Tulum & Isla Mujeres - Yucatan

I stayed in Tulum pueblo(city population-no resort) in a palapa roof, mosquito netted dwelling.  We traveled around on biciclatas(bicycles).  Many people live in makeshift shacks constructed with tar paper, particle board, blue tarps and palapa leaves for roofing.  Poor - but everyone seems quite happy.  
Below: I'm pictured at Tulum near a ruins that was used to torture and punish adulterers (men or women who mess around with someone other than their spouse) Those Mayans are short and small, but they reconquered the Spanish (after losing the first time) - and they don't mess around with lawbreakers.  The Mayans are fierce fighters.  Everything down here is beautiful, but fierce.  Their demise was believed to be a virus brought from Europe . . . hmmmmm, sound familiar with what's happening now?

Each morning we'd take off on bikes and ride to ruins or cenotes (large fresh water fed caverns) and we'd snorkel and swim to beat the heat.  One particular cenote had caves that you swim into - and once inside the ceiling opened up to reveal hundreds of bats flying around your head.  Depths of 30 to 100 feet under you at any moment - water clear as a bell - so it was nervous seeing the sudden depths beneath you.

Ropes at many times were strung to help lead you through tunnels.

We traveled by boat and floated by life jacket through the Sian Ka'an biosphere which is a 1.9 million acre wildlife refuge located near the Muyil ruins.  We had to hole-up in this Mayan pueblo during a heavy shower.  It was also infested with "baby bats."

Mexico is beautiful, but it has many things big and small that can kill you.  With just our feet and small backpack, we traveled,  hiked, walked and explored a lot of places while in Mexico.  On the go most of the day and night.  Stray dogs, scorpions(in our room) geckos, iguanas, snakes and the mosquito.  The sights, smells and vibes of the Yucatan are spiritual - and get your nerves and mind racing.  It's a trip.  A beautiful place, but pay attention !

After all that energy expired . . . we ate and drank like kings.  Mayans know how to eat, drink and celebrate life. This land is . . . "Where the Sky is Born."

We will be back.  If someday I just disappear - you may come find me (if you're brave enough) near the jungles of Coba (pronounced Co Baaa) Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox (Hole Bosh) or just riding up and down the coast on my (now very rusty) Harley WLA stopping to eat fish and drink rum.  Day after Day.

XLCH California Bound

Crated & Boxed . . . California Dreamin'

Larry LaDue & RAT PATROL

I'm out on an island, down in Mexico last week . . . and I run into a Texas gent named Will that knows more about 392 Chryslers than 'bout anyone . . . and he did a lot of drag racin' back in the day(1967-69) with Larry LaDue and Rat Patrol (which went in the low 7s . . . and eventually the 6s at 200mph.  Now the original dragster has been restored and runs again.  Glory !  That's super cool my Amigo !

Here's Will and his gal at "The Joint" . . . as we ducked a rain shower and had a refreshment.  Nice folks - fun talkin' with them - as we kept runnin' into 'em around the island.  Salud !

Mirror Mirror . . . "Who's the most wicked of them all ?"

The K . . .

Drop the Hammer

Look kids . . . real motorcycles !
Top: road race brake, Ceriani, Wico, glass tank
Center: Dick Hammer with XLR motor, exhaust cross under,
aluminum mounts, rubber on  pegs and brake, Pirellis
Ready to smoke you at the track !
Bottom: This is the coolest . . .timeless.
Billet is dead - Iron is forever.

Pogo Seat Spring

If you have an aftermarket solo-seat post and it's kinda weak, I put a couple shovelhead valves spring over the post to give it more pressure at the "bottom out" position, so maybe it just helps keep the seat off the fender on the bigger bumps?  A little added spring pressure.  Or you could go on Nutrisystems? 

150 374 and 150 372

These are the Big Twin Side-Valve flywheels for 74" and 80" motors.   Building a complete motor, and he wants to "keep it crusty" on the outside.  Fresh on the inside. 

VCR, Videocassette Recorder

I had to get one . . .

Fall is here . . .

