WHITESNAKE - Surf Ballroom 2015

If you were at the Surf Ballroom last night . . . you know what I'm talkin' about.  We got our asses blown away by David Coverdale, guitarist Reb Beach . . . and especially drummer Tommy Aldrich.  When seasoned hard rock gods get together - it's very powerful.  This group was hittin' on all cylinders - The Reb Beach guitar solo was like a fully loaded freight train of molten lava during an earthquake . . . we all stood stunned as to where that sound came from ? . . . The music rocked your core.  Coverdale continues as one of the ultimate rock showmen after all these "thousands of years" as he says . . . from his days in Deep Purple, Coverdale / Page . . . and the ballad masters of his own band, Whitesnake.  I had never seen the crowd in the Surf with more hands in the air, smiles on faces, and overheard quotes like . . . Holy Fuck they fuckin' rock - That was Awesome . . . It was really cool.

Reb Beach (above) ranks as my favorite rock guitarist.   

Joel Hoekstra compliments this band perfectly with his classically-trained licks.

He played brilliantly.

Tommy Aldrich - Rock Drummer of the Gods

Enough Said.

Whitesnake - The Purple Tour 2015  (A+)

Seat Saver Valves

The Rowe Company is now closed . . . but there's still some of these Seat Saver valves out there.  Rowe Part No. 721-63.  Rowe made these a special head size and stem length(maybe just a touch longer) so you can move your seat OUT a bit on those old gold, bronze type, panhead valve seats that H-D used in their heads for many years.  This may save you the headache of changing, milling and pressing in new valve seats, that can fall out or crack your cylinder head.

Full Tilt Weekend

Rode up to Rochester after work Friday to watch Darrel wire up his FXRT Sturgis Runner.  No pics yet (it's a secret build) but just wait til' you see this thing jam by in the left lane . . . pretty cool Hux.  They kept me hydrated and fed and I hit the road Sat am for JB's Custom Cycle in Pine Island . . . then met Pat's rebel riders for the run to Full Tilt !

JB's Sportster is really cool . . . a hardcore Evo urban weapon.

Shea(left) threw together this and blasted up from KC at 90+ . . . 

Irish Luck for him everytime.

Panhead Steve said the pan is running great (Hi Susan !)

Bravetown is everywhere (nice talkin' with you bro . . .)

Yours was one of my favorites . . .

Really bitchin' iron showed up . . . This is a really great show, everything rode in on it's own with pistons jumpin' and pipes smokin'. . . . great show, great food, music . . . and the door prizes and trophies ain't too shabby either.  Perfect day.  Full Tilt Chopper Show 2015

Kenny made it !  

(the next photo would get me a XXX rating -couldn't print it)

We really missed Michael - 

and we hope Zeus gets better soon for more great years.

This ironhead had neato paint - I dig Orange.

"Yes dear, my Triumph made it, and it's runnin' great - don't worry."

This Panhead - One of my Favorites

 Another one of my favorites !

Someday we'll all be riding these - smart fella - cool bike dude !

ADVICE:  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Zach's shovel must run great due to rusty spark plugs.

This chopper is rad . . .

Baas & Co. 

Don't be fooled by grease and dirt . . . these suckers run.

Minnesota backroad burners . . . !

 Show n Go n Sunflowers 

 Union Speed Crew ( nice iron Jordan !)

Joe (Minnesota Joe) always gives me the time.  We noticed our chops have a lot in common like the Pipes, Gear Cover, E Carb, Box Light, Tank, etc.  Joe and Pete and Zach, Kevin's . . all do a super job with Full Tilt.  Lots of volunteer work goes into it, and they do a great job.  Thanks for all your efforts and puttin' on a great show for all of us to enjoy.  See ya'll soon.  
With much respect:  -Noot

Waiting for Screws

Waiting for Guides

VHT Black

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. . .