A Lesson in Brillo

Well surprise surprise surprise... If you leave anything sit long enough it starts to rust. Rust is an awful kin of thing, think of it in a very real sense as the metal burning slowly away beneath you. You wouldn't ride a bike made of flaming timbers (at least not more than a mile or two) - so why should you ride a pile of smouldering pig iron? And chrome! You though chrome would protect you! and zoom - through that plating the rust did go, and pitted now the metal is so - what to do?? I didn't know. Then I discovered BRILLO! Yep - those pre-soaped steel wool pads your wife uses in the kitchen to fix the pot you scorched burning water. Those pads are the stuff when it comes to making your bike look new - they strip oxidation, grime, old fuel, and RUST right away! I haven't had them scratch my chrome - and I doubt if your chrome is in bad enough shape to resort to this that you really would be picky about a scratch among the pits. Though it won't suffer microscopic inspection - it will suffer that usual look over at the bar or rally. It even takes that bluing off the pipes! I bought the "el-cheapo" brand at Winn-Dixie and saved myself a ton of money with a lot of elbow grease. Now, after the rust is gone you need to keep the fire from starting back up - S-100 makes some kick-butt corrosion preventative spray, it smells of ass as it burns off your pipes but ensures that you aren't making whoopee with Brillo pads after every summer shower, or muddy puddle. And none of this is any excuse for not hardly ever washing my bike... Just a way to make it look like the diaper people's rides at first glance - which is as long as they'll see me if I'm moving anyway ;)

27mm Stem Nut Clock

I'm tired of getting in trouble for loosing the time while riding. Some of you may have noticed that I don't wear a watch when I think I can get away from it. I think it adds to the feeling I get while riding to wonder whether one perfect moment has passed or hundreds? BUT- My significant others get very frustrated at my lack of timekeeping and will surely be overjoyed when this beautiful black-faced stem nut clock is installed which will ensure that I always know the time. Waterproof, Shock-Proof, and Vibration-Proof... It was not cheap, and thus I have high expectations. The beveling on the billet is just one of the signs of quality here - as are the luminous dial and hands. The analog movement appeals to the Luddite in all of us, and it should complement the existing black-faced decor on the Tachometer and Speedometer wonderfully. Once it's installed I'll post some more pictures and let you all know how it went. Grab yours on eBay for about $50.00

SuperBrace Fork Stabilizers

This is the latest addition to my motorcycle. I ordered them yesterday from Cruiser Customizing. This fork brace should really improve my handling. My wife already has one on her Yamaha Virago 535 and I suspect it has been the secret to it's nible and responsive, yet sure-footed handling. In any case, it makes me smile just to know they are on their way and will be here soon to grace the bike. I also got the "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" Fork Seal Protectors... I want to do this bike perfectly.

SuperBrace is the leading motorcycle fork stabilizer. This patented brace provides better stability, superior aerodynamics and a more streamlined look than other multi-piece braces on the market.

• Reduces low and high speed wobbles.
• Improves stability in tight cornering.
• Improves tire life and reduces cupping.
• Decreases sensitivity to rough road surfaces and rain grooves
• Each SuperBrace is designed and manufactured for each specific motorcycle.
• Every SuperBrace is made of 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum and machined to a tolerance of + or - .002 of an inch, with a polished finish.
• Ten minute easy installation.
• Competition proven by world class racers.
  

Squashed Dreams or UPS SUCKS

You know - as shippers go - I think UPS is all about BROWN because it's a perfect color match for POO. Every time I really need something to arrive they either lose it half-way or smash it to pieces. Now they smashed my visors before I even got my grubby hands of them and the end result is they refund the awesome price I paid or them, and not the price it will cost me to get them elsewhere. It's really disappointing to have to wait 3 weeks for them to decide it's really lost too. Looks like my luck changes like the weather in South Louisiana. I do know now that UPS is way more then postal shipping and in the future I will look for eBay shippers that offer USPS as an option - I've come to really love the price and speed of their priority mail service. UPS just sucks, and fedex ground is even more pitiful. How the can be more expensive with crappier service and still be here is beyond me.

