121 days and counting down. It seemed like September 2014 was a distant date in the future when this project commenced. Lets take a completely wore out, broken, assembly of pieces and ride it across this great country. Sounded like a plan.............
Now its May 2014, and this bike is really starting to run well. I am getting encouraged with each ride, and things seem to be getting sorted out. It is nice to have the magnitude of the problems shrinking, with efforts now concentrating on tuning and getting to know the bike and the motor. Listening and the feel of the motor tell you a lot when riding, and keeping it in the sweet spot will help get to Tacoma.
The first rides were kind of nerve racking. Left hand throttle, where's the clutch, and what happened to the brakes. But you quickly settle into the ride, and the discovery process begins. Riding along about 40, back the main needle out until it blubbers, then lean it back out. Man it starts running good, then the head temperature starts climbing. Richen it up and it cools back down. Don't want to seize the motor, got to find the sweet spot. There are some pretty good climbs here, shorter than the Rockies, but just as steep. Retarding the timing under these higher loads and the bike seems happier. You become your own CPU, always adjusting the MAP, with the seat of your pants as the sensor.
It is truly a pleasure riding this bike. Easing along a county 2 lane on a 1929 motorcycle is a special feeling. Folks who enjoy a blend of nostalgia, history, and mechanical movement understand what I'm talking about. What an experience this is going to be!
Something little I wrote a long time ago, it can have a few faults in the language:
ReplyDeleteThe bike on the sidestand quietly express a powerpack of elegance and style. Take a look at the chassie: The bike's overall low stance with the typical top tube caressing the pleasant curve of the tank, thin light seat that seems to hover above the bike's slender waist, the wide curvous black handlebars and smooth stylish fenders that closely hugs the wheels. The front spring is an exclamation mark to the design so caracteristic to an Indian motocycle. The engine's compact uncluttered design so well complement the frame with it's elegantly drawn exhaust pipes. Every detail is tight and carefully designed, minimalistic and functional. Design obvious in the matter of the tiny bullett headlight, there the designers went a bit overzealous with style vis-a-vis night vision.
When you sit down on the bike you are right away struck by the soft, anatomically designed saddle that has soft yet definite suspension. I can assure that you sit a whole day on it without tiring. Grip the handlebars and you feel comfort and assurement by the wide and generous handlebars, lift your feet up on the footrests and find a completely natural riding position where nothing in your body protesting or is strained.
Soon you find that you sit with the bike relaxed and comfortable, and you sit in it, not on top of it. Wiggle the bike and you can feel the weight, but won't feel like it's about to topple over like a modern bike. Stationary the steering is a bit heavy but that will diminish on the roll and almost disappears at speed. Remember the tires are of the low pressure cushy type of tires. Try the pedals, the brake feels a bit awkward because you have to lift your foot to brake and it's quite long stroke before they start to grip, but the pedal feels sturdy and tight. You also have to lift the foot to engage the clutch, and the fact that it doesn't spring back as in a car can also feel a bit awkward at the beguinning, but this is necessary on a motorcycle with foot clutch. The non returning clutch means that you have to control the slip with the heel plate by wiggle your foot to get away. It may take a little while to learn the toe and heel manouver, but it very quickly becomes a second nature as the controls is the same as in a stick shift car. Now drop the right hand and rest on the gear lever. That too is on the same side as in most cars. The lever is directly connected to the innards of the gearbox. You get a immediate feeling of the cogs being pushed back and forth with the stick movement. First gear back, then forward for neutral, second and third gear. Simple . What about the accelerator and ignition then? Left hand throttle. Pretty simple that too after some practice. As a novice you start the training with twist both handles at the same time and direction, and soon you learn which handles that reduce the speed most! Then you continue your training with trying to keep your right hand still with your right hand fingers stretched for the brake handle all the time, or resting on the gear lever, and left hand accelerator soon becomes a natural and enjoyable part of the experience to manouver a Real Indian.
Charlie101: That is a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you for sharing. -Van
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