Fin

Wow, 7 years goes by so fast.

In October 2011, I started with this:

And there was a lot of work in between.  Powder coating.  Swing arm bushings.  Forks by Frank.  Buchanan Wire Wheels.  Wheel truing.  Atlas chrome plating.  A few attempts at paint.  An aluminum seat by a guy that is no longer in business.  A rebuilt gauge by my guys at North Hollywood Speedometer.  A 3rd overbore piston (thank goodness).  And so much more.  To finally get here:

The rain has stopped, and the sun is out.  I think I'll go for a ride today.

Inching closer - it looks like it may breathe fire in 2018

Got a call from Andre (the mechanic) on Thursday.  He got all the parts back from paint - Tank that was chipped, seat that was scratched, fender with drippy drippy clear coat.

Apparently, the body shop that I took it to initially completely ignored the paint request I made, as the blue that was spec'd by Bultaco was way darker than everything else.  So - the paint guy matched it and sprayed it the same metallic blue I had before.  I like how it came out.

Also - the bike is almost back together.  Harness is mostly built.  Kill switch is installed. New chain.  Bike gets compression when you move the kick starter, and shifts though gears.  There is a leak on the transmission case, but Andre will sort that.

A few more weeks, and it may run!!

Very exciting.

April Update

Talked to Andre today.  He's gone through the engine, and he thinks it is sorted. He flushed the transmission and he thinks it is working correctly again.

The tin is off the bike and back at paint again.  He has a box of wire, and is going to start working on the wiring harness.

Maybe another month....

Spring Break Update

I called Andre last Friday for an update.  He hasn't started yet, but claims he will start soon.  I still have hope that he is done by my birthday.

We'll see.

Surrender

OK - I've finally decided that if this bike is to live again, that someone else needs to finish.  I've given up.

Today - I took the bike to Airline Motorcycle Center.  Andre (the owner) thinks he can get it to breathe fire again.  I'm hopeful.

Loaded it on a trailer that I borrowed from a friend.

Holy cow.  Houston traffic sucks without a trailer.  With one, and with the  crappy roads - terrifying.  I had to stop about 2/3 of the way there to get the bike re-settled.  It still moved later, so I'll have to have a better way to strap it down when I bring it home.

But - Andre has it now.

He thinks he can get it done in a couple of months.  I am hopeful.