I picked up this bike in March of 2007 and have been riding it since. I ride from the day after the first rain washes the salt off the road untill well after I should have put her away for the winter.
I have not posted along the way, but now I think I've come far enough that it warrens a post. When I started coming to SOHC4 I had no experience wrenching on these old bike. I owe most of the progress, knowledge, and inspiration to this forum. Thanks guy!
This is how she looked when when I got her. I swore one of the first things I was going to do was to cut down that ugly seat, but it never happened. Turns out Mrs. Cleveland finds it to be very comfortable, and I like things that make her comfortable.
I clean her up a bit and I threw on a sissy bar, chrome gauge covers, and a headlight visor. I rode this bike like this for the rest of the season, and the first month or so of 2008. The 4 into 2 strait pipes had a pretty gnarly looking header and a nice sound too. It was loud, but not Harley obnoxious.
April of 2008 I moved. The price was too good to pass up, but it has no garage.
That's OK though, I have a 2 car slab and understanding neighbors.
I put on a MAC exhaust and it really changed the sound and feel it the bike. I replaced the seat with a stock one and the rear fender with one I had already chopped and painted black. I also moved the license plate to the lower rear shock bolt with a simple "L" bracket. Cheap and easy, that the way I like it.
That lunch box brake light was too big, so I swapped it out with a trailer light (yea, I know it's not very classy), and replaced the blinkers with smaller ones. Then I painted the side covers and tank a metallic silver. This was the first thing I ever painted, so it has something to be desired. I plan to repaint them this fall, and I think it will turn out quite a bit better the second time. We'll see though.
Last August I went to the north woods of WI and stopped by Ken's Cycle X. Great guy to talk shop with! While I was there I picked up a sparto tail light and finned points and alternator covers. I had a set of finned tappet cover for a while and threw those on there too. Now all I need is the finned starter cover!
Something cool I got here from our very own goon, the baddest badges EVER!!! I get more comments on these badges the anything else. They are made similar to the original ones, but with a funky lettering. I also picked up a pair of Avons. Oh man what a difference new rubber makes. Especially when new tires were 2-3 years over due.
Sadly, winter came shortly after that.
About a month ago I changed out my stock bars with drag bars. This has proven to be a problem for me as I am color blind. My left blinker works, but not my right. My tach works, but not my speedo. The tach is cocked to the side and held on with one screw to make room for the master cylinder and brake line. For now......it works. I plan to do quite a bit to the front end this winter, so that can wait.
From a couple feet, you'd never notice. Shhhhhhhh
That header sure looks like poop though.
So this week I painted the header, and put on my 3x16 Indian rim w/Buchanan spokes.
I scored an Avon 130/90x16 on ebay for $110 shipped. I ran into a couple small snags, but nothing major. I had to "customize" the torsion bar with a hammer so it would bend around the tire. Few good whacks and we were in business! I ran over to a buddy's house that night to show it off and he noticed the end of the center stand spring was about 1/4 inch from the tire. This was undoubtedly a disaster waiting for a 45 MPH turn on the freeway.
So I replaced the center stand stop with a longer one. I also put on a set of Koni shocks I've had for a while now. Man what a difference!!! Here is how she sits today.
I am going to Mods vs Rockers on Sat and plan to paint the front fender, rear fender, and tail light before then. I'll post pics when I do.
There is still quite a bit I would like to do to the bike. Engine overhaul (replace head, polish parts, etc.), shorter clutch cables, steel braid brake lines, make a bolt on cafe seat, polished caliper (already have it), polish forks, drill rotor, progressive shocks, reposition master cylinder to straiten out the tach, install big bore kit, the list goes on.
If I ever finish the bike, I think I will have to buy another one and start over. Lets face though, it will never be finished. The more I do, the farther back I push the finish line.
