Bababooey
TJ Enthusiast
Been riding since I was 17. Had lots of fun over the years on bikes. This is my ‘02 Fatboy
For all of us with two wheels also
- Thread starter Wildman
- Start date
OP
I live in the country so it isn't a big a problem over here but I hate riding into Seattle and have almost been hit more than once. Defensive riding is a MUST MUST MUST...………. This is why I am glad I live where I do.
As much as I hate the new technology in these newer cars I agree that it might make some drivers safer.
I feel you. I grew up riding in the Shenandoah Mtns, when I got stationed in FL my riding habit sort of curtailed itself. I still always had one, but once I got down there it just wasn't as enjoyable. Everything is straight and flat, humid as hell.... And when I was in S. Florida around Miami forget about it. It's like Mad Max down there, only with Puerto Ricans and Cubans instead of Australians.
Head Lice
TJ Addict
Great story . . . thank you!
This is a '91 FXR . . . crate 113" S&S with a 6 speed . . . it's got some torque.
This is a '91 FXR . . . crate 113" S&S with a 6 speed . . . it's got some torque.
Flib
TJ Enthusiast
My 68 slab side in a 57 pan frame, this is one of those vehicles you sell and kick yourself for the rest of your life.
this is the 2nd incarnation of it,
I had 2 of these, blew one up, literally put the connecting rod out the front of the motor
my 95 sportster,
my drz 400, this thing was a beast.
that's going back about as far as I have pictures, anything I owned before the 68 was before digital.
OP
Some great stories and AWESOME looking bikes. I spent Memorial Day weekend working on my bike fixin a bunch of little stuff that needed to be done. My speakers were cutting in and out so I had to pull the fairing to see what was up. Luckily all it was was a loose plug. Fixed that and then moved on to other issues.
Had 3 burnt out LED's in my right saddlebag latch. So I replace the insert with a new one I had ordered 3 years ago. Also installed some upgraded latches on my tour pack. Then I tried to fix 2 big chips in my front fender from when I had parked the bike to close to the garage door and it hit it. I'm no paint & body guy so it didn't turn out so good but better than the bare metal that was there.
Had 3 burnt out LED's in my right saddlebag latch. So I replace the insert with a new one I had ordered 3 years ago. Also installed some upgraded latches on my tour pack. Then I tried to fix 2 big chips in my front fender from when I had parked the bike to close to the garage door and it hit it. I'm no paint & body guy so it didn't turn out so good but better than the bare metal that was there.
OP
Well I haven't been on here much in the past month or so as I had been distracted with my 2 wheel toys. I've been working on my Road Glide getting it ready for a trip in Aug. So part of that plan was to take it over to a dealership on the westside to have it dyno tuned. BIG BIG mistake. It really and I mean REALLY cost me more than I had planned on spending............………………………………………..
So $20K + later I finally made it out of the dealer. Dang nab it but that was expensive......……..
For many MANY years I have wanted a CVO Harley (Custom Vehicle Operations) but just couldn't afford to pay the price of ownership.
Well that all changed on 11 June. I found a slightly used 2015 Harley CVO Road Glide Ultra with under 6,500 miles on it for an affordable price. And it was in a color I liked, did I tell you I really liked the paint on this thing? It's Carbon Black/Autumn Sunset and man do pictures just not do it justice.
I've only got about 400 miles on it at this point but man do I love this bike. One of the big features I liked about the newer bikes was that in 2014 Harley added linked brakes to the touring line. So at speeds above 20MPH I only need to use either the front or rear brake to activate both. And for me with my amputation this is a big plus in the safety factor.
So $20K + later I finally made it out of the dealer. Dang nab it but that was expensive......……..
For many MANY years I have wanted a CVO Harley (Custom Vehicle Operations) but just couldn't afford to pay the price of ownership.
Well that all changed on 11 June. I found a slightly used 2015 Harley CVO Road Glide Ultra with under 6,500 miles on it for an affordable price. And it was in a color I liked, did I tell you I really liked the paint on this thing? It's Carbon Black/Autumn Sunset and man do pictures just not do it justice.
I've only got about 400 miles on it at this point but man do I love this bike. One of the big features I liked about the newer bikes was that in 2014 Harley added linked brakes to the touring line. So at speeds above 20MPH I only need to use either the front or rear brake to activate both. And for me with my amputation this is a big plus in the safety factor.
I had dirt bikes as a kid but my parents didn't ride so I am the rebel of my family. I don't have pictures of any of my earlier bikes. My first street bike was a 1992 Suzuki GSXR 1100. It was STUPID to buy that bike as my first street bike but I was young and dumb at the time.
So I let my daughter ride her NEW bike to school today and she dropped it up at the end of our road and already broke the brake lever.
