Cafe Racer sold and the Triumph tear down

Deuce and Phil started the tear down on the Triumph.  This nasty beast will have a new life in the coming months.  Everything came apart pretty easy and hopefully it will go back together the same way.

The Cafe racer sold today to a couple brothers from VA Beach.  Had some good conversation and it went to a good home!

Deuce returns from Cali, let the choppin commence!

Deuce decided to strip the Cafe Racer tank and go for a new look.

Chris dreaming and thinking up even more changes on the Virago.

Deuce sandblasting the tank.

There was way too much going on in this little area but it was raining so we had to confine the electrical shit to inside the shop.  Deuce and Chris making some supports for the rear fender and hoop.

Here is the hoop finished and welded into place on Chris's Virago.

Deuce is making some wood accents to go where the badges went.  Bare steel and some finished oak.

Phil welding on the fender supports to the hoop.

And sometimes you just can't see what you are welding with the helmet down.

Chris enjoying all the work that got done on his bike today.

Shovel Primary Belt

So if you look closely, you will see the remains of the spring retainer ring that melted away. So it was a good excuse to upgrade to a belt primary and a better clutch. 

Installed the new BDL kit and lookin forward to testi it out. Had the clearance the inside of the primary a bit but it went in pretty easy. Removed the primary chain oiler and return line. Once I plug them off at the oil pump she will be back on the road!

The Shovelhead danger ride!

So the title comes from watching this car flipping show about El Reys Garage in SoCal.  The owner always had the idioms for what he was doing.  When he would take an untested car for a test drive, he would call it the "Danger Ride"!  This was absolutely the Shovel danger ride!!  I tore the clutch down and cleaned everything real well and refaced the friction disks.  Put everything back together and adjusted it.  For the first time I was able start the bike in gear and shift from neutral to first, time to ride!

Chris continues work on the Virago.  He reworked one of the tank mounts because it was crooked as hell from the factory.  Haven was just waiting for the ride!

The bike ran beautifully until the clutch disks flattened out and I needed to readjust.  Got them readjusted but it heated up getting me off the road.

Stopped to readjust again and the inner spring retention ring had melted off and gummed up the clutch disks.  My danger ride was over and we had to trailer it home.  I didn't hang my head because this bike went from backetcase to this and you have to ride it to figure out the issues.  It was a great day and great ride.  I have named this bike Maud because she is one unforgiving bitch.  Next step is an upgraded clutch and belt drive to get rid of the oil bath primary.

3rd Annual Blessing of the Bikes, Fredericksburg, VA

Deuce and Chris prepping Chop Nasty for the ride down, it was pretty cold so everything was sluggish to start up.  We got them all started and set out.

Jenny is such a badass riding the fender!

Another good turn out, last year they had about 300 bikes but the weather was better.  We estimated about 200 bikes there.  Bible Dave was running around blessing bikes along with a couple others.

The parking lot was full of stock bikes and baggers but this beautiful Yamaha was hiding in there.  Good looking ride!

This trike caught our eye with the stripped down look, very cool build. 

What builders do on snow days

Snowed again so Deuce decided to upholster the Virago seat. 

You have to test fit it as you go!

Deuce using the wife's sewing machine to make the pleats. 

Pleats done, ready to trim and fit. 

Fitting the side pieces. 

Time to stretch, rivet and do the final sewing. This cafe style seat will finish off the Virago!

CB750 Cafe work and Chris's one-off air cleaner

Chris created the opening for the inside of the air cleaner.

Chris rough cuts the outside so we can turn it on the lathe.

Phil turned the base on the lathe and then turned the lexan top.

Chris sanded down the edge of the lexan.

Then took some 2000 grit to it with a little beer for lubrication!

So now Chris has a one-off air cleaner for the Virago.  Aluminum base with a velocity cone, 4 inch filter and a lexan cover so you can inside.

Deuce took the mustache bars off the cafe racer to change the look and ride-ability.

Took it back to the original looking bars and gives it a nice vintage look.

Deuce and Chris found the leak on the tank.  Get that welded back up and Deuce has some cool ideas to class up the tank.