (front still mounts as before). Lifts it up about 5 inches in the rear, which creates it's own list of problems to solve and makes all the carb and vent hoses too short, too. So now that the tank is painted and the emblems are mounted (for now anyway), the tank is also mounted and tightened down and all is good there. Can still be removed easily, since until I get to the wiring it's gonna have to come off again.
So ultimately it was a good day in the garage, even with just some smaller things being addressed. The last thing I would want is the bike to be cruising down the road and remember I never did tighten X or correctly mount Y and start seeing things fall off. Which, if there's one thing I've usually taken fairly seriously (yeah, maybe more on that part later), it's having a bike that's solid and road-worthy, since it's only two wheels on the ground at any one time.
So I'm sure that will all be taken care of and made whole before we hit the highway. Like all these things... one small step at a time.
Friday, August 5, 2016
It's all fun & games until...
I've always thought at some point I would like to edit a quick video of this build. just for me really; something fun to look at or show a few close friends or, my mom. The path is fun and getting there has been fun, mostly... and so since I find myself with some newly acquired (sort of) skills, I started to put one together this morning...
Running away
Not much to report from a build standpoint. I did go see her last night, just to confirm a couple things I had floating in my head. plus, I ordered some new fuel and vent lines for the tank and wanted to confirm those sizes were correct. Which per usual, half were and half were not. I was able to call them up and correct the order so that's good. All the right stuff coming in the mail is always a good thing.
I did however, upon rolling her out into the setting sun last night, discover a little boo-boo. And no, not from the Yogi Bear Show... It would seem the epoxy used to adhere the Fury emblem on one side had a little drip, which I didn't notice at the time.
Now, well you can imagine it's hardened to the point of permanency, so to get rid of that will entail getting the actual emblem removed- which will be impossible without destroying it, then sanding the tank once again, painting & striping it once again, buying new emblems, etc.... So, even though I'm pretty cheesed at this discovery, I think I'm gonna have to live with it for now.
And be a little more careful or at the very least, stick around in that hot garage long enough to make sure there aren't any drips before scurrying off to the security and cool apartment interior.
As I've said- let's get her running again... a new tank paint project can always be in the future.
For now, the present, let's make some noise, shall we?
I did however, upon rolling her out into the setting sun last night, discover a little boo-boo. And no, not from the Yogi Bear Show... It would seem the epoxy used to adhere the Fury emblem on one side had a little drip, which I didn't notice at the time.
Now, well you can imagine it's hardened to the point of permanency, so to get rid of that will entail getting the actual emblem removed- which will be impossible without destroying it, then sanding the tank once again, painting & striping it once again, buying new emblems, etc.... So, even though I'm pretty cheesed at this discovery, I think I'm gonna have to live with it for now.
And be a little more careful or at the very least, stick around in that hot garage long enough to make sure there aren't any drips before scurrying off to the security and cool apartment interior.
As I've said- let's get her running again... a new tank paint project can always be in the future.
For now, the present, let's make some noise, shall we?
Thursday, August 4, 2016
50 Days
So that's the number. My number. The countdown... the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride is in 50 days. From today.
Deadlines.
Thing is, there's not a ton to do. Not really. I went out to the garage last night, and just sort of took it all in and tried to figure out what would be a good next step or three... a plan of attack to get her running. After all, none of this works if she doesn't run. But there's really not a ton left to do. Sort the front brakes, then I'm sort back to the last step in those three categories I set up for myself months ago-
Mechanical
Electrical
Peripheral
So, mechanically, there's the rear sets so that I can shift gear, use the rear brake, have a place to put my feet. Generally speaking, be able to ride it. And while it's probably a fun half day of adjusting and all that to get full functionality, it's down to a price tag that's keeping this from getting finalized.
Electrical-wise, the wiring harness - or starting from scratch with some fresh wires and a 6-pack of patience- that part is down to wearing glasses to help see things, probably doing this in the daylight vs. at night for that extra light for my getting old eyes... and of course the time and patience to read the schematic and act accordingly. Basically, behaving myself and acting like an adult.
