The Bike: I found her about 6 weeks ago at the Greenhouse Moto Cafe outside Asheville, NC. (Cool spot- definitely stop by if you’re in the area.) She was one of the countless bikes decorating the walls of the bar. I had been considering a project bike for a while and after a few beers, she checked all the boxes.
I paid $3500 for Lady Death. I’m told she just needs a new battery, fluids, flushed gas tank/carb, and a few bolts. She’s also got a bunch of aftermarket parts, like fuel tank and front-end, that aren’t to my taste. So I won’t feel guilty swapping those out. Highlights include a recent engine rebuild with gold-plated accents like pushrod tubes and bolts.
The Plan: Ultimately, I’d like to build an old-school chopper; rigid frame, springer front-end, jockey shift, upswept fishtail or cocktail shaker exhaust, peanut tank, drag bars etc. This won’t be my primary ride, so I’m not concerned with rideability. I’d also like to do as much work as possible myself. This means learning a lot of new skills along the way, like painting, wiring, and welding. This also means it won’t be a quick process.
Step 1: The first thing I plan to do is get it running. The battery, fluids, plugs, and loose bolts should be easy. The gas tanks will be a new challenge for me. The previous owner suggested draining and cleaning the tanks and carb bowl. A second opinion said high-octane racing fuel will burn out any build-up. I may just replace the tanks altogether. The mounting bracket on the right tank is broken and would require welding. The outside bottom of the left tank is rusted. And I don’t like the look of the gold bolts on the tank anyway. Since a used Shovelhead tank cost $100 on eBay, that may be the best solution for now.
Stay Tuned!
]]>So you’ve already memorized Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and you’ve planned your very own Long Way Down / Long Way Round adventure. Now, you’re searching for something new to read. Here are five of my favorite motorcycle books.
Against the Wind: A Rider’s Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally by Ron Ayers. A first-person account of the 1995 Iron Butt Rally written by its 6th place finisher. Ayers completed the 11-day, 11,000-mile rally without the use of GPS. A technology so new at the time, that only 1 of the 55 entrants had it onboard his bike. This book inspired me to buy a BMW R1150rs and writing this post has inspired me to read the book again.
Two Wheels Through Terror: a Diary of a South American Motorcycle Odessey by Glen Heggstad. A first-person account of a solo journey from Southern California to the southern tip of South America. Heggstad overcomes a number of seemingly insurmountable challenges; most notably being captured and detained by a rebel army in the jungles of Colombia. A story so compelling, I couldn’t believe it was real. I’m still waiting for this one to be made into a movie.
Leanings: The Best of Peter Egan from Cycle World Magazine and Leanings 2 by Peter Egan. A collection of columns written by Peter Egan for Cycle World Magazine dating back to 1977. These books are great for those of us who like variety and have a short attention span. Egan shares his thoughts on everything from cross-country trips, kick-starters, and the Isle of Man TT to guitars and blues music. I just added the 3rd installment, Leanings 3, to my reading list
Too Far Gone by Todd Blubaugh. A collection of beautiful photos and compelling stories of the people, places, and machines Blubaugh encounters as he travels cross country. Though the trip had been planned in advance, it takes on new meaning when the author's parents pass away unexpectedly just days before he was set to leave.
She’s a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding edited by Geno Zanetti. Excerpts from some of the best-known motorcycle literature like; Robert Pirsig, Hunter S. Thompson, Ted Simon, Sonny Barger and more compiled to answer the question: Why do people ride motorcycles?
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