1968 Harley Sprint 250!

[1962siia]

Tires finally arrived today. So did the headlight, but it had two dents in it from bad packaging/shipping. Its going back and hopefully the replacement wont take two weeks to get here! I'm pretty happy with the shinkos. They look good to me, changed the stance of the bike for the better, and it rolls/rides much more smoothly now. I might be able to actually ride this thing 850 miles in a weekend with these tires. Plus they are super easy to put on the rim. Much easier than a Maxxis Desert IT. :laughing

So new headlight, some wiring and a small front fender and I'm calling it ready to go. I'll get new rims if the people at Woody's ever call me back.

 

[Eric B]

:thumbup :ride

 

[Norcalslowpoke]

Those grips/tires are perfect. Nice project!!!

The melee has an option lost coast usal road loop often...It'd be a shame/waste if the might 'macchi did not complete that section too. Typically ratty Triumphs etc run it.

 

[Cabrito]

can't wait to see it finished.

 

[1962siia]

Well I did some more work today. Got the headlight mounted and did the wiring for it and the taillight. After I got it done I took it to the Harley shop in Penngrove for a Brake and Light Inspection, which is one of the main hurtles I needed to clear in order to get a plate. Should be easy now. Woot!

 

[Cabrito]

Looks awesome!

 

[budman]

Awesome... can you hear what the world sounded like 50 years ago??

:thumbup

 

[1962siia]

LOL! Yeah it does sound pretty cool, but I think I hear the screams of 1000's people who wish they had better brakes! Twin leading edge front brake showed up today, so when I build up the new wheels I'll be installing it too. :thumbup

Swung by the DMV and they want to inspect the bike one more time before I get a plate to, "make sure its a motorcycle." Okedokey. :laughing They did give me a one day moving permit, so I'm planning to ride it there for the inspection.

 

[Norcalslowpoke]

LOL! Yeah it does sound pretty cool, but I think I hear the screams of 1000's people who wish they had better brakes! Twin leading edge front brake showed up today, so when I build up the new wheels I'll be installing it too. :thumbup

Swung by the DMV and they want to inspect the bike one more time before I get a plate to, "make sure its a motorcycle." Okedokey. :laughing They did give me a one day moving permit, so I'm planning to ride it there for the inspection.

You have done more to your bike in 3 weeks than I've done to my Guzzi in 10 years... Got some back burner issues that should be addressed..I always say I'll do it over winter, but never do..but I'll probably procrastinate again.

 

[1962siia]

So I rode the bike to the DMV today for the inspection. Several hours later I left with temporary registration for the street and a pile of paper to return with once I get insurance and I receive my original title that they want back before they issue my on highway title. All good news.

The bike was super fun to ride and I quickly adapted to the reversed foot levers. Not sure what will happen in a panic stop situation but whatever. I think I will want a more quiet pipe eventually and I'm going to do some research on gearing, because it seems really low right now and I want to be able to survive on the freeway ocassionally.

So I guess I'm almost there and can legally ride it on the street now so the real testing and improvements will begin. :thumbup

 

[1962siia]

More info on gearing. My bike came with 17/46 originally, but every other year was 15/38. My bike has 15/52! No wonder it was topping out so low. Now I'm on the hunt for a new rear sprocket. Motoitalia in Petaluma gave me some leads, but it seems they are tough to find.

Next up today I'm going to make some decisions on the wheels. I'm thinking of getting the original rims blasted and powdercoated instead of buying new rims. Need to really think about color schemes etc.

 

[65_ dreamer]

Nice looking bike, Daniel! The Melee was tough last year because of the heat on the first day (100+ degrees) and the crappy road out of Honeydew on the second day. I'm hoping 3rd time's the charm for my CL350!

The Melee is a blast.

 

[1962siia]

Nice looking bike, Daniel! The Melee was tough last year because of the heat on the first day (100+ degrees) and the crappy road out of Honeydew on the second day. I'm hoping 3rd time's the charm for my CL350!

The Melee is a blast.

Thanks dreamer! I heard about the heat last year. Definitely packing my cooling vest!

So I've decided I'm going to re-chrome the original wheels. I disassembled the wheels this morning. I'll pull the bearings out and send the hubs out to be vapor blasted or whatever is appropriate to make them look shiny and new, and the rims will go to a plater this week. New stainless spokes are on the shelf at MotoItalia so soon this thing will be back on the road and no longer be a five footer! Still haven't found the 38T rear sprocket but I'm hoping people will be answering there phones on Monday and I'll get one.

I've never laced up wheels before so looking forward to giving it a try. I took lots of pics of the spoke pattern and my MotoStylist, OaklandF4i, also know as Claude Jean will give me some pointers I'm sure. :laughing

Lastly I'm on the hunt for a clean stock front fender. After looking at a bazillion pics online, I'm convinced I can fit one under the fork brace and it will still look good. arty

 

[Cabrito]

Such a cool project. Is it easy to find things like Brake Pads for this guy? I hope see it in person sometime.

 

[1962siia]

Hey Michael. Brake pads are not easy to find. In fact I was told to collect an extra set because you have to send them out to be relined. I’ve got two sets. I’m sure you will see it in person soon!

 

[1962siia]

Got my plate today from dmv! New rims and spokes are in the mail so will still be a little while until I can ride it. That will give me time to get the hubs polished I guess.

 

[augustiron]

It is a good idea to get them relined anyway. Reason being is that the materials used back then are inferior in every way to what Vintage Brake puts on there now. (Older has Less bite, more fade, more toxic)
Send your spares to vintage brake and have them relined so you aren't using 50 year old brake pads.

Also having them arced helps them perform at 100% contact from day 1, no more waiting for them to bed in.

 

[1962siia]

I'm 95% positive the set on the bike has been relined. The other set are clearly old and crusty and a different material as well. They will be sent out soon. Thanks for the input. :thumbup

Also received my 38T rear sprocket the other day. Not much is happening until the rims and spokes arrive, but may start polishing some parts. Also hoping to hear back from these guys in the south bay about vapor blasting my hubs.

In the meantime I'm focusing on a 2015 sr400 we just got for mrs1962. :ride

 

[SFMCjohn]

In the meantime I'm focusing on a 2015 sr400 we just got for mrs1962. :ride

... oooh, post a pic of the SR400 ... :thumbup
(SR400s totally count as “vintage” amirte? :laughing)

... looking forward to hearing about
building the wheels ... arty

 

[1962siia]

It’s a fun bike for sure! She just got her permit and signed up for the cmsp next month so lots of parking lot practice time. Kick start only might be a problem but she has actually started it several times.