Will see how that one goes when the time comes...
Regardless, the big price tag for this part is a new battery. And yeah, a small area under the seat makes for a special battery purchase... and an expensive one, too.
Peripherally, as I call it, would be all the painting and changing and tank-isms, and that's all done. Will need a couple longer lengths of fuel tubing which I can buy online, since I wanna use something cool here, but this is an easy thing to finish, both mechanically and financially. Thing is, I can't do this part until I do the electrical parts, since all those wires are getting loomed under the tank.
So, fittingly, the easiest and cheapest part of the build I can't do, until I'm able to make a couple of big purchases first.
Oh, and my new taillight I purchased (yes yes, I know... probably gonna skip a few lunches for that one...) should be in this week. And while I can't really wire it up yet, figuring out how/where to mount it will be fun this weekend. Plus it'll be a graphical change, and I do like it when something looks better than it did before, vs. just working on things that may be improved yet look the same.
Would be a drag if I miss my deadline because of this money-business but hopefully that won't be the case and maybe there's some bending of some due dates and all that song and dance... will see. Given my track record of such things, I can often find a means and a way...
So, to recap, minus all the whining about money... mechanical is down to the rear sets purchase and done. Electrical is down to battery purchase, then up to patience meter-inhibitor functioning properly. Probably under $600 left more or less... Then throw that tank on and go pick up some chicks!
Well, that's another story, and frankly was just a funny thing to throw in there. They cost too much money and emotions... so I'm working on this girl first.
And she's eager to get out again.
Deadlines.
Thing is, there's not a ton to do. Not really. I went out to the garage last night, and just sort of took it all in and tried to figure out what would be a good next step or three... a plan of attack to get her running. After all, none of this works if she doesn't run. But there's really not a ton left to do. Sort the front brakes, then I'm sort back to the last step in those three categories I set up for myself months ago-
Mechanical
Electrical
Peripheral
So, mechanically, there's the rear sets so that I can shift gear, use the rear brake, have a place to put my feet. Generally speaking, be able to ride it. And while it's probably a fun half day of adjusting and all that to get full functionality, it's down to a price tag that's keeping this from getting finalized.
Electrical-wise, the wiring harness - or starting from scratch with some fresh wires and a 6-pack of patience- that part is down to wearing glasses to help see things, probably doing this in the daylight vs. at night for that extra light for my getting old eyes... and of course the time and patience to read the schematic and act accordingly. Basically, behaving myself and acting like an adult.
Will see how that one goes when the time comes...
Regardless, the big price tag for this part is a new battery. And yeah, a small area under the seat makes for a special battery purchase... and an expensive one, too.
Peripherally, as I call it, would be all the painting and changing and tank-isms, and that's all done. Will need a couple longer lengths of fuel tubing which I can buy online, since I wanna use something cool here, but this is an easy thing to finish, both mechanically and financially. Thing is, I can't do this part until I do the electrical parts, since all those wires are getting loomed under the tank.
So, fittingly, the easiest and cheapest part of the build I can't do, until I'm able to make a couple of big purchases first.
Oh, and my new taillight I purchased (yes yes, I know... probably gonna skip a few lunches for that one...) should be in this week. And while I can't really wire it up yet, figuring out how/where to mount it will be fun this weekend. Plus it'll be a graphical change, and I do like it when something looks better than it did before, vs. just working on things that may be improved yet look the same.
Would be a drag if I miss my deadline because of this money-business but hopefully that won't be the case and maybe there's some bending of some due dates and all that song and dance... will see. Given my track record of such things, I can often find a means and a way...
So, to recap, minus all the whining about money... mechanical is down to the rear sets purchase and done. Electrical is down to battery purchase, then up to patience meter-inhibitor functioning properly. Probably under $600 left more or less... Then throw that tank on and go pick up some chicks!
