Unfinished Project [Part Two] Getting There.

i'm out in the shed until 2300hrs saturday night trying to programme the speedo, in the end the wine and fatigue take their toll and i sack it and go to bed, i'm awake early doors, brain trying to figure out how to set the bloody thing up, a half-hearted look mid morning sunday and i just put the seat and tank back on, fuck it, too nice to be dicking about in the shed, the bikes taxed, mrs b did it on-line for me, i just don't have a disc to display, so, only thing to do is stick the reg plate on with some double-sided tape, [so much neater than drilling it and using plastic screws]. i cram my jacket pockets with a selection of allen keys and spanners and off to shake the bike down. i head across town to call in and see ben at roadhouse tattoo, it's only fifteen miles, a quick brew and catch up and stop for some fuel, the petrol in the tank is eight months old so some fresh octane is in order. i'm being very cautious as i am with any newly re-built bike, hey, we are all human, people forget stuff, one of the best things i ever learned was always, but always, tighten up fasteners to the correct torque setting whenever you put one in, even if it's only temporary, even so, i have that nagging doubt that there may be a fastener just finger tight, no loctite, just waiting to vibrate out and send me down the road. after the all too brief four-laps-of-the-village last weekend my initial impressions are good, yes, the bloody thing is still heavy, [the ducati feels like a 250 in comparison], even after shedding a load of weight, but, on the road, the handling is really good considering the nineteen inch front wheel, the front end is a little soft despite changing the oil for a heavier grade and swapping the springs for progressives, definetly going to invest in some cartridge emulators in the near future, the rear shocks? well, what a revelation, i really can't recommend the ram/realm shocks highly enough, great feel and damping, not too stiff or harsh, they soak up the pot-holed b roads with ease, the wide, harley sportster bars and rearsets are perfect for me, the bars offering loads of leverage and the rearsets not too high, just far enough back and offering a really natural riding position. the keihin 35mm smoothbores are just too good, the bike starts on a wiff of choke, knock it off as soon as the bike starts and it tick's over immediately, theres no coughing, farting or banging on the over-run, just brilliant performance from the get-go, the exhaust? umm, let's just say it's pretty loud even with the 'baffle' fitted, i'm laughing like the strange bloke who sits next to you on the bus as i wind it on and scatter cow's and sheep in the fields next to the road, juvenile? yep, you know's it, the weather deteriorates and big, heavy raindrops hit me in the face like ball-bearings, [open face helmet today, no visor] i turn onto a minor road and head for home, quick glance in the rearview, bugger, traffic car, bmw, where did he come from? i'm waiting for a tug, illegal black and silver plate, not only that but not legal dimensions, [too small] and i'm not displaying any tax, plus i don't have a clue how fast i'm going as the speedo is inoperative, he follows me for what seems an age, i reach a t junction and signal left, he turns right...........