Tuesday, 2 April 2013

YESTERDAY, LATE AFTERNOON AT BURLEIGH POINT, SUMMER'S FADING LIKE SUFFERERS PALESTINE IN THE DISTANCE . . . . TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING PROJECT SHOVELLER BUILD . . . . FEELING KINDA NERVOUS ABOUT IT, I'VE NEVER CHOPPED ANY BIKE BEFORE . . . . BIGGEST CONCERN, NOT WHETHER IT WILL DISINTEGRATE ITSELF . . . . ONE THING ONLY . . . . WILL IT LOOK COOL WHEN IT'S DONE . . . . AESTHETICS ARE PARAMOUNT.

I CAN LIVE WITH MECHANICAL FAILURE AND THE INCONVENIENCE OF SOMETHING SHITTING ITSELF ON THE ROAD, I'VE OWNED OLD BIKES AND CARS ALL MY LIFE, BUT BEING STRANDED ROADSIDE BESIDE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS FUCKING UGLY IS A LIFELONG FEAR . . . . I GUESS I'M ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO'D RATHER LOOK GOOD COMING SECOND THAN WIN LOOKING LIKE A TOTAL RETARD . . . . I DO WANT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, RELIABILITY AND AESTHETIC COOL, BUT THE THOUGHT OF NOT GETTING IT RIGHT VISUALLY IS A SCARY CONTEMPLATION . . . . ESPECIALLY WITH A HISTORY OF SO VOCALLY AND VEHEMENTLY TAKING THE PISS OUT OF BIKES THAT MISS THE BUS WHEN IT COMES TO STANCE, LINES AND COHESIVENESS OF VISION . . . . HAVING TO EAT SHIT ON HUMBLE PIE IS NOT SOMETHING I DO WELL . . . . ONLY TIME WILL TELL ON THIS ONE I GUESS.
Posted by WhitelinePsycho at

8 comments:

  1. Hermit2 April 2013 at 15:45

    Don't sweat it, almost everything can be changed if you don't like it, just depends on how much time and resources you have. And by resources I mean money and/or junk laying around.

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    1. WhitelinePsycho2 April 2013 at 18:03

      Cheers Herm, lots time, adequate resources, some money . . . most parts are already assembled over the last year, so hopefully all will be well. Hope the Niquil driven interplanetary rocket is still moving ahead buddy.

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    2. Hermit2 April 2013 at 22:08

      Don't know what your plans are, but the shovel looks like a great foundation.
      My project is on hold due to work and lack of funds, but I'm in no hurry. I have other bikes to ride and like knowing I've something to tinker with when the spirit moves me.

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    3. WhitelinePsycho2 April 2013 at 23:28

      Yeah man, it's a really honest, matching numbers, never stolen '74 FXE, a previous owner stuck a fatglide front end on it but that's easily sorted, and because it's so unmolested I'm using a Papa Clutch bolt-on hard tail so I don't fuck with the integrity of what is a clean old scoot. Like you mate, time is on my side with the Purple Penis to ride . . . I've kept 'the spirit' at bay for a year, no need to rush this shit.

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  2. BoBo Jufat2 April 2013 at 22:05

    Wow! and thanks for the LH comments, you're one of the few who catch the little "tongue in cheek" details...

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    1. WhitelinePsycho2 April 2013 at 23:30

      Always a twisted pleasure Madame Hump . . . glad it was only 'tongue in cheek' Al . . .

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  3. Hairy Larry3 April 2013 at 11:03

    Be happy, you have a Shovel, and a later Sportster. When I left off working on HD's it was when the Shovel was the 'new' model, and iron head Sportsters were much derided.So my knowledge of the latest stuff from HD is minimal.... from what I've been reading on the web lately it sounds like the newish big-twins seem to have some major problems as they accrue mileage. From what I can see of the 'modern' Sportsters they can take a lickin'...My brother beats his unmercifully (as he has every bike he's owned...) and hasn't broken his yet. Good plan with the hardtail your using as it leaves options.I kinda shudder when I see people chopping Bonnevilles and the like. Instead of going full chopper frames, and cutting up perfect swingarm frames. Unmolested Bonnevilles are really too valuable for that, but to each their own I suppose. The masochist that I am, I'll be attempting to bring a poorly chopped Triumph Pre-unit back to a swingarm config.Then I can build a chopper from all the left over... I guess it's all fun and I'm sure you'll have a good time putting it all together.

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    1. WhitelinePsycho3 April 2013 at 11:36

      Oh, I'm happy without a doubt Laz. I agree mate, cutting up classics in good, complete nick these days seems almost dumb, could never do it to either my '69 or '70, even if they were non-runners, so when I got the '74 in near fully original shape the last thing I wanted to do was fuck it up . . . and with the bolt on at least the frame isn't fucked for life and everything else is only swapping out . . . the Skirtster thus far has amazed me with its reliability given how hard its been flogged . . . would love to see some shots of the pre-unit mate, a decidedly noble cause indeed, I love em, an older buddy of mine still has his '61 Bonnie he got in '65/'66 in the silver and blue livery, being my birth year, I've always said I'd buy it off him when he's ready to part with it . . . unless he wills it to me, ha !!

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