Im nearing my broke in time. Typically, four tank fulls are the recommended time running to achieve break in. Or so i have largely read. At the commencement of the fourth tank, i plan to droop tires and wheels, engine, fender, everything back to components, inspect, repair, repaint, reassemble, and keep on rockin the free world.
So far, i have had only minor problems. Annoyances, really. DAX sells a truly well thought out and nicely engineered kit. Most of my troubles have been due to my own ignorance, and over estimation of the limits this type of machine. I have yet to take a ride that someone hast flagged me down or followed me to my destination just to ask how and why and can they get one like this. i went for those cheap business card printers to give some personal info, my favorite vendor Dax , this forum, and twenty places and sources that affected my choices.
The bad....
My spark plug wire comes off a lot. I have squashed it down, zip tied it, tried rubber cement(that was an ill conceived notion), there such a thing as over tourquing. Who knew? I broke a BEAUTIFUL clutch lever mount. It had a pretty silver/polished aluminum handle, with a long throw that made clutching a pleasure. Dax had mercy upon my ignorance and fired off a replacement. Its great, fully functional, and has all the watching features i had already come to love. My bad, but it doesnt look the same. Its an attractive semi flat black with red highlight. I wanted to swap levers in the cradle/mount, but they are not identical. My machining tech is a Dremel and a few files. I can make it fit. Prolly work nine times out of ten. What if that tenth time parks a 3/4 ton ford in the center of my chest? I dig pretty, but i love functional. And job one is making it home without a bumper dent on me anywhere.
My tank has been a trip. This little 1.5 liter peanut tank hasn't had a leak or a drip or a malfunction. I sealed the threads at my initial installation. I bottomed out the nuts on the pre mounted studs. It still shifted on the top bar. My bike has 1inch steel tubes. Strong and quality welded. I lucked into a bike far beyond my means. It started life as a nashbar commuter with a three speed shimano rear. ( see above. Not for the faint of heart or the unadventerous). Not only did i have to modify the socket to allow the "rag" joint type mounting, but in order to adapt this rear to mate with my planned single wheel trailer, i had to get creative to allow installation of "stunt"pegs, BMX style, to allow for my own designed quick connect mounts.(more to follow on the trailer). I ground and filed and sanded the yellow space that comes standard on all nexus three speed rear hubs. LBS and all searches on the internet netted zero results for an extended axial(sp). only option i could see was to lessen the width of the over all structure. I was able to cut enough metal to get a full bite with the pegs. I will have to adapt shims to allow for perfect alignment, but that's no hill for a high stepper.
My original dream of an approximation of an early bike or a board tracker came out beautiful. Aesthetically pleasing and a perfect blend of modern tech and vintage style. I loved looking at the beauty and symetry . Riding it was a joy. Starting it, or peddling when needed, a WHOLE nother story. Im old. And fat. Not in the shape i was when i think i am. My expectations got in the way of real life reality. My bad ass clubman style bars weren't as fitting as i had hoped. By the time i got up to starting speed, i was getting dots in my vision, and losing balance. The years eat us all, and even though i wouldn't admit it, i am no exception. Well, luckily, i had some 12 inch rise ape hangers on my pedal bike. Perfection of function. Far away from my original vision. All plans are perfect until the battle begins....
Lets change the vision.
I still want a springer fork. Maybe now one with a built in rake. The (pardon me if my term is off) Castor should be more laid back. The nearly straight up angle makes this ride a little squirrelly. At higher speeds, anyway. This bike was made for slow speed manuverability. Im rolling at around three times the intended speeds (ten vs. thirty) its quick. Non forgiving. Adjusting the choke on the fly is dang near a death wish. Putting my spark wire back on requires a complete stop. A sneeze might be fatal. Im ok with that. Not everyone would be. When you pick your platform, take in to consideration what that bike was intended to do.