Been here for about a week. . .

IAmGrowler · Posted: May 28, 2009, 6:37 pm Post subject: Been here for about a week. . .

And just now got around to taking some photos of my new ride.

I've owned three of these, a butchered and chopped '77 FrankenBike who's headlamp bucket burst into flames one hot summer day, an '80 Special that zigged when it should have zagged (swing arm bushings disintegrated at 75mph -- Leather couldn't save my bones, but it did spare me a scorching case of road rash, head sleds full face screen spared me a crease in the forehead, but the trade-off was/is bits of plastic shards that sometimes, ten years later, rise to the skin surface when shaving) and a Cherry '73 that mysteriously disappeared from my driveway one night, never to be seen again.

Anyhow, it's been about 10 years since I last rode, so I'm taking things kind of slow, but the downturn in the economy has left me with a lot of spare time on my hands, which means sitting in my living room listening to the Rice Rockets, which got me thinking about the fun I use to have taking road trips.

Of course the next logical step in this nostalgic road trip was to start hunting for a bike.

Long story short:

I prowled Craigslist (6 or 7 months, btw) until I found just the right bike.

A '79 Special that defied all of the usual CL hyperbole and was actually garaged its entire life -- What are the odds?

Anyhow, $2700.00 later, I am the bemused owner of a nearly stock '79 Special that appears to have never been laid down, immaculate records from the 2 previous owners, has the precious few non-stock upgrades I would have made myself and not a speck of rust.

Anyhow, my typing finger is getting tired, so I think i'll let the photo's speak for themselves.

kingwj · Posted: May 28, 2009, 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

Nice, how do the Dunstall replipipes sound?

oldbikenut · Posted: May 28, 2009, 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

Your bike looks really nice! Are you keeping your bike the way it is, or do you have any changes in mind?

IAmGrowler · Posted: May 28, 2009, 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

kingwj wrote:

Nice, how do the Dunstall replipipes sound?

They're the Commando mufflers from MikesXS, and they are actually pretty flat sounding, but they do seem to reduce the amount of overall vibration found in stock mufflers.

IAmGrowler · Posted: May 28, 2009, 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

oldbikenut wrote:

Your bike looks really nice! Are you keeping your bike the way it is, or do you have any changes in mind?

I'm going to add some more chrome to it (grips, master cylinder and controls) and some Willi & Max bags, but beyond that I think I'll leave it as close to stock as possible for the time being.

Down the road, next summer, I intend to put 1" bars and chrome V-Star L/R controls and a chrome clutch perch on it.

nj1639 · Posted: May 28, 2009, 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

Congrats, your bike looks like a handfull of aces.
Welcome aboard.

pumps · Posted: May 28, 2009, 11:30 pm Post subject: Re: Been here for about a week. . .

That my friend, is a beautiful bike. I hear some people say they think the standards are better looking and I have a standard but I like the specials just as much. The first XS I remember seeing was a 79' Special my buddy Terry bought new. I would be proud to ride such a fine example. Thank you for showing it.

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