Anticipation with Accolades

Looking through the windows here at Tank HQ, I can see Spring beckoning the May flowers, as it has, relatively often, in the last month. I’m not lazy by nature, but have studied the concept, ad nauseum, so as to provide a little balance to my life (i.e. “all work and no play…”). I have squandered quite a few really gorgeous days in an attempt to cover my “Honey Dos”, “pay it forward” and build some ride credits I can cash-in, when Spring is fully sprung.

I have been led to believe that the anticipation is better than the execution, though I have never personally experienced this. In anticipation of riding, and in the spirit of procrastination, I have tinkered my winter away in an anticipatory euphoria. I tinkered on the RM and tinkered on the Husky, that is, until my purse strings were tied around my “tinker” and hoisted up to my chin. Like most of you, I would dedicate the lion’s share of my salary to having tricked-out, jaw-dropping, Works bikes if only I didn’t have to eat and support a family. Though I don’t mind spending money, I like making my expenditures worthwhile; never confuse motion with progress.

Some of my anticipation comes from buying “stuff” that I know I will eventually get to use. I already have all the plastic for my 92’ Husky ready to bolt on…… as soon as I get the engine swapped to the additional frame (that I couldn’t pass up on eBay for $50)…..that has already been soda blasted (thanks Chief a.k.a . Swirvin) but STILL needs to be powder coated. And my new handle bars are already set-up and ready to bolt on….. as soon as I get the suspension done AND mount the new tires that I’ve held onto since 2008… You get the picture. In the vein of “bang for your buck”, there are two companies which have done work for me in the past months that I can highly recommend to you with no reservations or purpose of evasion: Stepupmx.com and Pacific Crest Pipe Repair.

You see, I have always wanted a bike with American flag graphics on the shrouds. Her moniker will appropriately be “Ole Glory”. Patriotism flows through my veins like oil from a rock-busted crank case. The only problem is, the bike has to have the right color plastic for the graphics to “POP”. The 92’ Husky, being white with a blue seat, seemed to be the right candidate, although, the next issue being, NOBODY makes custom graphics for a 19 year-old bike. I contacted five different graphics companies that I found on the information super-highway, and not one even had the courtesy to send me an e-mail back to say “No” or even “get bent”. I’d tell you who they are, but I’m sure they are TOO busy for us “weekend warriors”.

While conducting a chair-borne patrol of a European brand’s, enthusiasts website, I read some threads by vintage bike builders and Mini-parents praising Troy at Stepupmx.com. After reading all of the accolades and drinking the Kool-aid, I figured, “Eh, what’s one more e-mail into oblivion?” Within 48 hours, Troy had e-mailed me back explaining that he could do it, but he didn’t have a pattern for that model bike. I spent some time on PowerPoint creating an image of what I wanted, and then e-mailed my concept to Troy, offering to send my new shrouds as a guide. He ACCEPTED the challenge and in a mere 10 days, had e-mailed me photos of the proofs for my”perusal or refusal”. For $125 bucks, Troy at Stepupmx.com, made a custom design for an uncommon bike AND made me two sets. In a day and age where service and quality are not synonymous with economic feasibility, this is service that deserves recognition. Stepupmx.com gets Tank’s Commendation Medal for performance above and beyond the call of duty. Once you “Step-up” you’ll never step back! Contact Troy: Troy@stepupmx.com or Tel. 954-782-0527. I’ve still YET to receive a response from the others.

The expansion chamber on the old Husky was pretty ugly (a contradiction of terms) and finding a replacement was going nowhere. Following the advice of the knowledgeable staff of Dirthammers- Forum, I went to the Pacific Crest Pipe Repair website (piperepair.com) and read their propaganda campaign, reconnoitered their photos and decided to pull the trigger. I filled-out the on-line order form, paid my minimal $60 plus return shipping and then went in search of a box that would suffice for the anaconda-sized pipe. Boxed up and ready to ship, I went to see what “Brown” could do for me.

It takes 7 days by ground for “Brown” to get a package from S.C. to OR and vice-a-versa. It takes a day to get your pipe fixed, if you did your work on-line, because they move your pipe to the front of the line when you’ve paid in advance. In about 2 and one half weeks, I received my pipe back and could not have been happier. No scarring, no marring or discoloration and it was as shiny as a new quarter. It takes a lot of damage to hamper the performance of your lower pipe, but ugly doesn’t wash off; Nancy Pelosi is living proof of that. It was well worth the money to have it professionally fixed and it couldn’t have been simpler. For great service and truth in advertising, Pacific Crest Pipe Repair gets Tank’s Achievement Medal for meritoriously fixing ugly at a reasonable price. Now, I just can’t wait to see how my shiny pipe and custom graphics look on the bike…..once I get the frame coated and swap the engine and mount the tires and ………….

Tank