looking back

Thought I'd spend just a little time to look back over my biking 2011.

I met up with the guys in the Rider's Club for the first time and started going to rallies. This increased my mileage this year as well as introducing me to some of the best company and funniest Harley riders I could ever hope to meet.

I spent a fair bit of money on my bike but didn't do much work to it. So, I'll be starting the New Year with a garage full of bits and pieces and a load of tinkering to do. At least I have waited 'till I'm sure just what I do want for my bike.

The changes I did make made a bit of difference in the way the night train looks. I moved the coils and horn, swapping their positions. I replaced the stock exhausts with black short shocks. (Makes the bike sound better too.) I fitted a small fairing with front bullet indicators to match the rear ones I already had fitted. As this was the "sons of anarchy" look, I expected it to be quite a common customisation but I have yet to come across another bike with the same look. Along with the fairing, I fitted higher black t-bars which not only look good, give me a more comfortable ride.

Well, tomorrow another year is starting and I've got a busy time getting the changes made to the bike. The front wheel needs sorting and then I can fit the wider forks. At the same time I'm going to be doing the switch from EFI to carb. 

Once those are done I've got a first MOT due in March then a good season's riding and rallying to look forward to. Hopefully that will include a trip top Sweden in the summer.

So, here's to the New Year.

nervous times

I've started stripping down the bike to get started on changing the EFI to carb.

So now it's time to get nervous and start doubting myself. Have I taken on too much? Are my skills with spanners and screwdrivers really up to the job in front of me? Am I going to be able to do it all and get the bike back on the road and running again?
Well there's only one way to find out!

surprise

I got home from work this evening and my workbench had been delivered.

So tomorrow, as it's christmas eve, I'll go out to the garage and put it together. Then, when I start the work, I'm definitely going to do, (though maybe not on christmas day) I'll have something to rest it on.

Wouldn't it be great if everything happened so quickly?
Like the wheel hub I've been waiting nearly two months for!

Christmas Break

And I'm planning to some work on my bike.

I'm off work for about ten days so I should (need) to get a fair bit done during that time. I picked up the tank but the wheel hub STILL isn't back from the  shop. So, I will start to work on removing the EFI and fitting the carb. Then when I get the hub back I can think about the front end.

I've just bought a wooden work bench on e-bay. I'll buy a vice and then at least I'll have some where to work that's steady and secure. Up 'till now I've been working on the top of my tool chest which is far from ideal.

Spending wise, I'm almost there. Just the front brake lines and the speedometer (which will be my last BIG purchase for a while) left to buy. Then, with just a few smaller items and some of those desirable but non necessary bits and pieces I will have everything I need to get back on the road with the bike just as I want it. 

For 2012 at least!

take your time, man

I started taking things apart yesterday.
Didn't get as far as removing the tank but what I did do was unplug all the connections. I stopped when I tried to disconnect the cross-over pipe at the front of the tank. I've got a quick release connector fitted so it should have been an easy job.
It started leaking fuel, so I quickly re-connected it and decided to try again the next time I'm out. Hopefully it will work and the valves will stop any more petrol escaping when I've got room to pull it apart completely. This time the two halves were still connected so I'm hoping that's the problem.
So, now I've disconnected all the wiring and guess what? I should have taken a picture (or even remembered what the reading was) of the odometer. When I fit a new speedo the mileage will be set at "0". So I should have some proof of what the bike has actually done.
Especially if I want a dealers stamp at the 5K service.

Oh, what to do?

Still no wheel hub.
But I've got the rim back at least so I guess I could take that and get it powder-coated along with the mud-guard brackets and the other small bits and bobs I want black. Then again, I really need to see how the hub will work out and if the spacers for the discs will fit as I'll want them coated too.
I'd rather get it all done at the same time. There will be another delay as I'll have to send the rim and hub away to get it relaced. Hopefully I'll be able to work out a timescale so I can get some bits done while others are getting prepared. Probably never work out like that though!

One thing has moved on at least. When I was in House of Custom, I ordered a tank and priced the Dakota speedo I'm going to fit.
The tank was as expensive as I thought it would be but I was pleasantly surprised as the speedo unit was a couple of hundred pounds less that I thought it would be. That's all I need to buy now to be able to complete the carb conversion as I want it. So, there's no reason I can't start to get the prep done.
That's the next half decent weekend booked up. I'm going to remove the tank and begin picking out the wiring loom so I can see what's needed.

why is winter-time so slow?

I called in to House of Custom yesterday to see if they'd got my wheel back.
The boss was out and no-one knew the story, so I came away with no wheel and still not knowing how to proceed with it.
I had been thinking about ordering a tank from Zodiac, through them. So that didn't come about. Which I'm not sure was a good thing or not as I will have to buy the tank eventually.
I would like to get some progress made on the front end. The cost of the carb conversion (or at least buying the tank and speedo to do it properly) is the major delay with that.
I need to get the wheel back in order to work out what I need in the way of spacers, both for the axle and discs.
No doubt things will move soon.
Just not soon enough to allay my impatience!

wheel hold-up

I went for a short run on the bike this morning.
Those 50 miles may well be the last of this year as the weather forecasters are beginning to warn of the approaching winter.
It was a good ride, down through Clydebank, then back up to Anniesland where I decided to carry on out the Stockiemuir Road to Drymen then back in the Blane Valley. I stopped at some temporary traffic lights to let a Fire Engine, with his sirens and blues flashing, through. Some daft car driver behind me saw the perfect chance to get in front and overtook me. Cue some desperate reversing and manoeuvring by the Fire Engine. By the time they got sorted and the road clear the lights had turned red. That was when another tosser in a land-rover decided he'd waited enough and went through on red. More reversing followed, this time at the other end. Things would have gone so much quicker with a bit of patience.
While I was out, I called in to House of Custom to ask about my wheel.
They had a bit of a problem when taking out the old bearings and cracked the rim. He's going to put it right but will have to cut the spokes off to do it. Suits me really as it will save me doing it myself.
I also asked about getting some gel fitted inside my seat as the pad I was using over the summer is beginning to pull apart. After some humming and hawing, where a price of around a hundred pounds was mentioned, Stuart said he could do a custom-made seat, with gel, for about £240 - £250. As I could probably get around a hundred for my LePera on E-bay, that may well be the way to go. Removing and re-fitting the existing cover could be a big job. Especially if the leather is bonded onto the foam, it could entail re-covering and stuffing the whole seat.
I'll think about it and speak to him when I go to collect the wheel.

