| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Mike; it's a bunch of folks from the Sportster forum who get together and ride around the area and sit around shooting the bull and admiring each other's ride. It's a small rally and I enjoyed the one I attended down by the Tail of the Dragon two summers ago. Here's a link, if you want to check it out: http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2074933 | ||
| Crusty |
Baby’s Got… Baby’s got a new pair of shoes. The tires arrived yesterday afternoon. A happy driver for DHL brought them almost to my front porch; but I saw him coming and got to him while he was still on the walk. I brought them inside and carefully cut the black plastic wrap off them and made sure they were the right size and tire, then set them aside. My plan was to let them sit overnight and get up to room temperature before I put them on. That plan lasted about 15 minutes. I figured that I could get the bike ready; put it up on the lift jack and lay out the tools. Then, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to pull the muffler and maybe loosen the axle and… The rear tire was mounted and balanced and the wheel was back on the bike and the tools put away by a little after Six. I went upstairs, cleaned myself up and fixed dinner. I was done for the evening. However, I was still just a little bit antsy after dinner, so I went back downstairs and I laid out the tools and had the bike relocated on the lift for the front tire. At that point, I tore myself away and went upstairs to watch the idiot box and drool on myself. This morning, I went back down to the garage. I figured the front tire was going to be a piece of cake. It wasn’t. It fought me all the way, but in the end, I was victorious. Actually, it would have been a piece of cake if only the bead would have seated. I could not get it to seat until I finally pulled the one side of the tire back off the rim, then lubed the entire inside with tire mounting gel. And even then, it took almost 50 PSI to get it to pop. But pop it did; both sides almost at once. Then, it got really nice to me. It didn’t require any weight. It was balanced. That hasn’t happened to me in years. Getting it back on the bike was another piece of cake. I like how easy the front wheel is to remove and re-install. However; I still have dark thoughts toward the rear wheel. I hate that the factory assumes that you’ll either bring it to a shop for a tire change, or that you have a real lift for doing the same. With a little more thought and some good engineering, it could be a piece of cake like the front wheel is. Oh, Well. So now, the Scorpions are mounted. I hope those risers get here soon; then I’ll just have to figure what the next improvement will be. Seat? Fender extension/license plate mount? Saddlebag support brackets? LED Headlight?. Hmmm; for the price of the seat, I can do all the rest on that list. If I get the seat in June, and everything else in July… | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
John, I just booked that hotel for the sportster meet. Its a beautiful area and only about 250 miles from my house. Who knows if i'll stay the weekend but i'll at least buzz over and say hi and tear up the twisties a bit. Tootal, not to far from you, either? | ||
| Crusty |
Mike; I think you'll have a good time. The folks I've met from the XL forum are all good people. I've never spent any time in that area, but it sounds like it's going to be fun. | ||
| Crusty |
Brad; that poor airhead needs some love, starting with new handgrips. If you do go to work for that Powdercoater, you could do the bars and clamps and anything else that needs attention on that bike and make it a real beauty! | ||
| Ourdee |
Get your ninety days in before starting on the government jobs. I had a boss that told me he was tired of seeing bike parts all over the shop. Then I did some stuff for him. | ||
| 86129squids |
"Brad; that poor airhead needs some love, starting with new handgrips." LOL! Hey man, I kinda enjoy them the way they are... but you're right. I'll be taking it in to a legendary Beemer mechanic Friday, I'm sure he'll give me hell about that too. He hasn't seen me in the better part of 20 years, since I used to have my '82 R65. My main focus is keeping it mechanically healthy, which it is for the most part. Last time I rode it, it just sang its regular, beautiful song as usual. Cosmetics are one thing, "patina" is another.  | ||
| Crusty |
He, he, he... | ||
| Ourdee |
Ho, ho, ho... | ||
| Buellish |
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..... | ||
| Crusty |
Or is that, Chess nuts boasting in an open Foyer? | ||
| Ourdee |
Not me. | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Crusticle- I know you once (still do?) appreciated Moto Guzzi's... http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2020/05/2020-moto-g uzzi-v85-tt-md-ride-review/ | ||
| Ourdee |
https://locations.skylinechili.com/skyline-chili-1 f1bdeea7695?y_source=1_OTMxNTk1Ni03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24 ud2Vic2l0ZQ== | ||
| 1313 |
 | ||
| Ourdee |
I think I am going to try the Coney Dogs next time. | ||
| Crusty |
The 5 way chili is what they're famous for, but the Coney Dogs are good, as is the Burrito. The location you posted is well under a mile from my house. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I think I may go with the 3 way. And maybe a couple of dogs. | ||
| 1313 |
Matthew, That's been my first night heading home for Homecoming meal, incidentally very near the same exit as Velvet Smoke, for the past handful of years. I also usually pick up some cans of the Chili and Spaghetti noodles to bring home for the cold nights of the winter in Eastern NC. Damn, I'm hungry! | ||
