Jockey shift . . .

Connecticut and Boston (eastern Mass.) are the worst left lane hogs. Fastest drivers and weavers are Maryland. Rush hour around NYC can give out of area drivers a nervous breakdown. I'm used to it but as I age I find I can't take it much. JMO


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It's these people out on the "country roads" I'm talkin' about. It's like their "minds are on vacation while their mouths are workin' overtime".

Cool . . . say, boys, I located a complete Sporty drum brake at the Jebby Shack. Seems he has several. Anyway, I'm ordering one with new chrome spokes to lace onto my existing Sporty (or Superglide) 19" wheel.
I have discovered that the '63 to '72 drum brake can be modified to a DLS brake which would increase braking power by almost 30%, making it a real, functioning front brake. Not as good as a disc, but not too shabby, either. I do not know who can do this modifying DLS work, however.
And the next problem to figure out is how to secure the backing plate to a wide glide front end with no brake lugs LOL! They wouldn't line up anyway. Any ideas? I wonder if there is a bolt on accessory already on the market or would I have to have to fab up a lug and have it welded on the lower leg in the right spot.

Some of you guys who have been gently harping on me to get a brake should be happy I'm putting on a front brake, even if it is a drum brake. It is so obviously a vintage part and should be a nice addition to the ol' bobber.

Oh man, a guy on another forum is telling me that I won't be able to lace the Sporty drum brake to my "disc" brake rim. How is that possible? everything has 40 spoke holes - shouldn't be a problem . . . or is it? I'm told the spokes won't "align". Say it ain't so, Joe.

One thing for sure - the drum will be far better than no brake at all. And if I can figure out how to convert it into a DLS brake, it will be even better.

The angle of the spoke nipples/holes has something to do with why the Sporty brake might not be a perfect fit to my rim, and I'm told that a little filing with a small rat tail file to change the angle slightly should do the trick. Holy cow, what have I got myself into?

I guess I'm gonna have to talk with my wheel man to see if he knows anything about it.

I suspect this is going to cost far more in time & money than I thought . . . just like everything else on this bike. I have around $13,000 in it so far.

Know you like spending money & working on old bikes all the time.

But I was trying to twist yer arm way back to try to git you to sink yer money in something much newer.
Been down the road yer on.
Money mounts up pretty quick. And ya never git it back. Ya just keep digging the hole deeper till ya wake up one day and look up hen all ya can see is daylight ..

And say Dauym ..

14-15 grand aint too much to spend on a ride you truelly enjoy.JMO

Josh, I have to agree with the guys, will look cool, but I sure would hate to ride the curves in these mtns with one had on the bar for any amount of time...

Ha-ha! I have heard that said about boats, too. Oh, I knew it would be a project to last the rest of my riding days, but what else have I got to do? Keeps me busy and interested in life like nothing else I have ever done. It's all for the sake of riding, which I have come to love more and more the older I get.
Speaking of working on older bikes. Tattoo wants to hire me part time to help him work on bikes in his shop. I've already fabbed up some stuff for him and done some wrenching, too. One of the guys that worked for him moved out of state.

MC, I have been practicing riding with only my right hand on the throttle on straightaways, thru left & right curves for the length of time it takes to change a gear. It's not hard. Only takes practice . . . like anything else . Not interested in riding the Dragron's Tail anyway LOL.

It's fun for a little while till you realize yer free time is gone and yer riding less & less . And when everybody else is off on the holiday and weekends and yer working on everybody's else bike that has to have it now.
And yer time for yerself and the family is gone.
And yer running the shop and the owner is out doing stuff like screwing off.
And yer sneering the phone trying to give them excuses on parts are not in, you got end the wrong par, or somebody else is ahead of them.
It gits old fast dude.
But don't let me stop you. Learn this for yourself.
I've done it.

By part time, I meant maybe a few hours here and there, like making a little gas money under the table. I'm too old & short tempered to be working a job like you describe LOL.

Yesterday I fabbed up two parts: a shift lever out of 3/8" steel rod topped off with an old metal door knob. Bent it to shape and painted the whole thing (what else?) flat black. It will eventually get welded to the pear shaped shift base I'm waiting for from FabKevin. Getting a new chrome shift drum cover, the one that has no shift arm on it.

Other part I made was the fork lug that will get welded to my shaved leg. I had an extra lower Showa leg and cut it up to get the lug off I needed. Came out pretty good . . .

Yes, I have. I just don't know how to do it - can't even figure out how to access them in my computer and attach to the forum.
My other laptop worked with "paint", I believe. I'm really stupd when it comes to computers . . . :gah: