This caused me to think about what to do with my time. I could take up sports. Well not really, because all of the sports that I ever attempted I was the last person picked. So then maybe I could......um.......oh! I could go hang out in the corner bar. Well, maybe not the best idea. So then I guess I need a hobby. So what should I do. It was about this time that a friend needed help replacing a head gasket on a car. I had forgot how much enjoyment I got from wrenching on something.
Then about another week later a friend asked if I wanted to help him on a Small Black Chevy rebuild that he had for his project truck. I jumped at the chance. I went to his shop, and together we put the engine back together and got it ready to stab back into his project truck. I can't wait to hear this thing run. Its a SBC stroked to a 383 with a solid roller cam and Edelbrock Performer Intake with a Holley 750 Carb sitting on top. I enjoyed working on this motor so much that I decided that I needed a project of my own.
Now I had to take my time deciding what to work on. I thought about a classic car. I thought about a kit car. I also thought about picking up an old project and trying to stuff a 5.0 V-8 into a Ford Ranger. The problem with each of these ideas was the same. Where am I going to work on something that big? I only have my garage and it isn't big enough to work on a car or truck project and still hold my motorcycles. Also, did I mention that my wife has gone back to school? So I can't really afford to rent a space and buy parts for the project. So then I was left with one possibility. What about building bikes?
I have already worked on plenty of bikes. I started with minor cosmetic stuff on the YZF-600R that I had, then worked on the R1 and later the Ducati S4R. I have almost completely redone the Big Dog Chopper. Between the mechanical problems, the electrical problems, and the body work and paint that I am currently in the middle of, I have done most everything required to build a bike. It was then that I decided that I would build a bike. Now I just have to decide what kind of bike to build. Choppers have just about been done and there is very little originality left in the chopper community. Also, I have a chopper and really don't enjoy the lifestyle or the ride. What I have seen that I like is a resurgence of the old school Cafe bikes. There are many talented builders that are starting to take the old British and Japanese bikes from the 60's and 70's and turn them into modern versions of Cafe Racers and Bobbers. Ideally, I would want an old school Vincent with its British V-twin and minimalist design. As those are hard to find and cost more than a small house, I think I need to stay with a UJM, or Universal Japanese Motorcycle. So with that, I started searching Craigslist to see what treasures are available. I am not sure how much effort will take or how long it will take me to get it done, but I have some ideas that I would like to try my hand at.
I have also always wanted to blog. I have a few friends that I really enjoy reading their thoughts and blogs and I have decided that I will document my experience building this bike. Afterall, the enjoyment for me is in the build itself. I feel like a kid with a new pony in that every day I can't wait to get off work, get home and get changed to go out and see what needs to be done today. So follow along if you like and see how my mind approaches the projects ahead of me.
Jay
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