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 Ben Tice |
How I spent my summer vacation... |
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/24/07 9:58 AM |
Well, I finally went totally OCD. I spent the last week cleaning and polishing my bike. It's the T that I picked up in California. It had been in storage
for several years. I took off the bags, seat, side covers, windshield and went to work. The wheels really showed the signs of having been in storage; stained
and dirty. They took most of my time. The windshield was in bad shape, but with a lot of elbow
grease and Novus, it's now very usable.
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dukey33 |
#1 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 676 07/24/07 10:04 AM |
puuurty.
One rainshower and all that work is undone.  -(
I've been utterly unable to keep my bikes clean for over a month now. Oh well, clean or dirty, they're fun to ride.
duke
loud horns save lives |
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Ben Tice |
#2 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/24/07 10:28 AM |
I know exactly how you feel Duke. That is why I took a few pictures. I'm betting that this bike will never look this clean again, at least for quite a
while. We don't get much rain here, but as soon as I finished cleaning up the bike the forcast called for thunderstorms for the rest of the week. Notice
the clouds in this picture. The pictures didn't come out as good as I wanted because: 1.) the sun was moving in and out of the clouds; 2.) it was the first
time I used my daughter's camera; 3.) I was in a real hurry because I was afraid it would rain on the bike. Pick which one you think is the best answer.
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danbgt |
#3 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 1909 07/24/07 10:32 AM |
Really clean!
Really uncluttered!! Really beautiful bike!!! Really a shame it won't last!!!! -Dan |
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alepel |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 7794 07/24/07 11:27 AM
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Ben....beautiful bike. I can see that your extremely proud as we all are of ours. Listen, you bought the bike to ride.....right? Well it's going to get
dirty doing that so let's get on with the real reason for owning a Tourer. That's riding.
When I use to build Street Rods, we use to look down on the guys who trailered their cars everywhere so that they wouldn't get dirty. These were the "Chrome Queens" who only sought trophies for being recognized as the best this and that! Those of us who drove, cared less about prizes. Our cars got dirty doing what we loved to do. And so it is with motorcycles. They're meant to be driven, that's what they're all about. Now get going down the road and enjoy yourself. alepel |
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GaleRich |
#5 | |||
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HSATF 2nd Officer
Posts: 402 07/24/07 12:10 PM Road Captain |
Nice looking bike. What is Novus? (Gotta admit my ignorance sometimes ...)
BTW: Come wash your bike here. We could use the rain! 
- Rich |
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BeauJames |
#6 | |||
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HSATF Road Captain
Posts: 374 07/24/07 1:33 PM Road Captain |
Looks like a new one. Tell about getting the wheels to look like chrome.
Upstate, SC
1998 Black and Chrome (the sexiest color) Patriot Guard Riders of South Carolina "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans" |
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Ben Tice |
#7 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/24/07 1:42 PM |
Dan, thanks and you are so right. Alepel, I have to agree. I never did understand guys that put a ton of money into a vehicle and then didn't drive/ride
it. In a couple of days a friend of mine and I are going to ride along the Rio Grande into New Mexico and then up into the mountains. It will just be a day
trip, but the roads are great. Rich, Novus is a polish/cleaner made for plastics. It comes in three different formulas depending on the severity of the damage.
Level one is an everyday cleaner and level three is used for heavy scratches. It's much easier to clean bug splatter off the windshield once it's been
cleaned with the Novus. I've heard some people say that they use Lemon Pledge for the same thing. I haven't done it so I can't vouch for it.
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Ben Tice |
#8 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/24/07 1:50 PM |
BeauJames, I used two different types of English Custom Polish--the Metal Polish and Restorer and the Show Finish. I read about it in a magazine and since
everything I had tried really didn't work well, I gave it a shot. It does a great job. The chrome cleaned much easier than the aluminum wheels, but then
the wheels were in much worse cosmetic shape. I bought the polish from topoftheline.com. They provided excellent service which is something I appreciate.
Ben BTW, I am a member of the Patriot Guard here in Far West Texas/Southern New Mexico.
Last Edited By: Ben Tice 07/24/07 1:58 PM.
Edited 1 time.
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Skip MMShadowT |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 5578 07/24/07 10:35 PM
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Wow, beautiful just beautiful.
"We want to be free... Free to ride our machines without being hassled by the man!" |
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Ben Tice |
#10 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/25/07 8:28 AM |
Thanks Skip. I'm really happy with this bike. It rides great and looks good. Waiting as long as I did to find it was worth it.
Ben |
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kcroadrocket |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 879 07/25/07 12:33 PM
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that is one beautiful T. why couldn't i have found that one. later, bud
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Ben Tice |
#12 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/25/07 5:07 PM |
Bud, there's a 98 Green and Cream T listed on EBAY. It has a little over 14k on the speedo. I really don't know what shape it's in and I believe
it's being sold by a dealer. Not sure though. I noticed the tank emblems have been taken off.
Ben |
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eclecticdawn |
#13 | |||
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HSATF Road Captain
Posts: 358 07/26/07 7:44 AM |
Ben, that is one gorgeous bike. I love the color combo!
Live It, Love It, Paint It, Ride It!
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Ben Tice |
#14 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 83 07/26/07 9:07 AM |
Thank you Dawn. The color caught my eye right off the bat. I guess it's the "old school" thing.
Ben |
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gr8scott51 |
#15 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 699 07/31/07 9:44 AM |
If you need another bike to clean - I just got back from collecting 2,000 miles of road tar and bugs. When should I bring it over?
Great looking bike, gotta love the two tones. Scott "Silence is golden, duct tape is silver" |
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