Woo Hoo! A Big Project!

[Major Softie]

Nothin like a good vice.

Everyone should have at least one...

[Steve in Golden]

Nothin like a good vice.

Everyone should have at least one...

Well then I must be in good shape since I have multiple vices...

[melville]

Yep, time for the spring re-bling. It was a regular season game this time, Giants at Padres, Lincecum pitching. Going from this:





To this:





Took the entirety of the 5th through the 8th innings.

I've been charging the battery, but probably should have done so last fall. I'd taken it out to see about hearing a $1500 Sportster run, and ran it down cranking that beast over. I'm at 12.4V, after a couple days, but just barely. It should be good for the season.

[Mal S7]

How did you get so much corrosion so soon Melville?

Have you been playing dune buggy with that bike or what?

[melville]

How did you get so much corrosion so soon Melville?

Have you been playing dune buggy with that bike or what?

On a good day, and there aren't many, I can see the ocean from where the bike's parked. On the much more numerous not good days, we've got 90% humidity here. Mucho airborne salt and moisture.

The conditions here drive some of my choices in materials and finishes. I favor stainless and alu that can get buffed or don't need it.

[enigmaT120]

Hey Mel, you want to borrow my R65 for a baseball game? Not yet though, as I still have another couple of months of stupid down pours to ride through.

If we have a half way decent winter up here everybody starts whining about the drought.

[melville]

Just had my last ride of the season Wednesday. Filled it up a mile from home with Startron stabilizer. Got it home, changed the oil, drained the floatbowls, and pulled the battery. Working up a list for the winter:

1. New tires.

2. Spline lube, clutch and final drive.

3. A modest change in foot placement. Not rearsets, but same-sets. I'm a goofy foot surfer, and having my left foot ahead of my right as the stock pegs have it is mildly disturbing to me.

4. A possible change of shocks--I have a gas-charged alu bodied set with adjustable rebound damping that were supposedly take-offs from a Guzzi. They're 1/2" longer than stock. I need to measure the springs for rate and load at installed length to see if they're a match. They'll need to be a good match, as the shocks have no preload adjustment.

5. And if all that goes well then I'll be looking for the dual disc fairies to make a visit.

6. And some reblinging, mostly of the exhaust.

Here's how it looks going in to the winter. Yes, I had a wee drop in the mud on the last ride of the year:

[melville]

Got started on #3 of the winter list today. Also mounted my Xmas moto gift:



No more fishing my GPS device out of my jacket while motocaching!

[Rob]

Sometimes I will take along my motorcycle boots if I expect to cross water looking for a cache. The Gortex makes them the perfect low-level waders.

[Porge]

Mel,

Cracking read. Looking forward to using your knowledge on my airhead journey!