No Paper - No Worries

I'm building a racer.(something like this)  An XLR, TT, old-time Class C racer that could hold it's own back in the day against any amateur racer.  A capable machine in the hands of a semi-pro.  All the builds you see are usually "titled" stuff that looks like a race bike, but it's not - and it has a license plate - all legal - and all that jazz.  No title kinda snuffs your plans if you can't hit the street - and that's too bad.  I've got an old Sportster "Scrambles" chassis that someone raced at local club events.  Parts cut off, stock parts missing.  I got a beaten and abused set of cases someone blew all to hell, with hot cams, hot heads, weird pistons . . . and ball bearings.  Why not build an outlaw?  A bike you sneak out of town and hit the gravel.  A bike you load in the back of your truck - and race around the fairgrounds.  Dirt on the tires.  Mud on the motor.  Maybe enter an "ol man's" scrambles event - or short track?  Exhibition.  Something to look at in the shop while sippin' a beverage.  Something to start up and let your friends take a ride.  A big cube mini-bike basically.  A waste of money and time for a few short minutes of fun.  
A complete bike-nut approved build.

Parts FOR SALE

Juice Brake Plate and Lever ($30) New

FLH Shift Arm - Spline Shaft ($15) New

Big Twin Riser Bushings ($20) New

Supertrapp Plates & Cover(some screws) ($20)

Big Twin Hidden Fork Stop Kit($50)

Yamaha TT Tune-Up Kit ($15) New

'68 Guide Tail Light ($50) with good

wiring, lamp, door (cracked license lens)

I'll work with you on shipping the best way . . . 

E.K.

"Being shot from a cannon is always better than being squeezed from a tube."

Ol' Man Winter sent me a text message . . .

 

He texts: Polar Vortex

I text: 5w30

He texts: Dead battery

I text: Magneto !

He texts: Fogged shield

I text: Super Seer Anti-Fog Spray

He texts: 20 degrees

SHIT

He don't like me ever since I sold my ice bike and my sled.

But, I rode today

Out of the garage at 7:00am and down for coffee, 

stop at the post office, stop at the local car garage hang-out . . . 

and all the talk is the weather . . . 

and 

"Why are you still riding your motorcycle?"

Snake River Jump: Re-Creation

I heard Scott Truax (son of Robert Truax who originally engineered the X-2) is trying to recreate the Snake River Jump . . . and we got Big Ed Beckley(stuntman, promoter, etc) will pilot the new-redesigned unit to fly over the canyon, pretty much in the same area as the gone-but-never-forgotten Evel Knievel.  Why can't we just let history remain the glorious history it is?  The fact that is was done.  A daring feat of courage, technology, money, heart and soul . . . it really was a monumental true daredevil stunt that can never ever be repeated, make it or not.  Let's re-create Washington crossing the Delaware, Neil Armstrong on the Moon, the first 200mph quarter mile with a period correct vintage dragster.  Scott and Ed are brave, industrious men who want to do it . . . I just wish they'd come up with a truly unique stunt of their own - and make their own history - and let Knievel keep his alive as it ever was.

Rad Shovelheads from JAPAN

Hey Wiley . . . if I have to have a shovel, how about one like this?  I just have to have a place for my tent, sleepin' bag, camping pillow . . . hell - I'll just look for a Holiday Inn.

Randoms

From the top . . 

Neato Panhead

Chevy Barn Find (model car)

 Joey's Grand-Daughter

Neato Paint

TJ doin' a lost art . . .

 

Ironhead Breather Timing

Once that piston starts moving down after TDC(about 20-25 degrees) - Your breather might as well start opening.  At 5/16" after TDC it should be opening for sure. It should stay open all the way to BDC.  Get that air out of the crank and create some suction on the way back up to get the oil out of the top end.  Oil is friction.  The ability to reduce friction and drag in an engine is important when trying to make adequate power, eliminate oil consumption - and calm down internal pressures.  I don't have a lot of performance mods on any of my bikes.  Everything is kinda stock - or mild performance.  But, I try to get the most I can out of what I got - so my shit starts and runs halfway decent.  It's fun knowing this stuff, reading manuals, trying to understand how everything works will help you diagnose potential failures, etc . . . and always listen to your elders.

Rebel Ride

I did a few mods to the K the last few days.  The back jug always smoked a bit - those rings just never seated.  So I pulled the back cylinder, measured (straight with .0035) gave it some ball hone 60 degree - checked my gap, re-ringed it, ground the valves, lapped 'em in (almost took too much off since I barely had enough to get my valve clearance.  I guess you should always take a bit off the stem too when you grind the valves? (I'm learning).  My rear plug always runs kinda moist - and it puffs a little out the pipe (just like John Tibben's ol' KR the last time I saw it run).  Hopefully this will cure it?  I got the CV carb back on, dropped the needle, and installed a couple small washers on the top of the needle to keep it from bouncing around.  If you ever notice on a CV carb, once you drop the little plastic crown down in there(hold down on the crown simulating the spring pressure) - and you'll notice the needle can still move up and down a little, possible changing your intermediate jetting from vibration.  Anyway - this thing runs smoother now, starts a bit better - and has more bottom-end power.  I jacked up the timing a little more too.  I went with 5-30 oil for easy 40 degree starts - and short trips around town.  It's all K-Model now 'til the snow flies . . . and maybe a couple days of clear streets with snow in the yards . . . dress up, fire it up and hit the streets.
Official: Carb-On-The-Left-Club Member

' 72 Pump Body

I'm running the later 1972 up pump on a earlier set of cases.  I drilled the breather plate and the case, so now I have "the big drains" to feed those big gears . . . get that oil out of the bottom dude !

We made The Horse . . .

Me & Joey in the latest issue . . . 

That was a fun day ! 

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 !