Missing Person

You know recently I've found myself pining for the good old days. Some of the happiest times I can remember were right before they opened up my head, inserted a piece of stainless steel, and made the vorpal blade go snicker-snack! That did it for most of my memory - but even as my body rotted on that cold steel table and the life ebbed out of me I was already swinging my leg over the saddle of a piece of gasoline powered crack. In a deep coma I rode forever on sunny highways with beautiful yet surreal scenery in an eclectic dance with the thrumming machine. OK - well back to the point - I really miss Brother Crash - my life is missing that spark he always put into it. Maybe I'm just wallowing in self-pity and that maybe is more of a probably, but I never realized how much I would miss him when he left. You know it's actually fun to plan a day trip to Baton Rouge the long way and take 4 hours to cover 100 miles, or get woken up at 5am to ride to McDonald's for Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles - Just because they're tasty and because he just thought we needed to go for a ride. I remember thinking how much better I liked myself (at times) when he was around as he seemed to bring out a side fo me that was actually appealing. Of course I could be wrong about that, but then again I'm wrong about a lot of things. I keep hoping that maybe - Just maybe - he will eventually get away from his 7-9 office job and move home to teach at Tulane or UNO. Yes I said TEACH at a COLLEGE? I'm sure his classes are terribly interesting - with the class paying rapt attention as he lectures in chaps and a thong. - Oh that's a jpg I did not need. But I am finding myself wondering if the return of my other brother John from Denmark will culminate in his purchasing and revitalizing his own rat-like motley assemblage he will license as a motorcycle. But I'd settle for Brother Crash finding a house in Slidell and leaving the PRP (People's Republic of Pennsylvania). Especially, since when he comes down all he has to ride here is Deb's bike and he looks like a buffoon on it. I also want to see him back on a cruiser and putting "bitchpork" (his NightHawk 750) to the back of the garage. Oh well, I'm off to bed to try to think happy thoughts... It's like having a happy little puppy wanting to play all the time and yipping in such a way that you just can't refuse. It would be a bad thing if he wasn't a like a cheer grenade - Even my Krewe who won't allow anyone not completely straight let Crash in free and ask me to bring him because he makes the party fun. I think in a lot of ways he reminds me of the Cat in the Hat - and beware because he can quote Dr. Seuss better than his 5 year old niece...

Headlight and Turn Signal Visors

Well I learned a lesson about getting what you pay for regarding chrome. Seems that cool visor for the headlight I had from JC Whitney finally just rusted to pieces. It was cool but cheap, too cheap to survive some realistic use. I was feeling bummed about this and had been wanting a whole set when I ran into a deal on eBay and picked up and ENTIRE SET for the VStar 1100 Custom from Yamaha for only 15$ including shipping! I think they will add a really nice touch and I've found the factory chrome is really much better than alot of the stuff being passed off as "good" or "show quality" chrome.

Saddlebags Acquired - Updated

I think my current Willie and Max "Mechanic" Saddlebags have been awesome - make no mistakes about it. They could haul 2 cases of soda or beer on each side, and had the space to stow all kinds of gear like jackets and such. Hower such storage can also mean that you can end up toting around the whole crew's beach implements and such.I found this husband and wife team on the internet that makes these things for horses up in rural Washington State - but you know they're pretty good size and look really beautifully handmade and finished. I decided immediately that I had to have them for the bike. To make the deal all the sweeter they cost me just under $40 including the shipping. Look for 56Bullwhip on eBay if you think you need a pair too.

Seat Rail

I know eveyone will think I lost it - but this seat rail is awsome. I'll have to take some pics once it is mounted and it fits just fine around the Cobra sissybar, luggage rack, and passenger backrest. This isn't a Yamaha part, but it's made of chomed stainless and it just fits beautifully into the tubularness of the luggage rack and such. I have not decided whether or not to wrap the handholds in leather or not yet. That will be a decision for a later time - as I'm still thinking of all the cool things to do with that distressed cowskin. I'm also considering manufacturing some leather inserts from the stock handgrips which currently have "pleather" inserts. I have been wondering what kind of damage I could do with the leather tooling book and kit I bought at Hobby Lobby which would make the grips sick beyond all reason.

Time for New Leather

OK - if I can't ride it maybe I will play dress up and wipe it with a diaper. But seriously there were always a few things I wanted to change about the bike, I may be straight but I still hate the black leather - so we started by getting some new upholstery leather in the "Distressed Cow" I have been unable to find before. We'll be using this to make a driver and passenger seat and backrest pad as well as making a new Tank Bib - even plainer than the last one. Of course, I'll probably have to wrap the grips in this beautiful hide too - and lord only knows what other uses I will think of for the remnants of this 18sq/ft of gorgeous leather.

Whining about riding

It's been awhile since I've been able to get out an about on the beast. However, the thought of getting out to ride has kept me going most of the last year. Recently it dawned on me just how much I have been looking forward to being able to ride regularly again. I keep telling myself that things will get better soon, and if I'm being delusional - who am I hurting? Overall, the bike is in good shape and aside from the battery being a little low on the charge, she should be ready to go as soon as I am.