plans

I've decided that as soon as I get the cash together I'm going to buy a new tank. That way, the resale value of the fuel injected one will be higher if the fuel pump is intact and working. I'll brush paint it with matte black paint and then maybe next winter I can save up for a full professional paint job.
Then, I'll look at buying a Dakota Instruments speedo from the States. I could get one, which would fit, from the zodiac catalogue through Hog Parts. I've ordered most of my bits and pieces from Zodiac through them but even the latest catalogue doesn't stock the black one I want. I'll be liable for import duty but it should be worth it. If I fit a chrome one, I'll only end up wishing it was matching the blacked-out look of the rest of the bike.
Something else I've just thought of. If I get rid of the dash I'll need to fit a different ignition. I've got a black three pole switch in the garage so that would do the business if I get a bracket made up to fit it beneath the tank and just behind the headstock.
One idea just leads on to more work. Looks like the re-wiring is going to be job and a half!

funny

This was pinched from the H-DRCGB forum.

Race with a Harley

I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting sections of mountain road with no straight sections to speak of and where most of the bends have warning signs that say "MAX SPEED 50 KPH".
I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be a place like this where handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.
I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could catch him, but it wouldn't be easy. I concentrated on my braking and cornering. Three corners later, I was on his mudguard. Catching him was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.
Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd
manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but when we came out he'd get on the throttle and out-power me. His horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me more determined than ever.
My only hope was to out-brake him. I held off squeezing the lever until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.
But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see him in my rear-view mirror.
Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more than horsepower and deep pockets, I had passed him. Though it was not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the mountain and I had preserved the proud tradition of one of the best bits of Brit iron.

I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever pedalled so hard in my life. And, some of the credit must go to Raleigh cycles, as well. They really make a great bicycle...

trial and getting it right

I spent a bit of time in the garage this morning, just putting bits and pieces together to see how they'd fit.
The yokes and the wheel spindle went on no bother. Once I'd worked out how to remove the cover for the stem nut, that is! I also tried out the spacers for the mudguard and they fit too.
So, it looks as though, as long as I can get the wheel to fit, everything will go together just right. Well everything so far that is.
I've still to try out the spacers for the discs but can't do that until I get the wheel back. Also I won't be able to try the yokes on the bike until I remove the front forks and once I start that, the bike is definitely off the road for the winter!
But, unless I get started on the serious spanner work, I'll be sitting here in the spring wanting the bike back on the road and nothing done.
It really will be a case of taking a deep breath and just jumping in with both feet.

extra bits

I hate it when that happens!
I got my new petrol tap through the post yesterday and when I opened the packet there was a small plastic sleeve in the package. It looks as though it should fit on the lever assembly but the chromed lever is much thicker than the diameter of the sleeve. Could be that it's supposed to replace the chrome handle on the lever but there is no obvious way of changing them over.
The tap has quite comprehensive instructions on how to fit it (and that's the important bit) but there's nothing on this piece of black plastic.

So I could now go ahead and make the conversion to carburettor but as that would involve cutting off the plastic fuel pipes to the pump. I'm not clear if that would mean that the pump could not be re-used so I'm going to put it off for a while to research how it will affect the re-sale value of the bits I won't be using. I could do with some return to help pay for the parts I've bought already.

I'm off work this week so I'll head over to House of Custom and see if my wheel bearings have been pulled out yet.

hibernation

As the weather has now taken a turn for the (much) worse, I fear the trip down to Bute at the weekend was most likely the last of this "summer".
Although we are planning another recce trip perhaps in January, that will be made by car so there's not any pressing reason not to start the work on my bike next week when I'm off work.
Will post as progress is made (or not as the case may be).

wheel

I dropped the front wheel off at House of Custom (formerly Area 51) this afternoon. Colin, the boss is on holiday this week so it may not get done right away.
At least it's going to get done sometime and I'll be able to decide what to do next when I get it back. I had a brief chat with Jimmy, who's minding the shop, about getting it powder-coated black. The chrome on the rim is in really good condition so it may well be just as cheap buying a new rim and getting that coated rather than paying the money to remove the chrome. As I found out with the bars I had done previously, it's a big job.

Saturday morning and I'm heading down to Bute. This is ostensibly a recce for our rally there next year but will more likely just be an excuse for a bit of a piss up.
It is likely to be the last run the bike has before the winter. I've got the ACF-50 ready to keep the rust away and, as soon as the petrol tap I've ordered arrives, I've got everything I need to do the carb conversion.
So, lots to keep me busy.

pain stops play

I went to bed last night feeling really optimistic that heat on my back was going to help enough for me to go up to Killin.
But, when I woke up I was so stiff I could hardly get out of bed. I re-filled my hot water bottle, lay for a while with that pressed against the small of my back, got up and lay in a hot bath then gave up. I could tell by the difficulty I had getting out of the bath that I wasn't going anywhere on the bike today.
The sun was shining which only compounded my disappointment as I texted some of the guys and contacted the B&B to cancel my booking.
Oh well there's always Bute, next week-end!

On the bike front, I had ordered a petrol tap from HogParts the other day and was checking the order on-line when I noticed I had ordered the wrong one. I had decided to go with a Pingel tap. They are a good bit more expensive than some other makes but from what I've heard the quality is well worth the price.
What I had done was fill in the order form and transposed two digits in the part reference number. That meant I had ordered the tap I wanted but with a rear outlet instead of a side-facing one. A quick e-mail to HogParts and they sorted the order out for me. It's worth getting it right (I hope).
I've already bought the pingel adaptor but am still planning on replacing the tank and speedo eventually. I'll do the carb conversion with my existing tank for now though, as I can't really afford to buy the parts this side of next year's riding season.

end of summer

I'm off, tomorrow, on what is very likely to be the last weekend away on the bike before winter and taking the bike apart comes around.
I've been bothered the last few days with some back pain but hopefully some heat applied through a hot water bottle will ease it so I can ride in not too much discomfort.
Though, the weather forecast being what it is, enjoyable may NOT be an apt description of the forthcoming weekend.
It will be good to meet up with the guys though.

typical

The good weather lasted right up until the weekend.
I had planned to go fill up the tank, ready for my trip away to Killin on Friday but the rain just didn't stop. So I'm going to spend the day today fitting my tax disc, getting luggage ready and just tinkering.
I'll need to double check the horn. It was fixing that which made me miss the MAG demo last weekend, so I really should take some time to ensure that it's working correctly.
The place I've fitted it is out of the way and tidy but it means if there is any adjustment needed I've got to remove the seat to reach the horn. Maybe over the winter I'll try to devise some method of fixing it so I can have easier access. I doubt if I'll get a small horn which is any more reliable than the one I've fitted so I'll just have to put up with the fact that it needs adjusted every so often.

