House of Large Sizes

They had these giant I.P.S.(Iowa Public Service) power line spools for tables at Stebs.  HOLS would open for The Dig Mandrakes and the bar would furnish cotton on the tables if it was too loud for you.  Bed mattresses around roof support beams prevented injuries during slam night !  This was the first girl I ever saw in a rock band - so, she was like "super cool" to everyone that watched a gig.  Plus, House had their our tunes - and were just damn good !  Then, it was on to The Stein for a pizza slice at 1:55am . . . Drinking age was 19 . . . All was great in the world, no cares - no money.

Drednex

. . .  possibly at Stebs or Dean's Parkade ?

I lived in Cedar Falls (1 block from Stebs) 

at the height of the late 80s scene.

Keep it simple . . .

A simple striping job.  Do all the things I always do.  But, the paint won't dry.  I tried fans, heat, hairdryer, more fans, inside, outside.  It's drying, but very very slowly.  Wet for two days, tacky for 3 days.  Just One-Shot Reflex Blue with a pinch of One-Shot Silver.  A couple drops of One-Shot Low Temp Reducer, everything strained.  Clean X-Caliber.  A bit of spirits . . . Cleaned lid with my wax & grease remover until it squeeks.  Huh?  It's drying, but damn . . .

Supersuckers Show . . .

I got hooked on this band from my friend Matt, who burned me a couple CDs (which I play quite a bit).  They were within' an hour drive - so, I went down and checked 'em out.  The "No Coast" punk band and Hellbound Glory were both excellent.  The Supersuckers were kinda loud (I am 47 now), and Eddie played both tunes I requested. (Kinda cool)  I asked him how "life on the road was . . ." and he replied, "Great, goin' good . . . " which is the same reaction I got from any band member I asked that night.  Eddie signed a CD for me, and said they are headin' west now to a venue near you possibly - so go check 'em out.  It would not be the life for me, but if you like what you are doing - and you are becoming a professional at it - you may as well keep doing it. PS. Why is it, the coolest dudes I meet lately have these huge Duck Dynasty beards . . ?

Bel-Ray 75W - 1/2 Quart

You can use this oil if you run the dry clutch system.
Otherwise, run the proper "Sportster" primary lubricate safe for wet clutches . . .

Polished 'early' Borranis

 . . . din-int wook wike dis ven I verse gots 'em.
18" & 19"

Kurpius' Ride . . .

I see this photo (by Jeff Wright) from the Brooklyn Invitational . . . shows that Josh's motorcycle is still out there traveling the byways of this great country.  I asked him once who did his motor (lower end) and he didn't know.  He never had it apart yet.  That was last year, and I assume it's still running the same bearings?
This motorcycle has been coast to coast - multiple times. Where's the headlight?  Maybe in his saddlebag, or he parks it before it's dark?  Or . . . he rides real close to his buddy?  Whatever the case, I'm sure Kid Kurpius can handle it.  Hi Josh !  Safe Travels !

Brucie ( by Danny Lyon )

Whenever I perform any of the rituals of owning an XLCH, I many times think of Brucie (the Chicago Outlaw depicted in the book "The Bikeriders" by Danny Lyon).  Me and Brucie may have been decent friends due to the fact we have similar motorcycles, and would drink similar beer.  Cleaning dry clutch plates, polarizing generators, setting valves, changing sprockets, timing the mag, tightening CP1038 bolts.  If you ride a CH, you know what I'm talking about.  The tin primary cover.  Yes, the magneto.  I've ridden a 1960s Sportster for almost 1/2 my life.  If Brucie is still alive, it would be cool to meet him.  I sure look at his bike a lot.  Wish I had one of those tachs . . . . I like that he took off the horn, low mirror - and that white buddy seat !

Oil Coolers

Yes, I agree with oil coolers.  However, your oil (and your engine) is designed to run at an optimum temperature.  Not too hot, Not too cold.  These cooler fall days and nights require an oil cooler cover.

I.C.E.

The Internal Combustion Engine.  They are available with one cylinder, two, or twelve . . . or more.  I like the ones with two best.  Preferably 1938 to 1970s . . . Harley-Davidson.

From Japan for Americans

. . . with multi-pistons, pipes, carbs & crash guards.

Zach Reynolds

Top: Drag racing his fast XLCH

Bottom: Zach's 4 door 4 speed Pontiac (he ordered it special)

Gnarly Fucking Chopper

No reason to be nice about . . .
( . . . so is the Honda )

Panhead Evolution . . .

Chris' '63 outside oiler pan was runnin' Evo pinion roller set-up . . . Hmmmm?  Learn something new everyday.  As far as rods go - the crankpin measured -.0005 under(maybe worn a bit) but straight.  His rods were 1.6265 (thou & a half oversize) It had +.0006 over rollers (a bit loose - that's what was in it).
I could slightly hone the races to square them up and go with +.001 over, which is probably what I'll do. Remember, we still need .001 clearance in there somewhere.  Hey, mathematics was not my strongest subject - I only went to intermediate algebra and hung it up.

