The Builder

Let me just start by saying that I'm taking some serious artistic license using the word "builder" when referring to myself. Actually, it a gross misuse and almost an outright lie given my experience.

Moving on.

OK, so I am 36, unmarried (basically a given considering I now have three bikes but am not a millionaire), and live in downtown Washington, DC, though I am originally from Connecticut. I have a small house in the city with a backyard and an 8'x12' shed that will serve as the "garage" for this little disaster. The shed has power, but no heat. It's 34 degrees outside today, and probably 33 degrees inside the shed. Good place to work on a bike.

All self-deprecating aside, I am handy and have a decent tool collection. I've owned a few bikes (noted below as best as I can in chronological order), and have done some projects.

-197? Yamaha 125 Enduro
-1976 Yamaha 650 Special
-198? Yamaha Virago
-1976 Kawasaki KZ400
-199? Yamaha 600 Seca II (takes a real man to admit that)
-1996 Ducati Monster 900
-2001 Triumph 955i
-2004 Yamaha FZR 1000
-2002 Honda RC51 1000
-2004 Harley Super Glide
-2004 Harley Springer
-2006 Ducati 749S
-1972 Harley Ironhead 1000

What I can do:
I've painted two or three bikes myself, including frames and one engine. I change the oil on all my bikes. I've replaced clutches, chains, handle bars, seats, sprockets, pegs, pipes, and I've rebuilt the carb on lawnmowers and scooters. I've taken wheels off and put them back on. I've done some wiring.

Yup, that about wraps up that list. From there, you take take all the things you need to do to build a bike, subtract the above from it, and see where my deficiencies lay.

My partners on this build will be my always unhelpful Pitbull, Allie, a Clymer manual for 1959-85 Harley Sportsers, and lots of how-to videos on youtube.com. [Insert mockery here]