I'm also going to put the 19" front wheel in the boot of the car. That way if I pass a bike shop I can just leave it with them, to get the bearings pulled.
I have considered buying a tool to do this. There are two different types available on e-bay. One's basically a slide hammer which knocks the bearings out and in using brute force. The other, which is preferable because it draws the bearings out using a screw mechanism, is much more expensive. It would need to be bought from the States and could end up costing more than £200. As I can borrow this from the riders club, I feel it would be better getting the bearings removed in a shop and then when I come to rebuild the wheel, then I can borrow the tool.
I really want to do as much of this job as I can myself!

indian summer

It's come at last.
The weather these past few days has been as good as it was all summer. No doubt it will go back to being cold and wet now that the weekend has arrived. I'm going off for the weekend to Killin, next Friday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will at least be dry. No-one else seemed interested in camping (not that there is really anywhere suitable near the village) so I'm bed and breakfasting it with the others.
So, this should be a rather more refined weekend than the usual riders club get-togethers. We'll see!
I went through the box with my yokes and stuff and found a set of riser mounting spacers which I hadn't paid for. As they cost about £30 this was a real bonus.
Well it would be if I could be so dishonest and to be truthful, had they come from a HD stealership I may have succumbed to temptation. As the supplier is a small independent there was really no alternative so i contacted him and paid up. The warm glow I felt when he thanked me for my honesty was worth it.
Now I need to get moving on pulling the wheels apart. I'd like to get my hands on the correct tool to do it myself but they can only be bought from the States and are expensive. I can borrow one from the rider's club tool store but as will need it twice with a good stretch between that will be a nuisance.
Probably take the wheel into a bike shop to get the bearings and the tyre removed and then look at buying or borrowing the tool when I come to rebuild the hub after powder-coating.

delaying tactics

I haven't been able to get out on the bike since I came back from Walesby.
Various things and events have got in the way. I was training last weekend, ill this weekend and the weather in the evenings this past two weeks has stopped me going out after work.

This state of affairs will probably have a big influence on whether I re-new the bike's tax at the end of this month. I just hate missing out on being able to ride.
There's a couple of things I want to attend. One's a final camping weekend for region two in Killin in October and the other is a national MAG EU hands off biking demo on the 25th September.
This is in protest against the European Union's plans to regulate biking out of existence for anyone who doesn't want to ride a brand new, completely stock, restricted motorcycle. It's an action that ALL bikers should take part in.

So, I'll put my bits on the shelf in the garage and wait just that bit longer to start the work. Though I could start stripping down the front wheel. As soon as I get a set of levers to get the tyre off that is!

what next?

My yokes and all the bits to go with them arrived the other day.

So, the box is sitting in my bedroom and, every so often, I've been pulling things out of it. Just to have a look.
The black yokes look really substantial. I'm glad I decided to go down the way of a bigger front end. All I have to do now is get the front wheel sorted. I'm thinking of changing the spokes to stainless and getting the rim powder-coated at the same time as changing the bearings over to 22mm ones. That way I will have the look I want, instead of part doing the job then finishing it sometime in the future.
I could send off the hub and rim to a wheel builder in England and get them to do it but this is another one of those things I'd like to try for myself. Well, what I actually mean is I'd like to find out if I'm capable of doing it myself! Maybe I'll get the tyre off first and then see how I feel as I do each of the stages.

Wanting to work on my bike has also opened up a further dilemma for me. Should I renew the tax (the reminder came through the post today)? Or, should I take the bike off the road early, for the winter, and so get started on the work?
If I do that the weather will most likely get better again and I'll regret it.
On the other hand having all these parts lying in boxes in the garage is giving me twitchy fingers.

lucky breaks

Well, it turned out that I was fortunate not riding down to Walesby on the Friday after all.

The guys who rode down then had a horrendous journey by all accounts. The weather was wet. really wet, south of the border. Most of them were still drying clothes and sleeping bags when I arrived at four on the Saturday afternoon.
Things got better from then on and the sun shone most of the weekend after that. Just being there was fun. Great company and loads of good bikes to look at. Just what a rally should be. The camp site was in Walesby forest and because of that there shouldn't have been any fires on site. Not that it stopped us, the Scottish contingent that is. All the others were quite happy for us to take the blame and joined in the party.
The ride down on the motorway wasn't even that bad. Or maybe I'm just getting used to motorways. It was around trip of 550 miles. That's the longest I've ridden over a weekend. Was still sore by the end of the return leg but seem to be getting more used to it.
I was tired on the way back up but that was purely through not being used to drinking alcohol in the quantities I used to and mis-judging the effect on the morning after.
One down side. I lost my disc lock. The bag it was in was gone completely. The velcro faster was still there. Looks like the stitching had given up somewhere down the road.

international rally

The HDRCGB international rally is taking place in Walesby this weekend.
I was all ready to set off tomorrow morning when my mother being hospitalised threw a spanner in the works. When duty calls all else goes out the window.
Not to worry though, her condition isn't that serious and I can still get away on Saturday as long as I can persuade my kid brother to step in to visit!
Will report from the rally when I get back.

gone and done it

Haven't been riding much lately. Well not during the week at least.
I had a wee trip down to the Biggar rally (custom cars, bikes and trucks) last Sunday. It was a great day out and good meeting up with some of the guys from the riders club.

