You know what fuck it I'll just fix the damn thing for now. Why go blow them money now, I guess it'd be more efficient than to go blow all money on a Sportster. Why not just save up and use this with the bare minimum? Then get the bike of my dreams. If possible, brand new Heritage, if it just doesn't happen, a used $10K real good condition wouldn't hurt either! I'd love a new one, if my buisness actually takes off I bet its not impossible, if I work my ass off. But, if not then theres always used! And, I think around here its easy money. All these city slickers have TINY lawns. I mean tiny, as in so small its actually completely pointless in actually having the yard. Some are a little bigger, but just not big. I mean each one probably lake under 5 min to mow. Its actually more about detailing with the trimmer and blowing than anything. Even if I only charge what, $10-$15 or so for each lawn, I could do TONS of them in a day. Also, the mexicans do the front lawns for most of them there neighborhoods that are middle class older folks, but the back lawns, they'll charge like $30-$50 to do them! Put a flier everywhere and I'd recon I'll get some buisness. Then, put them all over the backroads see if any of the big lawns that are up in weeds want a mowing. And I'll hopefully make a decent amount of cash!
Yea it is huh! The thing I love most about this scooter is the manuverablility. I mean seriously, it is SO frekin light and easy to ride! I can whip sideways thru traffic, and dart thru it so easily its fun. It just handles so cool! I find this scooter is funner than shit! Find a twisty road, and I can still get that shit eating grin! And I ain't scared to take a dirt road no more!
Well, the Shadow's at the shop now in San Shit Zay. Kinda wierd not having it here. Them Mechanic ain't gonna charge too much, basically he's just gonna check all the problems out, and give it a overall health check of the engine for now not gonna pull it apart but just compression check all inspect everything all that shit if anythings found then pull into it deeper maybe but I don't afford it so just he'll kinda tell me if it's really even worth fixing.
It depends per 1982 goldwings are nice bikes with the old Gl 1000 from 1975 to 79 being the best of any goldwing ever. Once I wanted to kill a man for leaving a 75 goldwing with 15 Thousand mile from new in the rain and snow for 10 years. Sorry your shadow is toasted. time to walk away?
The late 70s are the best wings? And yea, I fuckin HATE assholes that leave bikes out like that. I mean come on, the least you could do is put a good tarp or cover over the damn thing so the rain don't mess it up. I'd like to kick the guy that owned my Shadow's ass for what he done too. What retards. Yea it may be time to walk away I'll just see what the mechanic thinks of it. I mean if its just some basic mantainence and common things I'll keep it. But if he calls and says the engines got on compression, or its a bit worn and will need some work, then I'm done with it. The engine, frame, and transmission are the main important things. Pretty much everything else is built around this. Although, the ignition systems are more complicated than need be on Hondas and many motorcycles.
Holy Shit, Twisties are actually fun! Gonna post about my ride today on my old riding reports with Elite 150 here.
Well, I done herd back from that there shop over yonder in San shit zay bout my Shadow. And, they says the engine is very soild. It just looks like it's neglected from lack of maintainence. And it was a bit low on all, and the carbs was gaumed up! I done cleaned them not that long ago. Guess I ain't had no Fuel Filter was the cause. Well I ain't never deep soaked them or nothin, just carb spray and Compressor, although they wasn't all that bad when I got it. The Clutch is fixed. Apparantly it had some gunk and shit in the hydralic lines, and then it runned all out of fluid and thats why I couldn't get the air and bleeding out. The Tranny is fine he says, it just seemed like it sieze on account the clutch. But the clutch ain't damaged, just gaumed up and out of fluid. Makes sense. The engine itself he says is strong. It has perfect compression, and all them tests checks out good. The Fuel issue, he ain't got into it yet. See it only happens under load. At 55+ MPH usually in harder conditions like strong headwinds. It looks like theres air bubbles in the clear line lots of em. But at idle and slow speeds there ain't no bubbles. I'd reckon its a fuel pump or still flow issue. He says a lot of power problems come from carbs apparently they was real bad and I should ride it then if it ain't fixed he'll check them pump. It also needs it a tune up I guess. It's only I think like $100-$150 for the full tune up, carbs soaked, all that shit checking so I say fuck it why not have it done right for now. THen a little bit more for them diagnosed it or whatever. He says it should be good to go for Sturgis and all them trips when we's done and its a good bike. Just needs TLC. I agree, and knowed this. But wanted to get the engine checked over and all that before taking it across country. I'm decent mechanical skills, but I's still lernin, and don't have that much experence with motorcycles. Also, this is my main bike and not my project bike I don't want. The CB 400 and them is the projects but having a main reliable bike vs experence on that. So I'm gonna give it a chance, fix things that need fixin. All it'll need is new forks. I done changed the seels, but its still leaked they's real rusted and damaged. Only like $90 used or so, it'll look better and maybe new seels but then no more worring. So, good to know. It'll be good I think. Now I can not spend no money and save the whole summer for my next bike! Now, I am REALLY debating, Roadstar Vs. Harley!
