How I spent my weekend

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Toad: Hard time of year for me too Brother. I have clinical depression that is treated with medication, then the SAD kicks in around the first week of November. Been treating that with light therapy this year, helps a bit. I go to extra meetings and try to get out for walks in the fresh air. Excercise helps too. I must admit that there are days that come this time of year when I get through them hour by hour, with lots of prayer and when I get off my knees before bed, I'm glad to see the tail lights of that particular day. The good thing about those kind of days is that they pass and "all things are possible" through my HP, which strengthens me.....Here's a pic from RFL 07' to remind you how good life really is Brother....

It's just fricking scary how alike we are. Are you my good twin or somethin bro? Am I a dang doppleganger of you? I had to just sit there and stare at you sometimes at RFL in amazement. God don't do anything "by chance", least ways this drunk would bet on it that there's a reason for everything. Doc Long prescribed more physical therapy for me this year, he says it's as much for Christmas depression as it is for me back. Imagine that. I miss all you tramps too,

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Jazzed_N_MD

Start a task, find a problem, figure an alternative and live with it. Probably happier, too.

Thanks again, Jazz!

Went crawling around the paint room today and picked out my "new" tanks - orphan survivors of different wrecks at a steal of a price. Don't know if you've looked lately, but HD sheetmetal is obscenely expensive. I'm paying a third of what I would have paid on eBay, and I don't have to pay shipping, or worry about them being less-than-cherry when they arrive!

Next week I get with the painter, pick out a color, and put him to it. Once the paint's on, I'll ride the shovel to the shop, strip it, and turn the welder loose on it, so he can install that tank-mount adapter kit. Give me a chance to redo the wiring run up the backbone of that frame, too.

Also got to put a few miles on The Banshee in something other than second gear (traffic's been crazy all week), so I'm feeling much better than yesterday! Have a good weekend, y'all!
:ghug

[best]

Drove down to pick up my son when he got off ship the other day.
50 degree weather down near Norfolk VA. I had seen 10 bikes out over the course of the 3 days down that way.

My wife asked what is up with the old honda sitting and waiting to bcome a project.
Only needs...
Brakes
Tires
gas tank
tune up

and it will be good enough to pass an inspection.

She replied... Oh ok so it is junk that will sit a little longer.

*LOL*

I think she is more accepting of the fact that a 5 minute job never is a 5 minute job.

hmmm

Just remembered... needs a new seat as well but I already have the parts to built my own.

Give me 5 more minutes and maybe I will remember what else it needs.
The more I think on it...maybe she is right *LOL*

[BillJ]

Good to hear from you, Best. I was fixin' to send up a flare!

Projects is what projects is. They never get done on time, always cost more than we thought, and frequently incite violence and foul language, but when (if ever) we're done, we can look on 'em with pride!

I have that James Comet sitting in my shed. For a long time I put off working on it because I couldn't find all the original cosmetic bits to do a concours restoration. I finally realized that it's never going to be worth anything even as a 100-point resto, so now I'm thinking I'll get it running, do some wild paint scheme on it, and enter it in one of the chopper shows just for kicks!

Maybe I've been hanging out at The Horse site too long!

[best]

Yes the short list is what I posted *LOL*

I should strip it down 100 % and give it all new paint. While I have it apart...may as well redo wires and maybe the heads also.
An 82 Night Hawk 750 will still only be worth $500 when finished *LOL*

hmmm Maybe send it with my son. His sqaud is called Nighthawks.

[Hurricane]

An 82 Night Hawk 750 ...$500
The enjoyment of restoring An 82 Night Hawk ........ Priceless

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

An 82 Night Hawk 750 ...$500
The enjoyment of restoring An 82 Night Hawk ........ Priceless

I know that's right Hurricane. My wife and I were talling about the upcoming season. She says Mertyl's pee-pad is too small fer her backside, but that it would be a bloody shame to change the look of the scoot now that I have it how I want it. (What a blessing this gal is). Me bein the dummy I am, thought she was was pumpin me fer a sled of her own, so I bit and said the wrong thing entirely; "Babe ya know we can't swing a sled fer ya this year, not even a used HD (she' wouldn't have nothin else unfortunately). She pipes up and says back at me; "No ya dumbarse, start collecting the parts bit fer bit to build 'us' a touring bike!" Is this lady right on or what? A.) She knows I love to build 'em. B.) She knows how special it is fer me to have her on the fender with me.

[BillJ]

My wife could not get comfortable on any HD we tried, including a Dyna, one buddy's Road King, another buddy's FatBoy, and the '96 FLH I bought, thinking "Anyone can be comfortable on an FLH. It's a freakin' rolling sofa, for Pete's sake!" Wrong!

The only reason we knew a BMW would work was because we'd rented one in Seattle, and she rode for two days without complaint.

Then I bought this FXR, which came with a two-piece Mustang saddle. I had to off the rider's seat and install that cop saddle, to get it where I could ride the thing, but she has actually been comfortable on that Mustang passenger seat. We haven't taken any real rides on it yet, but the fact that she can ride for a half-hour or so without hurting is very promising!

So, you might want to look at Mustang seats when you're shopping.

