Freshening up...

[guitargeek]

So I've been pondering how best to shape the neoprene foam for my seat cushion, so I made a hot wire foam cutter:

It worked, though not great. The guitar string is nickel steel, which is better than plain steel, but it still sags when it heats up. I need to get a piece of nichrome wire, like what you find in a space heater.

 

[guitargeek]

Since that was a dead end, at least for now, I went back to shaping by abrasive means:

 

[guitargeek]

I made a "ball gutter" by folding the cushion in half, then running it along the belt sander.

Tonight, I'll attach the tail lights and wire them up.
Tomorrow I'll start tuning the carbs & ignition, maybe ride it around the yard.

 

[guitargeek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8xV1avLe0k

My bike left the shop for the first time today, like leaving the nest or something.

It ran pretty good, felt really good in the corners, but it wasn't charging for some reason and pretty soon the battery wasn't making enough voltage to run the coils. I had to call my pops to bring the jumper cables (just a couple miles from the house). All told, I rode 6.5 miles today.

It only took a couple seconds on the cables to give it the juice to get home, and tonight I discovered that the fuse that it was eating wasn't supposed to be there, anyway. I'll do some more probing tomorrow, see if it'll let me ride it some more.

 

[CaTacl1sm]

came out awesome man, had my doubts about the cowl.... but you made it look amazing!

 

[Ease]

Love it!

Seat came out nice, and that "ball gutter" (LOL!!) is a good idea.

 

[guitargeek]

Thanks, y'all!

I fixed the charging problem, rode her probably 25 miles or so yesterday, enough to learn that this thing is exquisitely uncomfortable. Came back, tweaked a few things, rode her some more.

I'm shopping around for gel seat pads...

I need to check valve clearances again, as I'm sure they've drifted since the valves have seated. #4 exhaust valve ticks a little louder than I like...

More pics!

Here's the old man, checking it out:

 

[JRK5892]

that is awesome!

 

[HerrDeacon]

Nice pics, bike came out great, nice work.

I really like the picture with your father on the bike. It looks like the one of you in your avatar. Does he ride? What's he think of it.

 

[guitargeek]

Nice pics, bike came out great, nice work.

Thanks!

I really like the picture with your father on the bike. It looks like the one of you in your avatar. Does he ride? What's he think of it.

He's 70, and he's gotten a bit spindly so he doesn't ride as much as he used to, but he still has the '79 Suzuki GS1000 that he bought new.

 

[Canuck Plumber]

I have to admit as well that I wasn't sure the cowl was going to turn out. Sorry I doubted you Man. That bike looks hot. I'm really glad you embedded the vid too. Its great to see these bikes in motion. Great build.

 

[guitargeek]

I have to admit as well that I wasn't sure the cowl was going to turn out. Sorry I doubted you Man. That bike looks hot. I'm really glad you embedded the vid too. Its great to see these bikes in motion. Great build.

Thanks, dude! I appreciate that!

So far, I've put a little over 100 miles on the bike. I take it out, ride a few miles, bring it back in and tweak something. Repeat.
It's fast as shit and corners like it's on rails!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGasaRI1MgE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRqCUmpHKI0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ylZIADo54

 

[Canuck Plumber]

Nicely done. I'm a sucker for that noise (music).

 

[philos1]

sweetness....

 

[dcmspikes]

haha
thats so bad ass. you look like Mad Max and your video is fucking awesome.
well done sir

 

[guitargeek]

Thought I should throw a little update in here...

I've put a few hundred miles on the bike now, and aside from some rusty gas it's been wonderfully reliable so far. Handles great, goes like stink, not the most comfortable on long trips, though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv3l6RALagc

 

[BigBSBusa]

Nice!

 

[Swagger]

[quote author=guitargeek]....... not the most comfortable on long trips, though......[/quote]

Dude! Ball trough.....how can that not be comfy!!?? hehehe

Nice bike, really came out cool! Question though...what kind of camera are you using for your video? I picked up a digital video camera specifically marketed for action sports but the wind noise is deafening and causes severe clipping and nastyness....

 

[guitargeek]

It's an older Sony DSC-P32, I just put 3M packing tape over the lens and microphone.
The camera mount was stupid simple...

 

[JRK5892]

wow man the bike sounds and looks great! no popping or lag... nice work!!! great build!