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Any Biker Warriors Out There?

by Michael Ellis
13 replies
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I'm a big motorcycle fan. Even as a young kid I used to go thumbing through everyones garbage in our neighborhood looking for old lawn mower parts that I could use to build a mini-bike. I built a couple and they were awesome. I even delivered newspapers on them. lol

I currently own a decent chopper, but I'm now in the market for a new custom 09 Harley Road King - always wanted a Road King! They are just a bad ass bike. And with the improvements made in the new models, I'm going to get my hands on one soon.

Any other Biker Warriors around here? If so, what are ya driving?
  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
    Look at my shiny metal ass (avatar).
    Road Kings are sweet.
    I have a friend or two that have them.
    I've never had the desire to own a Harley,
    mainly because I rode an Indian back in the day.
    Here's a few pics of the motor, one of my Indian I had (the red chopper with the VW in the pic) and 2 a friend had.
    Thom's Photo Album - Indian
    I've had my Road Star for 3 years now and love it.
    In fact I rode it to Florida from New York last month putting around 3,500 miles on her for that trip. Would of been more but Tropical Storm Fay decided to vacation in Florida while I was there.

    By the way I have nothing against Harley's and know they are a good motorcycle, just never wanted one
    Signature

    Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
    Getting old ain't for sissy's
    As you are I was, as I am you will be
    You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
      Awesome photos/bikes, Thom!

      I don't have any experience with Indian bikes but I've certainly heard great things about them.

      I especially like the bike in the avatar. What size engine does that have in it?
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        102 cu. in. or 1700 cc's for you metric fans.
        It's an 05 Road Star.
        So far I've relocated the floorboards forward 3 1/2 inches, replaced the stock air filter with a K n N, rejetted the carb, removed the A.I.S., and relocated the fuel pump. (that's all I can remember at the moment)
        The old Indians where nice. Flat head motor, 3 speed, jockey shift, I loved it.
        I spent 4 years researching v-twins before I decided on the Road Star.
        It was the closest I could find to a vintage motorcycle that was affordable.
        I do my own wrenching so there where certain things I had to have, like a carb, and no radiator. I also wanted a bike I could take on long rides like the Fl. trip. This winter I want to put lowers on the windshield, get the seat contoured and lower the rear about 2 inches. I'm also thinking about converting to a jockey shift. I got it figured out except for how to get the shift pattern the way I want with the shifter where I want.
        Can you tell I like talking about my bike almost as much as riding it?:rolleyes:
        Signature

        Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
        Getting old ain't for sissy's
        As you are I was, as I am you will be
        You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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        • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
          Ah man... now you've got me over looking at the Star bikes webite. lol

          I know what you mean about wrenching on your bike... I wish I had more time in my day to work on my bike, but it's just so old now that I really need an upgrade. I built my bike about 15 years ago from frame/part kits ordered in a magazine... even painted it myself (not a talent of mine - never try flames on your first aint job!).
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            Originally Posted by Michael Ellis View Post

            Ah man... now you've got me over looking at the Star bikes webite. lol

            I know what you mean about wrenching on your bike... I wish I had more time in my day to work on my bike, but it's just so old now that I really need an upgrade. I built my bike about 15 years ago from frame/part kits ordered in a magazine... even painted it myself (not a talent of mine - never try flames on your first aint job!).
            That's great. There is nothing like building your own bike, except riding it.
            I think I got you beat on the paint. The first time I painted my Indian I used spray cans and after I did the base coat I put a lace curtain over it and sprayed that to get a laced effect. Needless to say when I get to painting the Star I'll have a pro do it.
            So what did you build, I know a chopper but what kind of motor?
            The Stars are a great motorcycle.
            This is the Road Star forum I hand out at.
            Road Star Clinic
            If you want to drool check out some of the sig pics there.
            Signature

            Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
            Getting old ain't for sissy's
            As you are I was, as I am you will be
            You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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            • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              That's great. There is nothing like building your own bike, except riding it.
              I think I got you beat on the paint. The first time I painted my Indian I used spray cans and after I did the base coat I put a lace curtain over it and sprayed that to get a laced effect. Needless to say when I get to painting the Star I'll have a pro do it.
              So what did you build, I know a chopper but what kind of motor?
              The Stars are a great motorcycle.
              This is the Road Star forum I hand out at.
              Road Star Clinic
              If you want to drool check out some of the sig pics there.
              Yea, I'd say you definitely have me beat on the paint! I did the spray cans too, but my first attempt at flames ended up looking like crazy lightning bolts... then I redid it about a dozen times and finally settled on flat black all the way around (easiest to apply).

