Motorcycles and musicians

[marcoloco961]

Grew up on dirt bikes, Honda trail 50, Suzuki 90, Honda CR250. Had a couple of Sporty's.

Currently still own the CR250 dirt bike and a 50 for the kids, and a Harley V-rod for Dad.

[TheGimp]

Cushman (basket case) 1968, Ariel 500 Red Hunter (basket case) 1973, Triumph 650 (basket case) 1974, Honda 175 (got from my dad) 1982, HD 1975 Ironhead Sportster (basket case) 1999. Kind of a trend to rebuild basket cases.

The chopper was a full custom including batteryless solid state ignition (my design), 6 over front end, weld on hardtail, coffin gas tank, hex oil tank, King and Queen seat, upswept exhaust pipes, etc. Built in 75, Stolen in 78.

I quit riding due to having kids after the Triumph was stolen, till 1999 (well, I really didn't ride till 2000 as I spent a year rebuilding the bike). In 1998 I was riding a bicycle for exercise (Lyberia GL set up to a GC) and got hit by a car head on. Broke my leg in 9 places. It took three years to recover, during my recovery I decided I'd ride something that would make more of an impact if I ever got hit again.

The bike is currently apart on a rebuild after 10 years of riding. A rear exhaust valve started leaking. I found scoring in the cylinders and it ate one of the cam shims so I decided on a full strip down. New rod set, bearings, and all.

I trued the flywheels myself because one of the guys on a sportster site said it couldn't be done on a lathe.

I hope to have it back together this year.

I used to gut old tv sets in the late 60s to build amps. Abandoned tubes in the 70s and didn't come back to them till last year. I started building stereo amps because I have wnated to for over 20 years.

Tie in to guitar amps - the Sportster group I associate with has had a race team every year for the past 8 years (East Coast Timing Association racing at Maxton NC they hold several speed records under the SNART name). Several members of the group play musical instruments (guitar, Banjo, etc). I owe one a favor and since he plays guitar I decided to build an amp for him.

[skyboltone]

I bought a Road King this summer. Spent all my time on it. Didn't get anything else done. Windshields on a King make it wiggle all over the road. So I took it off. Bugs are small around here. I might put it back on for grasshopper country. The only other bike I'd like to have would be a 96" street bob done up with painted rims and some off the wall color like dark green or turd brown.

The King now has new Reach bars, Corbin seat (if you ain't sat on one you don't know what you're missing). Some small shiny stuff. Having custom leathers made next week. http://www.justleathers.com/

About dieing; I don't much worry about that. It's the sittin' in the wheelchair propping the door open and droolin' on my bib bit that bothers me. Somebody come shoot me Casey. I carry a 9mm sometimes when I'm riding. If somebody puts me down hard, I just hope I can still move my arms enough to shoot 'em. Teen age girls on cell phones punchin' through the RED.

[M Fowler]

I didn't even ride my Harley this year what a shame. So here is photo of a ride last year to the Families Sand Dune Saloon.

[Zippy]

I carry a 9mm sometimes when I'm riding. If somebody puts me down hard, I just hope I can still move my arms enough to shoot 'em. Teen age girls on cell phones punchin' through the RED.

Hah! I seldom go to the movies anymore but went out to watch "RED" last weekend.

RED - Retired, Extremely Dangerous.

Be well, Sky.

[bigsmitty]

Heres my 81 Husqvarna 430 wr

[M Fowler]

I've riden those, CZ, and many others. Really heavy compared to the new bikes but I sure enjoyed the old dirt bikes.

[Zippy]

Heres my 81 Husqvarna 430 wr

Sweet.

I got to ride the Husky prototype 500 twin in the early '70s. It'd rip the lugs off the tire if you pushed it too hard. Really rough on the rider, too.

I raced a 360 for a while. Fond memories...

[TheGimp]

My 1975 XLCH when I finished rebuilding it ten years ago. It is basically the same now except I finally put an electric starter in it so it has a bigger battery, and the saddle bags have been replaced with bigger ones.

[skyboltone]

My 1975 XLCH when I finished rebuilding it ten years ago. It is basically the same now except I finally put an electric starter in it so it has a bigger battery, and the saddle bags have been replaced with bigger ones.

