Texas Riding Blog

[placidscene]

I have had guys follow me in neighborhood streets and tell me how fast I was going.
My biggest problem is people who don't realize we are going more than 8 mph and pull out in front of me, or try to pass and turn.
The other day I was in the left turn lane about 50 yards from a red left turn light and a truck tried to pass me on the right, came to a full stop (the through light was still green) and then fall in behind me after the realized they couldn't pass.

 

[placidscene]

I have also started commuting though. It is a 16 mile ride each way, and I have not had any real problems with motorists, mostly just problems with the bike! lol

 

[Longshot270]

I have also started commuting though. It is a 16 mile ride each way, and I have not had any real problems with motorists, mostly just problems with the bike! lol

Once you get the problems ironed out they are surprisingly fun.

 

[placidscene]

Yep, I'm getting there.
I made my 3rd successful run in a row with no repairs. thats 48 miles!
I am still trying to get the carb tuned.
It is always too rich, and 4 stroking. or too lean and dies at speed until it gets more fuel.
There doesn't seem to be a happy medium. I have the NT standard carb now, and I have adjusted the notches from the stock middle notch (4 stroking) to the top notch (too lean) to the next to top notch (still to lean) and back to the middle notch (4 stroking.)
I know this has been discussed multiple times on this forum, but I am coming up with a blank about what to do at this point.

 

[Longshot270]

Seriously? My stock carb didn't have ANY adjustments...but that didn't stop me from tuning it. Just lightened up on oil so I need to lean it out a little bit. Only runs correctly at WOT so I need to take the machine nut out from under the clip on the needle.

 

[placidscene]

Mine WILL NOT run wide open throttle! it dies and I am not sure if it is getting too much fuel, not enough air, or not enough fuel. I have done a plug chop several times, and the plug is always the correct light tan color.

 

[biknut]

I have also started commuting though. It is a 16 mile ride each way, and I have not had any real problems with motorists, mostly just problems with the bike! lol

I heard that lol.

 

[biknut]

Has anybody had any trouble with road stalkers? Today was my first day completely replacing my truck for commuting and it has been fun. Earlier I made a run to the gas station and was cruising along around 30 mph and got a funny feeling like someone was watching me. Looked back and there was a truck following about 50 yds back. I swung onto the sidewalk and slowed down. They did also. Got on the gas up to max speed then rolled to a stop. They followed suit. This time, however, when I left they stayed parked.

I have had people follow me several times. Twice I've had people stop and ask about buying my bike out from under me. I usually try to get rid of them. The last guy I told, $800 just to get rid of him, but he was considering it.

Most of the time, people just want a better look.

 

[biknut]

Yep, I'm getting there.
I made my 3rd successful run in a row with no repairs. thats 48 miles!
I am still trying to get the carb tuned.
It is always too rich, and 4 stroking. or too lean and dies at speed until it gets more fuel.
There doesn't seem to be a happy medium. I have the NT standard carb now, and I have adjusted the notches from the stock middle notch (4 stroking) to the top notch (too lean) to the next to top notch (still to lean) and back to the middle notch (4 stroking.)
I know this has been discussed multiple times on this forum, but I am coming up with a blank about what to do at this point.

NT are always jetted rich. Stock jet is about equal to a 71. Buy a 68. Make sure you've got enough float level. If the float is set too low, it can starve at high speed. Same thing happens if your carb is at too much of an angle. If you get the float set too high, gas will leak out of the carb.

 

[placidscene]

Biknut. Thats what I was thinking. I have put the needle in every position possible and it always 4 strokes. I may have the float set too low at this point, because I lowered it thinking it was flooding. I do have it a bit out of level. It is on the long offset intake that came with the CNS Carb. Is the shorter intake recommended for these? I have the Grubbee 66cc. I do get some residual gas in the air filter.
Sounds like I need to put the float back where it was, get a .68 jet, and get the shorter intake?

 

[placidscene]

By the way, I was wondering what anyone thought of my bike? I put a small album together on my user profile page.

 

[placidscene]

Biknut, I was also looking at your repair album the other day. One of the pics is of a piece of pipe with a honey comb like grid in it. Is that the Catalytic converter in the tail pipe of some of these kits? (Mine has one.) What were you doing to it?

