Too fast for an engine

Here it is, minus a few key parts, but it rolls!

Sarah came out and looked at it concernedly. I asked what she thought and she informed me that it had no engine. I told her that with a bike this fast, the engine just slows you down. I am a little concerned that she didn't see anything wrong with the handlebars.

I am going to have a new solo seat built. That is the plan, unless the quote comes back with too many zeros behind it. I am going to leave the sissy bar off. Kerri doesn't want to ride with me and there isn't anyone else I want hanging on to me.

When I get the engine back, it will be painted black and should look nice in the aluminum colored frame. I am both anxious and scared about the engine. Lets hope I can get it running.

Is it hot in here...

I have already painted the frame an aluminum color and was beginning to regret. The tank was a cast iron color with a tinge of yellow in it. (Wasn't fond of the yellow cast). So in a flash of inspiration, I thought I would add aluminum colored flames to bring the colors together. I washed the tank and using 2" masking tape, I overlapped the tape on a sheet of wax paper. Then using an Xacto, I cut out the tribal flame shape I had printed on a sheet of paper and taped underneath the wax paper. I then removed the parts I wanted painted and pealed the masking tape pattern off of the wax paper and attached it to the tank. I have a few minor bleeds that I will fix with a brush after it cures and I wet sand it with 2000 grit sandpaper. A few coats of clear coat and a lot of polishing and I should be good to go!

I didn't like how the flames ended, so after I very carefully removed the masking tape, I shot a few rows of the cast iron color to the front so that the flames show more gradually from the front. 

Here is the tank on the bike. Not mounted, just set there to appease my impatience. The rear calipers are just sitting in place as well.

Slowly, slowly, slowly.

Painted wheels

In keeping with my last post, here is the progress on the wheels. I am using Duplicolor wheel paint, which they say has good staying power. I half expect the entire paint job to crack and flake of on my first ride. Kind of like a cartoon... vroom, bump, poof. We shall see.

Here is the front wheel already painted and dry. It took a can and a half for the one tire. The rear tire has been sandblasted to get ride of what was left of the clear coat and road grime. I still need to wash it to get rid of the sand.

Here is the rear wheel taped up. I used a coffee can to cover the bolts in the center while I was spraying. The rubber repels the sand, so you don't need to tape the tire when you are sandblasting. You do need to tape the valve stem though.

I still need to clean the tires, but I will wait a week or two before attempting to use any chemicals on the paint. Apparently the best tire cleaner is engine degreaser and elbow grease. I don't know if I am brave enough to try that.

That's the ticket

I have been unsure about the direction to take this bike since I dismantled it. There are a lot of really cool mods to the XS11 out there. The ones I like most turn the seat into a solo and drop the rear of the bike so that the fender is just an inch off of the tire. The negative to this is that it lowers the seat, which is currently at a nice height for my inseam. The second is that it effectively turns the bike into a hardtail. Which is a little too unforgiving on the ol' spinal column.

Recently though I found a bike that I really like and am working towards. I wont be doing to fancy flames and I like the idea of dual four inch headlamps, but the black wheels, shorter bars and bags on the back look pretty nice. 

Now I just need the engine casing back from Carriaga Machine where they are cleaning years of soot and a lot of road grime off so that I can paint it black and assemble it.