I got talking about the mods I'm planning to the front end and got so stirred up about it as soon as I got back, I ordered the bits I need.
At least, I ordered the yokes. I had to work out which year to go for and in the end decided that the ones with the 25mm spindle were probably the best bet. That's the latest change HD have made to the 49mm forks.
As the wheel I've got is a 3/4" and would need modification no matter which spindle came with the yokes, I thought it would be better getting the most modern.
So next I ordered a pair of 25mm bearings and axle spacer. I'm going to try to fit the bearings myself. I have done it before on a Jap bike so hopefully I'll manage without spending an absolute fortune on the HD tool.
Once everything is here it will be a matter of trying it all out then seeing if I need to get anything fabricated.
Will probably be too much to asked that it all goes together out of the box, but we'll see.

missed chances and more purchases

It's been a wild weekend, weather-wise.
I was planning to go down to the North East region's rally at Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. I couldn't get the Friday off work so had thought about riding down on Saturday morning, leaving at 5.30.
In the end I haven't been feeling too great with an infected gum, so I changed my mind at the last minute.
Just as well, maybe, considering the rain that's been falling on the north of England since Friday.
There's been no reports from the rally yet. But, no doubt they'll all have had a great time.
I've still got the one at the end of the month to look forward to.
Sitting at home all weekend has given me the chance to browse some catalogues. So, now I'm thinking about ordering some more bits for my winter projects.
The front end looks like the favourite to buy first as I've more or less decided which yokes to buy.

rally fever

Well that's me got my first, or to be more precise first Harley Davidson riders club, rally under my belt.

It was a great weekend. Just like the camping weekend to Gairloch except with lots more bikes and live bands.
The HDRCGB are a great bunch and certainly know how to party.
I even enjoyed the ride down and back in a group on the motorway. Though, if I am really honest I would have enjoyed it more had we not been on motorways. I enjoy the scenery that you get and can appreciate much more when riding on A or B-roads. I also much prefer taking my time. Bimbling along at around 50-60 suits me much more than haring down the road at 80-90.

Anyway, I can't wait for the next one. That will be the North East at the beginning of August.

excitement

I woke up really early this morning.
So, now I've got a couple of hours to kill before setting off to meet the rest of the guys to make our way to Kirkby Lonsdale.
Just like it was when I was a wee kid!
Will post report with pics when I get back.

packing

I'm off to the Lakes tomorrow morning. So, last night I started looking out everything I need to take with me.
It looks like rain over the weekend so I've decided to take the roomier of my two tents again. The smaller one would have fitted in the side pannier but the larger will need to fasten on outside.
I was considering not putting on the sissy bar and rack. Everything will fit on to the mudguard rack if I put the tent and my seat into the roll-top bag I've got. Then my bag with waterproofs can bungee on to the top of that. The only concern I have with this is that the whole weight of the tent and seat are fixed to the rack. It's only fastened to the mud-guard with two fasteners which sit in-line. There is a little side to side play in the rack. This is not an issue for fastening fairly light items to the rack but I'm not 100% convinced that it's strong enough.
I'll have another look today to see if I can work out some other fastening points. If I can't, I'll think about fitting the sissy bar as I did last time out. Everything will still load up as it is just now it will just be bungeed on to stronger points.
Safety should come before appearances.

refuelling

I was in the garage getting the bike ready for the weekend.
I fixed the cross strap for the panniers, fitted the gel pad (after a bit of a repair as it's beginning to unravel) and looked out the sissy bar. I'm not too sure yet, how much cooking gear I'm going to take so I don't know if Ill need the sissy bar and rack. If I can get everything into the panniers and roll bag I'll just do with that.
Anyway, I decided to go and fill up the tank with fuel, ready for the journey down the M74 on Friday.
Went to the petrol station, filled the tank then decided to go for a short ride to make the most of the weather.
Well, a hundred and so many odd miles later and I'm back to a half tank.
That's me going to have to start off by refuelling on Friday morning!

Another P.S.
The axle covers are billet aluminium so the magnets won't stick to them. I considered glueing one inside but there isn't enough room for the magnet to allow the cover to seat properly. Will buy a new pair but as it's costly I'll wait 'till after the Lakes weekend.

bits ....

..... falling off.
I was out for a ride this afternoon. Just making the most of the summer, now that it has arrived. I was sure that I heard something metallic hitting the road, not long after I had set off. I didn't pay much attention as I didn't think there was anything that could fall off like that.
When I got home I was checking my tyre pressures when I noticed that one of the rear axle covers had gone. it's purely cosmetic but as it looks good, it's going to cost me about £30 to replace.
I've got to buy the pair.

P.S.
I've just had an idea. I've got a few of the magnets I bought to fix to the oil filter. I'm wondering if one of them would fit inside the axle cover. That would give an extra bit of security, if used in conjunction with the grub screw which they are supplied with.
I'll try it in the morning.

just riding

Have been out for a couple of twenty mile runs in the couple of hour breaks between rainy spells. Nowhere in particular. Just getting out and riding is fun enough. I don't really need a destination.

It's a week today before I head off down to Kirkby Lonsdale for the Lakes rally.
Can't wait. There's a few going down from HDRCGB Region 2.
Same crowd as Gairloch, so it should be some thing to really look forward to.

summer showers

I went down to WCHD for a burger. (Yet another charity BBQ!)
Did my usual two miles there and thirty-two back. Only, this time the rain came on after the first five.
It was warm rain, so I kept on going.
And got soaked.
But, as they say, "a motorbike is for riding, not just for sunny days!"

relay

Yes relay!
I took a run down to West Coast to have a look at the tattooist working there today. The shop was so busy I didn't feel like hanging around. So, I had a coffee while waiting for the rain to ease off a bit, then came back up the road.
While I was in I priced a starter relay. I had been planning to try to source one from a Saab garage. But I then found out that the Harley one is just under £6 so I bought it there. I didn't want to not have a spare in case it goes again.
The WCHD website had them priced at £23. That was a big difference. I checked another on-line supplier and the price I paid today is about right. I should maybe buy a spare system relay too. Though that one will be redundant when I convert to carb.

what a weekend

I set off in brilliant sunshine at 8 in the morning, having decided that I was going to ride up with the group.

I met Ranger at the Balloch roundabout, after spending a bit of time bodging a repair to my panniers. The clips were turning themselves round and threatening to drop off. The last thing I needed was to have my luggage bouncing along the road behind me. I used a length of windscreen wiper blade I had found lying by the side of the road. It lasted the whole weekend and will probably do for the next time if I can't find something more permanent.
The rest of the group arrived about 30 minutes later and we joined in behind. At that point there were around fifteen bikes. More joined later in the weekend.
We all stuck more or less together until we reached Tyndrum. After that things became a bit strung out along the way.
You've either got go off at your own speed, or everyone has to stick together and all ride at the pace of the slowest. That means overtaking when everyone can or not at all. As someone pointed out later, if the front rider is doing a steady sixty then the ones towards the rear will need to be doing eighty to keep up. Having started off at the end, I concur with this. You're always trying to catch up and this can mean overtaking when really you shouldn't.
Anyway, we all made it to Gairloch with a few incidents but no accidents.
Once there it was time to get tents pitched and then I started to get to know all the guys, their wives and families. Real good bunch they are too.