But as a new rider I knew it was going to happen. She'll learn and that is part of the reason I got her the bike now. I have about 2 years to try and help her learn how to ride safely and improve her skills. She'll be heading off to college soon.
Gotta lay it down a few times! I’ve done it myself plenty off road. I have a Honda 650L dualsport I take everywhere, love that bike so much. One time I was rounding a blind 25 mph curve probably going too fast, and hit a patch a gravel on the road from construction. Slid out and spent the next few hours in a ditch until someone found me, always let your family know where you’re riding! Congrats on the purchase - she’s gonna love that.
1975 Harley FXE, Super Glide. Bought this bike in 1989. I do not have any digital before pictures, but I can show the build process that I did a few years ago. I wanted to get rid of the skinny rear tire that comes stock on these old 4 speed, swing arm frames. I could have went the easy route and just got a new frame, but the frame and engine S/N's match and I didn't want to separate them. Besides it's inevitable, whenever I do anything, I will surely find the hardest way to "git her done".
Fitting stage:
Stock oil tank, starter system, primary chain system, rear fender, triple trees and rear wheel all gone.
Wyatt Gatlin round oil tank for a solid frame, modified to fit this frame. This bike is now kick only no starter. 3 inch belt drive from BDL and upgraded clutch pack. Rear fender, 7.5" wide, by Hook, cut out from a fender blank, struts cut down with plasma cutter and welded to the fender to make room for the 160 rear tire. Stock triple trees had 3 degrees of rake replaced with 7 degree rake trees.
160 rear tire requires .25" spacer between hub and rear sprocket so the chain doesn't rub the tire. Problem is, it will no longer line up with transmission sprocket, so I had to move the transmission over .25" also, which in turn throws the primary (engine) sprocket alignment out also, so a simple .25" spacer behind the front sprocket fixed that dilemma.
Rear fender complete and primed.
Final fitting, before tear down for paint. Rear swing arm is too short, will have to modify and extent 1.5" to center wheel in fender.
Build Stage:
Swing arm extended, everything painted rat rod black. Ready for final build.
Engine, Trans, oil tank, front brakes and wiring as I go.
Forward controls, ignition and rear wheel installed.
Rear Brakes and more wiring.
Gas tanks, exhaust, carb, air cleaner and remainder of wiring and controls. Almost ready for the road.
Ford Model A, S.S. rear tail/brake light.
First ride.
Fitting stage:
Stock oil tank, starter system, primary chain system, rear fender, triple trees and rear wheel all gone.
Wyatt Gatlin round oil tank for a solid frame, modified to fit this frame. This bike is now kick only no starter. 3 inch belt drive from BDL and upgraded clutch pack. Rear fender, 7.5" wide, by Hook, cut out from a fender blank, struts cut down with plasma cutter and welded to the fender to make room for the 160 rear tire. Stock triple trees had 3 degrees of rake replaced with 7 degree rake trees.
160 rear tire requires .25" spacer between hub and rear sprocket so the chain doesn't rub the tire. Problem is, it will no longer line up with transmission sprocket, so I had to move the transmission over .25" also, which in turn throws the primary (engine) sprocket alignment out also, so a simple .25" spacer behind the front sprocket fixed that dilemma.
Rear fender complete and primed.
Final fitting, before tear down for paint. Rear swing arm is too short, will have to modify and extent 1.5" to center wheel in fender.
Build Stage:
Swing arm extended, everything painted rat rod black. Ready for final build.
Engine, Trans, oil tank, front brakes and wiring as I go.
Forward controls, ignition and rear wheel installed.
Rear Brakes and more wiring.
Gas tanks, exhaust, carb, air cleaner and remainder of wiring and controls. Almost ready for the road.
Ford Model A, S.S. rear tail/brake light.
First ride.
Last edited:
First time I ever heard it called a "slab side", we always call em Flat side Shovel. Nice bike! never sell those, only 3 years of that motor. Guys who still have those anymore, put them in the corner and throw rags over them so they can't be seen. Avoids all the "Hey, you wanna sell it"?
Marlon1977
Member
This is an awesome thread and a great story as well @Wildman It’s great that you are teaching your daughter to ride so young and not only that but teaching her the RIGHT way to ride with the right GEAR. I truly believe that experience on motorcycles makes you a safer driver in a car as well.
I’ve had bikes for years and have been lucky enough to have some great friends to ride with. I’ve ridden through all lower 48 states except Florida, and 4 Canadian provinces so far. Did the Iron Butt thing, 1000 miles in 24 hours and 1500 miles in 36 hours. In fact, off-roading on bikes is really what ultimately got me into Jeeps, since my wife wanted to go with me but there just ain’t enough room on the 450 to put her.
