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So here I am, with my XS in pieces in the back room, with a nifty collection of newly painted parts gathered all around the still unpainted frame, when my friend comes rumbling up on his Vmax. "Beautiful day out", he says, "You should be out riding!"
"Dude", I say to him. "It's 35 degrees out and there's still snow on the road." He grins and nods like one of those hicks from Deliverance. I half-expect to see drool ooze from his mouth any minute now.
Suffice it to say, we Western New Yorkers split riding time into two categories: Snowmobile and Motorcycle. When there isn't enough snow for the former, we break out the latter. Dodging snow patches and ice spots isn't new to us, we do it all summer. BUT, seeing him out with his '01 Vmax while my poor XS is still in parts on the floor of my tool shed depressed me to the point of suicidal thoughts. Luckily for me, they were about someone ELSE committing suicide, and therefore had no bearing on my actual actions.
Anyhoo...in lieu of photos, since SWMBO has misplaced my digital, I want to describe for you the transformation my Rat Rod has made...
So far, it now has a gloss black engine, thanks to HD engine paint, metallic Cobalt Blue tank and fenders with some AWESOME (IMO) ghost graphics that shine out nicely in the sunshine. The frame will be yellow as soon as I get more paint. It's the last thing I have to paint before reassembly. The carbs are yellow, the side covers on the engine are yellow, ignition cover is yellow, gear hub is yellow, seat is still somewhere in my Saint Bernard's digestive tract, rotors are Cobalt Blue with yellow inside all of the holes, and the rims are a nice Cobalt Blue with aluminum highlights where I've Dremelled the paint away. All in all, I think it should be a nice ride this summer. Pics to follow asap.
SOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING!!!!!
"Dude", I say to him. "It's 35 degrees out and there's still snow on the road." He grins and nods like one of those hicks from Deliverance. I half-expect to see drool ooze from his mouth any minute now.
Suffice it to say, we Western New Yorkers split riding time into two categories: Snowmobile and Motorcycle. When there isn't enough snow for the former, we break out the latter. Dodging snow patches and ice spots isn't new to us, we do it all summer. BUT, seeing him out with his '01 Vmax while my poor XS is still in parts on the floor of my tool shed depressed me to the point of suicidal thoughts. Luckily for me, they were about someone ELSE committing suicide, and therefore had no bearing on my actual actions.
Anyhoo...in lieu of photos, since SWMBO has misplaced my digital, I want to describe for you the transformation my Rat Rod has made...
So far, it now has a gloss black engine, thanks to HD engine paint, metallic Cobalt Blue tank and fenders with some AWESOME (IMO) ghost graphics that shine out nicely in the sunshine. The frame will be yellow as soon as I get more paint. It's the last thing I have to paint before reassembly. The carbs are yellow, the side covers on the engine are yellow, ignition cover is yellow, gear hub is yellow, seat is still somewhere in my Saint Bernard's digestive tract, rotors are Cobalt Blue with yellow inside all of the holes, and the rims are a nice Cobalt Blue with aluminum highlights where I've Dremelled the paint away. All in all, I think it should be a nice ride this summer. Pics to follow asap.
SOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING!!!!!
I had to put about 15 solid hours of welding with both stick and wire...and LOTS of grinding to make em fit. A few dings here and there in the right spots with a 2lb sledge, and they fit right on. Center stand doesn't quite retract fully, but it's close enough for me.
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