Gairloch and the campsite were a fantastic place to have a get-together. The sun shone all weekend and the wind kept the midgies away.

It all went by far too quickly. Plenty of beer, food and craic. Then, all too soon, it was Sunday and time to set off for home.
I had decided not to go back down the A9 with the rest and went to Kyle to look up a friend I haven't seen for a while.
That meant a ride back down the A82 on my own. To be honest I much preferred riding at my own pace and being able to take in the scenery. When it was safe.
By the time I reached Glencoe the weather was beginning to look a bit cloudy, though I didn't hit the rain until Loch Lomond side.
I stopped to put on my waterproofs and the bike wouldn't start again. The lights and all other electrics were working but when I hit the starter button there was nothing.
A guy and his daughter/girlfriend on a Fatbob and a Honda tried to give be a push start but there just wasn't enough room in the car park to get it started.
I had almost resigned myself to calling the AA when I decided to try the starter relay. It fired up but as I had refitted the old one by mistake, I wasn't sure if that actually was the problem.
Whatever, I was on my way and didn't want to switch off again, just in case it wouldn't start. I kept a watchful eye on the "miles remaining" readout as I had intended refuelling at Balloch.
I did make it. Just! 390 miles round trip, every mile a good one.
I hope the young guy, who had come off his bike and was being helped by a motorist, meant his thumbs-up to say that he was OK as I just didn't want to stop.
By the time I got home and switched off again at the garage the bike wouldn't restart so it looks as though it is the starter relay that's gone again.
Have put in the new one but will need to remember I've got no spare now.

Just a slight down-turn to what was a great weekend. Not enough to spoil any of it though!

here's some of my photos

my bags are packed

Got everything packed for the weekend.

Didn't need as much space as I thought I would and I've got room for the larger tent. So, as it doesn't look as though the weather forecast is guaranteeing dry weather, I'm going to take that just to give me space to move around a bit.
As is my norm I'm not packing a lot of food. I believe in supporting local shops so will buy food when I'm there. There would be room in the panniers for me to carry food even if I bought it on the way.
I haven't used the Bose bag that I got from e-bay. As I'm only away for three nights my small rucksack will suffice. At least I know that I would be able to carry enough gear for a week or more.

erskine

I headed off this morning, in the rain, to meet up with, what I was hoping would be, loads of other Harleys.

We should have been leaving the Burger King at Hillington to ride out to Erskine Hospital. This was a charity run to raise funds for the hospital and was organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland Riders Branch. There were about twenty odd bikes at Burger King, most of them from RBLSR. There were one or two Harleys from Dunedin HOG but no-one from Clyde Valley. The rest of the bikes were a mixture of Japanese, British and European marques.
We headed off down the M8 to Erskine in the next shower. This one made me wish I had put on my face mask before I set off. It was that sort of stinging rain and the mask didn't do much good in my pocket.
there were a lot of bikes already there and a constant stream coming in all afternoon. Hopefully they will have raised a load of money for the charity. I hung around long enough to eat a couple of burgers, took time to listen to a couple of bands, had a good look round at the bikes and then got persuaded to join the RBLSR. As I served with the chair it seemed like the right thing to do.
Here's some photos:-

luggage

As it's pouring again today, I decided to start fitting my bags on to the bike.
It's been a while since I've used the panniers and they've got a couple of holes in the cross piece that the bags clip onto. As I couldn't remember which one to use, I thought it better to try them out while I've got time to experiment.
Just as well I did!
I fitted them every way I could think of but they still didn't seem right. Eventually got there. I had been trying to fit them without the sissy bar and side plates fitted. having them on means the cross piece has to fit over the top of the side plates so without it they were hanging loose.
As I'm using the bike to go to the Erskine Hospital charity ride on Sunday, I had planned on removing them for that but I may just keep them on to save the hassle.
Then I can get packed up through the week as I'll be leaving at sparrow fart on Friday.

"attractive" modification

Picked up a tip on a discussion forum this morning which I'm going to try out.

It's to fit some neodymium magnets to the oil filter. Apparently, these are the most powerful magnets commercially available. They cause any metal fragments, circulating in the oil, to stick to the inside of the filter housing. This can't be a bad thing. Rather that the magnets caught them than they go round and round the engine causing, who knows what sort of damage in there!
The magnets are available in all sizes but I bought disc shaped ones which are 12mm x 4mm. They were just under £7 for 20. If I stick a couple on at a time, the pack I've bought should last me for some time.
You can buy specially made magnets which are shaped and sized for individual filters but they are much more expensive, coming in at nearly £20 each.

I haven't been able to get out on the bike much, despite being off work. The wind and rain are still battering us here in Scotland. It's got to ease off sometime soon. Hopefully I'll get out at least one day this week. If the weather does get better, it will be a toss up as to getting out on the bike or going away camping.
I've bought a new sleeping bag as, no matter how much I try to convince myself, the old on is just not warm enough. I recall that the last time I used it in less than warm weather (up in Durness when I got rained off the camp-site!) it was cold!

wet weekend

It's been an absolutely terrible weekend weather-wise!
It's been windy and wet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nature will get it's bad mood out of the way over the next few days and then get into summer mode before we head off at the beginning of June.
Not that it will stop me going camping. All I'll do is take the bigger tent. Then, if it is wet, I'll at least have a bit more room to move around and also to store wet stuff in slightly more comfort.
I didn't go out much on the bike at the weekend. Apart from riding around the streets for a bit, I spent the time getting the bike prepared for the run up to Gairloch. I spent an hour proofing the seat with wax leather treatment. So, if I am spending a prolonged time in the rain, the seams should keep most of the water out of the foam. I did the same to the panniers a while back so they should be somewhat waterproof. The roll top liners I've got will help keep the contents dry too.
This week I will spend some time getting my packing and loading right.
As there's a hotel nearby, which is offering food (including breakfast!) I wont need to pack too much in the way of cooking gear but may take the stove anyway. I was hoping to get away for an overnight to see how my sleeping bag is holding up. I think that the loft in the smaller one I've got may have given up and I'm not sure if it will still be as warm as it used to be. It's just getting old. If necessary, I will buy a new one but I'd like a chance to try it out first.