[BillJ]

Well, the red seemed like a good idea when I was looking at a pair of orphan tanks, but when the welder commenced to chopping and fabbing my frame the orphans turned out to be incompatible. I put them back in the paint room, and the parts guy dug up a set of matched, factory-paint tanks in a nice metallic blue. Nice enough I won't be painting over them any time soon, anyway!

Hence, The Bitch is now black and blue. At some time in the near future I'll get fenders painted to match, and just run with it for a while. Might delay repainting the FXR, but I can live with that.

As for the seat-post: because we changed the geometry slightly, to clear the flat-side tanks, it is in desperate need of heavy-duty springs, and perhaps an extra spring or two in the frame shaft to compensate. Still looks like a winner, especially after I build a backrest to match. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[The_Hammer]

Jesse, I always felt like I was ten feet tall and bullet-proof when I was drunk and high, so now when I am buildin a scoot, I saddle myself with only three limitations:

Is it my HP's will?
Do I have the money?
Do I have the time?

So go man go! Sittin right behind that stuff up there, the only things that can stand in yer way is you! And if'n I know you, you'll surely git er done.

[BillJ]

Update:

I stripped the ass-end of The Bitch, mounted and drilled a new ducktail fender, and have the sheetmetal at the painter's, ready to be matched to those shiny new fatbobs. I have the pogo-stick installed, but yesterday learned there's a way to make it even stiffer and more supportive, so I'll do that tomorrow, while I'm cleaning up the mess I've made in the garage. I'll also slap on a new chain, and replace all the cotter-pins holding the brake-rod connections together - very important!!! The Bitch should be back on the road and frightening small children and dogs before February 1st.



The Bitch in pieces. Looks like someone opened a big ol' can o' ugly in there, don't it?

Last night we had a dinner party to celebrate my 30th AA b-day. Some of my favorite folks, including two sober riders and my long-time earthling road dog were there, all laughing and cutting up together. What a blast, and what a blessing! I'm hoping one or two of them will join us at RFL '08.

Then, this morning, I had The Banshee out for a ride to my favorite meeting. Got to sit around afterwards jaw-boning with a couple other Harley guys. One just got out of the joint after a relapse cost him 18 months of lockdown. I had the opportunity to share some E, S & H with him. Yet another blessing, and wouldn't it be sweet if he could join us at RFL?

Just to annoy... I mean inspire! ...some of our northern friends, I made sure to get some pictures of the day's ride.



The Banshee and I enduring the harsh Texas winter.



This one's for Toad, and any other vets here. A property owner built this tower in a private park, to honor and remember Vietnam-Era MIAs. A sacred place, like The Wall or the chapel at Eagle's Nest. At the bottom it says THEY SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. Amen!

[recoveringnky]

Bill
I can't see the pics you posted? Can you try again? I'd love to see 'em!

[BillJ]

Update:

I stripped the ass-end of The Bitch, mounted and drilled a new ducktail fender, and have the sheetmetal at the painter's, ready to be matched to those shiny new fatbobs. I have the pogo-stick installed, but yesterday learned there's a way to make it even stiffer and more supportive, so I'll do that tomorrow, while I'm cleaning up the mess I've made in the garage. I'll also slap on a new chain, and replace all the cotter-pins holding the brake-rod connections together - very important!!! The Bitch should be back on the road and frightening small children and dogs before February 1st.



The Bitch in pieces. Looks like someone opened a big ol' can o' ugly in there, don't it?

Last night we had a dinner party to celebrate my 30th AA b-day. Some of my favorite folks, including two sober riders and my long-time earthling road dog were there, all laughing and cutting up together. What a blast, and what a blessing! I'm hoping one or two of them will join us at RFL '08.

Then, this morning, I had The Banshee out for a ride to my favorite meeting. Got to sit around afterwards jaw-boning with a couple other Harley guys. One just got out of the joint after a relapse cost him 18 months of lockdown. I had the opportunity to share some E, S & H with him. Yet another blessing, and wouldn't it be sweet if he could join us at RFL?

Just to annoy... I mean inspire! ...some of our northern friends, I made sure to get some pictures of the day's ride.



The Banshee and I enduring the harsh Texas winter.



This one's for Toad, and any other vets here. A property owner built this tower in a private park, to honor and remember Vietnam-Era MIAs. A sacred place, like The Wall or the chapel at Eagle's Nest. At the bottom it says THEY SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. Amen!

[BillJ]

Sorry for posting all that twice. I thought I could delete the original post with the bad picture links, but can't.

[The_Hammer]

thanks for the posts, they did both-annoy and inspire. I gotta say it, I miss ya man, and sure miss the fun we had on that one loop through ht Amish country that toad turned us on to. Ceeripes man, this sobriety thing has made it so easy for me to get a wad a hankies caught in my throat! a month (God willin) it'll be ten years and I aint seen fit to act like I don't care when I love someone...imagine that.

[toad]

Thanks Bill, I thought it was because of my computer that the pics didn't come through. I appreciate you reposting everything...........Thanks especially for sharing the tower.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by toad

Thanks especially for sharing the tower.

Figured you'd appreciate that. Next time you're in town we can go pay our respects. In the meanwhile I'll try to learn more about it.