Its a Cover Up!

Cheers to Arcadian and Rowan for the stickers for the tank. 
Got my Greasy Kulture one from the mag on there too!


Still plenty of space on there though............

Running repairs!

The Harley has been running fine, and when ever it has been dry enough I have been out on it. No excuse is too small - haircut, going to get milk, dropping a cheque off to a mate....

Its ace to be out on the road, and especially on something like this bike. just the style I want to be riding. It sure turns heads!

first mishap last night, got stuck in a load of traffic, and not being comfortable to be bombing up the outside I was pottering along all stopping and starting. Cleared the traffic, pulled up the the lights and I felt the clutch cable go!

Balls!

Luckily I had stopped in a quiet area next to a tyre garage. the guys there were great, and lent me some tools I didn't have with me to investigate. Got the clutch cover off, and the brass finial and cable no longer wanted to be friends. the cable had pulled through with the solder.

Due to the time there wasn't much I could do, so the guys said I could leave the bike there over night.

3-4 mile walk home wasn't too bad - I was actually pleased that I knew what the problem was. 18 months ago I would have just phoned the AA, but my confidence is definitely greater now then then.

Walked back down this morning with a rucksack full of tools and stuff.

Got the cable off, re-threaded the finial, splayed the ends, and re-soldered the bugger in place. I had to cut about 10mm off the cable as it didn't want to go over the old solder.

it worked a treat, but the clutch arm fits dead tight to the clutch mechanism, so I had to trim the whole lot right back. no grinders at the garage (due to H&S) so just used pliers.

got it all together, but noticed that the base of the cable - where it threads into the engine case was damaged and the threaded section had a crack from over tightening. I of course finished it off and sheared the thread in my hast, but managed to get the bike home despite  dripping a bit of oil.

A trip down the dealer, and a new cable was acquired. the sheath section fitted spot on, but the actual cable is had the wrong attachment on the end. I cut the old one off and made up a replacement on the lathe, but the cable was now too short. 

Double Balls!

I now need a full length of cable to make a new inner cable to the right size!

despite the problem, i actually enjoyed it all. instead of showing contempt and resentment against my new machine, I actually feel like i know it a bit better, and enjoyed the camaraderie that I got in the garage when fixing it!

oh - and there is now a lovely oil patch in the road from when i was changing the cables over! haha!

New ride - Need Stickers

So the Harley arrived tonight. Absolutely made up with it. 
Took if for a blast for a couple of miles. Its got plenty of poke
that's for sure. Couldnt really give it any, as its been raining,
and was only just dry enough to be riding with no front muddy...


anyway - here it is!

I wasnt too fussed with the paint on the tank - lets just say not

to my taste...

So ive done a quick fix with some stickers....

If you have any stickers to donate to the cause, please

let me know any they will be gratefully received!

Summer's ride

Well ive been a bad boy!

Been dying to get out on the road, and with the Relic nowhere near finished I've been having thoughts about getting something to ride for the summer. Eyes started wandering as to what to get to eat up some miles, but still have the style of bike I like. Toddy pointed me to a couple of Sportsters on eBay that had already been tinkered with, rather than yet another project. 

Anyways, long story short i've bought a 2002 883 sportster that has a fenland choppers frame, all running and on the road. It'll be arriving tonight, I'm already insured, so as soon as it comes of the guys van I'll be taking it out, and learning how to ride for real! 

Never ridden a hardtail before (apart from the test ride) so I'll be taking it nice and easy!

Hopefully I can get a good load of miles under my belt - especially as i'll be riding it to the Hayride!

Donhou Bicycles

I don't normally deviate much from motorbikes on here, 

but I have to take my hat off to a good mate of mine. 

Donny helped me get the Relic project going last March, 

and since then he has set up his hand made custom push 

bike business, Donhou Bicycles.

http://www.donhoubicycles.com/

Donny was a mate from the design course I took in uni all 

them years ago, after finishing the Mongol Rally he took off 

into the sun set and rode all the way to Singapore under his 

own steam. during this "tour de force" he realisd that he 

wanted to make bike frames - and embark on a risky process 

of learning to make frames to make money.

1 year on from starting, Donny has just won won best in show 

for the bespoked show in Bristol - a showcase for the best in 

bespoke bike frames in the UK.

The bike that won was based on this HD flat tracker - the picture 

provided by his client...

7 I love the bike he's made, its very WW2 inspired, but 

with all his modern twists!

Donny - I tip my hat to you. Follow your dreams mate, 

and with this standard of bike you'll be flying soon 

enough!

Brat XS650

Got the new Megas for the XS the other day

Think I can probably push them back another couple of inches  by modifying the bracket....

VL Springers

Rudely awoken by the postie, however I don't mind  as look what he brought me!

Stock XS engine strip

Spent the whole day yesterday taking the engine out, top end
strip and re build.

11 hours it took me with a bit of a break to weld some exhaust 
for a mate!

Here's the pics:-







Got it all back together, engine turns over fine, but no fire in 
the hole. I'm guessing the battery is totally flat, so it's on charge 
over night and I'll try again tomorrow!!