preparation

I've just bought myself a top cover for the bike.
It will just cover the top half. Maybe the name gave that away! But as it's only for occasional use when I'm out and about, that should be enough.
It will be handy for when I go away camping. It's very unlikely that the rain will stay off while we're up in Gairloch.
Although there's not much can be done about the bike getting wet while I'm riding, at least if it rains overnight the bike will stay relatively dry. It also means that I can leave stuff on the bike, in panniers, and they'll be covered.
All I need to buy now is a waterproof over-jacket. Then I should be just about weatherproof. I'm watching one on e-bay so will keep my fingers crossed I get it cheapish.
Someone posted the timings for everyone to meet up to ride up to Gairloch. I'm still pondering over whether to ride in the group or make my own way. I really should bit the bullet and try going with the rest of them. I can always separate if necessary, though I'm sure it will be OK.
I just can't wait to get away.

at risk of repeating myself

I posted yesterday about a new leather jacket that I had bought on e-bay.
But then blogger lost the post, so I'll briefly recap.
I ordered a GTH roadster jacket which, when it arrived, (really quickly), was a big disappointment.
The chest and shoulders fitted snugly but the waist was huge. Apart from that, the armour in it was extremely uncomfortable. The collar adjustment was of no use at all. All in all it was a disaster of a purchase, which was all the more disappointing as I really liked the retro style.
I was surprised at Silvermans, selling something so bad, as anything I've bought from them before was good quality. Maybe it's just me that couldn't get on with this particular jacket.
So anyway, I've packed it up, returned it and asked for a refund. I'll stick with the leather I've got for now.

jumped in

... with both feet, yet again.
I decided to buy a new GTH jacket from e-bay. I had been trawling to try to find some reviews of this particular jacket but couldn't find one. But, as it was from a company I have used before and have a good web presence outside e-bay, I thought I'd take a chance on their roadster jacket as I really liked the style.
How disappointed was I when it arrived? Even though it arrived in super fast time.
The fit is really weird. The chest and shoulders are snug, especially with the armour in. But the waist is huge. If I were to wear it on the bike the wind is bound to blow it up like a balloon. The collar is a buckled strap and it fits on the first hole, so there is absolutely no adjustment there either. I believe the jacket is made in Italy. Maybe Italian bikers are some weird shape.
The jacket just does not feel comfortable and I'm not sure that it ever will.
I don't want to take the chance so, I've contacted the seller and will return it ASAP.
Live and learn!

comfy

Well, the jacket I was thinking about bidding on finally went for nearly a hundred and seventy pounds. That was far more than I had planned on spending, especially on a second hand jacket. More than I can afford at this time too. So, I let it go and will look at another jacket soon.
I did buy the waterproofs and the roll bag.
I also went out for a run of about twenty miles this afternoon. It was mainly to try out the gel cushion. It works a treat and should make riding distance somewhat more comfortable.

I'm toying with the idea of getting the seat reworked and fitting the gel under the cover. I could narrow the front of the seat. Then, if I get a stretched tank in the future, it will fit better. I am considering doing the work myself. It will entail removing the leather cover and fitting the pad under it. I'm sure I could do it as putting it back together will involve rivets and not stitching. Though, on the other hand, maybe I should get it done properly!
I could take it to House of Custom as leather-work seems to be their one remaining speciality and then I could get a tooled insert put in at the same time. I would have the comfort of knowing that it would be done right. But then again doing things yourself can be fulfilling.

getting ready

I'm keeping an eye on a couple of auctions on e-bay.
These are for some things I intend to buy before I head off on my camping trip. I want to get a pair of waterproof trousers as the ones I've got now are just a little tight. Although they are good quality ones, they don't really offer much more protection from the rain than a cheaper pair would. Breathability is OK if you're walking but I don't think it's that necessary for sitting on a bike.
I'm also keeping an eye on a Belstaff jacket. It's one of the touring style leathers but, as the price has already gone over the ton, I'm just not too sure about paying that much for a jacket (no matter how good it is) when I've already got a perfectly serviceable one as it is! Over the last two years I've bought and re-sold three leather jackets. Each one has been better than the last and yet none of them cost me more than £40.
What I am going to buy though is a roll top bag. I found one which is a lot cheaper than the Nelson Rigg roll bag which I couldn't get because it's been discontinued. How lucky was that?
Will post pics when it comes.

I've got a week off later this month so will head off camping to try out the loading of the bike and get my back used to sleeping in a tent again before I set of for Gairloch at the beginning of June. I'm going to try out both tents on different trips. The smaller one may be easier to pack but I'd rather use the bigger as there's more space to move around and store gear in it. Going for a longer run will also give me the opportunity to road test the gel pad.

sore bum

I went for another couple of runs over the weekend. Had to make the most of the good weather before it goes.
On Sunday I rode for about fifty miles without a break. Although I managed it OK, by the time I got home my rear end was beginning to feel just a little numb.
As I'm going to be riding a good bit further, when I go away for the camping weekend at the beginning of June, I thought about getting some sort of removable cushion. That way I can still keep the look of the thin LePera seat but not have the discomfort after a long ride. (I am getting older even though I don't like to admit so much!)
I was thinking about a sheepskin as I have read that this is comfortable. The only problem is that I would have to cut and sew it myself to fit the seat. Also, it would probably smell a bit when it got wet.
I then came across a site on e-bay which sells gel pads in a neoprene cover. They are probably as expensive as sheepskin but have the advantage of coming in three sizes and are not affected by water.
I've ordered one and will report once I've used it.

more miles

I went out for another run yesterday as the weather had taken a turn for the better. A holiday Monday as it should be.
Did about forty miles and enjoyed almost every one!
The road back was marred a little by an accident involving a biker and a car. Was only a mile or two from the Carbeth Inn. Looked like another biker racing but you never know, he could have been behaving and it was the driver at fault.
Haven't heard anything today about it so hopefully it was minor.

typical holiday weekend

The weather is rotten and the traffic is worse!

Well actually the weather wasn't that bad. It was just not as warm and sunny as it has been this past week. (when I was at work!!) The Easter traffic, on the other hand, is just as you would expect for the first long weekend of the year. Lots of Sunday drivers out for a dawdle.
I headed off up Loch Lomond side to Crianlarich then turned right and came back via Callander. It was a good 120 mile round trip which I did without stopping. A good few bikes on the road including some Harleys. They all seem to ride in groups. Especially the ones with the HOG patches on their backs. Though, to be fair, the ones I saw round Balloch would have been at the Easter Egg Run to the Children's Hospice. Got overtaken by the usual rice burners round Loch Venacher in the Trossachs. I can't be bothered going to the trouble of passing cars on a windy road only to get held up by the ubiquitous caravan or tour bus a mile or two further on.
I was beginning to feel just a little stiff at the end but nothing too bad so I should be able to manage a trip up to Gairloch in June. That would be about 235 miles. So about double the distance and do-able in a day.

