sprockets!

or at least front sprocket cover choppin'.

Started with the stock cover and cut along the top rib seen below, but added a nice slightly swooping curved shape to it. Took the grinder and rounded out along the top bolt mount, and then went at it in the blast cabinet.

Next, I headed over to the 2 polishing wheel station where we start with the small wheel to work out any scratches and really dig into the surface and then move onto the big wheel to get that mirror-y (ish) shine going.

After that, I decided to mask off some stripes that I will also follow through onto the cam cover when that gets chopped next week. Its a small detail that we were throwing around ideas for at the shop today and I thought that some masking then blasting might get the effect.

Kim opened the side of the sand blasting cabinet to make sure I was holding the cover in the right direction and then sealed that puppy up (can't see through our cabinet's window). Some of the masking tape ripped up on my second pass, destroying my 3rd stripe, but you can see where I ended at today.

Had to throw it all back together today, but once the cam cover gets its nip/tuck, the stripes will be done on both and line up nicely and add a great little detail to the bike.

I want to make COOKIES now!

Williams-Sonoma sent me over this link to some new cookie cutters they are carrying.

Next time you want to bake some treats.....you know what to do.

molded plywood walking elephants

everyone (who knows me) will know that I love me some Eames plywood furniture. Especially the elephants that were re-released.

But this one is a cool different take on that. No, its not Eames, but it is bent and molded plywood and instead of being just something to sit on OR a rocker, you actually rock side to side and this little design marvel walks forward.

I love the idea of decorating and buying toys and furniture for a baby room. Especially when my wife isn't even pregnant yet.

Its like this "oh, we could totally have kids....I mean, look at these toys and the kids' style furniture, it will fit the look of the house...."

Is that a bad thing to admit?

today...

...and tomorrow there will be some new tires.

and don't forget Long Beach Cycle Swap meet this Sunday.

Shovel frame will be ready! I'll have the roller fully ready in a week or so which will be nice.

We'll be posted up at the 70 Moto booth/spot from 6am till around 11am. Or 10am if we have it our way (Right Chris?)

also stopped by the bench mark / BCM machine shop after a much too long hiatus and Kim's Panhead assembly is looking great so far. so SHINY though.....ha. Looks like it will be Born Free bound.

perspective on things

overdue weld clean up

A few months ago, Kim did his thing on some Window bars for me and up until today, I left his welds as they were, structural and visible. On that day I asked him which grinding wheel I should use to clean it up and he just said....."this is hand work". For months I've run them how they were but today I headed over to the shop and finally got around to cleaning these puppies up.

Persistence, time, the right tools and some TLC finally paid off in the end. They still aren't perfect but its good enough for government work. thanks again to Pat and Kim for pointing me in the right direction for using the right tools for the right job.

ride today

It felt good to get on the bike and just ride to work this morning. Other than my bubbleshield blowing off of my helmet half way into my commute, it was a smooth ride.

I'm looking forward to a good summer of riding ahead.

Burnouts and Endos for days....

The Born Free Show is approaching and my June deadline to get the Shovel done is a mere distant memory at this point. BUT while ordering a new front tire for that project, I also hooked up my sportster with some new shoes as well today and I'll need to focus on this bike for a little bit until I'm completely happy with it...

a few of these

21x3 for the shovel

19x3.5 for the sportster

one of these

16x5.1 (MT90) for the sporster

and 4 of these to fit the 21", 19" and 2 16" wheels that will be stoked.