That's bitchin' news, bitchin'! Glad to hear you ignored my advice and now you've got yourself the perfect platform for a nice rat bike! I look forward to seeing what you do with it; I'm envisioning flat black paint or olive-drab, bobbed fenders... man that'll be cool! Or just leave it shabby looking, that's cool too.
Yea just kinda decided to give it a chance. Its probably had a hard life, but its mechanically help up strong. These old Shadows are good bikes. It don't look real terrible, just not the chrome I'd like. The paint is ok just not strong. I here some painters only charges $200 to do it. For now, probably just leave it the way it is, aside from replacing the real bad looking parts like the headlight and such. MAYBE, just maybe, when I have my next bike, then I'll do something creative with it. I mean right now, aside from the Elite its my main sorce of transportation. But, if I need to go to Los Banos, or a long long ride, espically highways, I need it. And Sturgis, I'll need it. I wouldn't go as far as to saying its a total rat bike, its just not beutiful. With some little things it'll look ok. The main thing was gettin ride of the rust. As for the Elite, she's a runnin strong. Took her muddin again today since we got a little rain. Almost feel on my ass! Hit a patch of real slippery mud to fast too much gas! And, the tars are clearly not big mud tars! Fuck I need to invest in some offroad tars, I'm actually finding this thing fun offroad! Was just a crazy Ideal, but now I'm likin it! For some reason, on just a standard Dirt Road, a Dual Sport don't have such an appeal to me as the scoot does. Its just one of those things, you know? Doing something it ain't made to do. Similar to riding a slow bike fast is fun I guess. On Trails yea a Duallie, but for a little bit of light to moderate mud and trails the Elites cool!
Want to do that then consider a side line that s shitty but pays . clean up dog shit off people lawns. 10 bucks a shot etc. some people make 2 to 3 grand a month doing it.
Yea thats what I's fixin to do. I made like 2Grand real quick a couple summers ago mowin. And I only did a few lawns in the neighborhood! They pay good here on account the lawns are small, but people got good money here I reckon and them landskapers charge like hell for mowin, like $50 for a 5-10 minute lawn! I charge $15 or $20 theres good money right there. So, this time I'll do a LOT of lawns. I really didn't advertise last time. This time print out a thousand fliers over yonder at the store, slip em under doors, and I bet I'll get some calls. I can do bigger lawns now too, I got that there tractor, and lots more time this summer.
Not no bad ideal! I think with all them fliers I'll get decent buisness though, maybe more or less than expected we'll see.
Well, I forgot to tell Y'all. I got my Shadow back! Overall, its not bad. The mechanic done fixed the clutch, and tuned it up. First off, he found the problem I's always wandering about. The lack of power! He said there was a big leak in the air pipe and air box! Now they looked fine to me. I thought my stalling under load was a fuel pump for sure. After that and complete carb rebuilds, this bike runs like a champ! Man, what a HUGE difference! Its fully tuned up and those issues fixed. It runs down the highway great! Man, it is HARD to keep it under 80 MPH! It's sweet spot is right at 75-80 MPH! It is way way happier at 75 than 70!:huh Power in 6th gear has doubled. Now I don't need to downshift just cause a tiny wind anymore! Only for major hills, which is normal and expected like most cars. Acceleration, biggest difference is way way more torque. It actually pulls hard, and smooth! I'm very happy about this. I know it just never runs quite right. The mechanic laughed at my redneck mods, and said most of them ain't safe! Like the bolts for passenger pegs, and the small screw holding on the passenger seat! Aside from many others! Oh well, when you don't got the money, you gotta do what works, right? Paid $5 for the passenger seat, and cannot find a seat bar for under $90, so just used a screw thru the plastic under it and a bolt into the driver seat plastic. Works, maybe not all that safe. But don't have passengers had my permit anyways so just around the neighborhood, and tell em to hold on extra tight! But, he said it may go for a long time no issues, or may not be lasting much longer. He said it has a lot of miles, but it only has 32K right now. Thats nothing right?:huh I expect about 100K min with proper care. He also said it'd better to buy a newer bike for sturgis. But the motor looks good on all the tests, perfect compression, etc. Fuck it, just bring an extra pump and a few tools I'll be fine! Main reason taked it to that there mechanic was just to get engine looked at. If the engine+Trannys good, it'll be good for the most part. It has the Dual Spark Boxes/CDIs, so if one coil or CDI fails, I'll make it home! And battery ignition, so an alternator failure would only require stopping a new battery on the trip, which I could just pick up at a bike shop. SO if the motor+Tranny's good, then I trust it. Took it to a 200 mile ride yestarday, ran great!