Who needs it.
While that's not technically true, or even vaguely true, sometimes ya gotta just put off things. And considering I've been putting off getting back to this build for a while now, even with parts now in hand, I figured the least I could do would be to put off the car's oil change appointment this Saturday and instead, work on the bike.
[And the crowd goes wild!]
Actually, since I've got kids coming into town the next three weeks and I'm never really sure of their schedule or free time or whatever while they are here, I usually try and leave myself available for opportunities for grandkid, daughter one or two, son-in law, etc.
Well, that's all of them. My son generally has a life all his own and lives locally, too. So finding him or getting him to commit to time is harder than you'd think or wish. Still, having a life of their own is what we wanted for them when it all began, so there's that.
I did however spring for some Red Wings tickets since they're in town next Thursday, so bribe successful and off we go for that. Will be fun, though the Wings are in the toilet this year and have been not great for many more than this particular one. Sad, and we need some big changes and get that dynasty thing happening up once more.
Anyway, they're the real reason for moving the car's appointment. But I'll jump on the opportunity nonetheless.
So, M-Unit: check. Wiring kit: check. New crimping tool: check. Free time this weekend: check.
I'm also back to that consideration for a modern set of forks, but that will be likely dependent on how she runs and what she feels like and all the rest. Should the power be sufficient (it won't be) and the comfort level be adequate (it isn't) and the reliability great (hard to know, but thinking not)... so maybe I can talk myself out of this choice.
Probably first stop would be to get her running again.
Still, it seems the forks could use some work, even if it's just some new oil in 'em. Likely a good idea anyway, since who but The Good Lord knows when it was changed last. I've changed out the deferential oil and the motor's oil, too, so why not the forks then? This whole air adding part is stupid and hard to get to, and with only an extra 7 lbs of adding ability anyway, hard to think it will make much difference.
I may be able to talk myself into a visit to a junk yard or two locally and see if I can find a crashed bike without fork damage. Knowing motorcycles though, this isn't likely to happen. Maybe Craigslist would be a better place to start, but I dunno.
The cool thing about these 80's Viragos though is the myriad of custom directions you can go. 1920's style, or 50's, or custom 70's style, 80's Mad Max thing, a modern-ish cafe thing, and onward. Unsure what mine would be called.
I guess my point is, I'm thinking at some point in the next two years I should get a bike. A real bike, one that starts and runs and all the rest. And keep this build, but maybe it becomes something else. I've always said I'd like to have a bike to ride and then one to work on. The one to work on can then be done slowly and methodically and carefully and all that other stuff. So it is cool that, should I feel like it, I can take this bike back apart and make it look like many of those other eras, as a side project and a weekend thing, while still having a bike to ride when I get the urge to ride a bike.
Thing is, I've invested enough dollars into this thing to make it more reliable and more better and more this and that; and these are things I can reuse, should I decide in one particular future or another, that I have the time or the will or the desire or all the above, to do another bike project.
Maybe my next house will have a cool spot along a wall where I can just park it indoors. Make it a cool sort of steam punk industrial decoration maybe. Who knows. The skies the limit, and the spouse to say no isn't around at the moment.
Just gotta keep grease off the couch.
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