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Traveling alone. I’ll have my dual disc front wheel for the first time, as well as my SPOT GPS transceiver and the iPod Nano. If the GPS works like it should, I’ll post a link to the Google Maps page it generates. My plan is to hit the “report in” button at each gas stop or overnight stop. Probably won’t have the Kuryakyn Grips and Breakaway cruise control installed. A little too close to start making new mods.

Update: Bike is back on the road. Might have to bleed the brakes one more time to get that last tiny bit of air out of the system.

So I decided to try and create a web-based version in Javascript. Pat sent me his data file so I could pull out his numbers for all the jetting options.

Voila.

It’s not quite finished. The math seems to be working, but I’m still testing. It isn’t pretty but it works. The biggest difference between this and Pat’s original application is that you have to click the “Calculate” button to update the main jet number. When I get some time I’ll throw some graphic design mojo at it.

I’ve had the bike out twice already this year. Probably haven’t put much more than 50 miles on it. Last Sunday the weather was gorgeous so I got out in the garage and finished drilling out a couple baffles in my stock pipes. Naturally I was required after that to go for a ride and test them out. I’ve been running factory short Triumph “off road” (“short TORs”) mufflers for nearly 8 years, but I’ve always wanted to see what the stock pipes sounded like gutted, or at least partially gutted. I left in the third baffle and the reducer cone at the front. The results were amazing. The exhaust note, while not sounding tuned, sounded incredibly deep. I should have done this 8 years ago rather than buying the short TORs at around $385.

So now that I have these drilled pipes, I still have to mount up and try out the set of short slash-cut mufflers by Specialty Spares that I picked up used recently. Zdenko put a set on his girlfriend’s bike and says they sound nearly identical to his Specialty Spares long cannons, which I love. So if these SS shorties are that good, I’ll probably sell the drilled stock pipes.

Not 100% sure on the makeover happening this year. Events conspire to derail. But it’s no sweat; I’ve waited this long I can wait a little longer. Besides, I’ve got plenty of other things to do on the bike. Next up I’m going to install the Speedmaster drag bars, aftermarket pull-back risers with stepped bolts and finally, finally, finally, the dual disc front wheel. If I have the time and the will I will try and do the new turn signals and headlight, the latter requiring some rearranging of the wiring at the front of the bike.

But one thing at a time…

On the heels of my last post about selling the D&Ds, I just listed several items on BonnevilleAmerica.com in the classifieds. Here is the gallery of images, but I don’t have the prices listed in the gallery, only on BA.com.

Current Item list:

1. The aforementioned D&D mufflers–need stripping and coating SOLD
2. Triumph tall sissybar and luggage rack–usually a very popular item SOLD
3. Stock tail light housing–good for blacking out while still saving your original chrome piece
4. Triumph chrome rear brake reservoir cover–chromosexual approved SOLD
5. Stock dash–again, good for color-coordinating with your tank or just blacking it out SOLD
6. Optronics fog lights–cheap, lots of light SOLD
7. Triumph chrome front brake reservoir cover  with British flag sticker–also chromosexual approved SOLD
8. George Foreman Grill (stock sprocket cover)–good for hacking up and customizing
9. Aftermarket horn–meh
10. Triumph chrome control levers–again, chromosexual approved SOLD
11. Phantom Pad–weird, but if that’s your thing, okay–WON’T FIT A TRIUMPH
12. Thunderbird Sport front rim, 17×3.5″, with spokes–good for you fat front tire fans, 1″ shorter than stock, 1″ wider than stock–laces right on to the stock America hub SOLD
13. Triumph tachometer–could be fried, need someone to test it for me and only pay me if it works (which means my bike is still screwed up) SOLD
14. Triumph rear fender luggage rack–still chromosexual approved SOLD
15. Someone’s interested in my effed out Belt Drive kit SOLD

More to come. That’s good enough to get started.

Now that I have some Specialty Spares slashcuts, I’m going to dump the D&Ds I have. Nothing against D&Ds, I just love the sound of Specialty Spares. I picked the D&Ds up off ebay a couple years ago and they’ve been sitting on a shelf in my garage since. They have some surface rust. My plan was to have them media-blasted and ceramic-coated black (keeping the heat shields chrome and the exhaust tips polished). Since I bought these with the plan to black them out, NewSpeedmaster started selling black D&Ds but they cost some bank. I got an estimate from Jet-Hot of $115 for the ceramic-coating. If I remember correctly Wolfe will do it for less. Even with shipping you’ll have Black D&Ds for less than half the cost of new pipes. Even less if you go low-tech with some BBQ paint like some have done.

I paid $75 plus shipping for these pipes and that’s all I want out of them. Here’s a picture from the original ebay ad. I’ll take some fresh shots of my own this weekend. The Specialty Spares were shipped from Iowa to Montana for less than $20 so I can’t imagine it costing much more than that for these (though they are longer). So let’s call it an even $100 shipped.

Next I’ll be listing a tall Triumph Sissybar with Luggage Rack and my HD Hard Bags. Gotta take some pictures first, though.

