Riding in the hood.

deacon · #21 (**permalink**) 01-25-2008, 09:44 AM

I bought the black tire this morning. My bike looks so ordinary now lol. It is still the smallest bike around and gets a lot of attention because of it I guess. If this cold ever relents I'm going to try it out.

The tire I bought is just a little larger than the 20x 1.75 I had. this one is 1.95. The smaller wheel made the bike more stable, i would like this to add even more stability but I doubt that it will be noticeable at all. If anything the fact that it has tread might do something.

Pablo · #22 (**permalink**) 01-25-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

I think it looks alot like the old babe on Murder She Wrote in the opening shot.

OK That lightened up the day!!

deacon · #23 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 07:52 AM

Todays problem. (isn't there always one)

With the smaller wheel on the back, the kickstand is too long. It pushes the bike over.

Fortunately the sacrificial bike had a bolt on kickstand that should be the right length. However the one on the Sissy is welded on. My options are. hacksaw off the Sissy bike kicker or try to beat it out of the welded on pipe. If anyone knows a better way please let me know. I will probably do it this afternoon so answer quick. My guess is once I hacksaw it off the thing will push through backwards. Just seems like a lot of work for little reward. However if I ride the bike somewhere it will be a lot easier if I have a working kicker.

Last night I bought a knit ski mask at Wallymart. Two bucks to allow me to move the ride temp back for 40 degrees to I hope 35 degrees or even lower. I was worried about my glasses but I can fit the hood over them. There is a lot more stretch in the material than I expected.

Downside:

I look like one of the guys who stuck up the L.A. bank using the assault weapons. The thermal vest I wear under my big coat makes it look as though I'm wearing body armor. So with the hood as well, I'm expecting to be arrested in line at Mickey D's while purchasing coffee. Of course there may be an upside. The chick behind the counter may just empty the register for me without being asked.

**CRUISER** · #24 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 08:05 AM

could you just cut an inch or so off the kick stand that is on it now. or posibly bend just the bottom of the kick stand out a little where it hits the ground. make it into an L. that is what i would pobably try firt

deacon · #25 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 01:02 PM

I couldn't easily do that so I sawed off the whole leg. I just left the bracket on the bike. I added a bolt on from the 20" bike I had. Once I got it on I found out it was too long as well but I could unbolt it and take it to the work bench to saw and bend. As always it wasn't as easy as it looked but it was doable.

I ran off the road during a right turn and found out the bike isn't near as dangerous as I thought. I did turn down the throttle and drop the clutch which killed the engine. That and foot power stopped the bike in a pretty short distance. Didn't even turn it over.

The chain jumped off twice while I was riding. I think I had too much slack. I tightened it and got about thirty feet and popped the clutch. Chain jumped off. I tighted the chain okay but I didn't set the axle bolts. When the clutch went out the chain just pulled the wheel forward. I came home before I killed myself.

By the way I highly recommend the knit ski mask. It does a good job keeping my face warm. It was under forty slightly and cloudy when I rode. So I'm pretty sure I could do 35 and sunny without a problem. Probably 30 if I was just going to the store for milk or something. I think thermal drawers maybe in order for lower than 35 though. I could just barely feel the cold on my legs.

**CRUISER** · #26 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 01:10 PM

i had problems with my chain coming off deacon and it was the chain tensioner was not perfectly aligned. hope that helps

deacon · #27 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 04:15 PM

I dont use the tensioner there. I had added a spacer so I took it off and it seemed to do better. It didn't come off anyway. I think that was the problem I was trying to get more clearance by the frame so I added the washer but I took it out and the chain is close but doesn't seem to be rubbing.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #28 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 06:26 PM

3/4"-1" slack total at the tightest point.
Make sure the tensioner is straight.
Eyeball the two sprockets to asure that they line up and the chain run is straight.

deacon · #29 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 07:13 PM

I am on a cruiser and don't use the tensioner. I think I had too many washers on it and the chain was too loose. It ran okay for about four miles after I readjusted it the last time. I still have that lurching sensation while it is running out. It feels like a car did with a skip almost. I think the clutch is screwy but I don't know since I have 0 experience with these things. I'm going to keep riding it and see if that won't stop.

The bike accelerates just fine and it is mostly just when it cruises so I'm thinking its the clutch but it will right itself eventually. It would have to be a heck of a lot worse before I went into it. Just always feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Oh well there is always tomorrow.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #30 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 06:54 AM

What you're feeling is pretty "normal" for a bike set up with a China engine. If you pull the clutch in when you are slowing down it will go a long way in smoothing the ride.

These are old-tech piston port engines and the break between a 4 cycle and a 2 cycle depending on how they are "loaded".

If you hear a staccato sound while at cruise that changes to a nice even pull when speeding up or going up hill, then you've got the carb set about right.

Just pull the clutch as soon as you back out of it when stopping or going down a long hill.