The Zen of Neato: February 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Heading South!

C you all in a week. I'll bring back plenty of juicy pics from the sunshine state! LTR Diesel

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Spring Collection

Ali's in the know. Girls T's coming soon...

Monday, February 23, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Pueblo's of NM have a little dog problem. After the ancient Pueblo itself the first thing you notice are the dogs. Tons of them. They appear to be strays but I've been told they all have owners on the reservations, they just wander to the pueblo during the day for attention. As soon as you try to pet them or give them any love they bolt. You could not help but want them all. Winter 2008.

Our Daily Sled #47

Outside the box. Sturgis 2006.

Guru

Brewer circa '68. While everyone else was sliding on 9'+ pigs Bob was cutting his boards in half and creating shapes so far ahead it would take years for everyone else to catch up. Considered "out there" at the time, in reality he was just completely tuned in. Never follow the heard.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Daytona or Bust...

I decided to adjust the proportions on the '39 for bike week by swapping the 16" front wheel with an 18". It'll give the bike a little faster appearance without making it look like something from the sixties. Here I just unpacked the goodie box sent from Picky Jim in Idaho.

At the same time I was working on the wheel swap I also wanted to get the original '39 Michigan plate on the bike. It would require me to design a new bracket which was cool because I never liked the lines on the one I was running before. Here I mocked-up the bracket out of very thin aluminum - you can work it like cardboard and it will hold it's shape for Dwayne my welder.

While the final bracket was being created from my mock-up at Dwayne's shop I re-wired the tail end of the bike. What's the best time to do intricate electrical engineering? At 3:10 am which is when this picture was taken by Dieselero.

OK, so this morning I mounted the 18" to the brake drum, checked clearances and bolted it onto the springer. I got the plate/brake lamp bracket back from Dwayne and bolted it on. It fit perfectly. I adjusted the angle of the plate bed to match the same angle on the rear down tube so your eye follows the implied line from the top of the handle bars right down to the plate. Dig?

I love the look of the new 18". It really changes the look of the bike. While it was up on the lift I manged to reinforce the exhaust mounts, do some maintenance on the battery (I now have a pair of jeans with a hip looking patina courtesy of some ill tempered battery acid). Other then bolting on a new lens for the brake lamp and packing my sunglasses I'm ready for Daytona. Out.

Snowdance

Spring - are you out there somewhere?

Jay - Zen and Now

Mucho Wu and still ripping.

Friday, February 20, 2009

A Very Slippery Seed

The Schenck Streamliner. Obviously inspired by the Golden Submarine - another out of this world alien ship.

No Go Chicago...

Hey Hey, I'm still here!!! Freakin snowstorm, I'd be sipping stoli right now at the Green Mill....

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Chicago Bound...

I'm spending this weekend in Chicago. The ZON will be quiet until Sunday night. Then it's a full court press to get the '39 ready for my departure for Daytona. I'm gonna need my Wheaties.