Well, that's another story, and frankly was just a funny thing to throw in there. They cost too much money and emotions... so I'm working on this girl first.
And she's eager to get out again.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
The wonderment of the mind
It's funny how I spent my entire career being the guy that has to come up with ideas. It's what I'm paid to do; once handsomely so, though not really that any longer. And sometimes these ideas, they come in interesting forms or bits of here or there, or even sometimes can actually just sit down in a chair and come up with them. On purpose.
Not usually. But sometimes.
Regardless, these ideas I speak of, they do come at some point, whether it be after playing tennis or talking about cars or music gear or goofing around in some form or another, they do come eventually. But maybe it's not only the coming up with the ideas, but the recognizing of an idea when it does come up. And it's not always in the order that one may wish it would be, but an idea is an idea, and I've made a career out of getting to them any way I can.
So, I guess we can consider that trend continuing.
Up until this point, I've been attributing and assuming this gas tank design, this retro color and homage to grand pappy, as it's own thing. That, the bike design would be the bike design regardless of anything else- so the tank would be it's own element. Which is why I spent so much time figuring out what the tank could be; from this retro coloring to bright metal flake lime green or a discrete copper antiquing finish... because it didn't affect the rest of the bike design- the tank would be it's own thing.
But now that I have this retro turquoise color and cream striping and Fury emblem (of which I gotta find another one), I feel like I have additional opportunities to play out that retro flair a little bit more. And since I've not found a taillight that I dig yet, I started there. And found this...
So fins. Fins are cool. And it fits so well into this retro tank look, so now the bike is becoming a little more of a theme. A little bit more. Which is cool, 'cause it's me and my style; small subtle things that create an look while still be the guy that stands in the background a bit.
At least I think that's me...
Anyway, although I'm sure it needs to be black and not chrome, the fins taillight will look great I think, and it's actually one of the first solutions I've found that I can bolt on the back and will work in this custom 'not really designed for this application but we can grind it off here or bend it back there and turn it upside down and it'll work great'... application.
So now, of course I want to do the same for the headlight. And I've been watching one as an afterthought on eBay for months, just thinking it looked cool. Not really connecting the 'theme' together in my mind. Until yesterday. Not until yesterday.
I guess it's like most things I process... better late than never.
Not usually. But sometimes.
Regardless, these ideas I speak of, they do come at some point, whether it be after playing tennis or talking about cars or music gear or goofing around in some form or another, they do come eventually. But maybe it's not only the coming up with the ideas, but the recognizing of an idea when it does come up. And it's not always in the order that one may wish it would be, but an idea is an idea, and I've made a career out of getting to them any way I can.
So, I guess we can consider that trend continuing.
Up until this point, I've been attributing and assuming this gas tank design, this retro color and homage to grand pappy, as it's own thing. That, the bike design would be the bike design regardless of anything else- so the tank would be it's own element. Which is why I spent so much time figuring out what the tank could be; from this retro coloring to bright metal flake lime green or a discrete copper antiquing finish... because it didn't affect the rest of the bike design- the tank would be it's own thing.
But now that I have this retro turquoise color and cream striping and Fury emblem (of which I gotta find another one), I feel like I have additional opportunities to play out that retro flair a little bit more. And since I've not found a taillight that I dig yet, I started there. And found this...
So fins. Fins are cool. And it fits so well into this retro tank look, so now the bike is becoming a little more of a theme. A little bit more. Which is cool, 'cause it's me and my style; small subtle things that create an look while still be the guy that stands in the background a bit.
At least I think that's me...
Anyway, although I'm sure it needs to be black and not chrome, the fins taillight will look great I think, and it's actually one of the first solutions I've found that I can bolt on the back and will work in this custom 'not really designed for this application but we can grind it off here or bend it back there and turn it upside down and it'll work great'... application.
So now, of course I want to do the same for the headlight. And I've been watching one as an afterthought on eBay for months, just thinking it looked cool. Not really connecting the 'theme' together in my mind. Until yesterday. Not until yesterday.
