I made the switch

I switched the bobber over to Royal Purple last week. I've run Royal Purple in everything I own: even the family Honda Pilot. Always follow your engine builder's recommendation for engine break in and then make sure switching over to synthetic is okay. In the case of RevTech, I needed to put 2,000-miles on my engine before I could switch it over. As soon as I rolled the 2K I put the bike on the jack stand and changed over the engine oil and the transmission oil. My motorcycle has a dry clutch so I had nothing to change there.

Although Royal Purple is higher in cost, the benefits out weigh the cost. Synthetic does not coagulate or stiffen like conventional oil does. When I started my motorcycle up after changing over, the engine fired without any lugging. It was about 30-degrees out! Your engine will run cooler and it's a proven fact that your engine wears out slower. Any time you can add miles to the life of your engine, it's a no brainer.

It's a reposted picture but this is how I drain my oil. YOu won't spill a drop!

I always place a shop towel under the oil filter to keep from drowing my regulator with engine oil as I remove the filter. This time I used a Shamwow and yes, I still got oil every where. Guess I'll never avoid it! Also, make sure you cover that chrome filter before you place that oil filter wrench on to tighten the filter. This keeps from scratching it all to hell.

The oil drain plug in the RevTech transmission could have been a bit bigger. The size Allen wrench was an odd-ball size. I can't recall the size though. It took like an hour for that sludge to drain from that plug. In case you are wondering, the drain plug is that small Allen head in the center of the two larger bolts. Driving the motorcycle after changing over the transmission oil, I noticed fluid shifting and less stress at the shifter. Seemed to go through the gears smoothly. \

Motorcycle Lift

Since I got my new bobber, I wanted to get a motorcycle lift for it. However, a hydraulic table is relatively expensive and I wanted something that will let the rear wheel hang. I looked around and located a motorcycle hydraulic lift at harbor Freight. It took me about 20-minutes to put together and really worked out nicely. It's got a bar with two positive stop locations to secure your motorcycle on the lift when you work on it.

I thought the pull-tight straps were shit so I went out and got a set of quality 6-foot ratchet straps to help secure the frame to the lift. The last thing I want to have happen is see my bike fall 4-feet to the ground. That would suck ass!

As you can see, I have a 4-gallon bucket resting on a lawn chair while I drain the oil into the bucket. It gives me two hands free to remove the drain plug and keep everything in place. This lift made changing the oil a very simplistic process.

Are you paying too much?

I often wonder why people pay $50,000 for a motorcycle and park it in their garage. In all honesty, I don't know if I would pound the hell out of a motorcycle I paid that much for. When I went looking for the custom shop to build my motorcycle I wanted a motorcycle I was not afraid to drive due to its cost. When I came across American Classic Motors, and talked to the head builder there he said something that really resonated with me. He said, "we build nice custom bikes for the daily driver." That's what I ended up with. I'm not joking when I say people yell out their car windows at red lights to tell me how cool they think my bike it. When I ride down the road I feel like I have a $50,000 motorcycle the way people react. However, I know what I paid for the bike. ACM motorcycles average around 17-20K and when you think about it, that's less than most stock Harley, Yamaha and Honda motorcycles. I have no problems being a spokes boy for ACM because they have treated me well, balanced my expectations and provided world-class customer service not only in their sales department but in their build shop as well.

For an example, I came across this motorcycle for the first time when I went to pick up my bobber. Had I seen it first, I might have rolled out of the shop with it instead. They sold the bike a few months ago and I'm sure someone is rolling around town with a grin from ear to ear with it. When I get my next motorcycle from ACM it will most likely looks similar to this one. This just goes to show you that you can get a great custom built motorcycle and not have to pay $50.000 for it.

Pictures taken from America Classic Motors.com

Buying American

I took a load of shit from a few people the other day because my bobber has a Revtech transmission and not a Baker transmission. I've been very happy with both the Revtech transmission and Revtech motor installed on my motorcycle. The argument was about the fact that the Revtech is not American but the Baker is. Somehow, this automatically made the Baker a superior product even though the ones who were bitching at me acknowledged that they had never used a Revtech transmission and some of them had never even used a Baker transmission.

I personally have never used a Baker transmission so I will decline any discussion regarding the superiority over the Revtech and I will not make any assumptions on the quality of a Baker transmission. From all accounts, Baker makes a great piece if equipment. However, from my account, the Revtech has been a great transmission.

