I did it , half pint is at the powder coater. I felt like I left my first born child at school for the first time. A definite attachment to this bike. He made no promises on a date , just grumbled hopefully by Christmas. I’m not gonna be disappointed if it doesn’t happen. But I’ll be hella busy Christmas night if I get the call. Hella exciting , I’m truly ill and have no life. Time to reseal & polish the engine. Intake & exhaust is done and ready.    

I might drop into radio silence while it’s all out to P/C. Want to get a going on the engine. Windy raining & thunder n lightning today. Warm up the garage and tear down & inspection. Krammed a bunch of crap this past week to have day to gitr dun ! A day with nothing else planned , shush don’t let the wife hear that , I’m sure she has a list that I don’t want to know about. Me me me me me me !

I’ll be back !

Half Pint is still at the powder coater. Engine is in progress. It’s all come to a halt. My best buddy that held on to Half Pint for me for over forty years before giving it back lost his 6 year battle with cancer. I am crushed after a 50+ year friendship , seem to have lost all my drive. Time to grieve , get right in the head. He fought the good fight and now it’s time to rest.
R.I.P. Brother , meet you at Eldorado

Sorry for you loss Ruttly.  Hopefully your "fever will return soon.

I got Half Pint back from powder coater on Tuesday. I got the call and rushed to pick it up , once at home and in the garage , simply lost interest. It took all of New Years Eve  and Day to bring myself to lay my hands on it. Slow and very directed , I’m gettin there. As the bits come together , this is it , mock-ups are done , make no mistake this is final assembly. My time to shine even if I’m not feeling it ! So it’s slow goin. Have to admit , it’s nice when everything fits first time , I already paid in blood , sweat & tears ! She is nothing less than stunning. The grey frame with black body parts , chrome & polished aluminum is sexy , grey was the right decision. I had a practice flat tracker years ago , a Honda 175 twin with a white frame with black fender , seat & tank. A total POS but it looked cool and local Leo’s could never catch me , a cop told me if they catch me I’ll go to jail so under the cover of darkness the bike got moved about 5 counties away , never saw it again. Anyways  it’s January and I know it won’t be long till my soul is warmed by the renewal of Spring Fever !      

Yeah my sister passed away November 2023 and that was hard too. Seems to be while my family grows , my world just keeps getting smaller and more closed off. A normal part of life is death , another unwanted adjustment in life , usually I get a new  grand child when someone passes , not this time.
And maybe my next grand child is enroute , maybe just a gleam in daddy’s eyes , Maybe.

Well it is coming along , it’s on rear wheel and center stand. Can’t put anymore parts on for now till I move this half of a motorcycle off of my workbench. Not so much heavy as awkward , and in a small area and don’t want to scratch it either ! Finish rear half before messing with front end. Six is one too many for my space. This build was not my idea , it was thrust upon me. I’m ok with it only cause of its history , its importance in my life as well. Build it ride it and never sell it , my Sunday bike , my vintage ride. What I do love about it is it is not a restoration, it is not a custom , not a survivor ,  just something built to ride on Sundays mornings and it will definitely have the Ruttly stamp on it ! Won’t be another like her. I was trying to get down to no more than 3 street bikes and my flat tracker so I can go racing. As least two bikes have to be sold. Half Pint has her space  pre approved , she came home to stay last year.
Running out of space to work in.