Attempting to get the Silverback mobile again...

[Ivan]

Got so bored today. Took the seat off and straightened out the pan as good as I could, since it was still crumpled from the incident. Also replaced the old fuel lines with some gray stuff from the local shop. All eight lines, used some zip ties around the Tees, took about 10 minutes. Kept the octy. Oops, wrong thread.. Also switched my old scratched up engine guards out for a set of nicer ones with some really nice highway pegs. The look like they could be Kuryakyn, not sure though. Also put my 12v power point back on, so I can plug in the phone/gps/mp3 player. looked into straightening my back rest, and I think that is beyond my skill set, so I need to start searching for another one of them.

After that I was getting pretty sore. I think I need to get a shop stool instead of a 5 gallon bucket to sit on.

I am SO ready to ride. Most of my relatives are going to disown me when I do, but they forgot the transfusion in the hospital, so riding is still in my blood. Might not be scraping pegs with Tod and Russ at at Talimena rally, but I am thinking I will make it all the way through...maybe. Tod, just ziptie a bottle of Cap'n Morgan to the back of your bike, maybe that will help me keep up.

[trbig]

Yeah, I was dragging Harry around the garage trying to straighten that backrest. I finally had to put it on the ground and get my feet on it to pull it where it needed to be... only to find out that it had been squished a bit like an acordian in the frame of it. Also about busted a gut straightening out those highway pegs... and now you just take em off. lol.

And... you haven't even backed it out of the driveway yet, but now you're ready for a 250 mile rally? Hmmm... Hope so, but hoping you don't push it. You might remember, we do a little over 100 miles around before coming back in to Talihina to fuel up. Leaving out that first part and just coming up with us on the Talimena Trail may be an option for you.. . Just a thought.


Tod

[Ivan]

Yeah, I was dragging Harry around the garage trying to straighten that backrest. I finally had to put it on the ground and get my feet on it to pull it where it needed to be... only to find out that it had been squished a bit like an acordian in the frame of it. Also about busted a gut straightening out those highway pegs... and now you just take em off. lol.

And... you haven't even backed it out of the driveway yet, but now you're ready for a 250 mile rally? Hmmm... Hope so, but hoping you don't push it. You might remember, we do a little over 100 miles around before coming back in to Talihina to fuel up. Leaving out that first part and just coming up with us on the Talimena Trail may be an option for you.. . Just a thought.


Tod

Ok, now I feel bad....but these pegs have an offset, so they fit my leg length better...

I can just see it. Harry's shoes making tire screeching noises on the concrete while he tries to hold on.

[trbig]

Ok, now I feel bad....

Mission accomplished!

Yeah, Harry was doing his best.. but then I think he spilled his beer he was holding in his other hand a little bit and gave up to go get a refill.

He deserved it though... He let me ride his FJ.. which I thought was pretty cool. But apparently the gas cap doesn't seal well without his magnetic tank bag on it, so both times I got on it a bit, I got gas spewing onto my crotch. When I got back and told him about it.. I THINK he said he was sorry.. but it was hard to understand through his school girl giggles. Parts of it sounded sincere though.. I think.

Took the seat off and straightened out the pan as good as I could

Russ and I thought about getting him on the front seat and me on the back... then holding on to him while bouncing up and down on the seat a bit. We decided that probably wasn't a good idea.. you know.. because the tire was bad and all.. I believe that probably would have straightened the heck out of that pan though... much like a pancake.

Tod

[Ivan]

Russ and I thought about getting him on the front seat and me on the back... then holding on to him while bouncing up and down on the seat a bit. We decided that probably wasn't a good idea.. you know.. because the tire was bad and all.. I believe that probably would have straightened the heck out of that pan though... much like a pancake.

Tod

Well, I mostly just worked on the edges where it was still rolled under and pushed around from some kid's frikken bumper. The back two rubber bump stops still don't touch the top of the fender, so even my fat azz couldn't straighten out that part.

