These are not the paints you're looking for.

Friday Funday is upon us once more, and so once more I'm trying to sort out a bit of a "plan" for this weekend's build. I say "plan" in quotes, 'cause you know... that just seems like the most accurate way to say it, in my case.

In thinking more about the tank ideas and what I should do or can do or can make not look too stupid and poorly executed do, I keep coming back to that concept of honoring gramps and doing the Fury emblem / auto thing. So, I thought I'd leave it up to the gods of eBay and, if I found a set that wasn't a gazillion bucks and in OK shape, I'd go for it and push the proverbial BuyItNow button.

Great way to make a design decision on a project. Leave it up to eBay. And some guy in Canada, who has what I need.

So anyway, The Great eBay and The Canuck have spoken and so, we're off. A brief, crappy Photoshop from this morning. Just to be sure of concept. And 'cause it's already too late to change my mind anyway...

I'm digging it. Decision made. And like most things on this build, since I'm already taking things apart and changing them, there's little reason to think I can't do the same again at some point. Maybe, if all this silliness actually turns into a reliable and running motorcycle - which the jury is still plainly out deliberating on - I can actually change out the tank every year and some sort of homage to how mental I've been these past 8 months...

Probably not gonna do that.

I'm also a big fan of having a TON of unfinished projects, and with my short attention span, I probably will need to get her running and call her complete.

And move along.

Move along.

Not too far ahead

I try not to get ahead of myself. I really do. And hey, it's better than not trying... and I'm usually one to apply myself to things. Probably got that one from my mother, like most of the other ones, too.

So last night was another short walk down to the garage, a nice cabernet in hand and not too much on the agenda in terms of actually getting anything accomplished, except maybe a new mental plan for this or that (which I got) and a measurement or two (which I took). The fun thing was, I just felt like the mood was different. Shifting. Maybe. And in keeping with that usual premise of applying myself, I just wanted to ride that swell a bit and see where it takes me.

Amazing what a couple weeks can do.

Anyway, as I mentioned I do try and not get too far ahead of myself and so I'm gonna still go with that premise and keep the happy genes in check a little bit. Still, the bike is looking good and coming together and that's a cool thing, too. So much so, that it seemed like a good idea to roll it outside the garage, take some time to clean and sweep and throw away and dust (not really), maybe change the playlist to something different than the usual... just mix it up a bit more. Freshness is paramount here at Mitchell Moto.

Got another trip to the hardware aisle at Home Depot last night for some plate bolts and cotter pins, then visited the paint aisle once more to see what's what. Yes, I hate the idea of painting the tank with some stupid rattle can of something 'metallic' from a home improvement giant. And one could argue that, with spending fresh dough on a new exhaust system when I wasn't originally gonna, and that same dough on other things like front wheels and stuff that wasn't in the original "I can do this really cheap" mental plan (they always start like that I fear)... that I should send the tank off to a professional to spray it right. And perhaps if I would get a quote and is wasn't outrageous I may consider doing that. But probably not. The tank is that one focal point that seems to be where the eye wants to go first; and I've sort of crafted it to be that way, too, by colors and lines (I am an advertising professional after all...). I've seen many cool things and I've got some cool ideas or adaptations of others cool ideas, but will share another time.

Next, the license plate bracket for the side mount, since I was guessing as to the axle width and length required, is the wrong size. Intentionally this time. Since I figured I was gonna be picky about how that looks and mounts, I bought one that's several inches too long, so I can drill and cut it to fit exactly where I want. Me me me me me me me.

But yeah, the tank. Will have to figure that out soon. Or will probably just go with whatever the latest idea floating in my head will be at that time.

I tend to do that one, too.

Doin' what you say you do

Yeah.

Well, in this case, it's not really a proud moment. However, true to our motto here at Mitchell Moto...

"There's never time to do it right, but there's always time to do it over."

So yeah, that's my new 37" braided stainless steel brake line. The one that should have been 31", as you can see.

But hey- a motto is a motto and I'm living the true life these days, so there ya go. Got a new one ordered and on the way, and now I have something to get excited about in these here pages and something to talk about! Let's all get excited about that!!

Anyway, enough of that nonsense. It's becoming fun to walk into the garage and dabble with small things and details. Now that the exhaust has been firmly established... there's less and less of a need to change into the old get-dirty jeans and wallow around on the floor like a fish out of water. So it's a little more civilized lately, standing or sitting on a stool and politely turning a wrench and smiling and saying "Good day" to passers by. I'm such a bad ass.

Front brake delay not-withstanding, the bike is coming along nicely.  Now that I've given myself an August 1st deadline to get her running in order to give up my garage rental, I really want to keep things moving. Yesterday was a fun day, though a little bit of a bummer. See, I had ordered 4 or 5 small things I needed, like lights, and mirrors... small stuff. But through the virtue of the USPS, they all arrived on the SAME DAY. Nothing like maybe spreading out the joy for at a least a few more; nope- all in the same day.

