4orty9 Panhead

   I just took the panhead for its first real test ride yesterday since finishing up the "rustoration".  With the exception of riding it around the block a few times to make sure it was road worthy, this old panhead hasn't seen the road since I tore it down for a complete overhaul many years ago.

  So, early one recent Sunday morning with no current tag on the bike and about a quart of gas in the tanks, I cranked it up and headed for the gas station about a half mile away.  As I hit the street and went through all four gears a smile that couldn't be contained even if my face was placed in the jaws of a vice, slowly appeared  from ear to ear as I quickly realized that every panhead that I have owned or worked on somehow becomes the best running panhead that I've ever ridden!


  Starting with mostly a complete bike that needed major repair, I added many parts that I collected through the years and dozens of parts that I hunted down on eBay.

                                             
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A complete rusteration that anyone but a purist could be proud of.....now, if I only had a healthy back to enjoy riding it for more than a half an hour at a time...