Ola Ombres

You ain't gonna believe it. I thought I was finished with bikes for the next few weeks as I was heading vacation. But yesterday, as I was surfing the net, killing time in my office watching the clock goes by, I came about a strange little add for an XS650. It said something along the following lines: Basket Case Bike, used to ride well, took it apart 6 months ago to have the frame powder coated but lost interest, title in hands, looking for few Benjamin Franklin, the bike use to look like this:

not very pretty but for that price worth giving the guy a call. Did not have much hope cause the bike had been posted for more than one day and I was leaving to europe the next day at noon which did not give me much time but what the f.... Surprisingly enough the bike was still for sale but it was located about 2hrs away and did not have much time. So I offer to come and pick it up immediately but tough luck the guys could not make it in the evening. He was only available at 6am the next day. So, fuck it, woke up at 4 and drove up there. The bloke was a nature freak, he lived in the middle of the forest, protected by millions of fucking mosquidos. Anyway, to make long story short, I picked up the bike from a dark shed, and drove home. Good thing I had my 4x4 cause I got stuck trying to leave the bloody place.

Then I store everything in my workshop, so it will be ready for some serious work when I return from holidays.

Now am at the airport so you won't hear fm me again for the next few weeks.....

Ola Chicos

Well, just about to get 3 weeks off. Actually not sure I will rest with all the travelling and jet lag but what the h... man gotta do what a man gotta do..... Anyway, left with putting everything back together until I get my flh or panhead front end.

It'll do for now.

Ola Hermanos

Where the f... was I ?????? oh yeah, I had left my chopper at Southern for the summer so they could fix the stator plug in the primary. So there was only one bike in my garage and not much time left for me in Houston before heading off to South of France for a well deserved vacation.

More precisely Corsica, the most beautiful island in the world. Trust me.... Anyway, I decided I would repaint shovel #2 to the colour my wife had selected. As a start, got to get the baby naked.

Then I started grinding, and grinding, and grinding. Felt like Daniel Larusso in Karate Kid. Wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off....

and the usual primer

And then I started to paint. The idea was to painted purple, white and silver. I had picked up the color at the local Autozone shop.

Just need to clear coat the thing a few time and remount everything and it should be fine. atta boy !!!!!!

Ola hijos

Here is a bit of news. I have not done much since last time I posted. I did registered the bike to my name, so that's already an achievement. I also cleaned up my shop, so it looks immaculate and I drove to Southern Motorcycle to have the primary open and the stator changed. This was my first ride over 20 miles. I was a bit anxious that something would break down but the ride went smooth and it was simply brilliant. The bike handled good, and it felt right.

When I got to Southern I was greated by a young chap who asked me to wait inside until he was finished with one customer. They were searching some parts in a 40 foot container parked outside the shop. A 40 footer full of parts, my fucking paradise. I stepped in the place, and I was shocked by contrast of hvg next to each other knuckle and Drag bikes.

The boss of Southern is a well of knowledge and quiet friendly when you start talking to him. As he indicated over the phone he has some 30 bikes to work on before he gets to mine. Not a problem for me, I already have one bike I can ride and I am gonna be out of station for couple of month so won’t have much time to do anything. So started looking at my next project when I got home.

This is how I got the bike in the first place, so I took windshield and side light off, sold the side case, and replace the handle bar. Then I sat down thinking about what I could do with it.

Madam wants it purple and silver. She likes the color of her purple sportster and wants her shovel to look the same.

So I used my sunday to work with paint to see which one could fit the purpose. I am not very convinced. At the same time, she tells me that she thinks the shovel might be too much for her to handle so she would prefer to go back on a sportster. Go figures… So I am stuck between a rock and hard place. I needed to get some beers so I continue my Houston area Ice House discovery tour, and explore the downtown area on Sunday. The West Alabama Ice House is really kool. It got a ping-pong table, a basketball hoop, and a nice blonde behind the counter.

I wish I could have gone to Born Free 6 next week end............

