It has been awhile since I gave an update on my Shovelhead. Things happened that we had no control over, hurricane and flooding, but we survived, The past couple of weeks we made BIG progress!



The frame is off to powder coat and the frame will get a chrome swingarm. Interesting about the swingarm, you can buy the chrome version for less than the black version. Shows how styling trends have changed, black is the hot finish nowadays, but for me it has been overdone. For an ‘82 shovel the chrome fit best.



The wheels are a 21-inch front and 16-inch rear. The tires are Shinko. I have heard good and bad about them but they are new and were on the bike when I got it, so I am giving them a try. The wheels are getting new drilled brake rotors. I hope they are flat.



Handlebars are mild 12-inch apes by KromeWerks. Hand controls are polished GMA units from the BDL team. There will be a new, classic Le Pera two-up seat with diamond stitch.



The heads are dual-plugged and the bike had two coils for a single-fire ignition. I opted to go with one, super-strong coil with four outlets to clean it up a bit. There are a lot of other things that are new, little detail things.



When I first set out on this adventure, I was just going to fix the starter drive and ride it. I am a detail freak and the more we did and the more I looked the more my list grew. I knew I would never be satisfied with not doing it right and making her shine.



It is not dressed out to be a show bike. It’s going to be a rider but I have always had an eye for detail. With that being said, the old girl got a lot of chrome Allen bolts and chrome acorn nuts.


One of the fun parts during a project like this is finding and gathering parts. Some guys need everything original and that’s cool, but not me. I like the custom side of the industry. I found a couple of original parts at the swap meet but most have come from aftermarket suppliers, anyway. Some distributors have catalogs devoted to older bikes. There is the OLD BOOK and a lot of my parts came from it, along with a few from Twin Power and TEDS V-TWIN.



Remember when I said it is not a show bike, well with that being said if things go as planned, I am entering it The EASYRIDERS BIKE SHOW here in Charlotte NC January 26–27 for the fun of it. After all, I remember that’s what we used to do, build all winter and be ready for the shows! Some of us still enjoy that challenge!



Hey, the Shovel got 3rd place, in the antique class! Man, that is a good feeling!

I would like to thank Jay and Dean at Hollywood’s Cycles and my wife Vicki for never complaining and her encouragement.

Until next time, KEEP BUILDING!

–STEALTH



BDL

You know it’s going to be a fun ride when the janitor at Bikernet.com has a cameo appearance in the book. Yes Keith Ball showed up on page 73. Now this is a completely fictitious book so any resemblance to actual people or events may or may not have happened.

Bitchin Bob takes us on wild ride via his drug addled memory of a 1970’s summer trip to one of the early Sturgis Rallies. Now I’ve been to the modern day Sturgis and yes if you look you can still find a resemblance to the freedom and debauchery of the original 1% rallies. This story even though it is completely “fiction” is a peak into history, our history. You will get an idea what the original rallies were like. Read more.

Like those too broke for Sturgis parties this books gives us a glimpse into the Harley-Davidson museum. Through amazing photos and a strong narrative it give you a peek into what you will see when you actually get to make that pilgrimage to the source.

H-D is one of the few companies that saw the need early on to preserve its history in both documentation and examples of its product. Not all items in the Archive Collection are original but the idea it to capture and preserve forever the memorable moments in the companies wonderful past. Read more.

Enjoy One Last Ride – This may sound like a no-brainer, but putting the bike away for the season sucks – yeah, we said it. Enjoy one last long ride of the season and savor every moment. Read more.

 

— Drawings with flourish, sense of humor, old school bikers, custom Harleys, makes a statement; Hal Robinson shirts and prints and Five Ball.

•Enjoy One Last Ride – This may sound like a no-brainer, but putting the bike away for the season sucks – yeah, we said it. Enjoy one last long ride of the season and savor every moment.

