8 Ball In The Wind

Friday, February 24, 2012

Possible New Strut

I got to thinking about making a strut to replace the old shocks on my 91 Softail and went to the hardware store to see what they had.  I didnt find anyhting that I wanted, or even looked good.  But next door at the farm store, I found this top link for a tractor trailer for $20.  I think with a little modification, it might work.  If not, I still have the auto parts store to check out.  I'll figure something out.


Catch ya on the road sometime...

Maybe Going Rigid?


Since I have been thinking about replacing the shocks with struts, I have been trying to think of what I can use.  Or, what I can make.  I would like to be able to adjust their length.  So I am thinking of making something like a cars tie rod ends at each end.  Basically like a large turn buckle...I am still kicking around the ideas.  I have looked around, and only found struts for Sporty's, and figure I can make something that will work well for less that the price of those.

Catch ya on the road sometime...



Thursday, February 23, 2012

Are We Done With This Shit Yet?

I had to slow down on working on the bike yesterday because all the rain we have had in the past couple days caused a few problems.

  While we ALMOST got flooded out, at least my bike was in the house high and dry.  My brother, luckily woke up in the middle of the night hearing the rain pissing down and went to check on his bike in the 'garage'...(read that as my semi enclosed carport with doors on the alley side).  Good thing too, because the water was already closing in on his bike.  He moved it about 4 feet, and she weathered the rest of the storm out with no real issues.

I was putting the tranny back in after flushing it a few times to make sure no aluminum shavings were in it.  Because I had already mounted the tranny mounting plate to the frame, I had to remove one bolt from the last shock still on the bike.  I am now seriously thinking of fabbing up some struts to keep her that low.  I think she looks sweet as hell like that.  Although I aint sure how my 51 year old back is going to like riding a rigid again...but nothing ventured and all that.  I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Friday, February 17, 2012

Pulling Out My Hair

Well I changed the front cover on the guidebook to something that looks a bit more like a motorcycle guide book, and now I just need to figure out how to get it on Amazon to sell.  You would think it would be easy to open an account to sell shit, but I have just been going around in circles with it.  Pulling what little hair I have out...and it's already thin enough!!
Anyway, either I am just braindead enough I am not getting it, or something.  But I am sure I'll get something figured out over the weekend.
I do know I am already going to do a few more of these guidebooks, and might even print a few up and sell them at swapmeets and runs...but sure as hell not for $1.99.

I just got to focus on getting this all together and get it up and for sale.  It would be nice to make a little extra cash, and do it because I love to ride here in the NW.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Ride Guide is FINISHED!!


Well I finally finished the Ride Guide on those 5 roads in the southern Cascade Mountains of Washington State, and the Columbia Gorge.  All 51 pages of it.  It is pretty good, and I must say I enjoyed it.  It was almost like riding each of the roads over and over again in my head.  These are some of the best roads around here, and I have already thought of a sequel to write if this sells on Amazon.   but for $1.99 why wouldnt it?

Catch ya on the road sometime...


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Riders Guide Book

I am about 70% done with the Riders Guide Book I am putting together to sell on Amazon for $1.99.  So far it is about 33 pages long, and will be close to 50 pages by the time it is done.  I figure Amazon is going to charge $.99 for each one I sell, so if I sell them at $1.99 I'll make a buck each.  I figure at $1.99, it'll be cheap enough people wont be too worried about buying it.  If they dont like it, well they only spent $1.99.  If they do like it, well they got a real good deal.  The pic up top shows a sample of the maps for the roads that are going to be in this one.  Since these roads are all only a couple hours from the Seattle/Tacoma, and Portland/Vancouver metro areas, there ought to be enought riders interested to at least check them out.
If this one seems like it will be popular, I'll make others for different regions of the Pacific Northwest that I am familiar enough to describe, make a map for, and have pics of.
I sent a sample to a friend out on the Oregon coast who rides every chance he gets, and puts a lot of miles down when he rides.  he says he 's going to buy one when its for sale, and wants to know when i am going to do another book...and where the roads will be.  So I am keeping my fingers crossed.  Who knows, if this works out it might keep enough cash coming in to afford fixing up the bike the way I want...and maybe make the Smoke Out in Rockingham, NC next year.


Keep your fingers crossed.


Catch ya on the road sometime...