Southern Bandit's Shadow Timeline

01-25-2002:

Leaving to pickup the Shadow in Vero Beach FL.

Picked up the Shadow and brought it back to North Carolina with no outstanding problems.

And so the work begins. Removed luggage rack, backrest(both to be polished), front and rear seats(to be cleaned) and fuel tank(to be repaired and painted). Click here to see the progress.

Washed bike, and cleaned-n-polished chrome parts.

Ordered new fork sliders from International Cycle. Should recieve in 2 weeks. Cleaned and polished chrome parts.

Dropped fuel tank off at Anthony Wise's shop for repair and painting. Looked at some flame examples to decide on pattern. Cleaned and polished chrome parts.

Ordered... footpeg, handlebar, mirror, front fender, clutch cable, battery cover nut, oil filter, fork seals, fender mounting bolt, owner's manual with storage pouch, chrome license plate nuts.

Recieved order from Honda. Front fender, fork seals, fender bolt, owner's manual pouch (manual on back order), battery cover nut, and footpeg (although rubber cushions and "Angle indicator bolt" did not come with it, so they will have to be ordered). Which I did.

Recieved remaining items.

Recieved Cobra rear turn signal relocaters. Dion Person and myself fabricated a jig that would work on the floor jack to raise the bike off the floor for front suspension removal, which we removed. Discovered front axle was bent. Also removed guages, headlight and all related mounts.Transferred left grip to new handlebar.

Ordered new front axle, polished more chrome. Click here to see the progress.

Gave International Cycle a call, manufacturer of fork tubes having a problem aquiring the material to build tubes (oh joy!). Polished more chrome and aluminum parts.

Removed rear fender, support bars, rear turn signals and rear shocks for cleaning/polishing.

Recieved o-rings and "Lean angle indicator" for footpeg from Honda. Assembled and installed Left footpeg. Cleaned and polished chrome.

Recieved axle from Honda. Still waiting on fork tubes. Cancelled order from International Cycle.

Ordered fork tubes from Discount Honda Parts.Removed Footpegs, peg brackets, shifter linkage and rear brake linkage for cleaning and polishing. Installed rear turn signals with Cobra turn signal relocators.

Reinstalled footpegs/brackets, rear fender with brackets, shifter/linkages, handlebar risers and rear brake linkages.

Powder coated some parts in the hopes of preventing rust and corrosion in the future. Partially assembled speedo case.

Received fork tubes from Discount Honda Parts in Wilksboro, NC. Received order from Eastwood that included Diamond Clear to paint top of polished shocks.

Bobby Person of "Hole in the Wall" disassembled forks and installed new tubes with fresh Pro Honda fork oil.

Picked up forks from Bobby Person. Slip fit forks into triple clamps to do a test fit. Did not encounter any problems. Reinstalled rear shocks.

Installed forks, fender and wheel. Unfortunately either the triple clamps or the frame seems to be bent.

Cleaned and installed front brake assembly, switch gear, front turn signals, speedo cable, seats, headlight, speedometer, mirrors, and other mis. items. Broke off stud on handlebar riser, Bob Person drilled out and tapped hole, installed new stud. Rigged up temp. fuel supply and test rode around housing development. 2.1 miles showing on tripmeter.Click here to see the progress.

Picked out and ordered paint powders for ghost flames; Light Orange Pearl, Graphite Pearl, and a Aztec Gold Pearl. In the past 2-3 days Joseph Best and myself have put 10.1 miles on the bike riding around my housing development.

Although not necessary to get the bike road worthy, I won an "Easy-Off Sissybar Kit" on Ebay ($79) This kit facilitates easy installation and removal of backrest and luggage rack.

Title from seller finally arrived. It only took 44 days from date I picked bike up. Sarcasm intended.

Recieved prices on the paints required for the tank; 3 pearl powders and clear $289, stock honda red used for basecoat $67. Dropped off $350 check as partial payment until labor is finalized.

Recieved "Easy Off" backrest/luggage rack mount .

Picked up primed tank. Had bike inspected so I could get title and tags, which I also did. Had N.C. inspection performed. Going riding!

Removed tank and dropped off at painter's shop. Picked up damaged fender that painter had been using as a test bed for colors and flame licks. Click here to see pics of the test fender.

Picked up flame painted tank from painter. The return of the wraith is complete! Click here to see pics of the result.