I’m telling you – when I saw that seat snug down on the pan, and how astonishingly well those colors worked with the pan and the tank…
I almost needed some private time.
It’s been a couple days now since the seat was installed, and life got super complicated for a sec, I -finally- got to take it out for a quick ’round-the-block’ to see how the seat feels in actual use. I’m incredibly pleased. It’s bonkers. The seat height changed from a stock 28″ to a tad over 32″, and it’s a whole ‘nother bike now. I’m -really- digging the ride. Can’t wait to get some weather that’s above freezing to go for a longer shake-down cruise.
Since it was sunny out (finally) today (Jan 10, 2020) I also took a few more photos. I collected all the bits that were removed and stacked them up in front of her. I swear there’s a second bike here. I’m hoping to get the thing on a scale somewhere and see how much weight has been shed.
But that’s for later.
I’m really happy with how she’s turned out. Sooo much work, sooo much learned. Mistakes made, confusions sorted (or made worse), systems and techniques sussed.
And the obligatory Before and After:
Is she perfect? Not hardly. There are a ton of things I could have done much better, been more precise, maybe ripped out and started over – but you know what? My OCD about trying to get everything perfect has learned a huge lesson in, as mentioned before, not letting ‘perfect’ be the enemy of ‘good enough’ – possibly even ‘mighty fine’. In a very unusual moment for me, I look at this thing I’ve made and don’t -only- see the areas that should have been better. I see something I’m surprisingly proud of, and if I got nothing else out of this whole process, that may be the important bit.
Then came a pandemic. Then came validation.
I entered Dragonfly into the Garage Brewed Moto Show here in Cincy, one of the best bike shows I’ve ever been to. No expectations, I’ve seen the quality of the builds others have done, but hey. No guts, no glory, right? Well… I got in!
Seeing folks totally dig the build was a total ego boost. I had an utter blast.
I think I may have finally run out of words on this, other than some incredibly heartfelt THANK-YOUs.
Mike Mitchum – ’cause this would never have even begun if you hadn’t gently lured me to the ways of the Savage, been the best of friends, and shared in the process in every way imaginable. I am also in crazy anticipation of seeing the results of your finished cafe build!
Bill Devore – ’cause it’s weird to find you’ve got a kindred spirit that by all rights you should have known for almost 30 years but somehow just met. You let me borrow your welder, and that’s when this thing got serious, and your Garage Brewed Moto Show sparked the idea that maybe, just maybe, I could actually take a crack at this. Supportive and great to talk to and always incredibly enthusiastic about pushing this thing forward.
Christina Lambert – ’cause I’ve known you mainly in film circles, you’ve been willing to come and act for free just to teach some kids how making movies works, we’ve downed a bottle or two of wine now and again talking about amazing films yet to come, but on the bike front I’ve always been in awe of your spirit. The seat is gorgeous and perfect, and completely finished the look. I’m a lucky dude. And I -will- join you on the Jeep front again. Oh yes, it will happen! 🙂
Jane Carter – ’cause, dear friend, you instilled the bike bug in me waaaay back in the early college days when you’d take me for rides on your Virago down country roads on hot, magical summer evenings out in Earlville, flying past the vast acreage of rural Illinois. I was smitten. True story.
The crazy cast of the Suzuki Savage Forums – such an incredibly rich font of knowledge about pretty much -anything- you’d ever need to know about this ridiculous bike. It didn’t matter how small or obscure the question, somebody there knew the answer. I’m forever indebted.
Jeff and crew at Revival Cycles. The willingness to talk through the electrical nightmare of swapping out the old harness for the new was humbling. And bonkers effective. I know I gushed over it before, but when this thing turned over for the first time after so many years of dormancy, it was one of the better endorphin rushes I’ve ever had.
Motogadget, RebelMoto, Dime City Cycles, Revzilla, Dennis Kirk, Ace Hardware, McMaster/Carr, and Stewart McDonald all played their part in, um… well, parts.
Thank you all, you bastards. Now I want to do it all over again. Time to find a new donor bike…. 😉
