So I Got a CalVin

[JC85]

Finally!!! Several of you know that I've wanted a CalVin since they came out, and have been really watching used prices and lusting after one for the last several years. Being a blue collar working single parent, though, I couldn't quite afford one. Well, thanks to a hot tip from John over in Missouri and the generosity of Terry in Lindsborg, I finally got one! It's an 07, and has had an interesting life.

Apparently, it was wrecked by the original owner, early on, and the tank, bars, windshield, lighting, and one side case were trashed. It was sold as salvage, and the person who bought it replaced the tank, bars, and lighting, then sold it to Terry. He repaired the side case, doing a beautiful job, and then remapped it with his own custom fuel map. He put less than 20,000 miles on it in 8 years of ownership. By the end of his time with it, he had totally stripped it down and put some short bars on it to hot rod around town, running it like a naked sport bike, which is how I got it.

Anyways, since he is riding less, only putting a few hundred miles on it in the last year, and since he didn't have a lot invested in it, other than time, he gave it to me for an amazingly generous price. So a friend took me up to Lindsborg on Sunday, and I rode it all the way home, grinning from ear to ear the whole time!

This is how I rode it home from Lindsborg, although Terry was nice enough to reattach the Plexistar 2 windscreen he had for it, before the ride. I found the short bars to be pretty uncomfortable, but the performance and fun of the bike made up for any discomfort.




And now, after 2 nights of work to reassemble all of the accessories and swap the bars and shifter back to original, here she is. I went out for a solid 100 miles, this evening, and I'm in absolute love!

[Lannis]

Looks like a great way to get a nice bike at a good price.

History is history ... Just like Ferraris, the rule is:

"First-a rule of Italian driving - what's-a behind me is not important!"

Lannis

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

In the second photo in the corner of the garage, is that an old loop frame set up for touring?

[JC85]

In the second photo in the corner of the garage, is that an old loop frame set up for touring?

Yep. That's my '74 Eldo, inherited from my dad. I've been bringing it back to life for several years, now. I need to update the thread I have for it in the rebuilds section of the forum, sometime soon. Recently took it the Denver and back, a 1200+ mile round trip, and then hauled a cargo trailer, riding two up, 200 miles each way to the MOKAN rally.

[kballowe]

Congratulations on that new CalVin !

 

[et18]

What a nice looking bike, congrats!

You were right to change everything back to stock, those flat bars just do not fit that bike, the "after" photos are much better.

[dxhall]

If the old bars fit in the stock clamps without shims, I’d take them off your hands ...

[JC85]

If the old bars fit in the stock clamps without shims, I’d take them off your hands ...

The short bars are 7/8" diameter, so they don't fit in the stock clamps. However, I have the set of 7/8" clamps that I pulled off when I swapped the bars back, as well as a set of pivoting risers for them. If you're interested, shoot me a pm.

[Scout63]

Great looking bike, especially the spoke wheels.

[Guzzistajohn]

Glad it worked out buddy! Everything fell right into place! And I got a new (to me) Ned's seat on my Cal-Vin that is OH so comfy! Terry Peterson came out ahead, You came out ahead and I benefitted my behind! A win-win-win situation!

Thanks Terry, The check's in the mail!   (really)

Adios SKUNK! in the box you go!

[Kev m]

AWESOME!

Enjoy!


 

[Dave Swanson]

Congratulations on a wonderful bike!  Patience certainly paid off!

[Cam3512]

Congrats!  I still miss mine, a white ‘09.  My first new motorcycle.  Knew I had to have one the moment I saw the first photos. 

[Guzzistajohn]

  Ned makes a nice saddle!

[JC85]

  Ned makes a nice saddle!

Nice. It does look comfy! I like the look of the skunk, though, and I'm still young and tough enough to take it.  Really, though, it's like a pillow, compared to the solo police repro that I have on the Eldo, so I think I'll be happy with it for a long while, haha.

[Guzzistajohn]

Nice. It does look comfy! I like the look of the skunk, though, and I'm still young and tough enough to take it.  Really, though, it's like a pillow, compared to the solo police repro that I have on the Eldo, so I think I'll be happy with it for a long while, haha.

I'm keeping the old skunkaroo, I'm just not sittin' on it! It's a little gawdy for my taste anyway.