They are painted black gloss (and peeling)
Long story short:
Back in the mid 80's I was going to buy this bike, it was a basket case and all I could afford. I was living on the road at the time (scuzzy hippy) and my 'home's' motor went pop so no money for the bike sadly. My best mate bought it and got it on the road.
He painted it purple, chromed some bits (side panels and other bits'n'bobs) and painted the heads.
He ran it like that for years, then had a bad accident (car) and lost his mojo. The bike languished in his lock up, unloved for several years. In an attempt to help him rediscover his mojo I conspired with Cookie to recomision the bike. Cookie did all the work (a lot) and I stumped up the cash as my mate was broke.
The bike was delivered back to him a few years ago now, suitably sorted and he must have done 100 miles on it, the plan didn't work
Now, it's always been a standing joke between us that it should've been my bike and as such WAS my bike. I made it clear that should he ever get shot I wanted first refusal..........
I'd all but given up ever having the bike and 3 (4?) years ago bought myself an imaculate Cali ('Merkin import). One week later my mate phones up offering me first refuasl on his (MY) bikeso I sold the immaculate one (Johno23 on here now owns it) and grabbed The Old Shitter off my mate.
Sooooooooo........there is so much history between the bike, myself and my mate I am leaving it (cosmetically) as he had it. I have added the checked seat as the original was fucked and have sorted stuff mecahnicaly but, visualy, the patina remains
There, you did ask didn't you..................
As it was when I first got it off him:
Andres
Great story and the best reason to leave it exactly as it is
