First successful ride on my Steamer

[Dr. Mordo]

Well, today it happened.  I test rode it and didn't have to turn around or push it the last quarter mile back to the house.  It took me 7 months to the day (to be fair, I was out of town two of those months, and another two I was waiting for a mechanic to rebuild the carbs - he finally ended up bailing on me, and then at least another 6 weeks was spent waiting on parts).  It still has a slight miss at idle, but nothing crazy.  It's certainly a work in progress - new chain/sprockets are in order as well as new intake rubbers.

Since I bought the bike I have done the sprag clutch (twice, if you recall my thread about said project), cleaned and rebuilt the carbs (with mucho help from y'all, particularly Mustang), put new tires on it, a new fuel petcock, new battery, and a bunch of little things.  Overall I've got $1900ish in it including a full 3pc set of Givi luggage.

Tomorrow, if it cranks in the morning, I am riding it to work for the first time.  I think I shall call it The Phoenix.  Maybe the Black Phoenix?  But I'm thinking of sanding and painting it, so it will likely be the Red Phoenix.

[aeronca]

dude, she's a beauty, dont f@#$ with the paint. after all, the phoenix arose frome the ashes - so - black = ashes, plus it's cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D  and best of all, it's a steamer! i know what you went through, i rebuilt my carbs twice, two set's of ignighter's untill i listened to mustang and bought the nology, pluged tank vent, blown rear end, but all said and done, i love this bike. i crahed twice off road yesterday and never had more fun!(she's a bitch to pick up though). you got a nice bike man - now ride it like you stoled it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dr. Mordo]

I forgot to mention that I replaced the coils with the Nologys as well, which certainly helped.

I'm thinking about painting it because it has some fairly significant rash from some previous owner dropping it repeatedly.  I may not paint it; I'm still "contemplating the ifs".

[JetdocX]

Well done, Dr. Mordo!  Is it really running?  

Don't paint it, just ride like an idiot!  Scratches are street cred and people get out of your way, DAMHIK!

Enjoy it!  

I feel bad for your F650, though.  Hard to compete with a beast like this (when it's running :lol:  :lol:  :lol: ).

[Mustang]

   
you are going to fall in love !
Leave it black and scratched , gives it character  

[Mudhen]

Congrats on sticking with it and getting her going.  Don't want to jinx you, but I bet you're out of the woods now...not much else left to do but ride her into the ground (that's just a figure of speech, don't actually lay it down or anything  :D )

And the work/time may have been painful, but at $1900 you've only got about a quarter of what I have into mine (including my fancy wolfman soft luggage :? ).  The only people with more are the dummies that bought them new!  (only kidding Mustang!)

[CBAT]

Well done.     Now go forth and ride!  











nice box ;-)

[tigerrider]

That's damn AWESOME!

Looks great in black, put band-aids on the scratches.

[Mustang]

the dummies that bought them new!  (only kidding Mustang!)

:shock:  
It's been nothing but since that first ride in July 95 and price didn't matter .

I just been grinnin   longer than most is all

[Mudhen]

the dummies that bought them new!  (only kidding Mustang!)

:shock:  
It's been nothing but since that first ride in July 95 and price didn't matter .

I just been grinnin   longer than most is all

I was just goofin'...I'm as smitten as anyone over this bike...

[cascadetiger]

Great to see the Steamer up and running.  These bikes are unique and worth the hassle and money to fix up.

I had a CB 650 that I totaled, I was young and couldn't afford the insurance.  I scrapped up enough money over the winter and bought parts to get it back together.  I named it Phoenix too.  It was black by the way.

I wouldn't paint it either, you'll just worry about scratching up the new paint.

[Mustang]

I was just goofin'...I'm as smitten as anyone over this bike...

I know , but some of us (i am in that list) really are dummies !

[Dr. Mordo]

Well, it made it to work with no issues.  It does have a pretty good miss and it stumbles just a bit as I roll off idle.

But overall it is running real strong so far.

Thanks again for the help, and I look forward to seeing you guys on the road!

[nightrunner]

Congrats man!  Yeah, you're gonna have fun with it.  Think of it this way.  Most of us learned the ins and outs of steamers as we went along.  You go the education all up front.  Good luck with it from here on out!

PS. Have you thought about a set of engine guards for it?  Definitely helps keep the scratches to a minimum.

[nightrunner]

:shock:  
It's been nothing but since that first ride in July 95 and price didn't matter .

I just been grinnin   longer than most is all

You bought a '95 new and still have it?    I bow to your wisdom and foresight.     Seems to me they only sold a couple hundred '95's in the US.     I remember the first time I ever saw a Tiger; in 96 at a shop somewhere in the SF bay area.     MSRP was $10,995 at the time IIRC.  I still have the brochure.    No way I could afford it then.     I still think they're best looking bike ever made.