same old, basically

[chisaiboo]

not a lot to report, just working my arse off as usual. I have some new pics on myspace. I bought a motorcycle ('86 harley sportster). trying to make it work for an extremnely wee person now, needs a few serious adjustments. I need a vacation. I'm still tending bar every friday and saturday night at Lucky 13 but you probably won't find me there any

Comments

[aquaregis]

oh hell yeh.

i get so psyched when i hear about another girl getting a bike!

riding is seriously the only thing in the world that makes me happy.
good luck with it and drive safe :)

[chisaiboo]

I had no idea that you rode!! what do you have? I actually thought about buying a vespa so I could seem more ladylike but realized that nothing is going to make me ladylike hahahaha.

[aquaregis]

i have a vespa LX.
the bike you got is better for you i because the vespa seats are secretly very high off the ground.
i know some people who got some of the padding in the seat removed so they could sit lower.
my dream bike is a Honda CB. i want to learn to drive manual this summer.

have you been riding lately?
it's so cold i haven't in about a month :(

[wee_tim]

yes remove the seat padding and you can replace it with a high density closed cell foam, you can do it yourself and get the hd foam online, or there ate some companies that specialize in it for bikes

[razorart]

HEY YOU!!!

I want to ride a motorcycle so bad!! That's awesome that you got one...

hope to see you soon!!!

[vanilla_christ]

Good bike. The '86 Sportster was the first in the Blockhead style for that model (I'll assume you got the 883 and not the 1100). Always been a fan of the Sports, they seem to retain those classic lines as far as Harleys go these days. Ground clearance is easier for your small frame than a Vespa would accomodate - my girl has the same body size as you, pretty much, and with the exception of the 2003 Anniversary model (which seems to perch mighty high) she was able to saddle any of 'em flat-footed.

How bad off is it?

[chisaiboo]

it isn't bad off at all - it's totally street worthy and I can touch the ground with both feet on the balls of my feet so I want to drop it down enough so I'll be stable flat-footed. the mechanic who worked on this bike before is actually going to drop down the front end a couple of inches for me - I don't know how. right now it's on a little bit of an angle, the rear is actually a bit lower to the ground than the front.

the other issue is the clutch and hand brake - my hands are too small to reach without lifting my hands off the handlebars. I'm getting smaller, lower handlebars and an EZ clutch installed - now I just have to find some kind of ergonomic levers that will bring the clutch and hand brake closer to the handlebars that will work on an 86 sportster! it's all seems totally doable though.

I'll post a picture of the bike in my next entry, today or tomorrow.
:)

[dreamsailboat]

used motorcycle parts stores/junk yards, have bins of hand levers, that you could go thru to find the ideal ones for you.

Most levers are also rather bendable, tho they might break, you might bend some to fit.

Tho harleys are so much customized, that a few emails to diferent harley customizer shops, should find you many offers to make custom levers. As it does sound like a good problem, and one they would be interested in doing. Possibly even more about customizing the bracket that mount the lever onto the handle bar, to change the position, as well as the lever itself. THey should be able to just cut them out of aluminum stock.

THough you should ALWAYS have your right finger on the front break lever, at least one or two. This will greatly increase stopping time, in an emergency, and a key thing to do. As the front break accounts for 80% of your breaking power. With the back break mostly only used in bad weather, or bad road conditions to maintain stability in emergency breaking.

[dreamsailboat]

Heres a discussion of the issue and alot of links for suggestions:
http://www.vtwinmama.com/clutch_levers.htm

maybe something like this:
http://www.surfsidepowersports.com/acatalog/Surfside_Powersports_KURYAKYN_TRIGGER_LEVER_SET___82_95_H_D_MODELS_704.html

which came from a google search for small hands harley levers...

[labdanum]

Motorcycle! How cool. I never could really picture you on a vespa, though I did think the green one might just fit the bill. Even so, you are definitely more of a harley girl, fashionista tendencies notwithstanding.) I can't wait to see pictures.

[jonnytuna]

Need a vacation? How about Mel's Motorcycle Diaries? How's your Spanish?

Hello by the way from a very snowy London- It's been far too long.

[chisaiboo]

john I miss you!! and you won jill in the custody battle between the US and the UK! waaaahhhh!! I may have to come visit her (and you!) when it warms up a bit. and please let me know when you'll be stateside. :)

xox