Eye of Parys

Springer compression tool

2012-02-09T18:00:00.001-08:00

This thing worked great until I snapped a 5/16" threaded rod. Oops...springs fly really high in the air when they rebound.

Bike Progress.

2012-02-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

None really...who knows how to put the springs back in a springer without the rockers turning south?

I took my seat down to a local upholstery shop and I think they did a great job on my "Bates" seat. 1/2" padding sewn to the leather to create the pleats, 1/2" underneath. Creates a nice profile but I think i'll do 1" padding under the pleats next time.

First ride.

2012-01-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

Born Free Two.

2012-01-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

It was amazing how big this show grew in a year.

2012-01-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Love party

2012-01-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

I'll be heading to Phoenix this weekend with guys from Salt Lake and my buddy from Virginia. This anniversary party is always a good time.

Twenty One.

2012-01-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

I got a star hub from my buddy Robert, had it powder coated. Took a 21" that I had laying around and laced it up. Rebuilt the hub, took it to a local tire shop and had them true and mount the tire.

I'll be riding on 21 inches now.

Kyle's Land Speed Triumph

2012-01-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

Aug 2010

Dave

2012-01-22T10:38:00.001-08:00

Get Lucky.

2012-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Omaha Orange.

2012-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

I never get tired of seeing Grant's Shovel and I definitely don't get tired of taking pictures of it.

Turn it up to 11.

2012-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Scott is working Noise Cycles full time so hit him up if you need anything fabricated. He updates his glob pretty recently so check that out too.

Cro.

2012-01-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Dan Collins.

2012-01-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

Old Gold Garage Co.
Dan, release those helmets already.

Gingerbread man

2012-01-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

Robert was taking this little gingerbread man around on his trip and taking pictures of it in different locations. At David Mann it was posing with bikes.

Shapes

2012-01-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

ALL HAIL CTHULHU!

2012-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

This man is responsible for such funny shirts as the Bates Seat Black Flag shirt which needs to come in a "Damaged" version. Everyone knows that Henry Rollins was the best Black Flag front man and that Bates seats only give you hella chopper cred if they're all fucked up.

Nick is awesome.

Kyle and Tyler

2012-01-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

It's always a pleasure seeing these guys.

Street Chopperers.

2012-01-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

Grant is always super nice to talk to and always seems to be in a good mood. I need to pay the Cycle Lodge a visit so I come home with a souvenir.

Jeff used to be half of Takeover Records putting out records by some awesome Southern California hardcore bands. Now he's a plumber and builds some of the best bikes in the same place. Get a hold of him for your bike fabrication needs.

Chico Moto siting.

2012-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Troy from Chico Moto let me take his picture.

Bike Progress

2012-01-01T01:30:00.001-08:00

Three Gents.

2011-12-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

I met Nash in California and he was a really awesome dude with some sweet glasses. Everyone knows Kiyo from Garage Company and being the builder of Born Free bikes. I didn't catch the other guys name but i'm sure he was stoked to be at David Mann.

Lightning bolts...

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

...lightning bolts!

Zombies ride cycles.

2011-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

cycle zombies

Two lovers entwined...

2011-12-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Mike the Rat

2011-12-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

This dude was tons of fun at David Mann and gave me a good deal on some Chopper Dave's pegs.

Mooneyes Black and White

2011-12-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hound dog.

2011-12-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Matt loves Elvis.

Upcoming trend for 2012.

2011-12-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

Cracked paint jobs will replace torn up Bates seats in 2012.

Snack Lovers

2011-12-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

Two certified Snack Loving fools.

The Velvet Hammer

2011-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

Favorite Pan of the Day.

2011-12-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

The ivory 3.5s and various brass bits really make this Panhead stand out. Makes me want to put 3.5s on my shovel.

Reflection.

2011-12-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

Anybody thirsty?

Swingarm.

2011-12-21T11:57:00.000-08:00

Subtle things like exhaust following the ribbon in the paint makes a bike stand out.

Favorite Knuckle of the Day.

2011-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

I saw this bike pulled over with 3 CHP behind it. Not much I could do, hope that dude's ok.

Black Foot

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

This bike was really hard to take pictures of since everyone was hovering over it all day.

Knuck-evo or Shovel Knuck?

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

David Mann Inspiration

2011-12-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

Mooneyezzz.

2011-12-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Lacey Flats.

2011-12-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Start of the roll...

2011-12-16T12:00:00.001-08:00

...always leaves a tracer...

More from the Hook Up...

2011-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Street Chopper Release Party

2011-12-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

The pizza was pretty good.

Superstition.

