back in '03 a local garage owner gave me a cb500-4 that a customer had left at his shop for a couple of yrs and never came back for.
I took it home and parked it at the edge of the driveway til the following spring.
that spring I litterally pulled the bike out of the ding weeds cleaned the carbs,set the points and was off on a 5000 mile ride.
this bike had weather checked original 1972 tires,original factory chain and sprockets,
bike had 2100 original miles but looked like it went through the war.
during that trip i replaced the rear sprocket,chain,the rack that the carbs bolt to(was cracked),a tail light bulb,a head light bulb,a rear tire,(got 14000 miles out of the front one),and the seat only because of comfort.
I started out from upstate NY, stopped in NC for the smokeout(the rear tire was replaced there after a burn out that blew it),and on to Key west,back to Orlando,then over to texas,back to Oklahoma then back to NY.
had a lot of fun.
with the way you describe your bike,with all you have put into it,
I would not hesitate to take it on a world tour.
But then anything that needs fixin I can do myself,so if you arent "that guy" who can fix it take a credit card with a big balance of usable cash on it, and get a GOOD rainsuit,
not a wal mart cheapie cause they dont hold up.
have fun on your ride take lots of pics to share and remember everyone on the road IS out to get you so dont let your attention wander,ride like you are invisible to others because you are,cars dont look out for bikers.
if you get into a situation where you need an escape route have one planned and ready.
ex: a car suddenly slamms its brakes on in front of you,you cant stop,where do you go?
into the back end of the car?to the ditch?the passing lane(if no one is coming)?
I ride in an aggressive/defensive manner to make my presence known to other drivers
and keep a small ball peen hammer clipped to the bars for the #$%*s who try to kill me on the road. bust enuf windshields and those drivers will watch for bikes from then on.
