My bike…1974

[MarkPBG]

Yes!!!! Got the title in the mail today! It's really MINE!

[shinyribs]

Kewl!

[Lucky 1]

I painted mine with Rustolem gloss black industrial paint, and they turned out beautiful.

[MarkPBG]

So I was thinking of new gauges, I like this mini speedo with indicator lights from Dime City….



And in the spot the old indicator lights were, I was thinking of flush mounting a digital voltmeter, if I can't find one of the old analog sliding needle type….this is kind of what I'm looking at….it may be a bit thick at 18mm, but the width and length are fine….



Heck, the voltmeter is just $13.99 and the gauge is $67.95. I'm still holding out for the old style voltage indicator, maybe I'll find one. What do you think of this idea?

[shinyribs]

I think it's a cool idea.Love that gauge.Donald has one like that on the one he's building.He said he got his from CycleX.Might compare prices

[TOOLS1]

I doubt the digital amp meter would be legible in the sun.
TOOLS

[MarkPBG]

It would be a voltmeter, and that's why I prefer the analog type, but I'm having a hard time sourcing a miniature unit. I may just end up using a 1 1/2" car gauge and having a mini-cluster of three gauges. What the heck…on  a custom metal panel, it could be made to look cool.

[Daddyman]

Mark, Get one for a tractor, they are water proof.

[MarkPBG]

Well, my $5 parts bin multimeter finally gave it up. Luckily Sears had a sale and I finally got the first real meter I've had in my whole life. This one is auto ranging, auto polarity, came with a temp probe, checks frequency, capacitance, duty cycle, and diodes and continuity. It also has audible warnings, and a data hold feature. I'm not going to have any problems tracking down anything on this bike! :)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03482334000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

[shinyribs]

I hope it came with a manual as well !

[MarkPBG]

It did,  and the manual is also available for download as a pdf, which I did download and have it in my phone now as a reference. (AC/DC and continuity is no problem, temp testing either, but duty cycle and frequency are the ones I never remember how to hook up, i mean, how often do you use those? LOL)

[MarkPBG]

Thank You Sears and Cyber Monday! I can now clean out the plastic bins that have been holding my tools for over 10 years! This will clean up a quarter of the room that is going to become my bike workshop/garage and photo and art studio.

I suppose I should have put carpet in the two guest bedrooms first. Naaaahhhhh. :)

[TOOLS1]

I would turn the guest rooms into work shops. You could build a bike in each one.
TOOLS

[MarkPBG]

I'd have to knock down some walls. The entryways for those two rooms face each other into a narrow 2 1/2 foot wide hallway, then it's a right angle turn down the 4 foot hall to the living room. It would be a PITA to even try and get a bike in there. I could turn those two rooms into a kitchen and living room, and use the open  center of the house which has the kitchen, dining room, and living room, as a shop area.
Hmmm, the possibilities are endless when you're single. :)

[tim]

Amen bro. Tim

[shinyribs]

"the possibilities are endless when youre single"

[Lucky 1]

Good advice Tools1..... LOL

Get two more tool boxes too so you do not have to go back and forth from room
to room.

[Lucky 1]

Now you have ruined the finish on that fine wood floor!  .....LOL

[MarkPBG]

and I'm wondering if anyone has a preference of the 1 inch bars over the 7/8 inch bars. I know If I get the 1 inch bars,  none of the switch housings I have now will fit. The 7/8 bars should be more than strong enough for "enthusiastic" riding, and no full out modified engine racing, right? If anyone has used the 1 inch bars, why did you? Thanks!

[MarkPBG]

I've got my plan all laid out now to minimize sticker shock of trying to do it all at once….
Step 1…tune-up, carb rebuild, 1st time professional maintenance (having the bike gone over by some local pros at a race shop that loves working on these old bikes) and just generally making sure it's a rideable, safe bike. Add new Speedo and Tach, since the stock speedo is broken…took off cable and drill spun it, no movement at gauge…took apart gauge…insides rotted. Will send stock gauges out for restoration. (hey, I like them) Might need to rewire it and add the solid state rectifier and regulator, or combo unit.

Step 2…. Ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 3…. clean bike, thoroughly.

Step 4… ride and enjoy for a bit
 
Step 5… rebuild forks with progressive springs, eliminate stock headlight ears and use new style boots that don't need them, clubman bars, bar end mirrors, disassemble clean and paint switch housings. May need new speedo,tach, throttle, and clutch cables with the club mans. (i hear sometimes the cables need to be shorter) And add tapered bearing kit to the neck. Install shorter levers. Convert rear swing arm bushing to bronze bushings…or needle bearings. New rear shock with progressive springs.

Step 6… ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 7… Cafe seat (one place sells the one that uses stock hinge) and maybe relocate battery and electrics to under seat to clean up area under seat if future plans eliminate stock air box.

Step 8… ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 9… take it apart, powder coat frame and rims, custom paint job (by me and some friends) custom turn signals, taillight, all LED conversion with no load flasher (designed for LED's, so you don't have to use resistors!)

Step 10… ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 11… upgrade ignition to optical trigger system, upgrade charging system.

Step 12… ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 13… upgrade and rebuild brakes

Step 14… ride and enjoy for a bit

Step 15…Final step? Build and install higher performance engine (836? billet 1000?) lol

Step 16… REALLY ride and REALLY enjoy for a LONG TIME   

I figure a couple of years to get to the end doing it in steps like this. Maybe 3 years since I have to finish renovating my house too.

What about you guys, what's your plan?