But it does look really good. After the first round of chrome plating, there were some details that stood out even more and needed some attention, and here they are:
First of all it was the kickstart lever (which had been "forgotten" the first time around, don't get me started), then the small bracket for the blue marker light, the domed nut and washer for the avionics box and finally the actuating rod for the rear brake, complete with the little coped spacer and wingnut. It all comes together like a French pastry...
These may all seem like very small details (a nut, a washer...) but believe me, they add up to that "quality feel" I'm going for. That's not to say that the Rising Star will ever be one of those gleaming, impeccable, world-famous show bikes but that's fine, I don't need it to be. This bike will always be very much a shed-built special and I'm ok with little imperfections here and there, but I will still try to make it as neat as possible. Rather than pour effort into making it perfect, I want to look at it immersed in nature somewhere and think "man, what a cool ride". Isn't that the point to it all?
