Barber's....Packed and Ready to Roll......

My Lil' Man is getting older......

My little man is about to turn five this weekend. He's my buddy, my best friend, my helper, and the only one who can misplace my tools, lose them and still get away with it (kind of, lessons have been learned). He built his first BMX shortly after he turned four years old. It's been power slides, wheelies, and small ramps ever since. Now he helps kids in the neighborhood that are 7,8,and 9 years old remove stuff from their bikes (unnecessary junk), and put their chains back on without any help from me.  He doesn't know it yet but he's getting a new BMX bike today for his Bday before I take off to Barber's tomorrow. Spiderman Inflatable Jumpers, Halloween Decorations, and BMX, it's gonna be awesome. 

Anyhow, the little guy loves it whenever new magazines show up at the house and is continuously intrigued by the various bikes that grace the pages of Street Chopper, Cycle Source, The Horse, etc. You get questions like "So daddy, das a Shubble Head, right deddy?" Others are "Deddy, wise dat girl trying to ride dat bike in her bikini, das funny ain’t it deddy?" His childish accent, baby like ways, and pure innocence are fading fast if not gone now, and I miss them. However I do look forward to his growth as a young man, and helping him find his passions and making them flourish, whatever they may be. I've never pushed him in any direction, but for whatever reason, my blood and passion for everything two wheels pumps fierce through his veins, and for that I am grateful. I started spinning pedals at two, him at three - four, we’re a lot alike, and I love this kid more than the world. Happy Birthday buddy!

He does this on his own. I just happen to catch the moment sometimes.

Below: Some of you may recognize this one that caught his interest.

Below: First bike, putting new tubes and tires on after paint.

Prepped for paint.

Pullin' tape. Tedious, but has to be done.

He was stoked about putting it all back together.

Immediately after being finished with his first bike, and took off riding like a champ.

He doesn't have to build the new one and he's finally going to get his "Big Boy" BMX that he's been asking for.

Bars are cleaner and ready for a hand full of Whiskey Throttle....

Been trying to remove all the switches from the Vstar bars which is accomplished and got the Biltwell Whiskey Throttle installed. Here's a few shots of how it went down, and where it's at now.  It's still not completely finished but it's where I'm at now.

Went from dual to single throttle cables.  Still need a longer cable and one that threads correctly to make the right look clean.  Also need a little longer brake line and it will be finished. Removed kill switch, relocated starter from right side to below my left leg.

Below: Home made wiring diagram for the headlight.  I wanted the option of having high/low beam so I bought a $3 15 amp on/off switch and wired it to stay on low and be able to switch to hi beam if needed.

Below: Testing my wiring for my headlight switch before I ran the wires to their permanent location. 

Much more simplified harnesses, heat shrunk and ready for install. 

Below: Where I ran the wires to for the starter and headlight switch.

Below: Never did get a final shot of it cleaned up, but this is where they both went.

Below: The right switch and throttle housing was already off and wired prior to this photo but you can still see what it looked like with that big clunky left side switch housing for the headlight, turn signals, horn, and clutch switch.  All are gone except the headlight switch.

Oh yeah, and there's Fred in the background.  That's my helper.  He has a shop shirt with his name on it so everyone can remember his name and know he's special!

Tip, lay the stuff out, label, write it down, and take your time to do it right the first time.  Solder and heat shrink that shit so you don't get stuck on the side of the road tracing electrical problems. 

Second tip, listen to good music and don't let your wife get kidnapped by Aliens, or do!

Long Bikes and Titties

I'm not the hugest fan of long bikes, but this one for some reason really is just pure class.  Saw it on Backstreet Backets and just sharing like everyone else.  If this bike was gonna be called titties, it would be Double D's.

Hoping to see some of you Crackers at Barber's...

Hoping I get to run into you guys at Barber's.  We're coming Saturday morning and camping.  See ya'll there I hope!  Later gators. 

Whiskey Throttle on the VStar

Got the Biltwell Whiskey Throttle on the VStar this weekend.  Pics suck and this is the short version, but here goes.  Went from dual to single throttle cable, need new and longer cable still and brake line, removed housing for starter and kill switch, relocated starter to ultra secret location nobody can see except for people on the internet with binoculars, and still have to remove to switch housing from left side and I'm going to shave an inch off of both sides of the apes.  The throttle works like a greased you know what and I'm super stoked about that.  Waiting on new grips, and in a couple days will throw some pics up of a VStar with some ultra clean handlebar lines. 

Below: Super Secret Location :) Does not interfere with side panel removal at all.  All wires were soldered and heat shrunk.  Should last a lifetime.

Just remove the brake switch wires from the factory harness, solder the kill switch wires together, heat shrink, and then add some length with 14 ga or 16ga. wire to the starter wires, connect to starter button and your bike will crank.  Just that simple.  Kind of.  Continuity is key! At this moment in time I was letting the Force of the Bass Pale Ale guide me in the right direction.

More top secret espionage photography! 



More to come maybe or maybe not. 

New Man Cave at the Crib

I have plenty of room now, and don't have to work out of the shed anymore, although I do have a shed here as well.  Nicest place I've ever lived by far. Plenty of room for a few bikes, a car and tools, with room to spare.  This winter is gonna be much nicer than the those in the past.  Almost excited about it.

Get to walk out the door, hang with my buddy Bob, chill, wrench............

flip through old biker rags and whatnot...........and.............

.....enjoy cold beverages from only a few paces away without ever having to go back inside. 

Still getting organized and will get the CB back home this weekend hopefully.  This will be my haven once the shadows get really long and the sun sets before I even leave work.            

It's gonna be a good winter!