Crossing Over

A while back I got a bur up my ass to install a cross over in my tank. ACM put the bungs in for it but then capped them off with a plug. I couldn't find elbows in chrome (didn't look very hard) so I used plumbing fittings. Although they were functional, they looked like shit. I think my alternative is better looking but I'm not 100% happy with it. I'll come across chrome elbows and install a braided line but right now, at least they match the motorcycle paint job. I used blue anodized fittings.

Old brass fittings-look like shit!

Using a cross over will help me get all the gas trapped on the right side oft tunnel over to the left side. When the bobber runs out of gas, there is actually about a half gallon of gas left in the tank. Considering the fact that the tank is less than 1.5-gallons, a half gallon of fuel will go a long way!

John Deere Green

Not just John Deere Green but it looks like you could go to a JD dealership and pick this motorcycle off the showroom floor. It's got a jokey shifter, and a tractor seat. I can't imagine the ass cramps this motorcycle will give you after 30 miles... I grew up in the country and I've seen and driven my shahre of JD tractors and I have ti tip my hat off to the builder of this bike. With those wheels, he nailed the look of a genuine JD.

This motorcycle is currently for sale on Evilbay and I hope it makes it to the country side where it can fully be appreciated. I don't think this motorcycle is destined for New York City. A couple of interesting things, the fatty tire; it does not look bad but I think a rough and tough skinny might have looked better. Also, a front brake is a must for me. It wouldn't have taken anything away, especially if a drum brake was used. Not as good as a disc but it's better than nothing.

Photos taken from Ebay

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