I was writing about buying luggage the other day.
I'm definitely not going to buy the tour bag I was looking at. What I will get though, is a luggage roll. That will bungee on to my rack. It will be useful for day trips like today, to carry waterproofs and camera but will also give me an alternative when doing overnight camping trips.
Something I am going to buy is a face mask. I was using my buff neck scarf today but if just wouldn't stay in place. There are a few different types on the market both leather and neoprene. The ones with the skull or horror face look "interesting" but no doubt I'll go for a plain black one.

problems solved

The weather was a bit overcast and not too warm this morning when I went out to the garage to make a start on the rear indicators.
That made me feel a bit better about not getting out and riding.
I started by removing the screen from the front fairing and sprayed the inside with a satin black paint. I wanted to get away from the opaque look that it had and try for a solid colour. My thinking was that if I sprayed the inside it would be protected from scratches and leave the finish matching the rest of the fairing.
Hopefully it will work but I won't really know until tomorrow when the paint is dry and I can refit it.
In between coats I made a start on relocating the indicators.
All went well - at first.
I removed the indicators then realised that it wasn't going to be quite as straightforward as I had hoped. The hollow mounting bolt wasn't threaded all the way to the head. That meant I would have to cut a new thread on the portion that went through the mudguard. So, I cut the heads off the bolts, got out my tap and die set then ran into the next problem. I haven't got a work bench in my garage therefore don't have a vice to hold the bolt steady while I made the thread.
This gave me a worrying time as I got on with deciding what die to use for the nuts I've got available. The front mounting bolts are 8mm but with two different pitched threads on the ends that go to the indicator body and into the fork bracket. As I've only got an imperial die set, I couldn't do them to match the front or even have both threads metric. (not that it matters as they can't be seen).
With the problem of holding the bolt while I made the thread still going through my mind I carried on and drilled holes in the mudguard. I was committed to finishing the job because cutting the bolt heads off at the start meant I couldn't put things back the way they were. So, a solution had to be found.
Eventually I had a light bulb moment! I held the bolt in the chuck of my power drill. Holding that between my knees gave me the purchase to start off the die.
The rest went fairly smoothly.
Tomorrow is for eating burgers at WCHD and riding!

As an aside, I had been thinking about buying a Nelson Rigg luggage pack for when I go camping this summer (I WILL get to at least one rally this summer) but have decided that it's an extravagance. Any bag will bungee on and I've ordered some more waterproof bag liners, so it wont even matter if it's a weatherproof one. I may put the money I would have spent on that towards a new leather jacket. The one I bought from e-bay last year is great quality but is not getting any more comfortable as I wear it. Maybe it has done its fitting to the previous owner!

needs must

I was out at my bike and noticed that the rear indicator that I had tightened at the weekend has worked loose again.
If it's going to work loose after a short run of less than a couple of miles then I had better do it properly before I attempt to ride any distance.
So, as it's a holiday weekend coming up, I'll get it done on Friday. That will still give me three days to get out and run up the miles as well as nipping down to West Coast HD for their Easter Barbecue.

the pain

I put my back out at work the other day.
The physical pain is one thing. I can just take a couple of pain-killers and grit my teeth against that, but not being able to ride my bike is the real downer. I'll keep my fingers crossed that a day of rest today will mean that it will be better enough to let me get out tomorrow.
Not that I haven't been out on the bike today! I did ride round the block (for a mile) before sitting on my stool in the garage and tinkering a while.
I swapped over the bracket for the clutch cable to the left down tube and moved the tax disc holder to it's previous position on the cross member. It's just less obvious there.
I've also been considering what to do about my rear indicators. One of them has loosened off a bit so when I was tightening it up I had a look to see if there could be a better solution.
I may mount them directly on to the fender. That way I will be able to shorten the brackets and set them closer in to the mudguard. Should be a neater look.
As that entails removing the fender and supports as well as re-wiring the indicators I will probably put it off for the winter list.

sweet

The sun shone today and spring is definitely in the air.

I headed off first thing this morning. I only rode a mile, filled up with petrol and then returned to my garage to adjust a couple of things.
The play in the clutch was just too much, a mirror was loose and one of the retaining bolts on the rack was rattling a bit. So, a couple of turns with spanners and I was off again.
Rode up to Aberfoyle and did about sixty miles round trip. I didn't want to push my luck too far on the first ride, since getting the bike back together.
At first, the response from the throttle was a bit sluggish but by the time I got home it had settled down. Perhaps the ECM had worked out that there were different pipes on. Whatever, it was running ever so sweetly when I got back.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much more comfortable the riding position is with the higher bars. They bring my hands a couple of inches closer to my body so there's no stretching which removes the strain I felt previously. I also get better use of the mirrors as they are not filled with reflections of my arms.
The screen also makes a bit of difference. There's still wind in my face but the pressure on my chest is definitely less. Should be more comfortable on longer runs.
Fingers crossed that the weather holds up for another day and I can get some more miles in tomorrow.

tomorrow will be here soon

But for now, I'm just heading out to the garage. The luggage rack I ordered a couple of weeks ago arrived today. As soon as I opened the box, it was so obvious that it's the right one. Amazing how your eyes can play tricks as I was also sure that the one I bought in West coast was right at the time. I've also got the road tax and will decide on where to mount it. The way I've set up the clutch cable means I can't put it on the frame cross-piece as I had it before. At the moment I've got it bolted on to the final drive belt guard. The down side of having it there is that all the crud off the road is going to score a direct hit! It will also be hidden by my saddle bags when I mount them and don't really want to attract any hassle. There is an alternative of drilling out a hole in the cross-piece I used previously and then mounting the disc holder vertically. That is parallel to the down tube. I'll try it out to see. Then I'll be ready to go riding tomorrow!

ready ...

.... but not steady or go yet.