Corky Keener #62

One of the fastest guys to ever dirt track a motorcycle . . . Keener is in more flat track photos than any other rider.  He was on the podium more times, and a threat to win any race at any time.  All the greats from Springsteen to Roberts looked over their shoulder and saw a big " 62 " comin' at 'em . . . Keener had a front row seat to many of the AMA's greatest races (since he was bar to bar with them all 25 laps).  I can't believe he isn't in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.  There's probably as many photos of CK in there as anybody . . . Last photo above: Keener, Shell Thuet(Robert's tuner), King Kenny and Dave Aldana.  Total Flat Track Royalty ! Period.

Ricky's Chopper !

Ricky welds . . .

Ricky paints . . .

Ricky does some motor work . . .

Ricky plays electric guitar damn good . . .

Ricky knows the most about punk . . .

Ricky rides a motorbike hard & fast . . .

He's the only guy I know that can do all that . . .

This is the bike he rode to Sturgis, I like it a little better now.  

But, don't get too hooked on it - it will change next month . . .

XL via Japan

Harley 45 Pit Stop . . .

Still jumpin' out of 2nd . . . (crap)

Tore out the tranny . . . (again)

Shimmed fork over some more . . .

Bolted trans back in . . .

Hasn't done it again . . . (not yet anyway)

OUT in 12 minutes

IN in 12 minutes

24 minutes total  . . . 

Only lost 5 laps (if it was the 1940s Daytona beach race)

Morty is concerned . . .

Morty just wanted to let Irish Rich, Part-Timer Steve, Arlin, Debbie Doo and our other friends out there in Colorado know - he was thinkin' about 'em  . . . and hoped all those cats got to higher ground?  Since our high water in 2008 - Mort sleeps in the attic now.

Ronnie Rall - One of Ohio's Finest !

Rall was one of the fastest privateers to ever race a motorcycle.  He once got asked to join the Harley factory team, but he needed to work on the farm - so, he just got a "bit" of factory support . . . that was about it.  When the track was loose and slippery - Rall just got faster.  He won at all types of events from 1/2 miles, short tracks, scrambles and road races.  He also flew planes.  Ron would disassemble his race bike, load it in the plane, fly to the race, rent a big car and then reassemble the bike and race it.  I guess he still farms and his son Chad carries on the family tradition bangin' bars with Geo Roeder at Wauseon.

Rocker Clutch Hidden Stop

Back by popular demand (for James) this is how to make a hidden stop.  This way you don't need to hit your peg or floorboard - you can do what you want.  It helps to have a buddy with a rotary table or mill chuck.  Don't forget to trim out your fiber washer . . .

Tom Fugle's Blog

For more totally cool pics like this way badass 900 Sporty . . . 

The people and the places . . .

The way-of-life . . .

(you can stare at these photos for hours) 

GO TO: fuglescreatures.blogspot.com

Tom Fugle has a way with his art . . . 

and you can get some

all your own.  

1950 Cylinder Heads

The Benassi's came up with a set of heads for me.  Broken exhaust flanges, warped, bad guide, no guide, stripped threads, no threads, pitted seat, guide too tight, burrs and more bad threads.  Pretty screwed set of heads for $200.00.  ($100/head).  Not a deal - Not a Rip-off.

1. Washed & blasted

2. Measured & measured some more.

3. Pressed in new guide

4. Pressed out old guide

5. Sized all guides to valve stems

6. Cut seats

7. Ground valves

8. Lapped valves & seats

9. McFarland surfaced heads

10. Wiley machined exhaust flanges, cut step,

pressed in flanges and welded

11. Installed 15ea 10-24 helicoils

12. Chased threads

13. Smoothed out bad cooling fins

14. Cleaned up ports

15. Bead blasted and washed (again)

AND . . . I'm about 1/2 done . . . not counting all the time to set up and measure spring heights, etc.,

rocker studs, locks, oilers, etc.  So, if somebody has a nicely rebuilt set of heads for $500-$750 . . . it's probably really not that bad a deal !  Pans are cool . . . but a P. I. T. Ass sometimes.

Mr. Wiley . . . Your bus has arrived . . .

My friend Jeff is really into these old silverside buses.  He owns a couple and is one of the few guys in this country you can call to go "get your bus runnin" and drive it for you.  Whenever I poke my head in the door, they always still have the old, familiar "bus smell."  I just want to grab my old Samsonite, jump in and start up a 10 hour conversation with a stranger.  Jeff also builds great Harley motors - and has went an unofficial 200mph at Bonneville on a nitro Sportster.  You better have a big building if you want to start gettin' into old buses . . .  or trains, or cruise ships.