              My chopper certainly isn't anything like you'd see on American Chopper. I have an old Yamaha XS 650 engine that was bought used in a magazine classified ad over 15 years ago. I think it's a 1979 model. Good runner, but the engine isn't that powerful, but the bike is extremely light so it moves quite well. It has turn indicators, headlight and brake light, but that's it as far as electrical goes. No speedometer, gas/oil gauge, etc... but it does have a cool suicide shifter with skull on the end.

              Actually, it's a beater, but I pieced it together back 15 years ago when I was just 19 years old so I tend to think more of it than it is. I had it in storage/tarp for the last 3 years, which is around the same time my Son was born. Man, talk about taking up your time! lol

              Now that my Son is a little older I'm getting the itch to get back out and ride every now and then. I know I'm certainly not as technically inclined as I used to be, so I'm looking for a bike that's ready to go.

              I always liked the Road Kings, but I guess I'm kind of on the fence with the Road King and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide. I like the Road King's look better - not much of a fan of the "tour bike" look, but the UC has some REALLY nice features! Are you familiar with these bikes? Any pros/cons you can give me?
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            • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              This is the Road Star forum I hand out at.
              Road Star Clinic
              If you want to drool check out some of the sig pics there.
              Wow, you're not kidding. Awesome looking bikes.
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              • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                I don't know much about Harley's.
                I know from listening to my friends who have them, that they have their problems as any make of motorcycle does.
                So you built a Yamaha chopper? cool!
                If you go to my blog you'll see my friend Sidecar Willie's Varigo.
                It is a first year bike with a chain drive and a serial number of 5.
                http://thommeyer.net/rides/the-great-florida-road-star-ride.php
                You can click on the A.N.U.S. link to learn a little more about Willie,
                keep in mind he's 64 and hasn't slowed down much at all. Like Willie, myself and most all of us 'old guys' who ride will tell you, it doesn't matter what you ride as long as you're riding.
                Signature

                Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
                Getting old ain't for sissy's
                As you are I was, as I am you will be
                You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
    Yea, the engine is an old Yamaha, and everything else is pretty much whatever would fit it. The engine was always very dependable.

    I like your blog. Lots of great stories. That Willie guy looks interesting to say the least. What the hell, unicycle drag racing?!? That's takes some nerve to drive those things. I'd like to see that. Awesome society acronym, too! Lol
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Michael Ellis View Post

      Yea, the engine is an old Yamaha, and everything else is pretty much whatever would fit it. The engine was always very dependable.

      I like your blog. Lots of great stories. That Willie guy looks interesting to say the least. What the hell, unicycle drag racing?!? That's takes some nerve to drive those things. I'd like to see that. Awesome society acronym, too! Lol
      Yea Willie is a pretty incredible person.
      Thanks by the way I finally started writing a blog that I don't care about making money with and it feels good.
      I want to try the unicycle thing, check out this video.
      The races you see with the palmettos and such and where Willie crashes into the fence are at his house in the swamp.
      The lady you see about 5 minutes in is Tiny my old girlfriend.
      She holds the record for going 97 feet on that compressed air powered sled. On her second run they jacked up the pressure and figure she was going 50mph on take off. It actually stretched her spine and took her 8 months to recuperate.
      Signature

      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[102244].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Yea Willie is a pretty incredible person.
        Thanks by the way I finally started writing a blog that I don't care about making money with and it feels good.
        I want to try the unicycle thing, check out this video.
        YouTube - A.N.U.S. BEAST RACERS
        The races you see with the palmettos and such and where Willie crashes into the fence are at his house in the swamp.
        The lady you see about 5 minutes in is Tiny my old girlfriend.
        She holds the record for going 97 feet on that compressed air powered sled. On her second run they jacked up the pressure and figure she was going 50mph on take off. It actually stretched her spine and took her 8 months to recuperate.
        Great video...

        Man, they come up with all kinds of contraptions for those events. Did that monster looking unicycle ever run? Did I hear someone say 2 seconds to cover 100 feet is the record?
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          I think the record is around 2 seconds now.
          Willie was originally in the Guinness Book of Records for going 100 feet in 2.88 seconds so 2 seconds sounds right now.
          Signature

          Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
          Getting old ain't for sissy's
          As you are I was, as I am you will be
          You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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  • Profile picture of the author Batman
    I ride an 08 ultra.... little motor work.. many miles a year....

    Ever in Chicago???
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