2011-12-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

In variations of this superstition, the donor rabbit must possess certain attributes, or have been killed in a particular place, or killed by a particular method, or by a person possessing particular attributes (e.g. by a cross-eyed man).

Two of my Firsts.

2011-12-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

1st Bike
1st Car

The sun final came out.

2011-12-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

Saint Christopher

2011-12-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

"Regarde St Christophe et va-t-en rassuré"

Psychotropic Hallucinogens.

2011-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

California weekender.

2011-12-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Starting to go through my rolls of film from the weekend in California.

Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967

2011-12-12T12:40:00.001-08:00

I've none about this book for awhile but didn't see it in person until I saw it at an Urban Outfitters, of all places. I waited a few months and now it's on sale for $29.99. This book is huge and weighs in at 20 lbs! Do yourself a favor and call your local UO and see if they have any left.

A little more progress

2011-12-07T20:44:00.001-08:00

My buddy Keric fixed my rear tranny mounts by welding them in the place they were supposed to be. Now I can run my chain and size it.

This is the belt the guy I bought the bike from said wouldn't fit. Whadda know..it fits. This is after I bought the belt he suggested, which didn't fit.

The bars as they will be. My father in law says he won't laugh at me until I fall over. Here's hoping I don't fall over. Can someone tell me if that's where the stem nut it supposed to go? I've never seen one like it before.

Handlebar valmorification

2011-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Went to my buddy Keric's house the other day to bend my handlebars. I think we did a pretty good job considering it was one of those benders from Harbor Freight. I think i'm still going to cut another inch or so off the ends to bring them in a little bit more.

Not original content.

2011-11-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Original photo from Kemosabe and the Lodge.

I usually won't take a picture from another blog because I believe in original content. However, going through my usual blog roll I saw this bike that Josh Kurpius took a picture of that I'm sure everyone has seen today.

I really like this Shovel. I was going to build my own stainless exhaust but seeing that he was able to use what i'm guessing is a Paughco side by side squish set up with the bottom "upsweep" cut off made for a 66-69 Generator shovel on a cone shovel makes it easy because now I don't have to build a pair, rather, pay someone to do it for me (run-on sentences are the best).

He also has the same rear brake set up that I'll be using which is another nice thing because I can now visualize how it will look before doing it myself.

Thank you anonymous Shovelhead owner, your bike RULES, and thank you Josh for taking a picture of and posting it!

More cutting, more polishing

2011-11-22T16:49:00.001-08:00

These are the mid control mounts that came on the frame. I don't really like them so these will be the next thing I grind off. I ordered some stock floorboard tabs to have welded to the frame once they get here.

Right side...

Left side...

This is the last of the fender mounts left on the frame, I plan on mounting the fender differently so I didn't need this either.

Now you see me...

...now you don't

My goal for this bike is to polish the pieces that can be. Today it was rear axle spacers and the pieces that the rear axle bolts fit into.

Bright and Shiny

2011-11-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

Put my Super E back together and bolted on the bird deflector from Andy. Looks good and rebuilding carbs is easier than you think.

I spent a couple days polishing the body. First time i've done any extensive polishing and I think it turned out pretty nice. Still need to clean it up a bit and get the last of the gunk off.

Carb explosion!

2011-11-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

I got this exploded Super E off the S&S site since I wasn't sure exactly how to put the E back together. Check out S&S for other exploded views.

Saturday Korean

2011-11-14T20:30:00.001-08:00

Finally found a good local style Korean place in Vegas. It's called Island Style and your name is "Brotha", no matter what.

Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop and accompanying sides.

Shovelhead progess.

2011-11-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

I got a new ratchet top for my 4 speed which turned into a huge project. The brass bushing had to be beat in with a hammer. Turns out most bushings needs to be honed out first which I learned the hard way after the gear shaft was stuck in it.

Street Chopper has a great tech article on how to rebuild a ratchet top. Helped me out a ton.

My first time honing.

Current state of affairs.

Next up is a carb rebuild.

Carter Carbureter

2011-11-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

I found this while I was in Texas at an antique store called Dolly Pythons. They have a lot of cool stuff in there.

Dirty ass engine guard.

2011-10-30T19:10:00.001-07:00

New vs. Old
The old one has 31 years of oil and dirt caked on it.

Stripper.

2011-10-30T19:04:00.001-07:00

I didn't like the black nose cone/oil pump so I took some aircraft stripper to them and bang, new look.

Manny Fold.

2011-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

I love me some brass accents.

Frame deconstruction.

2011-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Break down and inspect.

Big weld booger. Who knows what this was for.

During.

After.

New steed in the stable.

2011-10-17T09:22:00.001-07:00

My new bike arrived last night though I'm still in Texas til the end of the month. I'm giving myself a deadline of BF4 to get this done.