I did everything needed to get running but as I've no road tax my first ride will need to wait until next weekend. Or maybe one evening this week.
'Till then here's the photos I promised. I've repositioned the mirrors so that they are under-slung on the bars but until I get out on the road I wont know if they are usable like that. So, they may be back to the way they are in the pics before long.

sorted (nearly)

I spent an hour or so this morning finishing wiring the front indicators. The Badlands unit was so easy to fit. It has two plugs on it which go between the male and female plugs already in the loom. Then it was just a case of using a cable tie to hold the unit in place behind the fuse box and it was all ready to go.
The bike started up and it's probably just as well that the front brake is still to be connected or I may have been tempted to go for a ride.
As I've no road tax yet, that probably wouldn't be a good idea!
I'm off to the football this afternoon so tomorrow Ill get the brakes bled. I'll also need to have a look at the horn as it's only working intermittently. Then all there is to do is check fasteners, headlamp alignment and a few other pre riding checks and I'm ready for the off.
Will also get some pics up too.

couldn't wait

I was filling up the car on my way home and as I had a petrol can in the boot I filled it up for the bike.
As soon as I got in, I headed round to the garage and filled the tank. Although the indicators are not yet properly wired in, I just couldn't resist firing her up. Started first time and although I didn't open it up I think I may get away with the pipes as they are.
They are loud but are they too loud?
We'll see once I start riding.

impulse buying

I did it again.
Went onto e-bay and had a look for resistors. I was fully intending to buy another two. (received the first two in the post today) I wasn't just sure enough to know which ones to get and so had bought two at first. The ones I got are fairly large and are enclosed in a plastic cover. I hadn't worked out just where I would mount them, so was going to buy a pair of the metal ones which I was hoping would be smaller. No matter which ones I had settled on, I would need to mount them to something on the bike which would act as some sort of heat-sink. Apparently they produce a fair bit of heat and are recommended not to be mounted onto plastic. Well, the most obvious (and easiest) place to mount them on my bike would have been on the inside of the fairing which is made of ...yes plastic!
I spent some time browsing e-bay and various motorcycle forums trying to find the definitive answer to what I needed. I had just about decided on the size of resistors I needed and was intending to experiment with fitting a pair on the just the front indicators to see if that would work. Having the two different types would have given me some leeway to try to get it right.
I then happened to come across Badlander's load equaliser. It's much more expensive than four resistors (well about three times the price) but it plugs directly into the existing loom, does not create excessive heat and works with the turn signal module and, more importantly, the stock alarm system.
Money I hadn't intended spending but if it makes my indicators work properly, worth it.

The lesson has been learned at least. I bought RBS LED turn signals without really reading too far down the page in the catalogue. Re-reading it again, I eventually noticed the bit about maybe needing a load equaliser. It really wasn't too clear, but there you go. Plenty of these things, both expensive and cheap, are sold with-out mentioning that they may not work properly.
I've got there in the end and now understand a bit about resistance and LED lights.

started

I spent an hour tightening up fasteners, wiring up the indicators and fitting the battery. Then with most of the lights coming on I turned the engine over. It fired up first time. Though, as there is no petrol in the tank apart from a little at the bottom and in the fuel pipe, it didn't run for long.

I will need to spend a bit of time later working out the wiring on the indicators as the front left doesn't come on and the right ones are flashing too quickly.

After I had spent a little time getting the wires right, I got them all working but they were still flashing too quickly.
I've done a bit of research and now know that it's caused by the resistance of LED lights being less than that of filament bulbs. The mechanism which speeds up the flash rate as an indication of a blown bulb, thinks that a bulb is out and reacts as such. Something needs to be done to fool the system into seeing the resistance of the stock bulbs. I will need either a plug-in load equaliser, (which is the expensive route), or to fit some resistors, which is the more technical way to do it. I'll have a think for a couple of days and then decide.

But, at least the engine started and the new exhaust pipes sound good and loud. Soon be back on the road.

rallies

I have promised myself that I will go to at least one rally this summer.
I've arranged time off to coincide with Clyde Valley's Gathering which is at the beginning of June. I haven't bought a ticket for it yet as I haven't really made up my mind whether to go to it or not. Previous Gatherings have been held in Ayr. This year it has moved to Argyll. This is more out in the countryside but it still seems to have met the "corporate" identity that HOG chapters have. Advertising around the rally is more about the luxury accommodation and classy restaurants available on site. HOG really is about keeping members on message with the Harley brand.
I'd much rather go to HDRCGB rallies which seem to be more about the riding than the look.
I did see a poster yesterday about the Alba West Custom Show which is being held in Drymen again. That's on a weekend nearer the end of June.
As I missed last years I will make an effort to go this year.

nearly

Scored one of the items off my wish list.
I went down to West Coast HD to buy some brake fluid and while I was there asked about the part number for the wrinkle black luggage rack I want. They looked it up and there was one in stock so I bit the bullet and bought it. When it came from the store room there was no label on it and it just didn't look wide enough. But, I was assured that it was the correct part number and was the one Harley supplied for my bike. So, I paid for it and headed off home. As soon as I opened the garage door and looked at the back rest I knew it was the wrong one. That's twice now I've bought the wrong one! At least this time it wasn't my fault.
When I took the rack back the attitude of the staff in there was almost unbelievable. I asked them to order me the correct one but was told that the one they had in stock was the right one for my bike so they couldn't order another. Co-incidentally, there was a guy looking for one for a 04 dyna. Precisely the one that was lying on the counter in front of him. For them to sell him that one would have meant they'd have had to admit their mistake so they put one on order for him.
I wonder how many times that one will be sold and returned before they realise that they HAVE got it wrong!

Earlier in the day I re-fitted the tank and I've almost finished wiring the front indicators. I don't want to crimp the connectors on until I've tried them out. Then I can be sure that the wiring goes to the correct side.
So, tomorrow, I'll bleed the brakes, tighten all the fasteners down and refit the battery which I'll put on trickle charge tonight.
Then, fingers crossed ...

adding up?

My Rebufinni air cleaner arrived today.
It looks good. So good it's going to be a difficult to resist temptation to fit it straight away. But, to do that I would need to do the conversion to carb and I don't really want to do that before getting a tank.
I've made a list of the things I still want to buy for the bike. It's getting shorter but is still an expensive list.
On it are:-

• tank with fuel tap
• speedometer
  

Those are really the only things I need. That's to do the EFI conversion. Some others need to wait until I can really afford to do the front end conversion:-

• yokes
• front and rear brake lines

Then there's the bits and pieces which are either purely cosmetic or I can get by with what I've already got:-

• luggage rack
• front and rear billet master cylinder covers

There's probably at least £1500 to be spent on that lot, so most will have to wait.