Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Member's Rides Erle & son's '05 America

IMO, This just might be the best looking BA/SM I've seen! I like the color, and I really like the clip-ons (especially since they're home-made). Very cool bike!

Your photo in front of the train track is great; I like the orange evil-eyes behind the cheese graters.

Nice job,

Will

That's pretty sweet, Erle.

Earle...that looks great!

yeah those clip ons really change the look of the bike a lot

its very mean

WAIT FOR IT, WAIT FOR IT...

Well Fish, Here's the "Swan Song" post and pic's.

6/18/11 AM.



6/18/11 PM.






Well, sort of.

With the addition of the front speedy fender and bar end mirror, my son and I are at the point where the cosmetic changes are through. We have the "quick change" parts all set up and ready to accessorize in any manner we choose, from two-up, full fendered road barge to the solo bobber you see now. Twenty to thirty minutes, and it can be one, or the other, or ANY combo in between. (No bags, unless it's the Heineken mini-keg one we have).

We have just two more things in mind, then all the time, effort, and money are going into performance upgrades only (motor/handling).

One of the two is to have the solo seat recovered in a distressed, brown leather. The other is to have another tank (as soon as one becomes available for $100 or less, including shipping), painted a medium, metallic, ice blue (like the later Dodge truck blue), with the '69-'79 eyebrow badges I'm SOOO fond of , with a black or gold background paint color. May or may not two tone paint like stock, leaning toward one color only.

Over the years, many parts from ebay, fab'ed parts from GSP (Ghetto Shed Products), and parts from members here have made it what it is today (or yesterday, or tomorrow).

You may spot your parts here. Members like Richard, Dave, Mike, Zdenko, and Ron (hope I didn't forget anyone), who graciously sold or DONATED parts, WE THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH for your generosity.

As you can see from the current photos, the green tank is back on. Every time I see a shot of Doug's bike, I go back to the green tank, but now I don't know which one I like best, the green or gold, what-cha think? (this is another reason for the blue tank, to be a more liked color then BOTH of the others. )

We're waiting for some more info. from Bonneville Performance about their 1100 and 1200 kits, with a claimed output of 104 hp & 86-90 ft.lbs., and still only 10.5:1 comp. We've NEVER heard any personal comments from anyone who has had this work done. Anyone have ANY input? The kits can be built in house by them for about 5K for the 1200. I'd go that route for that much work, to have it done by pro's, with a warrenty.

Ok, it took longer than I originally thought, and the hue of blue is NOT what I was in search of, but here it is, in it's third reincarnation.

After ALL these years, she's finally got a nick name that has stuck.

The Chameleon.
(for obvious reasons)

She'll be comin' to the Rally in this dress this spring.

Very nice earl, i still really liked the brown theme you had going on.

I agree, that 2 tone brown really went with the brass battery cover. I think the light brown from the tank on the fenders with the dark brown from the tank as a stripe down the middle of the fenders would look great. The stripes should have a pinstripe to set them off too.

Now Don't Forget, I still have ALL three.
Have ALL the different bars, risers, fenders, etc.
I just like changin' things up a bit every 6 to 12 months or so.

It stems from a psychological disorder.

I have my own little "PinWalls" in my facility.

I agree on the seat too

Love the bandana!

Sweet,I like the air filter covers.Is that fender off a softtail Erle?

Crips bro!

Represent!





Actually, It's not there often. Only when the roads are wet. Should have taken it off for the pics.

Does a pretty good job of eliminating the rooster tail from the front tire when it rains, or the roads are just wet, believe it or not.

Yeah Marty, it was advertised as a black soft tail fender, "would need paint", by a small store on ebay for $54.




It had never been mounted, don't know WHAT needed to be repainted, I didn't re-paint anything.

did you paint the side of the battery Erle or is there a plate on that i can't tell

4" x 10" brass plate from the local model/hobby store.

About $2.25, and two 90 degree bends.

Looking good Erle, mixing it up quite nicely. I envy you for that cause I wanna change mine all the time but I keep that as an excuse to buy more bikes.

Rich!? Ha, I wish. All my bikes are basket cases and need lots of love.

"Sittin' on the side of the road"

Some pic's of the "new", darker blue and titanium header wrap.
Just got a forth tank from Troy (Thensley).
The colors runnin' through my brain now are reminiscent of days gone by.

Your bike and your story are amongst the best of all. Happy new year, and may the force remain with you!

very nice, erle and son

Thanks guys.
I just noticed that the two different hues of blue aren't really apparent between the pic recently posted, and the one before it from 6/23/2013, but the second blue is more of a gray/blue, and more sparkly.
I like sparkly!

someone shared picture of your bike on FB fb

Really stoked to be one of four bikes invited to be part of the Ace Cafe' display at the AMIExpo @ the Orange County Convention Center. Third year in a row. Though this will be the last, as the AMIE moved to Ohio.
Most surprising to me was still being asked to return, as she is NO Trailer Queen. The years, the several trips through the Southeast, and mileage have left her with blemishes, dings, scratches, and other normal "Beauty Marks", but the Ace folks wouldn't have it any other way.
The people with the Ace Cafe are some of the finest, down to earth folks you'll find anywhere.

The Ace Cafe is now open in downtown Orlando, the first in America, and is a site NOT to be missed.

The "Chameleon", as my '05 America has affectionately become known as, went back to her One up, Gold skin, Retro-mod cafe look for this event.
This is my personal favorite style, though it's a toss-up in my view between the gold or blue tank.
However, it's a family ride, owned by my youngest son, and when the wife decides she wants to go, (which is all-the-time) it better be set-up for two. (And two COMFORTABLY!) lol

So be it.

Oh, the last picture is of some of the people waiting for a ride.

https://imgur.com/a/ZkACX