Heading east.

2011-09-12T18:19:00.001-07:00

After almost 3 years, my bike is going to a new home. When I get back from Texas at the end of October i'll have a new bike to work on and finish. I can't wait.

First bike.

2011-09-04T12:28:00.001-07:00

This is me in 2006 on my first Harley, a 2006 Softail Deluxe. I was 24 and loving every minute of that 700 lb motorcycle.

I had just moved to Hawaii from Nebraska and a few months before that I was in Iraq where I made the decision to get a motorcycle. I first met a good friend of mine, Justin, in Iraq and we ended up becoming roommates in Hawaii.

The Deluxe was trailered home from the dealership because I had never ridden anything besides a moped before this. Sure, learn to ride a 20K motorcycle. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have bought that bike. I would have scoured craigslist for something a quarter of the price. Oh well, you live, you learn and you have to start some where.

I started reading The Horse magazine and my taste in motorcycles changed. I modified my Deluxe a little. Put 16" apes on it, 21" and 16" red rims and had it lowered front and back. Looking back now, that thing sure was ugly. This was around the time when guys were still running a white wall in the back with a black wall up front.

I eventually sold it and bought a 1994 Springer softail. That bike turned into what I have now.

Get your...

2011-08-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

...lean on.

Remember to...

2011-08-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

...advance the camera.

Black and red.

2011-08-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Salt Flat Bouncer.

2011-08-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Period Correct Arnold Schwarzenegger pose.

Chrome struts.

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

I think this was the only Pan at the Salt Flat Social.

Short Fuse garage.

2011-08-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

The new Short Fuse garage/warehouse is awesome. Everyone needs a place like this.

Giveaway tank.

2011-08-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

Best giveaway prize at the Salt Flat Social.

Pangea.

2011-08-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Zion Express gets updated.

The detail and time that went into this bike is insane. It's really too bad it didn't win anything at BF.

Speed Week is approaching...

2011-08-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it has already been a year. It's too bad I have to work, i'd love to spend a few days there.

Behind the camera.

2011-08-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

What I saw.

What Andy saw.

Hoser's new clothes.

2011-08-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Hoser is wearing a new shitty paint job. This is the first one i've done and I have a new respect for people who do this on a regular basis. Next time i'll farm it out to someone else.

Any closer than this and then all the panels look terrible. I also added the gators to the front since the other ones weren't cutting it.

Garden.

2011-08-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

My sister has giant sized jungle garden next to her house. You could easily get lost.

Forts.

2011-08-03T20:45:00.001-07:00

A couple test shots from my new camera set up. Still getting used to it. These are from Fort Clinch in Fernandina Beach, FL.

Honda Chopper

2011-07-27T10:23:00.001-07:00

Molding, spikes on the seat and front fender, coffin tank. On location in Fernandina Beach, FL.

Endless line.

2011-07-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

My oil tank was bare and needed some flavor. I'm finally putting my House of Jomil book to use. I'm using shitty rattlecans so I don't expect much. That purple blue splotch isn't there in real life.

New horse in the stable.

2011-07-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Before I left for Afghanistan I bought a used M6 and after I re-enlisted I got some stuff for the body. I opted for a cheaper Voigtlander lens since I don't have 2-3K to drop on a used Leica 35mm lens right now. Maybe some day, but for now, i'll be learning how to use a camera again.

Jet lagged.

2011-07-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

It took me 36 hours to get home and i'm completely exhausted. At least I have a lot of reading to catch up on.

Down for awhile..

2011-03-22T00:16:00.001-07:00

All of my auto posts ran out about a week ago and I don't have any more pictures. When I get back to the US in a couple months i'll start posting again. Thanks to anyone who looks at this blog among hundreds of motorcycle blogs, I really appreciate it.

Before the show.

2011-03-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

2011-03-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Trust in Billy Joe.

2011-03-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

Skate or die.

2011-03-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

On the road.

2011-03-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

"LA is the loneliest and most brutal of American cities; New York gets god-awful cold in the winter but there's a feeling of wacky comradeship somewhere in some streets." - Jack Kerouac

Slab.

2011-03-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

2011-03-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Behind the...

2011-03-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Parts wall.

2011-02-27T11:29:00.000-08:00

Inside looking out.

2011-02-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

Northwestern shovel.

2011-02-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

Desert flora.

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Westbound.

2011-02-21T09:07:00.001-08:00

Today is my last day in the US for the next four months.

Holiest of Holies.

2011-02-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

Number of the beast.

2011-02-18T10:34:00.001-08:00

Rear, head.

2011-02-17T12:00:00.000-08:00