Olas Muchachos

There you go baby..... putting the final touch to what is about to become my daily ride. Still need to get it registered but getting there slowly but surely. So when I finished all the wiring, I got myself dressed to take the "need to find a name for you" for a spin around the house.

First impression was kinda good. I always find it strange the first time I go on the road. It's like sex, it takes time to find the boundaries and 2nd and 3rd time are usually better. It's all about discovery, and pushing the limit.... Anyway, been carried away here. Everything seems to be in good order except the gear box which is mounted backward. 1st up, neutral don't seem to exist and 2nd,3rd, and 4th down. The gear box is hard to play with and as I said neutral is almost impossible to find. The gear box inversion don't really bother me much as I used to commute with a Honda Dax ST 70 when I was younger and the gear box operated similarly. So it's like been 16 again. The sound is brilliant, there is a little drop of engine oil licking from the oil tank which burn on the lower case making smoke like the bike is about to be on fire, and by luck I noticed the plug under the reservoir was also licking (that's slightly more dangerous). So back in the garage to fix those problems

Also, the white exhaust tape decided to take a hike so I chose to remove it. Some people will tell you it gets one or two more horse power to the bike but to be honest, never noticed the difference, even when some of my bike went to the bench. Anyway, I thought it looked kool, but then again don't really care that much so I think I will grind the exhaust pipe to get the rust out. It will give it a special look. ahahaha... The front light has given up or simply ain't working so need to revisit my wiring (turn out ground was not really ground so had to re-do some wiring). Much bigger problem the battery is not charging. I noticed when I plugged in a new regulator that the engine case connector was in poor shape. I pushed it in hardly hoping it would stick and ensured it was pressed properly so it would not get loose, but considering the regulator and the battery are new, then I have a problem with the stator connector. I dismantled it and yes indeed, as soon as I unplugged the two pin connector out, the stator connector just give up and falls apart.

That's a different ball game. I have to remove the whole primary to change the bloody thing. I don't have the tool, the time, and also the knowledge to do this right, so gotta find some that will. ARrrrrgghhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hear Southern Motorcycles is good. Gonna give them a call. See y'all around.

Ola Amigos,

Summer is getting here and so are the tornados. Weather forecast following Memorial day was gonna be a nightmare. So needed to get my ass out of the house. I had heard through the grapevine, actually from the owner of motorcycle salvage shop next to my work, there was an Iron Cylinder Ride over the week-end... I look it up on the net and there it was....

So, after informing the wife and kids that I would be gone all day, I did a quick check up on Shovel nbr 2, removed the side bags, made a single seat out of the seat I had purchased from the salvage shop, I was ready to hit the road

Shovel nbr 2, is next project. Am hesitating into turning into an fhl, which is probably what she was at some point of time, or turning into a another chopper. Madam wants to ride and she will be her horse so need to take this into consideration. Will see. Anyway, I turned up at MC Creation on time on sunday and crowd was allright. Few old bikes and many twinkies. They did things well, twinkies were parked in the back, and iron stood in front of the shop. Coffee was crap but donuts were good. Did not see anyone I could mindle with except one guy, and since never been much of a group rider, I had secretally prepare a little side trip, just in case in could not find myself in the mist.

I escaped before anyone could see me and after I got rob slightly more than 20usd for two 30 amp circuit breaker. They cost 3.99 in Auto zone !!!!!! Talking about subsidizing your local workshop !!!!! There must be a limit to how much you can screw people. Anyway, first time there and shop was kool, so will come back and try my luck another time. Took nice little trip into the Sam Houston forest, made a quick stop into one of those famous ice house. Once again loaded with twinckies, and headed toward the Yankee tavern where the Iron Ride Run ended.

Sure enought, 2-300 bikes turned up. Luckily I had order my burger beofre everyone got there so filled in my stomach and after brief discussion with the guy with the nice chop, I hit the country side making my way home.

Nicest chop of the day....

Finito

There it is !!!!!! 6 months after settling my ass in H-town, I finished my first built. A nice rigid Shovel to take on the Texas road. Need to get myself familiarised with the area and meet some chopper addict...