If this place was down the street I'd be hangin' out there all the time - until they kicked me out. It would be fun to hop on yer scoot and go see all the small shops across the USA . . . and we'd have to be here for probably a couple days - at least. Neat.
Small Shop
If this place was down the street I'd be hangin' out there all the time - until they kicked me out. It would be fun to hop on yer scoot and go see all the small shops across the USA . . . and we'd have to be here for probably a couple days - at least. Neat.
Baron Roth Kelly
The Crazy Painters: The "Baron" Crozier, BDR and Tom Kelly. My old paint rag given to me by Spina and Dennis Roth. I need to wash it a little . . .
Saturday 8am
It only took me about 5 hours, but I got the cams in, shimmed, tappets installed, cam cover screws chased, cover holes reamed . . . all buttoned up and ready to go. I wrinkled painted the gear cover with PJ1, then sprayed flat black over the top (otherwise it's too shiny). The frame & swingarm are back from powdercoat. I got some parts I needed - and the '78 Bastard Stepchild Sporty Project can now continue.(PS. it's a goofy name - but it is what it is)
WTF is 48 ?????????
This Harley "Dark Custom" jazz is some scarrrry shit . . . 48 What? 48 dollars, 48 lashes,
48 hotdogs, 48 mermaids all in a row . . .
Parts Stash
This guy from Texas has quite the "45" collection - Yes mother, those are springer front ends !Inspiration
If you need some ideas . . . there's nothing better than Street Chopper or Custom Bike.Ask the old gray beard down the block - he's probably got a whole pile of 'em . . .
Private Parking
About ten years ago, when in Sturgis at the Broken Spoke Saloon - if you ride a '69 or older bike, you could park inside the fence off Lazelle. It was cool since all the patrons could check out the old iron, the band was playin', a few cocktails . . . then they quit doin' it for some reason? I kinda dug it since I didn't have to look for parking - just pull in whenever !
Laconia Bend
You've got (3) different types of two-piece, internal cable handlebars for the Sportster XLH and XLCH. Most types are the traditional 'Buckhorn' style bend. The more rare types are the 'Speedster bend' which were standard on the early CH . . . and the 'Laconia-bend' (pictured) arepretty damn rare. I never hardly see them any more. I like them best. Like the speedster, but the bar ends angle back more - parallel to the motorcycle. I run them on my '64 touring bike. (this '59 xlch sold on ebay last week for about $7300 bucks)
Sleds, Tombstones & High Life
Traveled about 70 miles Sunday. The fog was heavy so we rode the Cedar River all the way to Orchard, past the trout stream, then groomed trails to the famous "Staff Bar" in Osage. After a few refreshing $1 beers and a Tombstone pizza - we were all 'fixed up' and ready. Rode ditches back to Floyd - and then the river back to CC. Explored many back trails, woods and CRP land - the river scenes looked like a Hamms Beer commercial - with crystal waters flowing next to the ice. A winter wonderland with plenty of eagles, deer and turkeys. A perfect day that happens only a few weeks a year. Only in Iowa.
Eagle River World's Championship
See if P.J. can be the first to win (4) of 'em? Eagle River, WI is the place to be this weekend.On the high banked iced 1/2 mile oval.
The main event is Sunday at 3:00pm.
(this is also my 400th blog post - hip hip horray)
Bob Spina's Latest . . .
Looks as if Spina has been at it again . . ? This time the "Flake Wizard" tricked out Paul Tracy's Lincoln complete with stripes, scallops, sparkles, sequins, micros, glitter, whatever you call it . . . it get's your attention - Have I got your attention? You'd better listen up - You wanna get flakey?Call me - and I'll call Uncle Bob for you - by appointment only.
Get it done now !
Remember when everyone took their top end off every year - or every other year to check the cylinders, valves, guides . . . just to make sure all was well before the spring riding season????
Fuck it's Cold
Most of Jack Frost is on the inside of my windshield - while trying to see - defrost blowing ice cold air - cloth seat is hard as a rock - power steering grinding & squeeling - brakes are hard - rear view mirror is iced over - lights are flickering - motor is running on 6 or 7 of it's 8 cylinders.-15 or -20 . . . FIC . . . Fuck it's cold . . .
Pinstriping: How-To . . .
I should be getting my frame for the "Bastard Stepchild" 1978 XLH Sporty Project back very soon. Then I can stripe it up a bit - a little on the swingarm . . . way way cool in my One Shot Brown with Ivory. These books were originally Ed Roth how-to books (Spina is in most of them too, since he helped with them) Heck, about 1/2 the illustrations are Spina - you can tell his style. The "black covers" on the left are from Spina and Tom Kelly. Good stuff.
Hydraglide with sidecar
I saw a lot of neat sidecar rigs this year. More than normal. It's nice to see folks restoring and running these . . . this one is especially nice - from Iowa too !
Still the champion . . .
Morty "the official shop cat" is known by all my friends from here to Vegas. He "guards" the property about as good as a cat can do. I've had a lot of cats - and Morty is the coolest. He's also a hell-of-a-fighter. Pound for pound - a Mayweather or maybe a Pac-Man. All the local cats know this too. They've tangled with the Mort - and have the scars to prove it. Well, this big cat (the biggest in the neighborhood) has been "testing" Morty's territory lately. I come back from work yesterday - and Morty has him cornered under my front steps. This orange/white cat is easily twice the size of Morty. Suddenly, Morty dives under the steps - and drags this cat from under - out into the snow - He's chewing the cat's head - dragging it, kicking - the other cat is cryin' and pissin' all over the place. He tries to run and Morty recaptures - biting, clawing and kicking . . . it was ugly. Morty chased the cat, all the way down the street all while re-tackling and more clawing and biting. This other cat tried jumping in a pine bush - Morty went in after him. When it all was over, the Mort now has a scratch on his nose. Always does. Morty is still the champ - he keeps his belt another week.
My first job . . .
If I wanted to buy this 1970 Camaro . . . my ol' man said I have to get a job. So, I did. In a local autobody shop.I cleaned the paint booth filters, swept the floor, mowed the lawn AND . . . if I was lucky - I got to sand a little on this custom van they were painting. The year was 1981 - and this is the van - I about freaked out when I found it on the internet the other day. The front was almost totally "pink" with bondo. But, when it left the shop - it was the raddest thing to hit the streets. Paint by Walsh Enterprises: Dave(Scheib), Peck, Finch, Carr . . . and Lil' Noot helped too.
Thanks Jeff & Fatty
I needed new stickies for my bike, tool box, guitar, the Dodge, the van, garage window, Morty . . .
Doc Dytch, Payne, Fringer & Riley
Heros. Trailblazers of Harley-Davidson performance. Whatever you want to call it - These men helped set the records and set the standards of speed in the late 60s and early 70s. Most of this happened in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa . . . the midwest. Where Winter brings out creativity. You can't ride - so work on it.
The Best Superglide
A customer would bring in his bone stock '72. I always liked it. The customer became addicted to a certain white powdery substance. The bike went away. I wonder where it is - Is it still stock? The one that got away. . .
Need to Know
Pushrod adjustments for hydraulic lifters: Number of wrench flats to turn down once there is no up-and-down (valves fully closed - piston at TDC). Also number of threads-per-inch for popular pushrod versions.
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