I Told You I Would Get Some Work Done!

Finally starting to LOOK like I'm making progress at least. Some people will tell you that motorcycles are optional or not that important to this lifestyle, if you see one of those folks call them out for the poser they are. Without Bikes there would be no lifestyle to live. Making a bike your own with the help of your best friends is what makes life right. Anyone with a decent job can buy a bike, not everyone can make a bike truly their own. Gotta remember though that when people help you with your bike whether it's welding on a tab, making an axle or even just giving you some parts, you need to acknowledge that help. No one can do it all by themselves, we all pitch in to help each other so that we can rack up those miles together. So with that in mind I want to thank some folks for helping me. First off, Boozer for starting this project and gathering the parts. He got off to a good start, but for whatever reason he had to let it go, the great thing is that he's more than willing to give me the background on anything he had a part in. Ed bought the pile then sold it to me for a great price and with a great deal. Larry has been invaluable on this deal, between shop space to work, letting me use the tools and supplies, helping me move the damn thing around and especially for just being a Brother. Spenser, what can I say, he's a creative genius and a damn good welder. He makes the stuff stay attached and rescues me from my own screw ups. And I gotta mention Bro. Roadside Marty, he is the supplier of the gas tank you see here. I didn't ask him for a tank, but he knew I needed one and he made it happen for me. There have been many others helping me on this one like Bill, Chopper Ed, Ian, Zoom and my favorite machinist Ross. When I am done I will do a better job with the accolades. In the meantime, check out the progress and get the hell out there and make that bike your own!

Mocked up with the fender, gas tank and the beginnings of the sissy bar. The seat belongs to Zoom, he brought it in to be used on his project, but since it is exactly what I plan to use he let me borrow it for the pics.

Looking down, better view of the seat. I've liked this style ever since I saw one on Snow's old yellow Shovelhead back in the old Ironhorse days. He put one of these on after he took the pogo seat off. (Yeah, I've been in this scene for a few years )

Making sparks, cutting the tabs to mount the fender.

Cut, grind, round, repeat!

Back in the fab room, the front of the tank is set up, the main fender mount is fabbed and the bike is starting to look like a bike .

Another view. I am really digging this beast!

Loading Bikes For A Road Trip

It's that time of year when we load up our bikes and take off for days at a time. Some folks are old hands at this and some are doing it for the first time. I thought it would be cool to take pics of everyone's bike before we all left for the BMR (yes, I still have a ton of pics that I haven't posted from that trip). I picked the ones that I thought showed a good cross section of various packing styles. Check em out and get your own bike loaded up and go somewhere!

Spenser's bike was packed pretty lightly, but then again he cheated. His girlfriend was going with us and some of his stuff was tossed in her car. But then again, we all ended up with stuff in Holly's car before it was all over .

A.J. from Mississippi divided his stuff between the fender and handlebars. He did end up with almost all of it on the back before it was all over. His seat is low enough that stuff on the bars ended up blocking his view.

Ross, built this bad ass rack for his bike and he ended up with his and most of Bill's (see yesterdays post) stuff on his bike. I think we could have ALL piled our stuff on there, the rack was THAT damn good.

Ed actually packed a day or so ahead of time and road tested his stuff before the trip. Ed is the Bungee Master. Give him a few bungees and not only will your stuff be strapped on and secure, but it will be a work of art as well (see next pic).

See what I mean???? Not just simple hooks and bungees, but a true work of art.

Ian went pretty simple with his, it did end up as a nice backrest for him though.

This is how Larry started out on Dixie Wrecked. It was an OK job, but at our first stop Ed helped Larry repack it all and it became a work of art!

And finally, we have my bike loaded and ready. I took this pic before I left the house to meet everyone. With my stuff packed like this it was a perfect backrest and that combined with the ape hangers and heel rests on my pegs made for a VERY comfortable ride. I ended up not even squirming at all, even after a few hours of riding. If your bike is loaded right and your bars, seat and pegs are all in the right spots you can ride all day and still function when you get there.

Now get your ass out there and go somewhere!