dr croog

Well here it is all buttoned up in Port Dover. I haven't taken any pics since Tuesday since I've been so busy putting this bike back together. I spent way too much time doing the body work on the tail trying to get it perfect and then ended up running out of time. The tail needed to be trimmed back because of clearance issues and then I just gave up and painted it rattle rat black. I still had a list of things to get done so I ended up pulling an all nighter Thursday. I had to make a licence plate bracket and wire up the tail light and put everything else back together. I didn't have any other mirrors around so I used the stock mirrors that came with the bike; not my preferred choice. I thought I was going to get some sleep until I got on the bike to test drive it in the middle of the night and realized my new forward posture was causing me to hit my shins on the crash guards, so off they came. Easier said than done but then what isn't. No test drive. One hour to shower and get ready and leave by 6:00 to meet my brother and Rick in Brantford at 7:00

I didn't know it yet but the fun was just beginning. The bike was running fairly well although a little rough at low RPMs and then in Cambridge the rear brake started to apply itself. It squeezed so hard, so fast, I couldn't get the bike completely off the road; on a blind corner no less. So here I was partially on the road with a bike that won't move and I don't know what the problem is. I got away from the bike because I was sure it was going to get hit and made a call to CAA for a flatbed. After a tense hour or so without getting hit, the flatbed arrived but by this time the brake had cooled and I could get the bike to roll. I had a decision to make: return home with the Deathcycle and ride my '82 to Port Dover or continue to Port Dover on the Deathcycle. I thought maybe the caliper was sticking so I figured if I kept off the rear brake it wouldn't lock up again. The flatbed was waved off and I continued but I didn't get out of Cambridge before it happened again. At least this time I knew what to expect and got off the road as fast as I could. Now I really didn't know what was happening; did I touch the rear brake? ; maybe I did out of habit. Try again. Don't touch the rear brake! It didn't happen again until Highway 24 and what complicated things was the gravel shoulder. I didn't want to stay in traffic but I also didn't want to hit the shoulder too fast and wash out the front end, so I headed to the edge of the pavement until the brake was ready to lock up solid then steered onto the gravel. Worked like a charm. Now I'm sitting on the bike waiting for the brake to cool and I start to fall asleep because I am sooo tired. I'm just like a little kid falling asleep in his dinner; the bike starts going over, I wake up and catch it, the bike starts going over the other way, I wake up and catch it, over and over until the brake cools and I can move the bike. Funny only after the fact... Anyway, no more problems into Port Dover, my brother saved me a spot on Main St. and life was good.