When this was first announced I interviewed a Harley rep who admitted their trademark would have applied not only to competing Japanese cruisers but also to virtually all Ducatis and Moto Guzzis. The feeling was the application was too broad to be approved, so H-D bailed on it.

Nothing leaked, broke, or fell off on the first ride. I'm quitting while I'm ahead and having a shop do the doohickey. Rain's in the forecast so I'll spend the next week fiddling with small stuff. Just wanted to get in one test run first. Feels good to have it all done.

..there will be less ground clearance under the bike, but unless your friend is an aggressive rider that might not matter.

Yes, the forks need to be moved up in the clamps to keep the geometry more or less the same as stock. Whoever you buy the lowering links from should provide the specs for that.

That said, the sidestand will now be too long. Shorter ones are probably available for that bike. Ask Uncle Google. And...

If you mean Honda CRF300, try lowering links. They can take as much as 3 inches off the seat height.

It amazes me now but when I raced I changed gearing for each track and lengthened/shortened the chain as needed with master links and half links. I ran around the banking at Daytona at 150 with a chain not unlike your Norton-riding buddy's.

Sophie had the same reaction. "Seriously? That's all that stands between me and going hungry? Your IMAGINATION?!"

1050 ft-lbs breakaway

Nope. Nein. Nyet. This is the last one. My back won't survive another project bike. After this I'm buying an old Miata and driving into the sunset with the top down, the radio playing Bonnie Raitt, and Sophie in the passenger seat.

This was the first time in more then 55 years of wrenching when a big-ass breaker bar wouldn't do the trick. That sucker was on there TIGHT.

Great bikes, those. Always liked the styling. Probably all the motorcycle that 95% of riders would ever need. Easy to work on, too, with screw-and-locknut valves. Based on their scarcity I'd guess most of them ended up as scrap. I'd be temped if one came up for sale around here.

Rubber dampers for the rear sprocket hub (old ones rock hard and loose) and a lock tab for the countershaft sprocket (arrived yesterday, they sent the wrong part; I'll reuse the old one). But but c/s nut is frozen so I'm off to town to buy an electric impact wrench. The adventure continues...

Boring? I'm not qualified to say, having never ridden one. But I have seen one, and I can say for sure it's butt ugly.

OK, but who's the villain? Hmm. Maybe the editor of a popular motorcycle website...

The preponderance of evidence suggests otherwise.

Should end in "?", so, yes.

Thanks, but no. I've been doing this for almost 40 years. I have my network pretty well set up.