Noot

C-Ya . . . Scot Breithaupt RIP

I bought my very 1st issue of Bicycle Motocross Action Magazine in the summer of 1978. I was hooked. Scot Breithaupt, Stu Thomsen, Brett Patterson . . . they were my BMX heros. Racing, Competition, Gearing, Starts . . . and spinnin' that chain ring as fast as possible were what BMX was all about. This was such an important part of my life, I've saved this issue all these years with the cut-out for my subscription - the start of my rebel youth; riding and racing BMX, promoting a couple of my own races, and breaking arms and legs. I ordered a set of those BMXA Wings he's wearing, and my friends thought they were stupid, until they realized how fast I was wearing a wing on my right sleeve.(wish I still had it) If it wasn't for Scot Breithaupt, my life would not be as full. Thank you Scot and may you forever rest in peace and never be forgotten.

No. 1

A fast lady on a moped . . . .

I can't figure out my bike. It starts ok. I can get it to idle. On the kickstand, it idles, seems responsive. I don't want to rev it too much (new motor) not broken in yet. I can poke it into gear and start up the street . . . and as soon as I begin to accelerate - it starts (pretty violently) poppin' out the carb. pop pop pop spit spit spit - Doesn't pop out the pipes. Just the carb. As soon as it's kinda "under a load" it starts doing it. WTF?

I've tried the following - with no change in the results

- Pushrods set (checked twice)

- Timing set (ran at different settings, no change)

- 2 different carbs with all types of

different jetting (no change)

- Checked wire continuity

- Checked spark plugs (non-resistor) 0 ohms - perfect

- New fuel (twice)

- No Intake Leaks

______________________________________

I just changed the condenser this morning
(but haven't tried it yet )

Maybe a have a cam that's off ?

Next thing will be the degree wheel I guess ?

Last night I was running (kinda idling) along in 2nd gear, and I noticed a lady on a moped was behind me. I went to accelerate and speed up a bit, and the bike started popping out the carb - so she just pulled out and passed me. Probably the only time a lady on a moped passed an XR/XLR performance motorcycle. What an embarrassment. As soon as I get this thing figured out, I want a rematch. This sucks.

Chase's Sportster

About as cool as it gets. Photo by ATR

Featured: The Ironhead Sportster

One of the biggest custom motorcycle shows in the world is recognizing the Sportster Ironhead mark.
Mooneyes Japan - Yokohama 2015

Jeff Wright's Bike

Jeff is really good at a lot of things,

but, you know he works hard at it.

Really though . . .

This thing looks fast as fuck

Belt spinnin' around

Carbs spittin' fuel back at you

Pipes turnin' blue

Racefit tone

Motor - Frame - Wheels

( Need a video of a burn-out and maybe a wheelie )

We know he can ride it !

1961 XLCH

I'm happiest when riding my motorcycle. Otherwise I'm kinda cranky, which is attributing to the increase in my gray hair. The old CH is my favorite . . . ( photo by Darrel with his fancy phone ) That was fun Hux, see you this weekend !

3500 Miles in 2014

I'm only at about 600 miles this year. I'll add about 325 to 350 this weekend. Then about 1,800+ . . . then another 800+ . . . then maybe another 350 to 600 miles in the Fall (attempt a trip to KC again). This panhead chopper is set-up to ride. Just rad enough to keep a guy awake . . . and the Jeff Wiley balanced flywheel assembly smooths out the vibes from the '52 roller bottom. A couple changes from last year include: New rubber, Yost Power Tube, Beston grips and battery eliminator (which the jury is still out on this thing). I'd like to add a battery again(and in-line AMP gauge) to see what I'm putting out for amperage. It's keeps overcharging these cheapo batteries too much, or the vibration is breaking the inner core contacts of the battery. Carry a flash light.

