[Tman]

Ok, heres the deal. Many of you from the HAMB know I am more heavily involved in hot rods than bikes. That said, I grew up on dirtbikes, around HDs (uncle owned a shop) etc.

The last time I did any amount of riding was around 4 years ago. My old Honda 500Twin was a blast but I neglected it to the point it wasnt any fun to ride.

I traded that bike off to a pal for a Honda 500/4. It was a neat little restored bike until he stored it outside. I plan on freshening the 4 up this winter. I intend to use the 500 to get back into riding on a regular basis. I would rather do this for minimal expense and get some miles back under my ass.

I also hate the fact that folks who have never ridden go out and buy a big bike that they cant handle. I dont feel right doing that.

Also, Carla (my wife) has been wanting to learn how to ride. She can bomb around our acreage on my old dirtbike to start but I feel the Honda will make a great second step for her.

Then I must admit, being a fabricator is the one thing I dig. I am really itching to try out some ideas I have on a bike. I blame Condor,Cole,Shoes Trump and the Danny F post for inspiration. Down the road I might just have to play with a Vtwin or a Britbike. I really feel the need to do something. I know my good pal CrazyD would like another person to ride out here with!

I dont want to join any "scene". I just want to get back on a bike because I enjoy it.

Kinda a rambling post. I guess I am asking for thoughts and input?

 

[Tman]

Oh, and I SWEAR I wont post about every nut I change or each new doo-dad I buy! hahahhahhhahahaha Sorry Mike

 

[TRIUMPH TERROR]

Gosh I am blushing as this might be the first time I have ever been a positive influnce on anyone.Not sure I should should be mentioned in the same line as the others but thanks for the compliment.

Shoe

 

[Tman]

Gosh I am blushing as this might be the first time I have ever been a positive influnce on anyone.Not sure I should should be mentioned in the same line as the others but thanks for the compliment.

Shoe

It was watching how much fun you had on the dragstrip! And that Trump is pretty damn cool. Between you and Dave, I found a new excitement with bikes.

 

[Bigcheese5300]

Going back to square one.....pretend you dont ride,

That's not hard for me, I barely ride as it is. I know what you mean, though, about lots of inspiration. I've already got two-and-a-half projects cooking in my brain in addition to all the car stuff I've got to do "someday."

Plus I've got to take the LSAT and go back to school for a while!

 

[CrazyD]

This damn board is inspiration !! My fuckin head won't stop dreamin of projects. living out here its all HD so I really don't know shit about trumps or BSA or? Hope I don't ask to many dumb ?

Tman its cool ya want to get back on 2 wheels, we need to get our shops done so we can get all of our projects going!!

Shoe I have witnessed how you can influnce people, smart ASS HAAAAHAAA

 

[Built2Ride]

Fabrication is the best part. Doing your own shit your way, then riding it! Nothing beats the feeling! Ken

 

[Tman]

This damn board is inspiration !! My fuckin head won't stop dreamin of projects. living out here its all HD so I really don't know shit about trumps or BSA or? Hope I don't ask to many dumb ?

Tman its cool ya want to get back on 2 wheels, we need to get our shops done so we can get all of our projects going!!

Shoe I have witnessed how you can influnce people, smart ASS HAAAAHAAA

Yeah Dave, shops come first. Damn I need to get that stucco done! The old Honda kinda gets me going. I think those 70s bikes look best in .....umm....resotred form. Did I say that outloud?

But, I also like the fact that this board is not all HD, you and I are both tired of the attitudes out here in the Hills.

I hope I can take my thinking from the touring and build a bike that is my own style. I see so many cool bikes on here, so many cool ideas, I would feel like a heel if I just built the same thing. I have ideas, I even bounced one off of Condors twisted mind. But the one that I have been schemeing on for almost 10 years is out there, I dont think I have even told you, at least the copious amounts of beer drinking made me forget it if I did tell!

Anyone got a MotoGuzzi transmission?

 

[jimmydiesel]

Crazy D,

I'm a BSA and Trump guy---got most of the BSA shit down,still honing my Trump skills.I am currently putting the finishing touches on my A65 chop,frame paint and wiring.Nice to see BSA out there,but at the same time....you want the only one.I built mine because my dads first bike was a 57' BSA.He had his doubts about me messing with an old Brit...but he was hip as I started cutting it apart.Any questions just ask.If I can't answer,I'll tell you who can.

Jimmy Diesel

 

[GumbyChuck]

I dont want to join any "scene". I just want to get back on a bike because I enjoy it.

Kinda a rambling post. I guess I am asking for thoughts and input?

Can't pretend I don't ride...been doing it too long, don't know what else to do!

But as an answer - do it! Get back in the wind! I've taught people to ride, I help everyone I can with their bikes, just to try and share the joy I get from riding and building.

Go for it!

 

[Tman]

Can't pretend I don't ride...been doing it too long, don't know what else to do!

But as an answer - do it! Get back in the wind! I've taught people to ride, I help everyone I can with their bikes, just to try and share the joy I get from riding and building.

Go for it!

You know Chuck? I still own my first bike. a 70CC Indian dirtbike. When I was 13, I would ride the bus home from school and top off the tank. We lived out in the Hills, I would dissappear for hours on the Forest Service roads, just ridin and 'sploring the woods. It is a freedom I found playing with mountainbikes in my 20s.