I guess it's like most things I process... better late than never.
Monday, August 1, 2016
Shift into gear
OK, procrastination aside, and life events aside, I gotta get movin'. And I gotta get this thing movin'.
[ see previous post for details on the why's... since my own why's can be changed, but this one cannot. ]
I was out of town a couple days last week, which was awesome but not really productive for the build. Then had a lazy weekend and spent some time with the boy, which again, was awesome but not really productive for the build.
And now I have a deadline, so it's a little bit of gettin' serious time now. Which is also probably great for me since deadlines help. #DeadlinesMatter, people.
[ sorry for slightly insensitivity-ness...]
Anyway- back to the subject at hand. I did get the Fury emblem attached (the one that isn't broken) to the one side, and I dig it.
I'll likely be taking some additional photos soon, but really want to just get things I can do, done. There's a shorter list than ever of the things needed to finish it up, but those things have large price tags attached to them as well, so will take a bit of financial silliness to accomplish. I've got a little bit of room for that, though I had more room before I chose instead to visit my daughter in Chicago for a couple days. But I'll be making that choice every time, and that's just how it is. There's another trip to the other daughter, and fresh out of the oven grandkid, in September, so gotta just put the blinders on a bit and be slightly less frugal or responsible or whatever word I should use here, for the sake of this build, this ride, this deadline, and honestly, this life.
Having a running motorcycle in my world will be really great. It's been a while since I've had the option of a weekend on two wheels and it's easy to forget how much of an escape it is. And escaping is something I should be looking to do these days, so getting it running and available will be a joy, for sure.
I still have the front end to sort out. The brakes need fluid and bleeding, then that hopefully will be good to go. My first install, repair, take apart and cross fingers brake job, so crossing fingers I shall be, though will fully check and recheck prior to jamming on down the road, to be sure. Once I get it good to stop, then I gotta make it good to go again. In the back of my mind I regretting not having run some fuel stabiliser through the system prior to removing everything, so I'm really hoping there's not too much gunk build up in the carbs and that will rectify itself once it starts again.
Not much I can do about it now 'cept regret it, so I'm gonna just keep plugging ahead.
At any rate, I've gotta get it into gear, so progress needs to start happening real soon. I'm thinking the brakes and the forks next, since that will be almost zero money having to spend, and it's also something that has to be right. Probably this weekend, unless I get some evening time to give this a go. After that, it's electrical time....
And that part is sure to be it's own battle of will and wits...
[ see previous post for details on the why's... since my own why's can be changed, but this one cannot. ]
I was out of town a couple days last week, which was awesome but not really productive for the build. Then had a lazy weekend and spent some time with the boy, which again, was awesome but not really productive for the build.
And now I have a deadline, so it's a little bit of gettin' serious time now. Which is also probably great for me since deadlines help. #DeadlinesMatter, people.
[ sorry for slightly insensitivity-ness...]
Anyway- back to the subject at hand. I did get the Fury emblem attached (the one that isn't broken) to the one side, and I dig it.
I'll likely be taking some additional photos soon, but really want to just get things I can do, done. There's a shorter list than ever of the things needed to finish it up, but those things have large price tags attached to them as well, so will take a bit of financial silliness to accomplish. I've got a little bit of room for that, though I had more room before I chose instead to visit my daughter in Chicago for a couple days. But I'll be making that choice every time, and that's just how it is. There's another trip to the other daughter, and fresh out of the oven grandkid, in September, so gotta just put the blinders on a bit and be slightly less frugal or responsible or whatever word I should use here, for the sake of this build, this ride, this deadline, and honestly, this life.
Having a running motorcycle in my world will be really great. It's been a while since I've had the option of a weekend on two wheels and it's easy to forget how much of an escape it is. And escaping is something I should be looking to do these days, so getting it running and available will be a joy, for sure.
