Janel & Gary's Photos, Music, and News...: BMW Progress

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

BMW Progress

So out of the blue about three weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a man in Oregon. In the e-mail he mentions that he heard somewhere that I was looking for a Rabid Transit fairing.

He has one complete with the exception of the lowers (which were an option back in the 70s) and he has no use for it.

The fairing without the lowers just does not look correct, and I'm not sure why anyone would not have spent a couple of more dollars for them, I suppose some folk just wanted a spot to mount a radio, a few guages, and also have the glove boxes, and were not concerned with looks of the bike. Maybe the look without lowers is one that grows on you..

A few e-mails flew back and forth.. he has the original mounting instructions, wire loom, handlebars, headlight cover, fairing pocket covers, high touring windshield, and the mounting bracket for a /6 BMW.

Now as you know, I already have an RT fairing for the project bike, but lacked the wire loom..

I asked for a price and to shorten the story I'll just say that the price was more than fair (probably due to the lack of lowers)and I now have a back-up fairing.. It arrived while I was in Rangeley, (Janel moved the large box into the living room and told me in a phone conversation it was here). I sat in the woods a few days and it kept running around in the back of my mind..

I have been toying with the idea of using a set of BMW RS fairing lowers and with some fiberglass work making them fit a Rabid Transit fairing. I like the look of the way the RS lowers wrap around the cylinders..

It is sort of a shame to cut up a RS fairing just to salvage the lowers, but no guts no glory.

I have a set of Rabid Transit fairing lowers to use as a guide, so guess I will give it a shot.. If nothing else it will be unique. It will be no easy job to make this happen though.. both sides of the fairing lowers are different due to one cylinder being forward of the other by an inch or so.. There is also the oil cooler and flexible brake lines to remount, so some fabrication for that essential gear is going to need to happen.

I'll send them both to the paint shop and have them painted the same colors but perhaps in reverse of each other..

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The Rat Cat Story - by Janel

Rat cat came to us in a strange way. I was looking out at the greening of sping taking place when I heard a strange sound under the shrubs. I walked around to the front of the bushes and there underneath was what looked like an injured rat or squirrel. Upon further investigation it turned out to be a 5 month old kitten with an abscess so large that he looked like Quasimodo. He was so sick that he allowed me to pick him up and wrap him in a towel. I immediately took him to the vet where he stayed for a couple of days. Apparently he was bit by either another cat or rodent - therefore his name is rat cat. He has been a member of our family for 9 years. He is really a character and very loyal to me. He actually sleeps on my pillow every night and is very aware of any little hurts that we may have. He lays his body on the injured place and seems to think he is healing you. he is a joy and tribulation all in one.

Alexander's History.... Gary

Alexander came into this world, as do many kitties - homeless, very small and not so sure to survive. Cowering in a small and cold steel cage in a bleak shelter, he pulled at my heart strings and I happily added him to my life. He started out tiny, so I thought he needed a big name, thus Alexander the Great. He has since grown to meet his name. He is a big lug but very sweet and affectionate. He can meow up a storm when he wants his chow, which is so often he's on a diet now.

He is an American Short hair tabby cat who has many cute tricks....

He rubs noses and taps on my shoulder when he wants my attention and at meal times'

One cute gesture he taught himself was giving a high five. That was his first trick and it still cracks me up after 10 years.

At night he waits for me to pull back the covers and say, "let's settle in", and thats just what he does. He snuggles into his spot by my side and there he sleeps comfy and cozy all night.

He is a great cat, that Alexander... Whoops.. have to go, Alex is calling me for chow. Time to go , dont want to keep the big guy waiting.

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