KTM 1190 Adventure R on the “K” Trail in Oklahoma. That was an adventure...
1190 in Glacier National Park
KTM 450 EXC Six Days in Colorado
And the 450 in Big Bend, sporting my brand new Offroad gear, which after 3 days in Big Bend will never be as white again...
I’ve had bikes for years and have been lucky enough to have some great friends to ride with. I’ve ridden through all lower 48 states except Florida, and 4 Canadian provinces so far. Did the Iron Butt thing, 1000 miles in 24 hours and 1500 miles in 36 hours. In fact, off-roading on bikes is really what ultimately got me into Jeeps, since my wife wanted to go with me but there just ain’t enough room on the 450 to put her.
KTM 1190 Adventure R on the “K” Trail in Oklahoma. That was an adventure...
1190 in Glacier National Park
KTM 450 EXC Six Days in Colorado
And the 450 in Big Bend, sporting my brand new Offroad gear, which after 3 days in Big Bend will never be as white again...
Chris S
TJ Enthusiast
I started riding when I was 3, on a yamaha pw50 with little training wheels on it, I dont have any pictures of it then but I have the same bike a little later on
I rode pocket bikes and dirtbikes for awhile as i was still a little guy,
The I moved up from a pw50 to a pw80, rode some 150s in between and then got a yamaha ttr225
That was my first bike with a clutch and I learned to shift and how to manage, a more realistic sized bike then I got a Honda XR650L and took the motorcycle safety course
I took the course on a Royal Enfield 500, that was provided by the dealership for the course
Both my parents ride, so it wasnt much trouble for me to convince them to get my license
My dad rides a BMW K1200s and has a Ducati 748 and my mom rides a Yamaha FJR and a Ducati Scrambler
Heres me trying out my moms scrambler - the SC projects exhaust is super loud and makes an amazing sound, and thats my dads BMW in the background
Heres me sitting on my dads Ducati 748, I havent ridden yet, its kind of his baby so who knows if Ill get to
Finally heres the 98 GSXR 750 I just bought, cosmetically its kind of bad right now with a bad spray paint job and those silly little spikes, but its the first year of fuel injection for the gixxers and the engine runs strong, the tires are good, the forks are good, and the chain and brakes have all been adjusted and redone. Its a lot fun and is my first real sportbike/non dirtbike motorcycle.
I plan on having many more bikes in the future
I rode pocket bikes and dirtbikes for awhile as i was still a little guy,
The I moved up from a pw50 to a pw80, rode some 150s in between and then got a yamaha ttr225
That was my first bike with a clutch and I learned to shift and how to manage, a more realistic sized bike then I got a Honda XR650L and took the motorcycle safety course
I took the course on a Royal Enfield 500, that was provided by the dealership for the course
Both my parents ride, so it wasnt much trouble for me to convince them to get my license
My dad rides a BMW K1200s and has a Ducati 748 and my mom rides a Yamaha FJR and a Ducati Scrambler
Heres me trying out my moms scrambler - the SC projects exhaust is super loud and makes an amazing sound, and thats my dads BMW in the background
Heres me sitting on my dads Ducati 748, I havent ridden yet, its kind of his baby so who knows if Ill get to
Finally heres the 98 GSXR 750 I just bought, cosmetically its kind of bad right now with a bad spray paint job and those silly little spikes, but its the first year of fuel injection for the gixxers and the engine runs strong, the tires are good, the forks are good, and the chain and brakes have all been adjusted and redone. Its a lot fun and is my first real sportbike/non dirtbike motorcycle.
I plan on having many more bikes in the future
Flib
TJ Enthusiast
that's right, 3 years only. I've also heard them referred to as pan-shovels.
I only sold it because I could not keep up with my buddies on their baggers, one of the biggest regrets I have in life now
nice story I ride a super glide custom and the cube is my only driver, me an my wife ride all summer, go to Sedona ,Flagg.prescott,for lunch.My granddaughter has been riding with me since she was 10......I love northern az....