| Ourdee |
2 Coney Dogs and a Burrito. Bottle of Coke? | ||
| Crusty |
No thanks; I've got cans of Pepsi made with REAL SUGAR I'm not sure what I'll have to eat. I'm thinking that a Chili Deluxe Burrito might be the choice for me. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm thinking someone else will want a coke. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Hard to pass up ice cold Coke in a glass bottle with real sugar. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Seems like Brankin is telling me the chili is good enough to take home in canned form. Hmmm... | ||
| Pwnzor |
Up, and at them. ETA 10:15 | ||
| Crusty |
I'll tell you right now; if you've never had Cincinnati style Chili, it will be different from anything you expect. | ||
| Crusty |
Organizing Priorities Yesterday was warm with scattered showers. I’ve been inside for most of the week and I wanted to scuff in the new Scorpions on the 16. So, after looking at the weather radar, I decided that I should go out. I liked how the new tires felt as I went to a few different places and I even managed to get a haircut. It had been about 2 1/2 months since my last haircut, and I looked like I would be at home standing in a line to get into a shelter. After hearing about the long lines waiting outside barber shops, I was going to wait until the rush died down, but when I went by my barber’s there was no line, so I stopped. I had good timing for a change. I hit it at what was probably the only slack time all day. When I left, there was a line waiting. However; the good timing for a haircut was balanced by bad timing for staying dry. it was raining when I walked out of the barbershop. So the 16 is now all dirty with road phlegm. And my riding jacket had a bunch of little spots of the same on its back. I was riding on all city streets and my speed never exceeded 35 MPH. I can only imagine what my back would look like if I had been on the highway. But that shifted my priorities a bit. I had planned to buy the new seat first, and then the extender/ plate bracket. Now, the order has been reversed. Whoever came up with the idea of using that stupid and useless piece of crap should be forced to ride through slimy piles of rotten offal in the rain. I can understand how the “International” plate bracket is mandatory in other countries. I’m pretty surprised that this country allows such stupidity from a manufacturer. The styling of the new Roadster is definitely Form way before Function. In fact, I don’t think Function even entered the equation. “It’s all about the looks, man!” I’m constantly irritated by the fact that the stylists at Harley took what I consider one of the best Sportsters to date and made it into such an uncomfortable and functionless excuse for a motorcycle. I consider myself fortunate that I have the ability to transform it into what it could be. Well; I don’t all the skills; I just have the vision. But I know the people who do have the skills I lack and they are willing to help me. When I’m done, I’ll have the bike that the morons at the MoFoCo should build, but won’t. They may be spiraling down the toilet bowl, but I’ll have my Gentleman’s Express. In spite of their best efforts. Rant Off. Today, Matthew is passing through Cincinnati again and he’s stopping here for lunch. And R.D. is coming down from Indianapolis to join us. We’re going to have Skyline Chili. I don’t think Matthew has ever had it. It should be a fun time.} | ||
| Pwnzor |
Yep, first timer. I enjoy discovering local delicacies, whether I end up liking them or not. 35 minutes out. | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| Crusty |
Just One Of Those Days I can’t think worth a damn, this morning. I’ve tried to play all the usual games online, and I suck at all of them; even Solitaire. I timed out while trying to play Jewel Quest and I’m finding mines the wrong way in Minesweeper. And I can’t even circle the cat. It’s like my brain is still asleep while my body is wide awake. I guess I’ll just go out and mow the front yard. I had been trying to think of someplace to ride to, but with all the restaurants closed, I don’t know where to go. I do have one idea, though and it doesn’t involve food. Powder Keg Harley-Davidson is open on Sunday. Maybe I’ll ride up there and order the fender extension/license plate bracket and plate light from the International model. I washed the 16 last night (evening?). It was filthy and needed a good wash. I already ranted about the morons making decisions at Harley - Davidson, Inc. so I won’t repeat myself, but my opinion hasn’t diminished. I’m also going to keep an eye on fleaBay for a front fender bracket from a V-scrod. The front fender is about as useless as the rear. Joe, who’s going to do my paint, when I get the money, has some mad skills. I’ve been following a thread on a Mustang forum where he’s fixing up a real rot box. He’s got it looking really nice and has done some really impressive cut, replace and weld chunks of bodywork. Since no other model Harley has the same front fender mounting setup as the 16, I’m thinking that maybe he could make some changes to the mounting bracket so it would work with my bike and I could put on a longer front fender. Actually, I’m going to first look on Ronnie’s Parts Finder and see how much a new bracket is; fleaBay isn’t always the bargain site it used to be. Many times, I can get a new part for less than what some jamoke is asking for a used piece of dented and bent crap (plus $97.42 for shipping). I’ve heard that Facebook has a marketplace that’s got some good deals, but since I don’t do Facebook, that’s out. Well; I still feel like a real Space Shot this morning, but I think I should go mow the lawn. It needs it. |
