Ducati Project 2010 #4

Well after finally watching the last stage of the Tour De France I have turned off the boob tube!....for a while....

I had to get on with the mounting of the seat pan.

So first I found some connecting nuts that had the right fit. Actually got really lucky. I bought them without measuring--kinda by feel, and they fit perfect....well?....after getting rid of a little paint on the mount pegs, I was able to walk the rice paper lets say.

Then we made a couple simple brackets that fit nice and stealthy with the rear fender mounts. "Easy Peeesy Japaniesey".....as Brooks would say. He was "here" ya know....

I had to make room for the fender. I need it to be 'where it is' I cant lower the fender because of future tire clearance issues, I need as much room as possible for 17 in rims. Sooo.. a hole had to be installed with care right through the new brackets I just made...hmmph--bummer. The real funny thing is I may shit-can the entire rear fender anyway!! I may go for a different look I have seen, time will tell on that one, but I have planned for, and am ready!- to take advantage of any inspiration's that may come my way!

O-well, I haven't got there yet, but there will be a connecting bracket welded from (one side to the other) on the rear seat mounting brkt's-- going over the fender and connecting them for strength.

All should be hidden by the rear hump if I can ever find something to work???. I may have to make it myself from sheet metal(which will be a huge bitch working with compound curves) I would have to do it in sections shaping each one- kinda like slices of pie, and that's a ton of work. I couldn't find anything I could use a home depot not even plastic' pipe corners.

I am thinking though going to K-mart today to look at cheep stainless steel mixing bowls that I might be able to chop-up to my desired specifications. It is the best solution I can come up with right now.

I may use the piece of rear fender that I will bob/chop-away from the rear-of-the-fender later, to make a tunnel to hide the fender hole in the seat pan, which will be under the seat foam anyway-and know body will know it is there, or care that it doesn't have much "if any" use- other than it will clean up my work before moving on--but i will know it is there...and that's all we need to know....right?. --fin--

Ducati Project 2010 #3

Another freeking HOT day bout 114 or so. But Happiness is sweating in the garage me thinks.

A new seat pan is in order! and with a little stealthy cutting a new one was emerging. I wanted it long but still able to see the frame below it.

Room for the seat mounts, and room for a rear fender, and-and! travel for our new 17 inch rims, and sturdiness of the structure, I had to raise it up a bit, but when I am done it will still look very low-profile.

There our basic shape......but!

I had to find some room for the down tube and hiding the seat mounts, so with this idea in mind I will also have to re-figure the rear tank mount. I will have to weld a tab on the bottom of the tank, and put a bolt mount on the frame....under the seat pan. The original hook and spring rear tank mount (partially on the tank) now sits above the pan and would be a nasty little nut scratcher! It will have to be removed...
And things still may change? I may use a different "longer" tank, future e-bay auctions may dictate this.

Funny side note. The tank is in generally in great shape/no rust just a couple dents, just not the most pleasing shape I want. When I was cleaning it I found a "full lable -4" x 10"-of a "Tastewell" can of corn, looking it came from the 1970's inside the fucking tank. How it got there is a wonder???? but I do wonder if it was a problem with gas flo in the past?

That's better, and the shape is pleasing.

And that is how we sit right now. Still mounts to be installed, and a rear but hump to be figured. I think I will go to home depot and find a heating duct corner bend I can cut for the rear hump...we will see if this idea PANS-OUT so to speak?

Ducati project 2010 #2

A cleaning of the motor was in order with or without the need for immediate repair. At the time I am unable to take the motor in for professional repair, our financial situation is in disappointing times.

In order to keep "the peace" with the wife, I will have to wait for the future, or do it myself...which will be the case at this time it seems...further tear down and study is needed, update to come.

Ducati Project 2010 Post #1

I have decided to post my project here as well as weislyweird.

I found that the main foot rests are tweeked. The bar is bent as well as the peg itself. After removing what is left of the rubber foot rests i went to work with a couple whacks with a sledge pounding iron to get the tube straight.

After that I had to use some gentle persuasion with some heat and a bar on the foot peg to right it.

There nice! and very close to perfect....

And in 110+ degree heat, I give myself a thumbs up. I don't freekin care who you are, (dry or wet), 110+ is fucking HOT! and it has been this way for a week.

And thyen to the ice box for some refreshment before going further.

Many moons ago.....

Do you remember this?

One of the few clips of quality I could find from the Langan & West morning radio show of KISW 99.9 FM Seattle circa 1980...

One of my high school teachers used to let us listen to it during class. There were many episodes and it went on for I think till 1984?....I remember recording them and we would listen to them over and over, but the tapes never survived...this is the first time I have herd the show since then....I still love them...

They also had special longer Leave it to Beaver 1980 or rather 82,83 shows that were hilarious like "Apocalypse Beaver" but I couldn't find them.

I think this clip was an early one and may be the Pilot episode.

I still crack-up hearing it again.

Some things in life are missed.....terribly

With our Speed Vision seemingly-turning to "NaZcar turning left Vision", "Auction off my Ferrari Vision", and "Pimp my piece of shit Vision" Great racing events like this are surely missed. And that is just a small bit of what Speed Vision has decided to NOT let us see anymore!



Life is just a bit sad without WRC. Youtube has some cool vids. (I loved listening this co-driver barking out track information--even though I don't understand a word) The only reason I have to pay for cable T.V. anymore is Moto-GP, Formula One, The Colbert Report and the occasional re-air of Wayne's World, The Godfather or The Prophecy.