Go get FAT for Winter . . . Snowshoe is ready - The Hunt - Bow, Muzzle Loader, Shotgun, Bow . . . if you miss . . . there's always pizza & beer.  Fall colors.  The Cedar, The Wapsi, The Mighty Mississippi - all is here for you now.  The Harvest.  Tractors, wagons & trucks goin' 30mph over the next hill !

"He just left . . .

Basically, I'll be living here for a week, as I've done every couple years.  Again brushin' up on my Spanish, learning the roads, identifying different fish I catch - and how to clean and cook them.  Enduring 100+ degree tropical heat, 90% humidity, a hurricane, swimming in cenotes to cool off . . . and more ruins of ancient Mayan civilizations are yet to be explored.  The Yucatan.  I will someday travel to Campeche and Merida.  Isla Contoy Island this year if the seas cooperate.  Tropical storms move in this time of year, so you get a taste of real weather.  Wind, salt and the power of the sea.  I love this . . . I am a Pisces. 

Panhead Drag Bike

You don't see these very often . . .

Arlen Ness Strut Kit

A friend of mine is seeking a strut kit like the one pictured above.  It would be for the Sportster frame.  Thank You !  -Noot

It's too bad about your girl . . .

 . . . she doesn't look like she's much fun?
( Hey, is that Fatty drivin' the van? )

A real functional rider . . . no fake shit

All motorcycle shows should be ride in . . . If you can't ride it at least 150 miles to the show, you can't enter the thing.  It's like jewelry you can't wear - what's the point?  I spotted this panhead at the Sidehack Saloon this year.  I did a double take, we walked back and saw it was one of those motorcycles that has evolved to suit the rider.  Me and Joe had just come from a bike show where we picked apart a bunch of shiny bikes getting fake accolades - they had non-functional shit all over them - we were in a feisty mood when we saw this - A real custom chopper with vintage and modern components to get you there . . .and it was functional to the owner's needs.  A real show & go vintage Panhead chopper.

Vintage one-piece kicker, Linkert filter, relay . . . spare belt (see it?), tool bag, electronics . . .this guy is a god !

Above:  Star hub . . . with a PM disc brake.  Frisco'd tank, relocated filler, Super E, auto advance . .

Above:  Big Box on the back for stuff, extra tail lights (for max exposure), tail pipe extensions (to keep them from filling with water, and keep carbon off your gear), deer alerts, rear belt drive, primary open belt . . . but he still likes his jockey shift !  My kinda guy - awesome bike !  I couldn't find the owner, but I really wanted to tell him how much I liked his old panhead . . .

TECH: Harley 4 Speed Main Drive Gear Spacer O-Ring Leak Fix

McFarland made a .050 wide carbide cutter, indicated the spacer in . . . and cut a .093 groove for a #029 O-Ring . . . and we'll see if this stops leaks.  I might still jam some sealer into the splines before we install the sprocket.  Make sure the sprocket nut stays tight, so torque that left hand thread nut good and tight to keep the sprocket and spacer up against each other.  Tape the gear threads with black electrical tape before you install the spacer so you don't nick your new o-ring.  The best way to install it is: Have the spacer lubed inside the seal, and press(or carefully drive it) in as a unit with cork in the bottom . . . but, you probably knew that already?  You can send me your spacer, or I could probably get a new spacer and do it for you - about $20 yours - $45 with new spacer + mail.  If it stops the leak - it's worth it.

Me & Willie G: This month in Easyriders

Willie told me he liked how I built my bike . . . "Like they rode them, a little wild, but build to ride.  You still had to get to where you're going."   Nice pic(via Michael Lichter) of my bro Steve Davis & myself (all old lookin') checkin' out my rocker clutch stop set-up.  That was a fun weekend.  Mama Tried.

Jay Springsteen

Worthy of fine art . . .
(looks like Sacramento Mile)

Dennis Schoenfeldt

I talked to Dennis Schoenfeldt today . . . the legendary professional racer and current tuner of flat track, road racing (he raced at Daytona) and an all-knowing resource of all things motorcycle racing - especially Harley-Davidson race engines.  A privilege for me to talk with him, ask questions and hear some racing stories . . . My hand was writing so fast . . . notes, notes.  Totally cool.