Did the '75 come with that disc brake on the front fork? With the caliper on the top side of the fork no less. I've never ridden an iron head but I've heard lots of stories about 'em though. That's a nice one.

[TheGimp]

In 74 they changed fromt he 'Banana' Caliper to this one and kept it till 77 when they went to dual disk brakes IIRC.

Why trailing vs leading caliper I don't know, but that is how it is shown in the Factory Service Manual, so that is how I put it back together.

The caliper rattles like crazy if the engine idles at 900r/m. Below 900 the oil pump is too efficient, so I keep it up around 1000r/m/. In

74 they also went to the 30mm Showa front end which was a lot stiffer than the previous 25mm tubes. (So much for made in America, Harley was using outsourced parts as far back as the 50s.)

Even with the 30mm tubes, the front end shakes up and down badly if you get the idle r/m right.

[telentubes]

Yup, me too. Grew up racing on all sorts of dirt tracks with my father and brother. Way back when motocross was called "scrambling". Before Honda made a two-stroke. We had lots of bikes. Mostly Bultacos and 500cc and 650cc Triumphs. I remember hanging with some buddies after the races, talking about the future, and the question arose as to what to do next. I remember saying, "I'm gonna get into music". My brother kept racing TT and oval till he was around 50. I was visiting him about 2 weeks ago and we went out shopping for the Harleys on Craig's List. That was fun.

[skyboltone]

In 74 they changed fromt he 'Banana' Caliper to this one and kept it till 77 when they went to dual disk brakes IIRC.

Why trailing vs leading caliper I don't know, but that is how it is shown in the Factory Service Manual, so that is how I put it back together.

The caliper rattles like crazy if the engine idles at 900r/m. Below 900 the oil pump is too efficient, so I keep it up around 1000r/m/. In

74 they also went to the 30mm Showa front end which was a lot stiffer than the previous 25mm tubes. (So much for made in America, Harley was using outsourced parts as far back as the 50s.)

Even with the 30mm tubes, the front end shakes up and down badly if you get the idle r/m right.

Yeah, the shakes is what I've heard about them. "Only real men ride ironheads" etc. I think the early Japanese disc calipers where on top like that until somebody pointed out that in racing experience the unsprung weight should be as low as possible. I don't think the stopping is any quicker, just the handling gets iffy with all the weight up top. Upside down forks are now the norm too.
The re-incarnation of your bike is now the Street Bob. I love that bike.

[CaseyJones]

"Only real men ride ironheads"

Only real men weld ironhead cases back together, they get 'em straight so they don't leak oil. Then... one good kick and they're broke again...

Broke both ways. It takes time and skill to get it right. Time costs money. My unconditional guarantee: You broke it once. You can probably figure out how to break it again.

Real men bore ironheads .060" over first pass, thus the urban legend: "900cc bored out to 1200." Everyone knows that when the cylinders are so thin you can watch the pistons goin' up and down... indicated by the ripples in the jugs kinda like a big ol' black snake chokin' down a possum... that the durn thing makes near Top Fuel horsepower. Just the thing fer showin' them pesky Hey-ah-bussas who's boss.

Real men achieve the ideal oval and conical bores by takin' the first cut in one pass usin' God only knows what for a boring machine... it must be a good one 'cuz Grandpa used it to re-bore JDs right after the Depression. Genuine conical oval pistons fit the conical oval bores doncha know? You know you got it right when the skirts drag with the piston pins correctly oriented, then rotate the piston 90 degrees. They should rattle. Skirts should fit tight at the bottom of the cylinder and loose up near the top. That's how you know you got yer money's worth on a re-bore. It's a lost speed secret. Straight round bores are fer sissies!

[wicker]

Just yesterday I've been playing with my band on motorcyckle party, celebrating end of the season. It was all spontaneous, we've got place where we practise just next wall - they came and asked If we could play - beer and food free - sure ! Must say it was great, was everything - music, beer, stript and good fun. If I hadn't have to drive few people back home, I would probably lay drunk now somewhere.
Can't wait opening season party