•Prep the Exterior – Before storing your bike, you’ll want to make sure it has had a detailed cleaning. That means breaking out the brushes and sponges to get into those hard-to-reach areas of the bike. You don’t want mud, or who knows what else, to tarnish or corrode the finish. When you’re finished washing your bike, you’ll also want to make sure that you dry the bike thoroughly, and throw on a fresh coat of wax so you can avoid rusting.

Try to eliminate any mud or rust build-up. It will only expand during the winter season. Cover your bike.

•Fill Up Those Fluids – You’ll want to make sure after your last ride of the season you’ve filled up your gas tank completely. A half-empty tank can cause major issues in the long run – including rusting. You’ll also want to treat your fuel with a good fuel stabilizer before storage as well. Last but not least, make sure to check your antifreeze levels.

This may sound odd, but an empty tank, unless completely flushed is more dangerous. It’s like a bomb.

•Change the Oil – Even if your winter season doesn’t last very long, it’s still important to change your oil before any type of storage. Dirty oil can increase your chance of corrosion, which can lead to engine wear. So, run your bike until the engine warms, then drain the old oil, change the filter, and refill it with fresh oil. Once spring rolls around, you’ll already be ready for your first ride.

•Lubricate Moving Parts – Keep the moving parts of your bike lubricated during the winter months to avoid rusting or binding. Any basic chain lubricant from PepBoys or somewhere similar should do the trick.

•Battery Protection – We recommend removing your battery before winter storage to avoid any damage the cold could cause or parasitic drain which will kill most battery in a couple of weeks. If your bike has a security system, keyless ignition, or most any electronics, it is draining the battery even with the ignition turned off and the key removed.

We also suggest investing in a trickle charger that will provide a low, steady stream of electricity to your battery, which will allow it to stay charged during long periods of inactivity. It is still best to remove the battery for long stretches. Think about it. If your battery is constantly under a slight load then the battery charger is working. For no good reason you’re paying for the additional power to your home, and wear and tear on the battery, plus it’s a fire hazard.

Pop the battery out of the bike, charge it and leave it until you’re ready to ride again. Then charge it once more and put it back in the bike.

•Don’t Forget Your Tires – Tires can be easy to forget when it comes to storage, but they are important to protect through the winter. Grab a motorcycle stand to put your bike on so you can keep your tires off of the ground to avoid flat spots. If you can’t invest in a motorcycle stand, we suggest rolling your bike around slightly every couple of weeks.

It will also be necessary to check the pressure from time to time, if you can’t elevate the tires. Just sitting, a lot of tires will seep air and damage the sidewalls.

•Cover Your Ride or Find Shelter – If at all possible, the ideal place to put your bike in hibernation is in a heated garage or storage facility. If that’s not an option, an unheated garage or shed will work. Avoid leaving your bike out in the elements if you can, but if this is unavoidable and you have to park in the street, invest in a high-quality cover for your bike – you won’t regret it.

There are several ways to deal with humid or wet conditions. Marine stores carry safe heat bars. They keep the moisture down inside a boat or a garage. There are other ways such as an open coffee can full of rice or an absorbent material.

Don’t forget to secure your bike with a chain, cable lock, and security system or alarm system. If you use a chain you might run it through an old innertube or something to protect it from damaging your paint or chrome.

One more shop tip. If you are parking any vehicle for an extended period make sure you have flow around it. You don’t want to bang into, run into, open the door against your pride and joy. Make sure there’s a lane around your puppy.

The Harley-Davidson Motor CO. – Archive Collection
By: Randy Leffingwell and Darwin Holmstrom
Publisher: Quatro Publishing Group

Like those too broke for Sturgis parties this books gives us a glimpse into the Harley-Davidson museum. Through amazing photos and a strong narrative it give you a peek into what you will see when you actually get to make that pilgrimage to the source.

H-D is one of the few companies that saw the need early on to preserve its history in both documentation and examples of its product. Not all items in the Archive Collection are original but the idea it to capture and preserve forever the memorable moments in the companies wonderful past.