Now, I want that feeling witht he throttle back. Thanks for your input, it is inspirational.

 

[Pure Hell]

Fun little ride ... think its a great way to start ....

I like those Lil' Hondas "pretty stock" .... a flatter narrow handle bar, drop the ass end a bit with shocks or cheater brackets ... maybe cut down the seat foam and tighten the cover ... and dumping the stock pipe ... big difference ... weight alone ........

Did it to one, and it was more fun to ride and it took a bit of chunky out of the look ....

 

[CrazyD]

Crazy D,

I'm a BSA and Trump guy---got most of the BSA shit down,still honing my Trump skills.I am currently putting the finishing touches on my A65 chop,frame paint and wiring.Nice to see BSA out there,but at the same time....you want the only one.I built mine because my dads first bike was a 57' BSA.He had his doubts about me messing with an old Brit...but he was hip as I started cutting it apart.Any questions just ask.If I can't answer,I'll tell you who can.

Jimmy Diesel

Thanks man!! fo sure be chaten in the future

 

[Tony]

Tman..it's been about 10 years since i rode a bike on the street.
Like you, i'm more into cars, but there's always been a spot for bike's too.
I LOVE fabricating, it's something thats become a major factor for me in whatever i try and do.
I picked up a triumph from my uncle last month, in pieces, and i'm stocked about getting back into it.
I'm deffinately NOT a biker..never claimed to be..
But i'd be lying if i didn't say there really is something special about getting on a bike and riding..no matter how close or far..
I have a feeling once i get this one built...there will be more to follow.

No matter what you start with....i have no doubt you'll be building the bike you want to build sooner than you think..
And judging by the pics i've seen of your touring, it'll be one kickass bike i'm sure!

 

[Sporticus]

Plus I've got to take the LSAT and go back to school for a while!

Free advice: Take the LSAT more seriously than I did. I thought I was too cool to get bogged down by standardized testing, and that my genius would shine through! I'm now in my 3rd year at age 35 (i'm a late bloomer) and damn sick of being broke. I'm grateful that my wife can keep food on our table. I haven't been able to roadrace in two years, and nearly all projects have fallen by the wayside. Yes I'm whining, and thanks for listening. I'm really looking forward to gainful employment.

I recently started building a rat XS650 chopper, mostly because I was feeling restless and I had enough parts at my disposal (friends, scrap metal pile, etc.) to get started. I have other m/c projects waiting for me that demand real money. If I didn't build the XS, I was planning on a CB350 for the same reasons. Enough friends vintage race them that cast-off parts are plentiful. In fact, I've got a frame and some triple clamps if you want 'em.

The world is there for your chopping. Enough creativity can make nearly anything cool.

 

[gahi]

cool thing about bike projects is you can store 4 of 'em in the space of one hotrod.

 

[tom]

trent sounds like you're ready to get back on the pegs...so what are you waiting for? get the honda running and roll. you got some of the best riding i have ever done right outside your doorstep (ya bastard)!! if the wife wants to ride on the street, i would suggest the MSF course...trust me, its good for anyone getting back on the saddle and for a newbie its priceless. maybe you will be on two wheels for the next reliability run!

 

[Dan]

Trent - if Carla wants to learn I think a Honda Rebel would be a good start (also the dirt is a great idea, I think anyone who wants to ride on the street needs to cut their teeth in the dirt)- they can also be made to look kinda cool - maybe give her a chance to do some fabbing and customizing. I think they be had cheap too, not sure as I've never searched for one. I tried to teach Tonya on my GS 750 and that was a mistake.

 

[atch]

trent,

as for you getting back into riding, with the riding experience you mentioned above you'll do just fine. especially since you are going to get back into riding with a "smaller" bike. not that the 4 cylinder honda is all that small, but it weighs LOTS less than a goldwing or ultra-glide and will be lots more agile. it's typically the idiots who have more ca$h than common sense that hurt themselves (and all too often others, too) on big bikes that they aren't ready for yet. i don't think you're the type of person to fit into that category. at least that's the impression i've gotten from the times i've been around you.

as for carla, i've never met her, so i don't know how tall she is. a lady friend of mine started riding about 3 years ago at the age of about 34 or so. marie is pretty short and had never ridden before. she took a riding course and the instructor recommended a couple of bikes for her to look for that are close enough to the ground for her short little legs to reach the ground from. one was the honda rebel and she bought a 600 (650?) rebel. she's ridden the wheels off of it and loves it. the other recommendation was one of the other japanese makes, but i don't remember which one. marie sat on both of my harleys and couldn't reach the ground from either one.

like i said, i've never met/seen carla, so maybe she's 5'-11" with loooong legs for all i know. if so it'll be much easier for her, but if she's of average height then one of the bikes that have the seat closer to the ground or a custom made (by tman) scoot that's stretched & lowered might make her more comfortable. that 500/4 would make a great bike for her engine size wise. and if she can reach the ground as it sits then all the better. but i seem to remember that the seat on those is pretty far up off of the ground. so, in the vein of "two birds with one stone", you could get in some fab time and she could get a really cool scoot if you stretch & lower the 500/4 for her.

'course you'll have to have another bike ready for yourself if you give her the 500, but, hey, build one for you too and viola!, you've built two bikes.

but whatever you do, here's to you and carla and your upcoming riding adventures.

 

[CrazyD]

Bro looks like your in the wind!, Put the Drag car on the back burner?