Still, that Merry Christmas To Me Day brought some smaller projects I can start with, like mounting the license plate (without a legal light- see above for bad ass statement) and the K&N air filter is here, though that will probably be mounted later since it's expensive enough I don't want it to get damaged while I'm throwing my next temper tantrum because something got ordered the wrong length...

Sometimes I amaze even myself.

[thanks Han]

All's well that ends well

So, that happened.

Wait, lemme back up.

The new exhaust arrived! It was quite shiny and beautiful, and as I mentioned, I can be both distracted by shiny new things, and also was somewhat questioning whether to still go the mostly black route, since that idea was born out of of a bit of necessity of old parts being ugly and/or rusty. Or both.

Still, I had to be strong and stay the course, and so I did the unthinkable and painted perfectly good chrome shiny bits flat black. Was actually a silly kind of fun, like I was removing the mattress tag or turning left without the green arrow. Rebel yell, baby.

So here's how it goes. Laugh along if you'd like:

Installed front pipe first.

Installing the rear pipe got tricky when it couldn't be fully seated due to hitting the front pipe.

Removed the front pipe.

Installed the rear pipe once more, though difficult to secure the hanger bracket because of the rear tire. Plus it's not lining up exactly right (see above pic) and something is not quite right.

Swear some. Then go watch a soccer match and leave it for now.

Back now.

Remove rear wheel.

Install the rear pipe. All is good. And tightened up.

Install front pipe.

Drink a beer and marvel at how amazing I am with a wrench.

Reinstall rear wheel- only the axle won't slide in because the rear pipe is now in the way.

Loosen the rear pipe enough to allow the axle to slide in, only it's hitting the front pipe again.

Remove the front pipe.

Loosen the rear section, get the rear wheel mounted once more.

Tighten up the rear section.

Reinstall the front section.

Drink a beer and marvel at how amazing I am with a wrench.

So I've been thinkin

While I await the notification of delivery of the exhaust system today, I started a new project. Well, it's not a new one but rather a related one. A necessary one. Well, not a necessary one, but since I'm me and all that, it was bound to happen.

After all, why do things the easy way, when I can do things my way instead.

I've seen a few lately and I dig it. Lemme back up. The spirit of this whole 'cafe bike' thing is really around this anti-factory ideal. This 'not a bike off the showroom floor 'but rather something unique, one-off, one-of-a-kind special nameplate of a statement. Hi. My name is ____ . It's like that. Great stuff. And if you know how to actually mechanicalitize a motorcycle, you're in even better shape.

I don't so much that part. but still, I'm doin' it anyway, so screw you.

(See how it works?  And, just kidding by the way).

So, this related project. The helmet. Now, it does seem like in keeping with the whole retro or semi-retro theme, the 3/4 open face helmet of years gone by is the de rigueur helmet of choice. So, I got one of those and could be done with it. But I've seen some 'custom' art done lately, and a custom art version that wouldn't require 6 weekends of airbrushing and masking and patience. Lots of patience. And I've got no time for that stuff around here, not with this bike still not in working order. So these helmets I've seen are simply sharpie painting. Just drawn on. And some of them are really well done- not that I'm gonna try for that so much as it will be, just like my bike build choices- all me. Mine mine mine mine mine.

So OK, so I've got some figuring out to do. Wouldn't be a Mitchell Moto bike build without some seat of the pants decision making. But I dunno what I'm gonna do yet. So that will be the next thing to sort. Or may be I'll just leave it laying around the coffee table in the house along with a couple Sharpies™ and just go to town when something strikes.

I did decide to pickup a super groovy orange metal flake version though, so the design with be more subtle but still come through nicely. At least that's what I see in my head.

And for sure that's where I see things the best.

'n checkin it twice

Wednesdays. Hump Day. The middle. I hate being in the middle. Feels like nothing's getting done. I dunno why. Call me weird. Won't be the last time for that.

So I had to double check on the shipping status of some things coming my way, in hopes that they will be arriving by the weekend. The exhaust is the big one obviously, and the website still said 'processing' so I had to check myself. A very sweet lady said indeed it should arrive tomorrow, so baring any odd complications we should be ready to get that large project done.

For probably the third time. Still, better right than wrong and better good than bad, so blowing a few grocery budgets on a better exhaust will be both of those in one swoop, so I should be able to put a large check mark next to the exhaust part of the to-do list.

