Wrench'n Ride'n

Its just tweaks now. White around "Funky Fokker". Fitted a rack to the pannier rack so the East German Army Pack can go back on. Exhaust wrap around the headlight bucket.

Different. That's what I like to be. So the RatBratScramTrackerMotard thingie that is my beemer got a XJ750 headlight thrown at it.  

The hessian sack is gone. Made me itchy every time I touched it. So now I have a new/old 1970s East German Army Back Pack as a sack. Its water proof and vinyl. Stinks like I remember vinyl from the 70s.  

I need to carry stuff on the bike. So this is the third or fourth go at making a saddlebag/pannier. The wood sided one I made last tine is not strong or big enough. Nor water proof. This one is. Yep its a sack. But there is something inside that makes it waterproof and lockable.    

Don't throw it away. Re-use it. So bolted on an old Honda front guard that I had cut down for some other bike. The RatBratScramTracker thingie keeps evolving.  

Sat down and read how to balance my Bings. This time for 32mm carbs. I had been adjusting mine to 40mm specs. Was setting the air mixture screw an 1 and a 1/4 turn. Way too rich it turns out.  I have a Carbmate vacuum sync tool. I did not use it. All I did this time was set the free play in the throttle cables first. Then the idle mixture screw at 3/4 of a turn. Ride till hot. Then adjust the throttle screw for idle to 1100 rpm. Ride further. Bike is running smoother through the rev range now. Come home, put bike on main stand. Use ears at bike of bike and like the sound. Sounds balanced. It sits there purring.

I bought an old chopper seat. When I bought this bike I think I said I wanted to make it a brat-tracker type thingie. I have a brat seat for it now. So I have the thin choppper (brat) seat and when I want to take my wife on the back I can put the old /6 seat back on.

Mates. Making your day when they do this to your bike. Came back to were i park my bike at the train station to this. Lol so hard. 

Test fitting some junk. 4 inch chopper headlight which will have LED globe in it and be the passing light/running light. Small fly screen made from a pot belly stove flu cover. I love using old junk. Next year different mufflers.

Yeah changes don't stay changed for long. Street tracker is being slapped together. Need to replace all the cables. So why not put a set of old Suzuki ER185 bars on first. I love reusing old shit bike parts. Had to reduce the diameter of the bars with a sanding wheel in the drill so the controls would fit. Move the front brake cable. Replaced the brake fluid. Brakes have now lost that wooden feeling. Go for ride. Super comfy. Sitting upright. My hips and shoulders say thank you. Next up is new cables and planning in doing away with the instrument pod and replacing that all with a small GPS speedo.   

Yay! Got new tyres fitted. Michelin Pilot Activ. I had been riding with the old cracked hard tyres that were many years old. Yeah I know. The front end would get a very nasty wobble at low speed. Some sage advise from a BMW mate, thanks Quoll, suggested instead of the 90/90 front go with a 100/90. Riding down hill, hands off the bars and no wobble/tank slapper. YES! just have to get used a wider front tyre. More responsive all round now. Better grip. Who would have thought new rubber could do all of this. After doing a carb balance the idle was still a bit funny. Reading in the Airhead forums at ADV that a main jet change to a bigger jet can help the idle I did this. I found my bag of different size jets I had kept from the R100LT I used to own. I went from a 135 to a 138 main jet. What a difference. Better idle. The engine feels smoother too through the rev range. Its been a night of wins. Crappy mobile phone photo from tonight's ride to start running in the new rubb...

Never say done. Will I change or do more? You bet. When? When an new idea comes into my head. What I started with on 8 August 2015 and were it is today 15 November 2015.

I like to be different. Its who I am. So when I stumbled across pushbike saddlebags that had wood as part of them I knew I had to make one for the BM. A fence paling. Some treated pine. A huge bit of leather I got off my sister. My imagination. A Starwars Storm-trooper keyring. Some old straps. A fabric belt of mine. Screws and rivets. Design in my head. Then make.      

Went for a short ride this morning. Even had my photo taken while riding.   Photo taken by  http://lookpro.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/Shannons/C00009xjl9a3OCco

Changed out the Tardis BMW panniers and fitted the 21ltr Givi ones I have had sitting around. I like the shape of the Givi. Would have loved to have gotten hold of some 50s beetle bags but they costs more than I want to spend.  

Peanut rocker covers. I love their curves. So bought some for the Ah-8-Tee. Fitted them at 6:30 this morning. All but making a large leather saddlebag I am done. What a great feeling. I have taken this to how I wanted it to look like. With some changes on the way. Next up will be working on The Wasp GS125.    

 

It sure did need more hammer finish charcoal. Tested the rattle paint on the sidecover that will never go back on the bike. The hammer finish does not bubble. Mask up the design. Rough up the paint with some 400 grit sandpaper. This will help the hammer finish grip. Get really nervous as I apply the paint. I hope this works out. It did and I am more than happy. Yes there was some paint bleed under the tape. I am not fused with this. This was never going to be a show pony make over.