Original production units, experimental units, bikes from collectors, and items from other lines like the golf carts are preserved and on display for everyone to enjoy. Some are completely restored, some are in the condition in which they were found. Randy Leffingwell worked with the archivist to carefully photograph each item that is presented in this book. With close to 10,000 photographs taken of 196 motorcycles this was a labor of love.

Starting with the oldest bike, a 1903 serial number 1 single cylinder motorcycle to a 2015 XG-500 Street Model you will find an excellent representation of Harley-Davidsons motorcycles. Each photo comes with a description of the bike and a little of its history. This book is not only a peek into the archives but also a good history book.

I am sure this book will bring your pilgrimage to a higher priority on your bucket list. Take a gander…

— David Campbell
Earl’s Garage – Motorcycle, Hotrod, and Event Photography
www.earlsgarage.co

By: Bob Bitchin
Publisher: FTW Publishing Inc.

You know it’s going to be a fun ride when the janitor at Bikernet.com has a cameo appearance in the book. Yes Keith Ball showed up on page 73. Now this is a completely fictitious book so any resemblance to actual people or events may or may not have happened.

Bitchin Bob takes us on wild ride via his drug addled memory of a 1970’s summer trip to one of the early Sturgis Rallies. Now I’ve been to the modern day Sturgis and yes if you look you can still find a resemblance to the freedom and debauchery of the original 1% rallies. This story even though it is completely “fiction” is a peak into history, our history. You will get an idea what the original rallies were like.

Put a couple of wild eyed magazine guys in a $900 1959 32 passenger school bus with drugs, guns, and booze. Then put them on the road to Sturgis, shit is going to happen. Scaring civilians at the grand canyon. Trying to stand in four states at one time at four corners. Picking up hot chicks from bars, these guys made a time of it.

Not gonna give away too much, so you need to pick up this book and give it a read.

— David Campbell
Earl’s Garage – Motorcycle, Hotrod, and Event Photography
www.earlsgarage.co 

Twenty no. 1 Billboard Hot Country Hits and 42 Top Tens make Toby Keith one of America’s most successful artists, and on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 fans will have the chance to hear this icon perform many of them live at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. The performance coincides with the Chip’s 28^th annual Freedom Celebration, a fact that is no coincidence. Keith has written and performed several extraordinarily patriotic no. 1 hits, has made several trips to the Middle East to entertain American troops and makes plain that his father was a combat veteran. See the announcement video here: BuffaloChip.com/BANDS

“Toby Keith has not only produced hit music every year over the past three decades,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip President, “he has legendary onstage energy. In 2005 when he performed at the Buffalo Chip, he stood up and put on an amazing show through one of the worst thunderstorms we’ve ever witnessed. The audience refused to budge and stood cheering through the rain in total awe of this guy! We couldn’t be happier to have him back to work his magic on the Wolfman Jack Stage.”

Keith’s songs have received more than 91 million BMI performances on commercial radio stations worldwide, and he has sold more than 40 million albums. The awards bestowed on him are too numerous to count and include Billboard’s Artist of the Decade, American Country Awards Artist of the Decade, as well as the ACM’s Career Achievement honor and Entertainer of the Year twice in back-to-back years.

Keith’s addition to the 38^th annual Sturgis Buffalo Chip Motorcycle and Music Festival is a indication of the incredible lineup still to be announced. The festival will open with a pre-rally party July 29 – Aug. 1, 2019, with official festival dates running Aug. 2-11, 2019. In addition to Toby Keith, the Buffalo Chip has also announced the performance of country music superstar Keith Urban on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, as well as Styx and Collective Soul on Monday, Aug. 5. Fans can expect more band announcements for 2019 in the coming weeks. Concerts and races are free with camping. More information and reservations are available at BuffaloChip.com

 

 

 

Wana-Ryd Motorcycle, 1854-A Wallace School Rd. Charleston, SC 29407