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.