And by now, I  r e a l l y  want to get some progress made. Admittedly, I've been lackadaisical in my attempts at progress and have also been easily distracted by other shiny objects that happen to come into my line of sight.  Like a small child, I can be. (and thank you Google Machine for helping me out with the spelling of lackadaisical. Geeesh.). Sometimes... it's just the word you need to use...

Yeah, some personal things have been there, like usual for me these days. Some of them may have a happy ending and some may not; always in motion, the future. (Thanks Yoda). Regardless, life has to go on and breath must be taken, so another weekend approaches and baring any sudden interruptions of awesomeness (which would be welcome albeit unlikely), I may be able to get some real progress this weekend on the bike.

Which I guess is why you may be reading this blog in the first place. The BIKE. Or maybe not. Irrespective of that factoid, it's my words and my stuff and my brain flatulence, so what comes out comes out. That's how it goes.

And yeah, I probably could have use different words for that part. Apologies, Dear Reader mam or sir.

But imagine for a moment how great this blog would be, should I be able to come out the other side of some of these personal challenges and maybe get a win or two. I, for one, feel I'm due for a little break in the sequence or a little bit 'o luck, so who knows. Stranger things can happen and do all the time. Sometimes things just work out in strange and wonderful ways, and I'd like to think I'm all about not wasting any of life's opportunities any longer.

So back to the bike. Thank GAWD! I am back on the train of black is the way to go so I will be painting up the brand new chrome exhaust and making all that appear like it's been showing up in my head for the past several months. Just the way to go; no doubts there. (Thanks, Watto).

Maybe the front brake braided line will show up by this weekend, too. Though it's not looking likely. Still, the exhaust will take a day to fully mount and seal up. Once that's done I do think I may grab a pen and paper and write up a list of to-do's and can't-dos and can't-affords. Maybe committing them to a sheet of paper will help me commit them to getting done a little better. I've actually given myself a deadline now, so maybe that will help as well. Usually does, even if I do wait till the last minute.

Hey- it's still a minute.

What comes around goes around

My first thought this morning was to throw a few musical notes in the mix and see how it sounds.

(see what I did there?? Hmm?)

Anyway, enough of my own pun-tastic self. Thing is, sometimes it does feel a little bit like musical chairs, this build. Back and forth and round and round, and when the music stops (i.e.: payday) something gets bought for the bike and the rest of the things continue their rounds until the next song stops. And on and on it goes. You should see the amazon and eBay watch lists... The Wizard of Oz Scarecrow's theme song comes mind... "Just because I'm presumin' that I could be kind-a-human,
If I only had buck…”

Oh wait, that's not exactly right.

Enough of that silliness. And geesh, for a Monday I seem a good mood to be in, unsure why of that, but take it I will, and move along. Move along.

Saturday was garage day this weekend. First order, and sticking with the theme of today's silliness, I went back and removed the exhaust that I so painstakingly hooked up the weekend prior. 'Cause yes, it couldn't stop myself and took the plunge and order the right exhaust... dang it all to heck. But I had to; it would have bugged the living crap out of me and that just ain't right. Can't have those kind of negative thoughts swimming in your head when you're riding a motorcycle. It's just not safe. Really. And so, in the sole interest of safety and security... I get a cool new exhaust system. Love how that works!

I do have a small side note of something to solve. In the interest in saving a few dollars.. or a hundred of them, I did go for the fully chromed version of said exhaust. So, although I've been fully integrated in the notion of a mostly if not all black motorcycle (except the engine. At least so far...), I may actually find if difficult to scratch up and paint a perfectly good and shiny new exhaust system black. Likely not... but will probably photoshop something quickly just to get an early indicator of how difficult this decision may become later this week. Ahh, the miracle of modern technology.

So, got the handlebars a little closer to completion, getting the clutch and front brake levers assembled and mounted, along with the switch controls on both sides. Nothing's connected yet, of course, 'cause that would just be way too much progress for a single weekend. Still, I was able to figure out a good length for the front brake's braided stainless steel hose and get that ordered. Crossing fingers a bit that it won't conflict or otherwise get in the way of the headlight once that's mounted. Still unsure which way to go with that decision, but will likely be able to lean on that Photoshop machine this week and make a decision. I love the idea of the one I bought a while ago; integrated turn signals in an LED housing, just simple black design. Except the quality turns out to be not that wonderful so I dunno how well it will hold up. Others are better, and correspondingly costlier, too, as things usually are.

Regardless, one step closer and not too far off from being able to tackle the wiring soon. The exhaust picture should be completed this week, assuming it arrives as planned. Once that's done, again, I can move toward the other things, those smaller things that are coming together, one at a time.

That's the idea. Get some mechanical things completed. Exhaust system; check. Front brake 'system'; check. Tank painted; check. Like that. Then it feels like getting things done. Feels like progress.

Otherwise, it's just round and round. And while it's a great song, I wanna move forward now.