Author Topic: I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!  (Read 494 times)

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Offline bigjoshc

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I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!
« on: May 12, 2014, 07:16:16 PM »
Greetings from upstate New York, USA!

A couple of months ago I realized that my youngest son didn't know the difference between a flat head screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver. I immediately decided to keep my eyes open for a project bike to work on with my boys (15 & 17).

One month ago I picked up a 1973 CB350F at an auction. I paid $450 USD for the bike and that included an extra engine for parts. I took a big chance on buying the bike without hearing it run. But, it turned over and seemed to have good compression. I'm pleased to report that thanks in part to this forum the bike is running again!

What I'm most pleased about is how working on this bike has brought my boys and I closer together. We've spent a lot of time working on this bike the past four weekends. They're doing a lot of the wrench turning and I'm giving them advice and pointers just like my dad did when I was their age. 

1973 Cb3504:  $450.00
Parts:  $400.00
Bonding with your kids:  priceless!

-Josh

Here's a pic of the bike when we brought her home.
1973 CB350F

Offline calj737

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Re: I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2014, 07:19:33 PM »
Great story and even better reason to buy a bike. I've done the same exact thing and that led to my oldest son deciding to attend college. He now is studying Transportation Design with hopes of designing bikes as a profession (I've created a monster!).

We're in the midst of our 4th bike in 2.5 years....

Some pics of your boys with bike would be great to see-
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline bigjoshc

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Re: I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2014, 07:26:54 PM »
Thanks!

Here's a pic of the boys and the bike (after they removed the awful sissy bar).
1973 CB350F

Offline calj737

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Re: I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2014, 03:06:08 AM »
They don't look like they're having any fun at all...  :-\

Did you get the whole "Dad, is this bike mine or his?" from them? Or, "When we build the next one, I want to...".
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline 70CB750

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Re: I'm teaching my sons how to work on motorcycles!
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2014, 03:59:07 AM »
Good for you, Josh!
Prokop
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Pure Gas - find ethanol free gas station near you

I love it when parts come together.

Dorothy - my CB750
CB750K3F - The Red
Sidecar


CB900C

2006 KLR650