 

[biknut]

Biknut, I was also looking at your repair album the other day. One of the pics is of a piece of pipe with a honey comb like grid in it. Is that the Catalytic converter in the tail pipe of some of these kits? (Mine has one.) What were you doing to it?

I made a custom muffler out of a sportster header pipe I had laying around. I put the cat, abd the stock baffle inside my custom pipe.

By the way, I think your bike is looking real good. Your tank looks good too.

 

[placidscene]

Nice! so your still using the cat? thats surprising. seems like most people want to get rid of it and get better flo.
Thanks for the comment on the tank. Worked hard on that, and your the first person to say anything about it! haha.

 

[biknut]

Nice! so your still using the cat? thats surprising. seems like most people want to get rid of it and get better flo.
Thanks for the comment on the tank. Worked hard on that, and your the first person to say anything about it! haha.

It's too loud without the cat in it. I don't like my china girls to be very loud. All my other bikes is a different story. Besides that, it goes fast enough for me.

I know you worked hard on your bike. I can tell by how nice it looks. Considering how hard it is just to make one, a lot of people give up on the looks. I guess lol.

 

[placidscene]

Well, I actually tore the whole bike down to the bearings when I bought it. It was poop brown and a little rusty. haha. Painted it, greased everything, put it back together and tuned it. I worked hard on my cable routing to keep it from looking like a mess. I really appreciate the kudos. This is my first build.
I am thinking I would like to do a cruiser next. They look more comfortable.
I initially thought the road bike would be faster because they are much faster under human power than a cruiser, and I am using this to commute 16 miles each way to work. But after running it for a while, I don't think it is much faster. I have been thinking about getting a 40 tooth sprocket, but would like to work out all of the bugs with the current components.
What do you think about the NT carb on the long offset intake that comes with the CNS carb (that I broke)? Problem or no?

 

[biknut]

Well, I actually tore the whole bike down to the bearings when I bought it. It was poop brown and a little rusty. haha. Painted it, greased everything, put it back together and tuned it. I worked hard on my cable routing to keep it from looking like a mess. I really appreciate the kudos. This is my first build.
I am thinking I would like to do a cruiser next. They look more comfortable.
I initially thought the road bike would be faster because they are much faster under human power than a cruiser, and I am using this to commute 16 miles each way to work. But after running it for a while, I don't think it is much faster. I have been thinking about getting a 40 tooth sprocket, but would like to work out all of the bugs with the current components.
What do you think about the NT carb on the long offset intake that comes with the CNS carb (that I broke)? Problem or no?

That puts you in the top echelon of builders for sure. It's easy to see you've held a wrench in you hand before, because it shows.

I would only use an offset manifold if I needed to for some reason. The stock one looks better, and probably works better. I would put the CNS on the shelve, and run a NT with a 68 jet, and the needle on the next to leanest position.

 

[placidscene]

I don't know about "upper echelon." lol Most stuff I build I "cobble together" with what I have laying around. I need to learn welding.

I will get the shorter intake and smaller jet soon.

I had a flat on my commute this morning, on the drive wheel!
The flat was caused by a sharp piece of sand!

 

[biknut]

I don't know about "upper echelon." lol Most stuff I build I "cobble together" with what I have laying around. I need to learn welding.

I will get the shorter intake and smaller jet soon.

I had a flat on my commute this morning, on the drive wheel!
The flat was caused by a sharp piece of sand!

I got a flat last week on my riding bicycle from a little piece of glass.

 

[Dan]

I have had guys follow me in neighborhood streets and tell me how fast I was going.
My biggest problem is people who don't realize we are going more than 8 mph and pull out in front of me, or try to pass and turn.
The other day I was in the left turn lane about 50 yards from a red left turn light and a truck tried to pass me on the right, came to a full stop (the through light was still green) and then fall in behind me after the realized they couldn't pass.

Placidscene, I have found a big ol' not bicycle helmet works great! No kidding, I can tell the difference when on very rare occasion, I forget to put it on.

Seems to be a subtle indicator that your on some thing going at motor speed and not on a regular bicycle.

I really, really hope that helps you. I've had a few close calls with the "pass & turn right" and the "pull out forcing an oh dang* moment" folks.

* not actually what I was yelling but close. Does begin with "OH"