Winter Mods

[OR Seedman]

just a quick update on the engine swap with my son-in-law's Mean Streak....Some people SHOULD NOT ever own a motorcycle....the previous owner literally ran it with no oil...When we got it over to my shop, I put about a quart of oil in it....since it was cold, it didn't flow away from the sight glass very quickly so, I thought, that looks good....started it up and the engine just clanked really loud...shut it right off and said "let's go get the other engine".  Anyway, we drained the oil in the old engine before taking it out......just the oil I put in came out....the thing was practically bone dry and the guy rode it that way!   IDIOT!!   Well, the new engine is in and running perfect.  Here is a list of add-ons the bike came with for $1K

V&H Pipes
Mustang Seat (driver and passenger)
Power Commander
412 Progressive shocks

Replaced the engine with another one for $1200 with less miles on it (picked it up from a local outfit selling on ebay...dropped $300 off since they didn't have to ship it)  Painted all the body parts mat black (was candy apple red)...gave him extra set of Avon grips and Kuryakyn mirrors...

Runs like a champ!  Not my style, but he's only 28....likes the sport cruiser look...

[OR Seedman]

I'm on my third set of Shinko 777 HD whitewalls.....I know some people knock them sometimes, but I have been really happy with them...Other makes may wear a little longer, but the Shinkos are really sticky in the twisties.....smooth on rough pavement and seem to wear pretty well.  Prices aren't bad, either.  I put a set on my 800 (put about 2K miles on them) before I sold it.  I have two sets of wheels for my 1500 and they are on both sets....

[chief]

Me too, but I tink that I'll go with www tires...
I've been told that cleaning those tires could be real nightmare, but what the heck, I'd really like to put them on ma-deuce.

Yeah, I've used WWW since 2002. I think they look good for the style of my Drifter. Haven't decided which to use this time. 

[OR Seedman]

cleaning them is not that bad....you just have to do it more often so the road grime and brake dust don't build up too much....I clean mine every couple of weeks when actively riding....if you can't lift the bike, you have to clean in sections and then roll forwards or backwards.  The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads work really well....but I'm not sure if they are available over in your neck of the woods....

[mittico68]

I'm thinking tires towards spring, but maintenance until then.

Me too, but I tink that I'll go with www tires...
I've been told that cleaning those tires could be real nightmare, but what the heck, I'd really like to put them on ma-deuce.

[OR Seedman]

Currently swapping out the engine on a Mean Streak 1600 with my son-in-law.  He had been looking for a bike and I found a 2008 Mean Streak with 20K and a blown engine (no maintenance owner ran down the oil and the coolant...).  Picked it up for $1000 and a local used engine with less miles for another $1200.  Finishing that today.  Then I'm going to bring my 1500 (well really my 1600) in and go through all the fluids and other stuff.  I think I'm going to tear apart the Mean Streak engine and re-build it this winter as well.  Need something to keep me busy during the off-season....

[gwilki]

I may finally decide on a method to black my exhaust and do that over the Winter.

[chief]

I'm thinking tires towards spring, but maintenance until then. 

[Troll]

Since my garage is unheated, and it gets well below zero around here, nothing is pending until Spring. My horn circuit has a short, so I will finally fix that (been about five or six years since I found out, never use the horn, anyway).

[chief]

What winter mods are you planning?