Sunday, January 22, 2012

Cafe Racer Project Bike

Our New Cafe Racer
by Hubby and Sparky

For quite some time now, we have had a hankerin' to build or restore our own motorcycle. So early in 2011, we traveled to Destination Honda in a far off land called South Carolina. There for a mere pitance we purchased a nice little Suzuki cruiser. It is a 2002 S40 Savage with about 18,000 original miles on the clock.

Let's go home guys!
We've got work to do!

This ugly duckling was to be the beginning of a metamorphosis from frumpy cruiser to a dashing cafe racer. The cafe racer style bike was an English idea that took root in the Sixties era. Performance bike enthusiasts would strip away everything on their bikes that added weight without function. They would mount the latest high performance tires, brakes and exhaust in order to get as much speed as possible out of their rides. Groups of these riders would meet in London area hangouts, like the Ace Cafe, where they would argue over whose ride was the best and settle the disputes with impromptu races starting from one cafe and ending there or at another.

Our project is something we have been wanting to do for a long time but felt that without a shop equipped with a welder and other metal working tools, would be beyond our limitations. Enter Ryca Motors of California and their Cafe Racer kit made expressly for the Suzuki Savage. With this kit you get everything needed to build a cafe racer with little more than a set of wrenches and an angle grinder (30 bucks at Lowes).

After getting the Suzuki I spent some time riding it on the local roads just to be sure there were no mechanical issues that needed to be addressed. The only "issue" found was a small oil leak at the shift shaft seal but other than that the bike seemed quite sound.

Does anyone else feel a draft?

Next came stripping the bike down to the frame. This meant removing the seat, fenders, gas tank, battery box, air box and the wiring loom. It looked a bit naked now with everything stripped off the frame except the motor and wheels. While the bike was thus "undressed" was a good time to fix the oil leak and clean the road grime from the frame and motor. With this done, I contacted Ryca and ordered our kit. They would later contact us when they were ready for us to send them the gas tank and rear wheel hub for modifications that they perform as part of the kit price. The mods included cutting and welding the gas tank to change it to a more "sporting" shape and fitting a new 18" rear wheel to the wheel hub so that a proper sport type tire could be mounted, the tire also being part of the kit.

It's still drafty in here ...

After a while we received our kit with the modified tank and were ready to start the build. I had requested that the painted parts be prepared with just a primer coat as we had already contacted a local custom painter to give our project some added bling. Our painter, Eddie Bedgood of Alma, Georgia, was recommended to us by a local bike shop. He is a true artist. One can find him on Facebook if interested. Eddie discussed various paint themes and colors with us based upon the ideas we had decided on. We settled on a bright metal flake Yellow with a Black racing stripe and outlined with White pin stripes.

Look! Up in the sky!
Is it a bird? A plane? Nah it's just Superbike.

Eddie finished the tank with a hand air brushed Suzuki "S" on each side, beautiful. As can be seen from the pictures, Eddie does great work and I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting custom paint work.

After receiving the painted parts from Eddie it was simply a matter of installing the parts from the kit using the video directions provided at YouTube by Ryca. They're very through. Since my shoulder disability, the most difficult job was modifying the front forks. It takes amazing strength to hold them down and then turn so they'll stay in place. It required me and two friends from church to hold the springs down and install the fork caps. The rest of the build was simple, reinstall the modified wiring loom, install the new battery box, new seat and modified tank and the clip-on bars with controls.

After completion, the bike was rolled out of the workshop and we crossed our fingers that the bike would start and run after so many weeks of sitting up and all the modifications to the wiring. Tank petcock was turned on, choke set, push the starter button and within a few seconds after the float bowl filled it fired up then settled into a nice idle. What a relief! Now for the fun part: a test ride. The clip-on bars and racing crouch posture took some getting used to and this bike is not for long distance rides unless you're a contortionist but it is fun, fast and handles great, just like a proper cafe racer.

I look pretty cool now, huh?!
At least I don't feel a draft anymore ...

There are many more photos of the project at this link. Be sure to click on the photos above to view full size.