Seems my Hero's die without me there.......



Used to be Hours and Hours of coverage...now im lucky to find a three minuet review....

Next Stop **Spain** for MotoGP Round Three

Premier class hits Jerez as the title race begins to take shape.

The MotoGP paddock reconvenes in southern Spain for the third round of the 2009 World Championship. The first European round, and one of the most well-attended events on the calendar, the riders have points to win and points to prove at the Circuito de Jerez.

Like last year, Spanish fans have a local leader of the overall classification to cheer on when May 3rd comes around, in the form of Jorge Lorenzo. Courtesy of a perfect podium record from the opening two races, the Fiat Yamaha rider arrives with a one point advantage over teammate Valentino Rossi and a victory already on the board from the previous round in Japan. Lorenzo took pole and placed third on his home debut at Jerez last year, and won twice at the track during his time in the 250cc class.

Second in the standings, reigning World Champion Rossi has won five times in the premier class and enjoys a level of popularity with the Spanish fans that rivals any of their local favourites. The Italian has never gone more than three races into a season without picking up a victory, and with two gone already his hunger for glory will be reaching breaking point. In previous years Rossi’s celebrations after winning in Jerez have been legendary, but will the 30 year-old provide another memorable moment this Sunday?

Just three points down on series leader Lorenzo, Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner has not had the best of times at Jerez on race weekends. He has yet to place on the podium in seven visits to the track in various classes, but will draw positives from an amazing performance at the recent Official Test held at the track. The Australian was untouchable in a timed session to win a BMW sports car, stating his case for a challenge to those more successful at the circuit in previous years than himself.

After taking fifth at both Qatar and Japan, Andrea Dovizioso is currently fourth in the table, chasing his opening podium of 2009. Such an honour has already gone to Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who is just a single point off ‘Dovi’s total of twenty-two after claiming third in Japan.

Alongside Lorenzo and Pedrosa, Toni Elías and the returning Sete Gibernau contest their home race this weekend. Gibernau has not ridden at the track in a competitive environment since 2006, when he took second on the grid onboard the 990cc Ducati Desmosedici in his first race with the bike.

Moto GP "The new year is finally here"

As the action in the premier class of the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship finally got underway, at the spectacular Losail International Circuit on Monday night, it was Casey Stoner who took the headlines, completing a hat-trick of season-opening wins in Qatar.
Following the exceptional postponement of the opening MotoGP contest of the year due to rain in the Arabian desert, Monday evening witnessed the first race in the new single tyre supplier era, but it was a familiar story with Stoner crossing the line first, ahead of World Champion Valentino Rossi.
A ruthless Stoner took the holeshot from pole and had built up a two second gap at the end of the first lap. The 2007 World Champion’s victory never looked in serious doubt as he controlled the race from the front, having been the fastest rider in every session over the weekend. Stoner’s winning margin was more than seven seconds at the end of a brilliant performance, casting aside any doubts about his fitness after winter surgery on his left wrist.
Completing the podium behind the front two was Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha colleague Jorge Lorenzo repeating his rostrum result from his MotoGP debut in the opening race of 2008, in his first race on Bridgestone tyres.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Colin Edwards started his seventh season in MotoGP riding solidly from sixth on the grid to finish fourth on his own Bridgestone debut, making it three Yamahas in the top four.
Also on new tyres and with a new factory bike Repsol Honda’s 2009 signing Andrea Dovizioso was fifth, fading slightly in the second half of the race having run in third place for several laps.
There was a good performance from Alex de Angelis, crossing the line sixth having qualified ninth at the start of his second year with the San Carlo Honda Gresini team. Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen also made a decent start to the year with his improved GSV-R machine in seventh.
An excellent MotoGP debut from satellite Ducati rider Mika Kallio, meanwhile, saw him end up as the best placed rookie in eighth for the new look Pramac Racing outfit.
On factory machinery and returning to the Honda Gresini team this year, Toni Elías may be disappointed not to have done better than ninth, whilst Frenchman Randy de Puniet brought the satellite LCR Honda RC212V home three seconds behind the Spaniard to complete the top ten.
Dani Pedrosa, riding with knee and wrist injuries, battled through the pain barrier to pick up some important points in eleventh spot. On his Ducati debut, Pedrosa’s former team-mate Nicky Hayden also did well to complete the race in twelfth, given the back and chest injuries he suffered in a huge highside crash in qualifying on Saturday. The brave 2006 World Champion even set his best time on the last lap.
Sete Gibernau finished 13th on his MotoGP comeback with the satellite Ducati Grupo Francisco Hernando team, unable to push into the top ten due to his ongoing shoulder injury.
Marco Melandri made his first appearance for the Hayate Racing Team and ran off track early on but battled back well to finish in the points in 14th.
Commencing his 20th Grand Prix season Rizla Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi crashed out on lap eight and was unable to rejoin the race.
After a weekend off the MotoGP riders next reconvene at the Polini Grand Prix of Japan for round two, which takes place at the Motegi circuit from 24th-26th April.

Ty's Top Ten Tunes

One of the best tunes of all time, one of the cheezy-est MTV video's of all time.

Just a cool find.....hate the video....love the tune!

A very Funny repost from Kaze also viewed at wiselyweird

Now you know what living here is like...almost.