Wrench'n Ride'n

Yep my Speedy is leaving me. Why? I am bored with it. I got it to were if I wanted to modify it any more it would mean lots of coin and maybe some frame chopping. Two things I don't have or want to do. So I have swapped it for a 1979 Honda CB650Z that has had a full restoration done in the last 12 months. This was facilitated through Sydney Cafe Racers facebook group. Great people who love the modify bikes. So what does this Honda look like? Once the swap is done will post more photos. It will have a few none destructive cosmetic changes done once I have my greasy paws on it. Stay tuned. 

Done. Besides painting the back of the number plate. This is stage one. A big stage as I did just bolt something on. I cut something on the bike. Now that first cut is done......

Angle grinder attacked the Speedy today. Took a big chunk out of the rear guard. Bobbing time.  The guard weighs a tonne. Made a tail light. Take blinker body from the  original  Speedmaster blinkers  and a old style tail light. I cant cut straight lines...... This will be fun. Fine tuning with a file Tomorrow wiring and fitting it all back together. 

Rattle can of Matt Black Plasticdip type paint on the fork lowers.

I have stopped counting how many times I have changed the bars on this bike. This is number 11 change. Biltwell Flat Tracker bars. I really like the stance the bike now.  Things still to do: That horrible chrome console on the tank is going. Might be able to extend my hand made leather tank bib to cover up the indent at the front of the tank. I have a cool idea for how to mount the idiot lights off the console.  Front end needs to be black. Plastidip type paint will fix that.  Smaller headlight. Rear guard chop.  

Always with the taking off and putting on hey. Off came the saddlebags and sissy bar. Used 2 different sets of mirrors to make some bar end ones. Refitted the Astro-Glide bars. Forks raised in the triple clamps by 1 1/2 inches. Have done this before. Makes the steering quicker. That rear guard has to be bobbed.

Last night there was lots of swearing. Lots of cursing. Working on the bike undercover while a thunder storm raged all around. I found that one of the bolts into the Blitwell Slimline risers had bent. This is one of four bolts that are used to hold the top clamp in place. I was adjusting the Indian style bars position when I found that I could not screw the bolt back in. No bolt no holding bars in place. Hence the loud swearing and cursing. Risers came off with bars flopping around in them. No bars I can't ride. The Zombie Performance Astro-Glide bars went back on as they have welded in risers.

Bar change #10. Fitted some Indian Chief style handlebars. I like the 50s look that these bars have. As they only come in Chrome and I like black bars I wrapped the bars with black electrical tape.

Titanium Header wrap has been wrapped around my headers.

Handlebarchangeitis has struck yet again. This time it is Biltwell Frisco bars.

Years ago Snoopy was fitted to the front of my sidecar. He has lain around doing nothing for awhile till today. Oh yeah put the leather saddle bags back on. They fit more stuff than the plastic panniers. 

Finally got round to fitting the Biltwell Mushman pegs I have. They are for modern Triumphs. Yet I still had to grind down the mounting clevis a bit to get them to fit. No drama with a angle grinder and file. As with any Biltwell product that has Allen bolts you need an Imperial Allen Key to tighten up the bolts. Short ride and they feel sturdy. They don't bite into my instep like normal pegs do. There is no pie. 

The older I get the more I see that I am very much like my dear Dad. He was always fiddling with the cars to keep them in top running order. He would pull appliances to bits to try to fix them than buy a new one. Anything that he thought he could fix or improve he would be pulling it to bits. I too am a fiddler. There is no way I can stop this desire to change things. I can't leave my bike alone. Now I have fitted a set of hard bags. These came off my 1200 Bandit. Mono key 21ltr Kappa cases. As much as I love the look of the old leather bags I had fitted they are not secure. I park my bike at a train station week days. In a very large multi-story car park. So far nothing has walked from the leather panniers.The only thing stopping someone opening them is the buckles.

My spine has been being turned into sausage meat. Its the fault of the roads. I have good rear suspenders. Yet when I use the Maverick Customs solo seat I feel every single pump. Don't get this seat wrong. It is great for cruising around on normal roads. So I bought a new not used second hand Trumpy solo seat today. Nearly half price of a new one. Score. My spine bonces on this now when I ride the goat tracks of New South Wales.