The argument became "if you buy anything not made in America you are not supporting America and what you are buying is shit." Well, I disagree with that with a passion. Take for example that Baker transmission. They manufacture it and assemble it in America. However, in order for them to get the raw materials to build the transmission they had to purchase the materials from overseas companies. In fact, regardless of what you buy, it is almost certain at some level, you have supported international trade. At this point it is unrealistic to think you can be 100% exclusionary and buy only American made products made from American made products. The fact that we no longer make steel tells you that anything made from it used overseas raw materials.

Those same guys who gave me shit are all "Harley or nothing" guys. I find it funny since Harley increases the quantity of components built overseas every year. They buy Harley because they feel like they get a quality product and because the company is American owned, they get a sense of pride.

That's cool and I understand it. My motorcycle was built 50-miles away from my house so I can understand the sense of local pride. I consider it American made but I fully understand that less than 50% of it was made and assembled in America. I recently bought my second Honda Pilot. It was built in a plant down south. That vehicle put food in the mouths of people who live in America. I am happy about that. We live in a global economy and the money I spent on my motorcycle put food in the mouths of local people and helped to support businesses world wide. I am also happy about that.

I think the people whose mouth runith over with, "I only buy American" should take a look at their own house. If you own a house, you do not ONLY BUY AMERICAN because there is absolutely no way your house is 100% American made. Get over it and realize the world you live in. Go out and buy a product that suits your needs, gives you the best quality for your buck and provides you with years of service. If the company happens to be American owned: great! However, understand that the products they build and sell support other countries. Just food for thought.

RedSoul Motorcycles

I came across RedSoul Motorcycles today and took some time to look around their site. Besides, the site not working very well with Google Chrome, I was quite impressed with some of the designing they completed on a few of their bikes. I'd love to check out that blue and white "Sodo King." I've always wondered how you can see past the gas tank on motorcycles built like that. It's intriguing.

I was also impressed by the way they mounted the petcock on their El Endrogado. Many bobbers are outfitted with very small tanks. My tank is a 1.3 gallon tank with the petcock located in the traditional location. Because of this, I have a cross over to help fuel get past the tunnel. However, even with the cross over, I sill have close to a half gallon left in the tank. This petcock design surely fixes that issue.

It looks to me that there are some pretty cool bikes being produced from that shop in Seattle. Keep up the good work men!

Pictures taken from Redsoul.com

Convert Your Evo to a Knuckle

I found this posted in another forum and I instantly thought about changing the rocker boxes on my Evo engine to knuckleheads. I've been seriously thinking about using a knucklehead on my next motorcycle because I love the old time look of them. However, most reproduction KN's offer less than interesting horsepower. WIth this knucklehead rocker box conversion kit available from Custom Chrome, you can get the look and keep the horsepower. I'm a bit put off by the price I found for them so I'll keep looking around for a better deal. They also make a panhead rocker box conversion kit.

Pictures taken from Custom Chrome.com

Bling's Cycles

I came across Bling's Cycles on another forum showcasing one of their motorcycles. Unfortunately the blog focuses on cafe racers so I don't think the motorcycle is getting the love it deserves. Love, it would get from the bobber crowd. What I really like about Bling's is the knobby dirt track tires. Although I'm not sure I would want one on a rigid street-driven motorcycle, it is cool none the less and I really tip my hat off to anyone who does ride one! As for construction, the bike I looked at on their site all look top notch. I absolutely live the knucklehead (3rd one down.) I would ride the shit out of that motorcycle all day!

Taken from Bling's Cycles.com

Free T-Shirt Day

I took the 80-mile round trip journey on Psycho Bob and went to ACM for a few oil filters. I finally rounded the 2,000 mile mark and I'm ready to make the much needed transition to synthetic oil. The owner of ACM decided to give me this great new T-Shirt so I could look good going down the road on my bike. It is interesting because I had just been talking to one of their sales people about having a Captain America bike built. Maybe he gave this to me as fuel for though!

It was a nice ride. I love drafting behind the big rigs on the turnpike at 65 mph. It always makes for a pleasant ride. However, once you get off the turnpike you get to go through some really nice rolling hills, lakes and country to get to the bike shop. They are not exactly located "in town." It is the first time I've had the time to take the bike out that way for a ride. It was about 60-degrees here today. Glad my bike isn't asleep for the winter!

So Many Industry Experts

Pictures taken from Bike Exif.com

I read a lot of blogs about motorcycles, ranging from Bobbers to Cafe Racers to classic Harley-Davidson news. I read them because I love looking at motorcycles. Now I might not like them all and I've been outspoken before regarding my dislike for "Crotch Rockets" but that is mostly because I don't personally find bikes covered in plastic appealing unless I want to go dirt-biking.

