Steelfingers
New Member
Glad to be here. Very new so I'll try not to cross any lines or break any rules. If I do, it's unintended. I have made a couple of mistakes and paid for it. Plus I deserved it. Long story, I'm 67 with Cancer. This is important as you will see later. Anyway, I was raised poor as dirt. Father passed when I was eight and Mom had a stroke and was very disabled. The 4 of us kids were raised by the 5th child (big sis) who was a teen. So we all worked. I loved bikes and they were something I could afford so I was riding, legal, at 15. Worked my way through college working 3 jobs and the first thing I ever bought new was a 1975 Honda CB 360t that I bought off the floor room the Honda dealer where I went to college. It was a 365 day, 24/7 vehicle for me. I only dated chicks with cars. Ha. Anyway, I'd always had a bike and rode until about 12 years ago because of work. But as I was getting close to retirement, I wanted a hobby. Found a bike just like the one I had about 7 years ago. The tank was in great shape and she turned over so I bought it and had it shipped to me. Got it running so I knew it was a job I could do (gravity fed and no electronics). I started taking her down to the the last screw (Honda Phillips that I replaced with hex heads..thank God). Then I found out that I had lung cancer and within two weeks I was in a Cancer Hospital having my right lung removed. Cancer in the other lung as well but they couldn't touch it. (this is where the Cancer thing kicks in). Spent the better part of a year in several hospitals as I was not suppose to survive any of the 7 surgeries. ZERO chance of living over a year according to my surgeons and Docs. I was not in a good spot mentally but I decided to focus on that bike and restoring it. Between hospitals and surgeries, I had zero air or strength (went from a solid 180 to 120 lbs). At first I wasn't able to do more than ten minutes or less a day on the bike. Wife would help me get to my bench or mechanics seat to work. I did this every day. Started putting on weight and getting a little stronger. Even after other surgeries I was able to look forward to getting back to my bike. 10 minutes got to 20 then 40, hour and then a few hours. Everything was done by hand. I went through a ton of 0000. Upgraded and replaced all the bearings, wiring, reg/rect, bulbs, mufflers, tires....you get the picture. I didn't know how to do 90% of what I did but because sites/forums like this, I learned. So much talent on these forums. I'd never have got through without these places.
The project kept me going as the Doctors had no idea (even now) why I'm alive and able to do what I do. It's taken 6 years but two weeks ago, I finally finished. She runs, looks great and I caught lightning in a bottle one last time. I plan on doing the same with a vintage 175 Honda soon.
All of this to just say "Anyone can do it if you love the process". This process was filled with gremlins and dead end streets but because of these forums, and historic knowledge they have, I made it.
Here's a couple of pics I took the day I finished
The project kept me going as the Doctors had no idea (even now) why I'm alive and able to do what I do. It's taken 6 years but two weeks ago, I finally finished. She runs, looks great and I caught lightning in a bottle one last time. I plan on doing the same with a vintage 175 Honda soon.
All of this to just say "Anyone can do it if you love the process". This process was filled with gremlins and dead end streets but because of these forums, and historic knowledge they have, I made it.
Here's a couple of pics I took the day I finished
