The Born To Lose Motorcycle Network

18 januari 2006

Claes

Sparat under: Okategoriserade — Claes @ 17:27

Info about me:

Me somewhere in Norway, 2003

born in Uppsala, grew up in Karlstad
in my midthirties
married to Fatou
three kids (Ida, Ella and Max)
living in Linköping and Karlstad at the moment
currently working as an ombudsman for LR (one of the unions organizing teachers in Sweden)
photoblog

Well, my interest in motorcycles began sometime in the 1970:ies, but was more on the level of “that´s a pretty bike” than anything else. In 1995 I was one of several fellow students (as me, studying to be teachers) who really wanted to go to India to write essays on religion. The problem was that there were more students wanting to go than places offered…

I decided to take for granted that I wouldn´t be one of the lucky ones, just not to get disseapointed. So, I decided to compensate myself with some really unnecessary luxury. Deeply influenced by Krister and Chrille (whom you can read more about elsewhere on these pages), I decided to get a license for driving motorbikes. Said and done, I went ahead and got my license. Furthermore, I got to go to India! But that´s another story…

My first bike became a customized 1980 model Yamaha XS 750 SE. I really wanted a Harley-Davidson, but that was completely out of the question since I still went to university… A good bike that was, or, well, no it wasn´t really, but it was MY bike and I loved it!

Nowadays I´d really want to have it back, but that must happen in another life where it rains money…

My first motorbike!

In 1999 I was working as a high school teacher, and had a really tough year where I was right in the middle of a battle concerning the closing of our school, and once again I felt I was worthy something special… So, I webt along and fulfilled my dream - I got a Harley!

It was a 1985 model Softail (the last Harley with a kickstart). I usually fall in love with my machines, and no exception here… I rode it the first couple of years as it was when I bought it (see pic below), but later got the urge to “change” things… A really common Harley-disease…

My second bike - the Softail!

I wanted to do something that more or less completely would change the appearance of the bike. Mind you, I´m still not made of money, so a new paintjob and new handlebars did the trick - wouldn´t you agree…?

My Apehanger-bike!

I REALLY had a good time with that bike, but in 2004 I felt like “it´s choppertime”, so I sold the Softail (sob…) and got myself a true swedish style chopper! It´s a rigid frame 1975 1200cc (74″) shovelheadengine, and the rest is… well, more or less homemade…

I´ve had some troubles this the first year, but eagerly await the spring of 2006, ´cause then we´ll burn rubber me and my chop!

My longfork shovelhead.

New visible things planned are new handlebars, a leather bag, a cover over the open belt (otherwise I can´t attach a bag…), new 4″ Bates headlight and probably something more.

... and from this angle...

The biggest issue is to get an external oilfilter since there is no filter at all right now…

... and from this angle!

On the trip pictured below, I almost hit the dust in a sharp corner full of gravel… Thanx to my steelclad Dr. Martens boots I still have toes…

Oh yeah, I´ve also got to fix the stand - as it is right now, sparks are flying constantly since it dangles on the asphalt…

Me at Kungsbordet during Sommen runt 2005

Well then, another winter has passed, and of course there have been several things done to the bike. The most obvious is the paintjob I guess -a lovely (?!) VW-orange with something called effect silver!

My first motorbike!

Other things are the new handlebars, a new external oilfilter, new brakepads in the front wheel, a new 4 1/2″ Bates headlamp and… well more updates which I don´t remember right now…

My first motorbike!

… and some estethic improvements in the form of tank emblems and chequered tape on the oiltank!

And today, on the 17th of septembre 2006 I bought an old Vespa! How cool is that!?

It´s a 1980 model Vespa 125 Primavera which has seen better days in terms of paintjob and overall state, but it runs like a trooper! I just might paint it this winter, or perhaps I´ll keep it in the rusty condition it is today!

What, never heard of a rat-Vespa?

My scoot - litterally!

OK, so I didn´t have time to wait ´til winter! Here it is, with a new paintjob, a new seat, a new exhaust and some other stuff! Still runs like a champ (even better actually, thanx to the model ET3 exhaust!).