If you like reading blogs, you most likely get all wrapped up in the comments section but lately I've noticed a trend regarding how many industry experts we have. I took the bikes shown above from a popular blog that relates to Cafe Racers. It is amazing how so many people know so much about how a motorcycle will ride just by looking at a picture.

Now just about none of the readers on that blog would even look twice at my billet covered Bobbed V-Twin. I've read enough comments on that blog to know that anyone riding a V-Twin is just a sell-out to the Harley marketers. That's a whole different blog post for a whole different day. Many of the comments they make about motorcycles, where they claim to know exactly how it will ride relates to my motorcycle are flat out based in opinion and zero fact or experience. Low rider, forward controls, larger front wheel, lower handle bars: all of this means my bike should ride like shit.. well, guess you will never know since you will never be on it. I just think it is ridiculous how someone can "claim" to know exactly how a motorcycle will handle and react to cornering just by looking at three or four pictures of it.

If it isn't your cup of tea, then say it and move on but seriously, until you take the time money and effort to get off your ass and build a motorcycle, how about you keep your "I know this bike is shit because..." opinions to yourself until the day you get to ride it. Just click on each picture to be redirected to the comments about the motorcycles. Have your popcorn and soda ready!

Took a Short Ride

Taken from Wilson Leather.com

It was officially 42-degrees when I pulled out of my garage this afternoon for a bike ride. I figured I needed to break in my new leather coat I picked up from Wilson Leather yesterday. It's a traditional biker leather, black of course. I took an aimless 20-mile ride through the country to disturb the well-being of a few cows. Unfortunately, I only came across one old-timer on his trike. I guess everyone else has "put their motorcycles to sleep for the winter..." I know I already ranted about this but seriously, if you "winterized" your bike, you should just sell it!

Motorcycle Insurance Rant

If you own a custom built motorcycle and you need full coverage, you have found or will soon find out that you are screwed, blued and tattooed. There are very few insurance companies that offer such services. I personally go through Formost but I pay a good amount for my insurance. The cost of insurance is not really my rant. In fact, I figure if you have the money to buy a custom built bike, you should have the money to keep it protected.

What pisses me off are the big "name brand" insurance companies that have all these commercials on television promising great rates to motorcyclists. They parade out their custom built motorcycles and talk about how important it is to have coverage and how their company can offer you the best rates.

Yah, I'm calling you out AllState.

This is the bike recently custom built for Allstate. I took the picture from the Dave Alder Insurance agency. They sell for Allstate and on their website, they talk about how they love motorcycles. Call them and find out if they would insure the bike that they are standing behind...they won't.. at least not using Allstate.

Taken from Alderstate.com

Yah, I'm calling you out Geico
I watched Paul Jr and Paul Sr fight it out in last season's American Chopper and I was equally disgusted at Geico when I saw they wanted a custom motorcycle to promote their motorcycle insurance. Again, they WILL NOT cover custom built motorcycles with full coverage. They just won't do it! Not only is this bike a bit on the ugly side...well, that's all I have to say, it is just plain ugly to me.

Taken from Auto Evolution.com

It just seems stupid and misleading to me that more and more insurance companies are trying to get our business knowing that the average custom built motorcycle is out of the reach of their clients. It pisses me off that I wasted time calling them when they just laughed and said they can't put a valve on custom bikes and they can't repair them at a low cost if they get wrecked. I get it, just don't use custom bikes to advertise your insurance then!

Muce Choppers

I'm not sure if I should classify this motorcycle from Muce Choppers as a bobber but I'm going to. I personally don't think "bobber" necessarily originated with someone taking all the parts off their Harley and I can appreciate a motorcycle that is not a V-Twin. So for you Harley enthusiasts" that think "if it ain't a Harley, it ain't shit" open your eyes a bit and check out the beauty other bikes can being to your otherwise narrow life. Now I can't read the website and yes, I know Google can translate it but I really don't care. A beautiful motorcycle should speak for itself.

There are several things that make me love this motorcycle. First of all, it looks like it was made 100 years ago. I love the huge tires on it. The springer front end is something I've never seen before and the headlight is killer. I also love the paint job. That drab green always looks cool on a motorcycle. Although this motorcycle does not meet the true definition of "bobber" it looks awesome and I'd love to take a ride down the street on it.

