Ola Ombres

Just a quicky today. Decided to go back in the workshop and cleanup my mess. Picked up the motor and made it stand up and took the grinding machine and chop some of the leftover from previous owner, so I could start with a clean sheet.

It took a while to get this s.. out, and even longer to grind the frame to clean state. But aftre couple of hours of hard labor, looks like the frame is ready to start the mock up. I have kept the back fender plate holder in case I need it but if not I will just cut it and toss it away.

Now am face with same issue. I need to get the bloody motor inside the frame. Considering I got no life; hence no friend, looks like I'll have to buy one of those mobile crane at Harbour Freight to get it in. Let me sleep on it.

Ola Companeros

There you go, could not wait to be back in the US. Vacation in Europe was a nightmare. Am not longer used to sleep without AC, I sweated like a pig over there. Luckily weather wasn't that nice. Anyway, next year I will try to stick around and ride my bikes. So what has f.. happened since I left. Not too much am afraid... I did sell my Redneck chopper in France to get some quick cash.

I sold it for a bargain (for France that is) but need to get rid of the thing. I was not gonna ride it and my wife felt it was too much for her. So, without regret I let it go. So long my friend and have a good life. The guy that bought it is fully in love with that type of machine, so at least I made someone happy. My happyness comes from the fact that it wont take anymore space in my garage. So, as I said I flew back to Houston. First thing was to check with Southern about the Stator change. As usual, when they opened the primary

they found out, one of the Rivera primary belt drive part was cracked and that it was only a matter of time until it came apart. So here it goes again, gonna have to sell one kidney to replace the bloody part. But worst part of it is the bike won't be available for a while. One other thing, was that my welding of the safety gas tank and on the licence plate holder was not as good as expected and that it was already showing some signs of weaknesses. So much for my welding skills... At least I was happy to present Shovel #2 to Madam.

but as I was expecting it was not exactly what she had expected. The colour was nice and all, but it was simply too heavy for her. Indeed it was. She sermoned me to look for a sportster after selling the shovel. So, I will wait to get Shovel #1 back, and probably sell shovel #2. We'll see. So I was left with my longhaul XS650 project. To start with, it wanted to get rid of the tank holder.

So I used the angler grinder to get it off. And then I took bits and pieces off which I know I won't need

And as you can see, I try to put the engine back into the frame and fucked it all up. After approx one hour of battle, I gave up and decided it was time to go to bed. I will need to figure out how to put it back in or alternatively buy a mobile crane. This was the sad story of my evening. will get back to you with new adventure

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.