Links:
couldn't have
done it without ya!
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Links: couldn't have done it without ya! |
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There were so many people that went into the re-making of this bike that I fear there's no way I'll remember them all, but here's a try.
Every member of the Micapeak Yam650 mailing list. This was the first XS-650 internet community I found when I started researching the bike. It's a great community full of people who know enough about the bike to make the designer's ashamed. What's best, they're incredibly giving and friendly on all levels.
All the members of the XS-650 Garage USA web community. Once again, a tremendous community in both good friendly folks, and mountains of XS-650 information.
Orange County Choppers and Discovery Channel for constantly replaying the first season of American Choppers to the point where it was hammered into my brain so far I really had the audacity to believe I too could "build a bike."
MikesXS, the best and only resource for 650 parts I ever needed. There are other fine suppliers out there, but no one could compare to Mike'sXS for convenience, price, and service. Mike is single handedly keeping 650's on the highway all over the world.
James for being the first person to tell me to go ahead and try the project in the first place. Plus lots of other help far too numerous to enumerate.
Tom for lots of help, most notably the highly unpleasant job of lugging the engine back into the frame.
Chris, for coming over at a moment's notice when I discovered I had to get the bike out of the apartment more or less right away, when I wasn't even sure it was physically capable of leaving the apartment in an assembled state. It did.
John, for the near daily instant messenger round of 20 bike questions of the day.
Cynthia and Mike, for Mike's selfless giving of his time and expertise, and Cynthia for the most excellent moral support and encouragement, and for them both taking me on my first ride.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which holds beginner's riding classes all over the country. If learning to ride, I strongly advise you take the class. Yes, you can die a lot more easily on one of these than a car, your life is worth some professional instruction.