Oof! Thank goodness for good riding gear, @cacomly ! I do hope that you're OK otherwise.

 

Successfully mounted some Viking saddlebags. Top bolts on the rear shocks refused the advances of every tool I threw at them. Breaker bar finally did the trick in about 3 seconds. Service Manuals for the win because I found exactly what I needed to know about taking the rear shocks off AND that I did not need a jack to take them off one at a time.

 

I am fine, thanks. Just a swollen left index finger which I have no idea how it hit

Not poor taste, its hard to tell the cause which is the frustrating part. There must have been something slippery on the road, antifreeze, diesel, etc. I could not get back to the area due to the location. Looking at Google Maps there appears to be a change in road surface which may have been the cause.

Believe me, I want to know the cause so I can be sure not to repeat this. I'll be taking a close look at the tire once the bike is on the lift to see if I can see anything.

 

I can assure you that the concrete 'surface' of Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Memphis SUCKS. It's bad.
There are potholes and uneven lanes the whole way, I think caused by the 80,000 lb 18-wheeler trucks.
Also, it seems like that stretch is always under some sort of construction too.

T.

 

I had a spare 48 tank laying around in my basement for years (I got it for next to nothing from a local dealer/it was a take off the moment it was delivered to them from the factory), and finally dropped it off with a custom painter. It should be done within the next two weeks or so.

This is the color I was inspired by. Mine will be a little less gold/a little orange to it, and will have a bigger flake on it. It’ll also have vintage Sportster decals on it.

 

Oil change (trans & primary), a good detailing and a short ride. The weather hit 64 and being a (very) fair weather rider I had to do something.
Even nicer tomorrow so all fun no work.
Back to rain and cold Sunday.

 

Got around to rejetting the carb after the motor rebuild. Now that I surpassed the break in period I could finally open up the throttle and had a pretty good hesitation at WOT after a couple seconds. Was running 45 pilot and 180 main which seemed reasonable. Went to an 85 main and the hesitation got worse. Also had some fuel or oil coming out the pipe at startup which was concerning. My first thought was it's fuel possibly from the float plunger no sealing 100%. Decided to just go with one step up from stock on both so I put a 44 pilot and 175 main in and cleaned the stopper on the float which was a little crusty. No more fuel out the tail pipe or hesitation at WOT. Runs like a champ. A bit of a ping when I really get on it in the higher gears but my bike has always pinged quite a bit thanks to CA gas and I am not going to run a fatter main to get rid of it. A slight ping is no big deal especially sinse I rarely ride it wide open and my pistons looked fine after years of riding with a much worse ping. It's 70 degrees and beautiful outside so I'm gonna take it for spin down PCH and see where I end up.

 

Sadly nothing. We had rain late in the week, so the salt was finally washed off the pavement. But.... it snowed around an half an inch Friday night, and it stuck to the roads since it's been cold here. So, they just HAD to salt the roads AGAIN. The snow all melted away by around 9 am or so, so we're just left with the salt on everything.

So the bike is stuck in the garage until at least later in the week when it's supposed to rain again.

 

Spent some hours riding on the warmest day of the year so far. A rare treat for the Seattle area. I was not alone many bikes out enjoying the sun for today. Tomorrow back to rain and winter.
2 more months till true spring here in the "Specific Northwest".

 

Stopped by Roland Sands while I was reiding down PCH. They had a really nice toolbag that was perfect for my rack. Holds so much stuff it's awesome and its easy to take on and off.