Okay, since I got through the recap of last year, I’m looking forward now. Specifically thinking about my bike and all my failed plans for modifications, and trying not to beat myself up too much. Taking stock of all the parts and supplies I have accumulated since I decided to give my bike an “Extreme Bobber Makeover™” a few years ago and upgrade the braking, I have the following:

• Triumph Thunderbird Sport front wheel laced with an 18″ Bonneville America rim and spokes (up from the stock 17″ TBS rim and spokes) with a 130/70-18 Avon Venom mounted up
• Two new EBC floating brake disks,  two new sets of EBC sintered brake pads, a right-side Speedmaster brake caliper, a braided stainless steel crossover brake line and  two billet Speedmaster fender clips for that line (Speedmaster front fender is already mounted on the bike).
• Chrome spun aluminum headlight with recessed billet ring, 5 3/4″
  
• Kuryakyn retro bullet turn signals, amber for front, red for rear–I want to use these brackets (or make my own) for the fronts
  
• Run-turn-stop module
• Retro drilled brake light (modified with LED bulb)
  
• DEI black exhaust wrap kit with stainless steel zip ties *
• Spare stock battery bracket (for modification) *
• Spare stock Scrambler (T-100) sprocket cover (obtained for modification and powder-coating black)
• Spare stock clutch cover (for powder-coating black)
• Spare stock stator cover (for powder-coating black)
• Kuryakyn voltmeter
• Stock Speedmaster drag bars
• Chrome pullback risers, 4″ up, 1.5″ back with dogbone one piece riser cap
• Stepped adaptor riser bolts
• A bunch of aluminum stock to build a new quick-release luggage rack (utilizing EasyBracket posts)
• Used Specialty Spares short slashcut mufflers (plan on ceramic coating black and perhaps)

I also have the following, but I’m not sure they’re going to get finished this year.

• Spare Bonneville America rear fender, stripped and bobbed
• Spare Bonneville America gas tank, modifications began recently, with Harley filler bung and sight gauge kit
• NYC Choppers Monza style flip-up gas cap
  

(I’m pretty sure there’s more hiding out there in the garage, but I can’t recall off the top of my head.)

Needless to say I have A LOT of work to do. If all I do this year is get that damned Thunderbird Sport wheel mounted up I’ll be happy. I have to, though, as I’m overdue for a new front tire anyway. I really want to try out the Speedmaster handlebars. If the new tank and tin get finished I’ll have to install the Kuryakyn turn signals and the retro drilled tail light, and fabricate a side-mount license plate bracket (or buy this nice piece from Low Brow Customs).

* indicates that I’m not sure if I’m going to go through with my original plans for this item or sell it and go a different direction.

Items For Sale SOLD

These items to fit in with my bobber plan and would rather sell them to offset some of the other items I want to purchase. Really, I don’t want to spend any “new money” on my bike, unless it’s for tires, gas or oil.  UPDATE: I’ve sold a ton of stuff, including:

• Triumph Tall Sissybar with luggage rack
• Easybracket posts for use with factory Triumph sissybar
• Triumph Tacho kit
• Triumph rear fender rack
• Used belt drive kit

I still have a few things left.

• Phantom pad (which doesn’t work with my stock fender shape)
• Stock “George Foreman Grill” Sprocket cover, silver

Unresolved Issues

• Indicator Lights: Since I’m shaving the dash I need to replace the warning lights from shaved dash. I don’t think I want to use the Veypor as my primary instrumentation, and I have my eye on a couple mini-gauges that have the indicator lights in the speedometer (available from many vendors like J&P Cycle).
• If I get rid of the Harley hard saddle bags I’ll need some sort of storage, if only for travel. I have the Corbin glove box for commuting. I’ll have my custom aluminum luggage rack for my dufflebag. For tools and rain gear and such, I have my eye on some Kuryakyn Gran Tour saddlebags.

Future Items/Tasks

• Steel braided control cables
• Internal handlebar wiring
• BCC custom low profile seat (local riding only), used, preferably tan
• Make new battery bracket out of extra stock bracket (may opt to do this with an aftermarket battery bracket)
• Modify stock Scrambler sprocket cover with new design (bottom left)
• Design and fab new inserts for footboards, possibly powder-coat boards black
• Replace cheap fog lights with nicer (PIAA?), mounted either to my custom-fabbed light bar bracket or right under the lower yoke like before.

Health

I tried to take control of my health early in 2009. I ‘m not usually proactive but I went to the doctor for a physical in April. Other than high cholesterol I was in decent shape for a sedentary cubicle drone. One week later an infection kicked my ass and put me in the hospital for 12 days. My leg still isn’t better, my left leg is now “acting up.” The only bright side to that experience was losing 17lbs., but I’m still on the hook for a few grand after my insurance paid 90%. I tried Weight Watchers and had some success but I’ve plateaued and now have to figure out what to do next.

Relationships/Family

I’m still dating Sherri. December 1, 2009 was the second anniversary of our first date. It hasn’t all been wine and roses (what relationship is?), but we seem to be making a go of it.

