 Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
I know these type of old choppers aren't everyone's cup of tea
I think everyone that sees that bike will love it. Its the perfect bobber. 
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
I've learned a lot on this project, thanks to Pete's buddy, unfortunately most lessons learned the hard way. One mistake was the el-cheapo Ebay seat that I bought for $30. Of course, the cheap metal threads were the first thing to fail and I've had it rigged since mid-summer. I've been keeping my eye out for a cool, thin-line seat that could take a custom leather insert and my searching paid off. I grabbed this seat real cheap off the Jockey Journal boord. It is a LaRosa "Hardass" seat. I'm confident in my 5" barrel springs.... I think this will fit the bike image well and I'll maybe get Blackbirds wife to do some custom leather insert on it (Trump logo, my Welsh Red Dragon?). I'll mount it tonight, but this is just sitting on the existing POS seat: 
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Ok, did some mid-winter updates to the '66. You might have seen member "Blackwind"'s custom seat done by his wife, "CL Customs" on a thread at this site. They are nearby in NJ where I work, so I contacted her about redoing the seat cover on the new LaRosa seat. I had "Riff-Raff" tooled into the leather, which is my favorite AC/DC song and seemed to fit the bike well (so, I guess it's no longer "The Loser"). Bon Scott died 31 years ago last night, so a fitting tribute I think. I communicated with her by phone and email on the design, colors, etc. I think she nailed it. I made it tough on her by not sending her the fasteners, but she was able to work thru it with this result. It's enroute to me, I'll post a picture with it installed. I'm pretty stoked to get this on the bike. If you need any leather work, I would highly recommend CL Custom, Darrin and Chris are great folks.  CL Customs Webpage I also had some of my front end items powdercoated. Our nearby prison has a powdercoating shop and one of my neighbors runs the trades department there. He can get small parts done in black, which worked out great. My risers, as seen in the first photo were pretty beat up with a cheap spray can paint job. I also had the headlight trim ring and clutch lever/mount done in black to match the front brake master cylinder.   I also remounted that left side tank badge, not in the pix above.
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Very cool. You may have covered it, but where is that headlight from?
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Looking good!!!! 
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
Very cool. You may have covered it, but where is that headlight from?
Of an unknown origin. That's one of the pieces that was originally on the bike. I think it was a spotlight of some sort.
I also scored a set of MCM fork covers that I'll powdercoat black as well. I have to scuff up those forks, I polished them last year. I think the dull finish will match the rest of the bike better.
The tank could use a repaint as well, my tank badge came loose last year, well ok, it fell off! Scratched it up some. Oh well, we'll call it character for now...
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
sweet.....It looks great man.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 507
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 507 |
Quote:
sweet.....It looks great man.
+1. Love the seat.
2005 Speedmaster, Tornado Red, AI removed, Uni Pods, JCW 19" turnouts
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Rode it about 50 miles today, over to WVA. Snekepte was there at our buddies house. He tightened a few loose fasteners and we replaced my burned out taillight bulb, again...
Back's a little sore, might have overdone it today, but it sure was nice to get out.
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
You might know, but are you touching the glass on those bulbs? The oils on your fingers usually lead to burnouts.
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
You might know, but are you touching the glass on those bulbs? The oils on your fingers usually lead to burnouts.
No touching, but the thing vibrates like crazy. I need to get an LED in there. But, with no battery, it's not an easy swap. A guy on the Jockey Journal claims to have an LED light available for battery-less bikes. I may give it a try. It's a little nerve racking not knowing if you have a stoplight!
Al
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Re: "The Loser" Rides again!
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
Yeah mine goes out from time to time too
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