I still have the front end to sort out. The brakes need fluid and bleeding, then that hopefully will be good to go. My first install, repair, take apart and cross fingers brake job, so crossing fingers I shall be, though will fully check and recheck prior to jamming on down the road, to be sure. Once I get it good to stop, then I gotta make it good to go again. In the back of my mind I regretting not having run some fuel stabiliser through the system prior to removing everything, so I'm really hoping there's not too much gunk build up in the carbs and that will rectify itself once it starts again.
Not much I can do about it now 'cept regret it, so I'm gonna just keep plugging ahead.
At any rate, I've gotta get it into gear, so progress needs to start happening real soon. I'm thinking the brakes and the forks next, since that will be almost zero money having to spend, and it's also something that has to be right. Probably this weekend, unless I get some evening time to give this a go. After that, it's electrical time....
And that part is sure to be it's own battle of will and wits...
It's official
OK, so deadlines, even though on the face of it all seem counter-intuitive and counter-productive and all-around kitchen-counter like; they are complete opposite of the idea of creativity and spontaneity and all that's holy with regard to art.
But not so fast.
It's actually been my experience, in my career and otherwise, that deadlines are actually quite beneficial. Since now I know how much time I have to goof off and procrastinate and 'get inspired' by distraction. Which is a wonderful thing, if you've never tried it.
At any rate, this particular deadline is a little bit more solid and real than my previous one, since this one is not in my control to move, alter, change, or otherwise remove altogether. It's someone else's deadline, so respect it, I must.
I've had one eye on the "Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride" for several months now, and if you don't know what this is, I will explain. This is an annual ride, started I think 7-8 years ago, to benefit and raise money and awareness for prostate cancer and other men's health issues. It was inspired by a photo of Jon Hamm in full Don Draper attire and 'tude...
The style then, is not only older motorcycles from the 50's and 60's and so on, but cafe styles, tracker styles, sidecar, scramblers... bikes that are unique.
And it doesn't stop there, since the attire is half the fun. Beards, handlebar mustaches, sweater vests and full suits, and of course your finest manners.
So the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride, or DGR as I'll now type it from now on 'cause I'm lazy, happens annually and it's worldwide. I've been hoping there would be one in AZ somewhere, and this year there will, in fact, be one in Phoenix.
I'm likely to be hitting up some friends and family and others dear to me to try and raise a few bucks for the cause, even as small as my circle of those is these days. 'Cause it's a great cause and it looks like it could be really fun, too.
A link to my personal page:
https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/ahhgooosta
And now, September 25th looms large. And busy, I must go...
But not so fast.
It's actually been my experience, in my career and otherwise, that deadlines are actually quite beneficial. Since now I know how much time I have to goof off and procrastinate and 'get inspired' by distraction. Which is a wonderful thing, if you've never tried it.
At any rate, this particular deadline is a little bit more solid and real than my previous one, since this one is not in my control to move, alter, change, or otherwise remove altogether. It's someone else's deadline, so respect it, I must.
I've had one eye on the "Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride" for several months now, and if you don't know what this is, I will explain. This is an annual ride, started I think 7-8 years ago, to benefit and raise money and awareness for prostate cancer and other men's health issues. It was inspired by a photo of Jon Hamm in full Don Draper attire and 'tude...
The style then, is not only older motorcycles from the 50's and 60's and so on, but cafe styles, tracker styles, sidecar, scramblers... bikes that are unique.
And it doesn't stop there, since the attire is half the fun. Beards, handlebar mustaches, sweater vests and full suits, and of course your finest manners.
So the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride, or DGR as I'll now type it from now on 'cause I'm lazy, happens annually and it's worldwide. I've been hoping there would be one in AZ somewhere, and this year there will, in fact, be one in Phoenix.
I'm likely to be hitting up some friends and family and others dear to me to try and raise a few bucks for the cause, even as small as my circle of those is these days. 'Cause it's a great cause and it looks like it could be really fun, too.
A link to my personal page:
https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/ahhgooosta
And now, September 25th looms large. And busy, I must go...
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