In August my dad decided to clean out his shed and brought me a truckload of tools, including a rollaway toolchest, an air compressor and a router table. He also brought a nice computer desk.

In September, my paternal grandmother died at the ripe old age of 89 (or so). She and I were not close but I rushed down to California to support my father (primarily) and the rest of the family (secondarily) during this trying time. I was able to reconnect with my family, even the completely cuckoo ones. I saw all my cousins together for the first time since the early 80s.  I took a leap of faith and drove my Shelby Dakota, taking it out of town for the first time, and not 100% confident in its condition. But it performed admirably, suffering only one minor problem. Saw this crazy cat on the way back. I also took the opportunity to not only indulge my love for In-and-Out Burger, but torment Sherri’s son who also loves a double-double. I tried to make it up to him by bringing one back but the little shit basically spit in my face. So I ate it.  No good deed…

House

I made virtually no progress on my house remodel. The palette of bamboo flooring to this day remains parked in front of the mustang in my garage. However, I did dip into my savings to buy a new roof. What came later in the year with my job made me glad I didn’t further empty my savings to work on the house.

Career

At the end of October I was called into the site director’s office and told I was on a 30-day furlough. Needless to say this career-limbo inspired me to think about other options. While it sucked in general I was heartened by my awesome co-workers who donated vacation time to me during this period. I’ve been back at work since the Monday before Thanksgiving, but the future is very uncertain and I can’t afford to rest on my laurels. Trouble is, there isn’t much for me to do in this town and I may have to consider moving if another furlough (or a full-fledged layoff) comes along.

Freelance Web Design Business

During the first half of the year I let SSDD Web Design languish. I didn’t seek new business and other than some ongoing maintenance for a couple clients and a stalled out project for one other, I had nothing going on. I even took down the web site and redirected the URL to JohnBedard.com. Then July brought me the opportunity to do a web site for a friend who was running for Helena City Commission. This project (and the aforementioned furlough from my day job) re-energized me and my desire to do freelance work and build something for my future. I updated my resume, started a portfolio web site and relaunched SSDD Web Design (redesign pending).

Shelby Dakota (aka “The Money Pit”)

I drove the Shelby most of the year without problems. In the Spring I purchased a set of Cragar Soft-8 wheels and shod them with Sumitomo tires. As mentioned above it made it to California and back. I had a bit of a wake up call, however, when I started totaling up all the money I’ve spent on it. At this point I’m basically pot-committed. Hopefully I can paint it in 2010 so at least it looks decent.

Friar’s Ride

With everything that’s happened I forgot it’s only been about a year since I established this blog on this domain, harvesting all the motorcycle content out of my old blog. I do intend to post more this year, update the design to an upgraded version of my old blog design and generally just try to grow it a bit. It will continue being focused primarily on motorcycling and secondarily on all things gearhead.

Motorcycles

Saving the best and worst for last. Not sure where to start. In June I took a nice little day ride with some of my coworkers. I managed to cross the 45,000 mile mark on my bike (picture taken just before), but I only put on 3k for the year (I had been averaging 6k). The annual British Columbia trip as just a clusterfuck. I try not to swear very often on this blog but there’s no other way to describe it so succinctly. Electrical problems. Trucking my bike to Spokane. Speeding tickets. Watching a friend crash and get air-lifted to Spokane.

The good news is that not only did my friend John survive and recover, he just bought a replacement motorcycle and will be riding again this Spring.

For the first time in a long time my Year in Cities had more car-based travel than motorcycle-based.

I didn’t make any progress towards my bike makeover (I blame my health issues in April), but I did go back to chain final drive, ditching the piece of shit aftermarket belt drive. Got to rivet my first chain ever. I also installed a Scottoiler; half the reason I tried the belt drive was that I hated lubing the chain. The battery I bought at the Triumph dealership in Langley, British Columbia in July 2008 died and when I contacted them they basically said go spit.

The good news for 2010 is that my buddy Gene and I did start on the gas tank mods. After the electrical problems that plagued me on the British Columbia trip, I removed the cheapo driving lights and the factory tachometer that was freaking out on me (I just hope it’s the tach and not my electrical system). I still need to go through all the wiring connectors and see if there are anymore shorts, burn-throughs or corrosion. I even contemplating ditch the stock harness and starting over, but I can’t imagine doing a better job overall than the factory.

Watch this space for a post about my updated plan for my bike mods for 2010.

Wrap it up, Friar

All in all 2009 was a real bitch. But life happens and usually it keeps going on. All things considered I’m probably more upbeat than I was this time last year. I call it laughing in the face of impending doom. Cheers.

• Shave stock dash and smooth top of tank.
• Move gas filler forward and right, utilizing a Harley filler bung.
• Fuel sight gauge on the left side.

I’ve got a brushed aluminum monza-style flip up gas cap from NYC Choppers for the new tank. The indicator lights from the dash will be moved to a new mini speedometer mounted up on the bars, with a matching mini tach.

Gene’s doing the metal work and welding while I’m doing all the grunt work, cutting, flanging, templating, etc. He’ll be squirting the paint and I’ll be doing the other grunt work, filling and sanding.