I am headin to The BMR (Big Mountain Run) this year and my old dresser is in need of a top end up grade before hitting the mountain riding...anyone have any tech tips or words of wise before tearing into it...any info would be rad

 

You're young, ride the chopper.

 

Inspect the cam and lifters. Inspect the crossover pipe under the covers.

What problems are you having?

 

Like the redneck tan! lol

 

If you want to put some good money into her, do a thorough top end, heads and cylinders, lifters. Make sure wheel bearings have been serviced, inspect the belt, check rubber, change all 3 holes, a/c, lube cables, check the voes hose for cracks, pipes at the cross over for cracks.
Your bike actually looks pretty clean, have you done a compression and leak down test?