Okay, here’s my blog post about working on my 2003 Harley Davidson V-Rod, written in a casual, first-person style:
So, I finally got my hands on a 2003 V-Rod. Been wanting one of these for ages! It’s a bit of a project bike, but that’s half the fun, right?
Getting Started
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. Just walked around it, checking out the condition of everything. The paint’s got some scratches, and there’s a little rust here and there, but nothing too scary. I’ve seen way worse, you know? It’s an older bike, so I expected some wear and tear.
The Deep Dive
Next, I popped the seat off and took a look at the battery. It was pretty corroded, so I disconnected it and cleaned up the terminals with some baking soda and water. Made a bit of a mess, but hey, that’s garage life. I hooked it up to a tender to see if it would even hold a charge. Fingers crossed!
Checking Fluids
After that, I checked all the fluids. You know, the basics: oil, coolant, brake fluid. The oil was pretty dark, so I’m definitely going to change that. Coolant looked okay, but I’ll probably flush it anyway, just to be safe. Brake fluid was a little low, so I topped that off.
- Oil level check
- coolant condition looking
- Brake inspection.
Tire Time
The tires were next on my list. They were pretty worn down, and I could see some cracks in the sidewalls. Definitely not safe to ride on. So, I ordered a new set online. Should be here in a few days. I’m excited to get those mounted.
The Little Things
I start to do some research on how to properly clean it. After some read, I decided to remove the air filter, and cleaned the box, it was pretty dirty.
I also spent some time just cleaning things up. I wiped down the frame, polished the chrome a bit, and just generally tried to make it look a little nicer. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do.
What’s Next?
For now, I’m waiting on those tires. Once they arrive, I can get the bike up on a stand and really start digging into the bigger stuff, like changing the oil and flushing the coolant. I’m also thinking about maybe swapping out the exhaust at some point, but that’s down the road a bit.
It’s a process, but it’s a fun one. I’m learning a lot, and I’m really enjoying getting my hands dirty. Can’t wait to get this thing on the road!
