First Ride, what a joy

[The Gecko_imp]

After
- cleaning every corner of the bike,
- replacing filters, tank, hoses, chain and sprocket, turn signals
- takin' every switch and many connectors apart since they must have all gotten wet
- wheels off and on (for cleaning the calipers), and replacing brake pads and fluids
- getting mud out from on top and behind the cylinders, spokes, and in G.knows how many other places
- not the least cleaning and polishing the pipes for hours ....
- getting rid of the O2 sensors (which didn't work no more),
- and screaming for joy when the engine started the other night (after many more not so successful attempts ...)

I had my first ride today, up to Monte Sano State Park ... in case the engine quit under my but, from where I could still roll home.

What a beauty, and all mine for 3000 bucks, plus parts and a lot of optimism, and some 40 or 50 hours of really hard work. Riders, friends, forum members ... I love this bike ! Tomorrow will be a daredevil's trip all the way to Guntersville lake, hopefully in sunshine and 80F.