Unacceptable mouks
TJ Enthusiast
I'm 32 but still riding a crf50.. maybe someday I'll grow up but I like how it fits in my TJ
These things are fun though! Here is a short video we made with some friends back in 2009 when minibikes were a bit more popular. By the way, it's the only time I went to USA, we flew to LA, rented 2 trucks, got some klx110 and spent a few weeks in Temecula, riding in Milestone, Lake Elsinore and a few other places. Then we drove to Las Vegas to participate in the minimotosx and watch the supercross finals, we also had the chance to ride with Mike Metzger in his backyard and met a lot of other cool people! Before leaving we took the bikes apart, boxed everything and sent them home. Good memories
My crf50 when it was a bit more clean
klx110
I also have a KTM 450exc
And this Arctic Cat SnoPro 800.. ok not really on two wheels but you can find some if you look closely 😏
These things are fun though! Here is a short video we made with some friends back in 2009 when minibikes were a bit more popular. By the way, it's the only time I went to USA, we flew to LA, rented 2 trucks, got some klx110 and spent a few weeks in Temecula, riding in Milestone, Lake Elsinore and a few other places. Then we drove to Las Vegas to participate in the minimotosx and watch the supercross finals, we also had the chance to ride with Mike Metzger in his backyard and met a lot of other cool people! Before leaving we took the bikes apart, boxed everything and sent them home. Good memories
My crf50 when it was a bit more clean
klx110
I also have a KTM 450exc
And this Arctic Cat SnoPro 800.. ok not really on two wheels but you can find some if you look closely 😏
I fixed this for a friend. It's definitely different to ride
Here are some of my former bikes
My current rides
Here are some of my former bikes
My current rides
Flib
TJ Enthusiast
I'm 32 but still riding a crf50.. maybe someday I'll grow up but I like how it fits in my TJ
View attachment 100046
These things are fun though! Here is a short video we made with some friends back in 2009 when minibikes were a bit more popular. By the way, it's the only time I went to USA, we flew to LA, rented 2 trucks, got some klx110 and spent a few weeks in Temecula, riding in Milestone, Lake Elsinore and a few other places. Then we drove to Las Vegas to participate in the minimotosx and watch the supercross finals, we also had the chance to ride with Mike Metzger in his backyard and met a lot of other cool people! Before leaving we took the bikes apart, boxed everything and sent them home. Good memories
My crf50 when it was a bit more clean
View attachment 100092
klx110
View attachment 100093
I also have a KTM 450exc
View attachment 100095
And this Arctic Cat SnoPro 800.. ok not really on two wheels but you can find some if you look closely 😏
View attachment 100101
Question for ya, where did you get the parts for the 50? My daughter has a crf70 that she has just about out grown but she is not ready to upgrade to a clutch. I knew parts were available to raise the seat height and make it fit her better but could not seem to find a half decent web site to see whats out there?
Unacceptable mouks
TJ Enthusiast
Most websites I used when I built my 50 are out of business but I can recommend you to contact Matt at https://www.factoryminibikes.com There isn't a lot of parts listed but he can have everything you want at a good price if you ask. He was really helpful with me, when I went to the US I bought my klx110 from him, he got a used stock one he found locally and added the parts I asked for. After that I bought other parts from him, he helped me to get some used ones in local ads, have a fork tuned and ship everything to my country. He is really helpful and knowledgeable
How old is your daughter ? First things to change are the handlebars, footpeg mounts and footpegs and maybe a tall seat, with all these it's even comfortable for an adult with harder springs. The white bike in the video from 33s is a modified crf70, you can see Dana Creech and Mike Metzger play with it, so you can't really outgrow it
Other websites I used without problems:
Pit Bike Performance & Aftermarket Parts
Faster-Minis is devoted to Mini-Bikes and Pit-Bikes as a complete and trusted source for aftermarket parts and information.
www.faster-minis.com
Fast50s | "The Original MiniBike Specialist" - FastMinis
If you are going to be armed with a Honda 50, make sure that your 50 is decked out with all the parts that will make it a "Fast50s Factory 50"!
www.fast50s.com
Last edited:
Flib
TJ Enthusiast
Most websites I used when I built my 50 are out of business but I can recommend you to contact Matt at https://www.factoryminibikes.com There isn't a lot of parts listed but he can have everything you want at a good price if you ask. He was really helpful with me, when I went to the US I bought my klx110 from him, he got a used stock one he found locally and added the parts I asked for. After that I bought other parts from him, he helped me to get some used ones in local ads, have a fork tuned and ship everything to my country. He is really helpful and knowledgeable
How old is your daughter ? First things to change are the handlebars, footpeg mounts and footpegs and maybe a tall seat, with all these it's even comfortable for an adult with harder springs. The white bike in the video from 33s is a modified crf70, you can see Dana Creech and Mike Metzger play with it, so you can't really outgrow it
Other websites I used without problems:
Pit Bike Performance & Aftermarket Parts
Faster-Minis is devoted to Mini-Bikes and Pit-Bikes as a complete and trusted source for aftermarket parts and information.Fast50s | "The Original MiniBike Specialist" - FastMinis
If you are going to be armed with a Honda 50, make sure that your 50 is decked out with all the parts that will make it a "Fast50s Factory 50"!
She is only 11 but she about 5'6", thanks for the links. Making the bike bigger will make it easier for me too when I rip around the yard on it