I unzipped the two front zippers of my convertible jacket and pulled the phone from the chest pocket.  A message showed from an unknown number.  Odd.  I pulled the jacket off and hit "voicemail".

"Hello this is Paul at Paul's Motorcycle, phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx.  When you get this message please return the call."  

I dialed. "Paul.  I'm returning your call.  What's up?"

"I wanted to let you know I got the head disassembled and there are some parts you're going to need."  Wash of relief.  He got to it.  He finally got to it. Now I don't have to get to him.  I don't have to go through the pain and agony of finding another machine shop.  Hallelujah.

"Alright, what parts?"

"The exhaust valves are toast.  At least four of them are beginning to crumble.  You'll need to order four of them for sure.  Vesrah is your supplier.  You can get them through CalCoast or through Cycle Gear, they should be able to order them up for you."

"Vesrah, eh?  I'll get all eight for you.  Do you need them before you can do any further work?"

He did.  Couldn't grind valve seats without the valves to match them to.  I promised to get him the parts asap and hung up the phone with a grin.  TIME TO START SPEEEENDING MOOOONEEYYYY!!!!! WHOOWEEEE!!

No idea, you, dear reader, have no idea how long I have waited with trepidation for The Word, the signal to start ordering fresh new parts.  No idea how many anxious weekends spent disassembling (four weekends) and wondering to myself How Much Will It Cost.  Projecting worst case analyses, scanning through parts catalogs and websites, wondering, calculating possibilities.

And now I know. One exhaust valve costs about 25 bucks.  I'm replacing all eight, which means 200 bucks.  The valve job itself will cost $320, or two months' kittied wages.

If I don't have to replace the camshafts.  If I do, a set of slightly hotter street cams (Webcam) costs about $350.

(Nobody said this was going to be cheap, although I must admit crashbox's original guess of $150 was a bit off)

So here I am, poor again but stoked.  Things are finally moving along!  Now by July maybe I can afford to take the jugs and crankshaft in for THEIR doctoring.  

In the meantime, petty cash will go toward getting the tank stripped and clearcoated, the tail piece and front fender sanded and painted, pick up some bar-end mirrors and bullet turnsignals.