White Knuckle Ride

I like this build from the Born Free 7 Show last week. A really cool show stopper. The aluminum rims look so good . . . but on a rigid they can bend and flex easier. The "show bikes" you can ride a distance - I like best. Most would just need to change the seat, dinky air cleaner(or add an air cleaner) and have a better headlight and brake light for a better bet on the road. Sure, you can ride these things anyway - just depends how tough you are . . . and you gotta have a place to tie some shit on. This is why I dig "ride-in" bike shows, and actually the Biker Build-Off television series really showed off how you can build a custom, in a window of time - and ride it 400-600 miles to the event. Maybe BF8 could incorporate that into the show somehow? Meet in Reno, Apple Valley, etc . . . and ride to Cali . . . The (Bobby?) dude who rode his custom last year from Chicago impressed me. I mean, more people would even get to see your hard work if you could ride it more places, instead of in the back of a truck or van. Still, A+ Sweet Knucklehead - Awesome ! ( not much carbon in the pipes . . . )

Custom Cycle Engineering

Original CCE set of these on my panhead . . .

and I'll tell you, they don't leak.

3 Day Weekends = No sleep

In between rock concerts, fishin', parades, bon fires, beer tents, bicycle runs, chopper runs and cook outs . . . we still manage to get some motorcycle building done. Polished shovelheads set-up for Andrews BH cam. 1941 FL motor ready for the frame !

Have A Great Holiday Weekend !

Perfect Panhead

That's What I Want . . .

1. The rear intake pushrod had a "grind" feeling to it when I spun it. The ball end of the pushrod appeared to have some tiny flat spots on it - so I tried a different one (but it still felt weird, it didn't spin nice and free). I noticed the cup-end of the tappet adjuster didn't fit the ball-end of the push rod very good, so I changed them both - now it spins free and easy after adjustment. That's what I want.

2. Cleaned the carb real good and soaked the Intermediate needle jet to clean those little holes and blew everything out with compressed air. This L-Carb works great on here - Starts great, everything. That's what I want . . .

3. I set the Intake Valves with very little clearance. Tightened her up a bit so those big Branch ports are "right on" - crisp response. That's what I want . . .

4. Exhaust valves a bit looser. Make sure you can still push-in at the top on the pushrods, and the spring loaded rockers will pop them back out - you don't want them to stick in - that's the way I run them and don't have any problems - Many miles without adjustments. That's what I want . . .

5. The mag is tight and solid, I can move it to retard for starting, but it's tight, (due to the o-ring under the mag body) No leaks, and solid in the advanced position at high rpms. That's what I want . . .

6. Stop light to stop light. Flyin' low on an early ironhead stroker digger. 75 degree day, perfect air density, 20T trans gear . . . XLR pipes in my ears . . . acceleration, 60's style !
That's what I got.

187mph cont. . .

Clem Johnson and Jim Leineweber

This bike(Vincent) evolved through the years, and eventually went in the low 8s at 187mph. I recently talked to Leineweber on the phone about KR cams and timing . . . heck of a nice guy and a true innovator in the world of motorcycle racing.

Stroker Abuse

It's been a year since this digger ran . . . so sad. The stained S&S carb full of piss-yellow, stinky gas. The magneto was loose and shook at higher rpms(bad). Oil puking from the mag/cam seal. Dirt, dust, cat pee, oil stains and cobwebs. With too many irons in the fire, workin' on other stuff, it was just being neglected under a old bed sheet, pushed in the corner. In a few days, I should have it back in-full-tune. On the street . . . ready for stoplight to stoplight. Flyin' low. It's so fun to ride this one . . .

Lil' Joe: Wandering Nomad

Joe hit the road this morning for Minnesota. Joe, Cheryl & myself had a great time the last couple weeks. Sitting around the dinner table, hearing stories, conversation, workin' on bikes and ridin' the backroads. See you next week at the Full Tilt Chopper Show, St Paul, Minnesota, JULY 11th.
The best summertime bike show in the midwest . . .

On the run . . . Monticello, Iowa

It was good to be on the black '64 ironhead again . . . a two day trip through Iowa back country. Small towns, hometown bars, cheese burgers, canned beer and tent campin' with Al & Bill at the J&P Cycles Open House Party. This event really ain't my scene, but it's always a good time for some reason?

The party and camp was fun . . . rode in heavy rain on the way home. Al was going to enter his custom shovel chopper in the Vintage Show on Sunday.

Summertime in Iowa means outdoor concerts . . . great rock from Tom Keifer (who is one of the best you'll ever see - voice and music is spot on - Best Performance of 2015 so far . . .