Pictures taken from Total Bike.hu

Introducing Psycho Bob

Psycho Bob is my American Classic Motors bobber. It is officially titled as "Classic Psychedelic Bobber"in Kelly Blue book due to its paint job. This motorcycle is a rigid frame with a direct mount engine. It is the first motorcycle I've owned or even been on in almost 10-years.

Frame: Kraft Tech with stock stretch, 30-degrees of rake and is constructed of 1.25-inch tube. 
Engine: 88" RevTech Show polished chrome
Transmission:RevTech 6-Speed
Clutch: Ultima Street with 3.35-inch open belt primary
Final Drive: Belt driven
Front End: Milwaukee Twins springer
Tank: Detroit Choppers peanut tank 1.75-gallons
Wheels: Milwaukee Twins 80 twisted spokes (16-inch rear/21-inch front)
Tires: Avon
Exhaust: Bub (baffles removed)
Note: custom built Z-handlebars, fender and fender strut/Powder coated frame

I upgraded the petcock to a Pingel and I upgraded the front brake to a Jay brake. Other than that, I have no changed anything on it. I love it just like it is.

Winterizing You Motorcycle

Photo from Omni B's Flicker account-not my bobber

Seriously, people winterize their motorcycles. The Pansy motorcyclists… and we will use the term loosely even give parking your motorcycle a cute name. They call it “putting it to bed for the winter.” Seriously? I know the left-wingers have changed FTW to stand for “for the win” but just for a minute, I would like to bring those three letters back to the dark side and use them the way Taz indented.

I Live in the not so great commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Eastern to be exact and I get to deal with the potholes, idiot drivers, sleeting and craptastic snow all the time. It is the second week in November and I have yet to put on a coat when I go out riding.

I considered dumping Staybil or whatever it is into my tank, parking the bike in the corner of the garage, putting a cover over it and forgetting I own a motorcycle for the next 4-months but then I forgot that I was born with a pair of balls and I changed my mind. Yes, winter is a good time to fix all the little things that nagged you over the summer but that is no reason to park it!

Today was the perfect excuse not to winterize your motorcycle. It reached 70-degrees today and I took two rides. Had I winterized my bike in October when it got colder, I would have thought twice about jumping on it and going for a ride. Just keep your battery on the tender and do not be afraid to ride when the temperature is colder. Gees’ almighty! 

Are Open Primaries Dangerous?

My bobber has an "Ultima Street Style" open primary with a 3.35-inch kevlar belt. There are no guards around it and the bike is equipped with forward controls. So, I'd say I'm a guy who can discuss the topic with some authority.

I've caught my pant leg in my primary on three separate occasions. The first time it happened, I had just gotten on the bike and I was wearing jeans that had a wider bottom. I knew better than to go for a ride with them on but I thought 'yah, that shit isn't going to happen to me." As soon as I put my foot on the peg, I heard a loud pop and when I looked down, my pant leg was ripped clear up to my knee. The second time it happened, I had been on the bike for about 20-minutes going to work. I guess I drifted off into space at a stop sign and I brought my leg up to the peg too close to the primary. This time my jeans did not rip. My foot was pulled into the primary hard enough to get my attention. My foot didn't bruise but it hurt for a good 10-minutes.

Today was the third occasion. I pulled up to a stop sign, looked both ways and brought by foot up too close to the primary and pow: a good 6-inch tear in my jeans. I was 10-miles from home when I did it so I had to pull over and tuck my pant leg into my boot.

There is a reason that everyone I know says they love my bobber but they would never ride it due to the primary. However, if I ever build or have another bike built it will have an open primary. To me, they are a bit dangerous but that is the fun of an open primary. I've never had it happen while the bike was at speed but I could only imagine what would happen. If you bring your leg in wide and don't go into "stupid land" when you are at a stop sign or red light you will likely be okay. If you wear wide bottom jeans, tuck them in to your boot. Or, you could be a pussy and put a guard on your primary. Maybe throw some training wheels on it too.

Welcome to Blogging Bobbers

If you were not thinking about motorcycles when you found my blog you might want to move on! However, if you're stuck on bobbers, choppers, custom motorcycles and anything rigid (motorcycles that is) you might want to stick around because that is what this blog is all about. Over the coming months I'll introduce you to "Psycho Bob" and I will also showcase interesting bikes, products and interesting tidbits about myself, my love for motorcycles and the world around me. Should be interesting.

Disclaimer and Advertising

I would like to let everyone know, at times, I hope to be paid to advertise, complete product reviews and to add side-bar links. You may see me discuss keywords in my posts that I receive compensation for. If you would like to advertise on this blog please contact me and I can help you.