First time in 20 years

Stored since 92, I finally took my bike for a ride today :woohoo:
After 3 months of cleaning on her the rebuild went real well.
I didn't have any problems with the electrical other than the horn doesn't work, big deal.

After a little trouble with the vacuum petcock the gas started flowing and she fired right up,
I like clear fuel lines

No mirrors
No back brake
No insurance
No intention of taking it for a ride until I addressed the above issues tomorrow, but I popped her in gear and let out the clutch and that was that.

I took it a couple of miles down my gravel country road, never got out of 2nd gear, but I was riding.

Tonight I'm going over all the treads I marked on doing the final tunings and will continue to look for my timing light that is hiding somewhere.

Should be safe and legal at some point tomorrow.

Just in time for work to pick up :pinch: I guess you can't have everything.

Here she is as she sat after the maiden voyage ,complete with hanging brake and wet spot.
No time or money for paint or new shiny stuff this year.
But some body had to off set these beauty's like Kawboy's and Zmaniscaco's rides that are finishing up

More pics of the project later,JD

Nice bike bro! Hang on too it!

Cleaned up nice, have fun and ride safe.

I hate to argue but you haven't offset anything!The fact that you have that bike on the road after it sat is all that matters! There are tons of people who regularly part out bikes like that. The issues you have after a quick ride to get the "feel" will be nothing in the scheme of things. Enjoy what you have as others have less and some with lots of dough never ride them, show princesses of sorts. Keep working on the problems and you will have a blast riding.
David

As above, no apologies needed there! What a great looking ride!

I've been at my bike for a few years now, and it still doesn't look that nice. Probably won't until everything comes off the frame for a complete cleanup and re-paint. I agree with Kayboy that it is a shame when you see what must have been a potential runner being parted out because someone didn't even give it a little bit of TLC or wasn't willing to deal with the headaches these old girls will invariable bring at times.

Can't wait to see where the resto goes....

Jonny

Thanks guys, I can't tell you how much of a trip this is.

I bought my first bike in 77, a 650 custom, put down a couple hundred bucks around September of 76 and had to wait all winter for it to get delivered , had my pick of the first two that rolled in the door, I choose the blue one

I know I lost a lot of sleep thinking about the day I would be riding that bike.
But I swear it seems like I'm even more excited now.
Finally I can get some sleep, I hope.

Took the bike out a couple of times today and I'm feeling more confident each time that it isn't going to fall apart .

Tonight was a nice cool night, the engine really pulled good and sounded great.
I was able to give it some gas, still cautious though .

Still have a few bugs to work out like a couple of leaky carbs and the stupid horn but in general every thing is a okay.

JD

first time in 20 years
I remeber hearing the first bike of spring go by and not having a bike on the road
It was hard to hear that for a long time
welcome back
smile and wave then smile some more