What A World: South Carolina Primary Results


% Reporting: 99
Gingrich: 40.4
Romney: 27.9
Santorum: 17
Paul: 13

Live results pages: SC Election Comm., Politico, Google, Associated Press.
h/t: Legal Insurrection


My comment? South Carolina Conservatives pull the lever for Obama. Neo-con's will help be the further death of this country. Whether 'tis Mitt or Newt or Santorum or some other neo-Con, it'll be the same 'ol, same 'ol with big government, undeclared wars, higher taxes, less liberty. I guess people really do enjoy their tyranny, as my husband delights in sharing.


Friday, January 20, 2012

Funny Friday ~ SMBC Cartoon

I guess everyone has heard that Obamanation denied the Keystone pipeline approval? That flushing sound you hear is our country going down the toilet with the Obamanation at the helm. Well, I think Americans should start building the pipeline WITHOUT the Federal government's "approval". Our POTUS obviously hates America, hates us, and hates prosperity! So, I say let's tell the Fed's to go screw themselves and let's also DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW!





Sunday, January 15, 2012

House Architecture Style Question

For all my wonderful followers out there, I have a quick question please. Does anyone recognize this diamond style? Most of the decoration had deteriorated and disappeared. It appears that it was used to decorate all around the house. Just curious as to what it's called.



The abandoned farm house is located in Bacon County, Georgia. Very unusual looking, I thought. It's quite old.

I hope everyone is having a good Sunday.

Thanks! :))

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year Fellow Travelers


For Senior Travel

I also did not know this ...

When you drink vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure.
When you drink rum over ice, it can give you liver failure.
When you drink whiskey over ice, it can give you heart problems.
When you drink gin over ice, it can give you brain problems.

Apparently, ice is really bad for you.

Warn all your friends.

---

And one more from the blog Hope And Change Cartoons:


Oh, yeah, I'd love to stick that on a certain black bus too ...

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Day Doings

Hark! There's A Sparky In The Kitchen

This year we where suppose to be in south Florida staying with family but the trip was suddenly cancelled because Hubby is laid up with a bad back. Poor man! At least I did get to attend Christmas Eve service but without Hubby along it wasn't as much fun. This afternoon, thanks to so many prayers, bed rest, and proper medication he is now much improved.

It's been literally years since I've had to cook Christmas dinner. Usually Hubby does all the food preparations. I customarily decorate the cave and clean up any messes made. So Hubby very kindly gave specific directions as to how to prepare the chickens in the new electric smoker. This is my first time using the smoker but it was so easy. The chickens were cooked to perfection. I also cooked fresh spinach in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with melted Parmesan cheese on top. Oh, and I enjoyed my glass of Sutter Home White Zinfandel wine with the meal, of course. It was all wonderfully delicious and homey. Earlier in the day I prepared the desert: Sugar Free - Fat Free Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding. I use deluded Half & Half instead of milk. Makes it richer. After a good long chill, we put real whipped cream on top and it's so yummy. We'll have that later this evening when the hunger pains start again.

After the meal we opened the presents from friends [since we had earlier gifted each other], and lo and behold, looky what my good friend Marydon at Blushing Rose sent:


A drinking glass from Flying Dog Breweries. She knows how much I enjoy their beer. Way cool! Can't wait to have a beer in it Marydon. [drool] Thank you!


She also gave us a specially hand painted ornament for the tree. Isn't it the most loveliest thing you ever saw? I can tell it so delicate. I will rewrap it oh so very carefully and keep it in a special place to adorn our tree every year. What a sweet friend I have.


It has a cute little bee on it too. Thank you Marydon and family! You are so generous and kind! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I know this lovely ornament will grace our tree for years to come.

Also, thank you everyone who sent cards and other well wishes. Believe me, I can feel the love. I appreciate y'alls friendship so very much. You are all always in my prayers.

I hope everyone had a very Merry CHRISTmas with loads of loving family, good friends and delectable food. Onward together we will fight for our freedoms in the New Year. May the Lord have mercy on us that good will prevail that our Nation be restored once more to it's former glory in His name.

God bless and,

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Merry Christmas!



Even though many of us are seperated by hundreds of miles, and sometimes cultures or ideals, I feel like we are all friends. I know I consider you my friend! Thank you for following my blog. I appreciate you all VERY much.

Here's hoping that you and yours have a very safe and happy holiday season.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace
.


Merry CHRISTmas Y'all!