[devilschld]

well ivan i will just have to see what i can do when i am done building my new seat. now that i have my spare seat to build on now.

[Wildkat]

Russ and I thought about getting him on the front seat and me on the back... then holding on to him while bouncing up and down on the seat a bit.

I really, REALLY would have loved to have seen that... Would have been a good trick getting you both on the same seat in the first place...
lol

Okay... my contribution to this post...
being the consummate sister that I am... I had to show up and harrass my brothers... but I also took quite a few pictures to document their efforts...

The guys did an incredible job getting this bike together... I know I keep saying it... but it is amazing what they can do in such a short time!

Harry picked me up from the airport Saturday morning and let me ride this over to Russ' place...


I have to extend a HUGE thanks for this... It really lit a fire under me to get mine back on the road... WHAT A RUSH! and I actually kept it under 100... but it was very difficult...


We arrived to find trbig and Russ 79 already working on the bike... but this is what it looked like shortly after our arrival...



and no matter how busy they were... the guys always took a minute to show the love...

First trbig...



and not long after his arrival later in the day... Trainzz...



If the fact that these guys take an entire bike apart in one weekend (or less) and then put it back together in another (or less) isn't amazing enough... then this has to be really impressive... Now I've helped take out (and put in) a few engines... and it is no easy feat with two people... but this?



and this?



Absolutely incredible to watch these two giants in action!

Bohn showed up to help out for a bit... Always nice to see his smiling face... you just can't in this picture...




and not just for picture taking... I had also brought some of my polishing stuff and got to work on some of the parts...



Within a few hours... the guys had it all back together...
I think the smile on Harry's face says it all...



Guys... you were absolutely incredible and I consider it quite a privilege to call you my friends...

Ivan... I hope you heal quickly and are back riding again very soon...

[madmax-im]

Way to Go !

Kat excellent pics and commentary! Add me to the list of ppl who are awed at the skills thses guys posess! Ivan's bike looks better than before the big hit...wow...to say I'm envious doesn't begin to convey my thoughts. If we here at Ch11 had awards for Member of the Year...it would go to all of you for the fine efforts you have put into this restoration...I applaud all of youse guys and gals too

[BigDick]

WELL........

I am in the process of negotiating the use of a C5 to haul the beer I owe them all in to Talihena.

ya know, I am in the air force, maybe we could retrofit a kc-135 to haul beer instead of jp8? Does everyone think we could get through 150,000 gallons + of beer?

[trbig]

Does everyone think we could get through 150,000 gallons + of beer?

Hot damn!! Sounds like a dare, Harry! Worst we could do was fail miserably tryin'.. lol.

Would we all look something like this afterwards?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYSpIz2FjU&feature=PlayList&p=69BFCA078F1E71B1&index=6

Tod

[fredintoon]

ya know, I am in the air force, maybe we could retrofit a kc-135 to haul beer instead of jp8? Does everyone think we could get through 150,000 gallons + of beer?

Hi BigDick,
I betcha contaminating the average American beer with the ~1% of aviation kerosene that just don't drain out of a KC-135s holding tanks may well improve the taste.

[Bigfoot]

Hot damn!! Sounds like a dare, Harry! Worst we could do was fail miserably tryin'.. lol.

Would we all look something like this afterwards?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYSpIz2FjU&feature=PlayList&p=69BFCA078F1E71B1&index=6

Tod

LOL, now that is funny.

[Russ79]

Beer cut with kerosene? That sounds just like the hooch my grandpa used to make back home! Oh and 150,000 gallons? What is everyone else going to drink?

Russ

[fredintoon]

- - - Oh and 150,000 gallons? What is everyone else going to drink? Russ

Hi Russ,
fear not! I do believe the USAF has more than one tanker aircraft.

[BigDick]

Hi Russ,
fear not! I do believe the USAF has more than one tanker aircraft.

We are the biggest tanker wing in the world right now, around four dozen on station usually.