Almost 400 miles on OSCAR!

[Hal the Elder]

Hey everybody...this is Hal the Elder, now 76 years old!

Today I changed the oil and installed a new battery on OSCAR, my 2005 NE-5 Whizzer, which I bought NEW on Nov. 1, 2008, with zero miles on him! The old battery wasn't holding a charge anymore.

OSCAR now has 397.9 miles, after four years and one week of ownership, which works out to just under 100 miles per year!

Here are the modifications I made, with the help of Quenton and others, to make OSCAR more lively at the 3000 foot altitude where I live in the High Mojave Desert of Southern California:

Removed the California Intake Restrictor, which limited the HP to 1.95. (Less at my altitude)

Replaced the restrictive stock muffler insert with a free-flow insert.

Replaced the carb main jet with a larger one.

Replaced the stock valve lifters with a pair of mushroom lifters.

Advanced the valve timing one tooth on the camshaft gear.

Had Quenton mill the head and scoop the combustion chamber.

CHANGED THE DRIVE FROM AUTO-CLUTCH TO SLIP-CLUTCH! (My best mod!)

Installed a more efficient front brake. (But it's no improvement in stopping power over the stock brake.)

Replaced stock wheels with ones with heavier spokes.

Replaced wimpy stock bars with cool RISER BARS!

Oscar will now easily top 40 MPH, but I don't like cruising my rural back roads at over 25, because of inefficient brakes.

Take care, guys...
HAL the ELDER

 

[Mike Notigan]

Hal,
It's great to hear that you are still motorbiking with Oscar. I followed your expoits with Oscar when you refined your bike with the help of Quenton a few years back. Hope to read of any day trips you may take the old boy on in the coming year. Be safe out there and hope to hear of your new adventures with Oscar!
Take Care,
Mike

 

[Hal the Elder]

HEY MIKE,

Thanks for the reply!

I'm now awaiting the shipment of a 1-foot length of 1.25" I.D. steel flex tubing I ordered to allow me to make my final mod to OSCAR: Giving the tailpipe/muffler a 15-degree up-sweep. I'll probably only need about 4"-6" of it, just for the splice.

I'll cut the header pipe just to the rear of the crank hanger, then slip and clamp the piece of flex tubing over the cut ends. The muffler will be re-clamped to the upper rear wheel brace, using the stock mounting hardware.

My "Old Boy" is just over 4 years old, and like the three previous motorcycles I've owned, my rides will never stray more than 12 miles from my high desert home, and will be on traffic-free rural roads or dirt trails where I wouldn't care to go faster than 20 MPH anyway! (There's a LOT to see up here on a 12-mile ride!)

My Best...
HAL

 

[ranger-ron]

Good for you Hal. I'm turning 70 in a few months and I still enjoy riding around the neighborhood on my modified Ambassador.
What handle bars did you finally end up with? I was reading your older post from when you were looking for just the right bar. Based on what you were saying, it sounds like they are the same style I'm interested in. Can you post a good picture of them and where you bought them?
Thanks, Ron

 

[Hal the Elder]

HEY RON,

70, Huh?
How ya doin', Junior?

I don't remember if I bought my risers at a bike shop or ordered 'em online, as it was over 3 years ago...sorry.

I'll try to post a picture of OSCAR showing his bars, if I can remember how to post a picture. (Darn... this advancing Alzheimers is a pain!)

HAL the REALLY Elder

WAIT!!! Here's a shot of an older man with the same-looking Riser bars that I have, taken somewhere in Montana. (He should raise his kickstand!)

 

[Racie35]

nice to see you enjoying your bike Hal.....keep at it!

 

[Hal the Elder]

Thanks, Racie!

HAL

 

[Racie35]

I'm getting a set of those handlebars for my NE5......these wide ones are uncomfortable

 

[Hal the Elder]

Go for it...get those Risers!

HAL

 

[Hal the Elder]

Hal

HEY

I didn't intend to post TWO pictures of me and my previous SUZUKI SAVAGE BIG SINGLE (652 cc).

I don't know how to delete one of 'em and enter some text in its place...


HAL the CONFUSED

DEAR ADMINISTRATOR:
Please delete one of the pictures and include the remaining one with my "GO FOR IT" post.

Thanks
HAL