Hi there, flyinelvis here, long time lurker on the SOHC4 forums. My first motorcycle was a 1978 CB550 back in 1980 (OK, so I’m dating myself). Great bike, great experience. Did some stupid things, lived through them. Like many 20-somethings, I fell in love, got married, had kids, and well, I bet you know where this is going. The bike sat and was eventually sold to help with a downpayment on our first home. I never forgot that bike.
Fast forward to 2012 and a surprise heart attack. I was always very active as a mountain biker, road cyclist and adventure racer, so this came totally out of left field. But it was time for me to reassess a few priorities. The mother of my children had moved on to greener pastures, I too was contemplating marriage again (did so in 2013) but it was also time for me to get my hands dirty. Build something. A vintage motorcycle would fit the bill nicely.
The WrenchMonkees had just released their sporty little brown CX500 that appealed to me and I started on the journey. It came together very nicely (a 1980) and soon I had restored a ’78 Standard and built a nice backwoods carver from a 1979. All three bikes have since been sold but I’m happy to say that I get to see/ride with 2 of the 3. Well pleased owners.
Next, I moved on to Honda’s GT647 Hawks. Long story short, I ended up trading a Gen 1 SV650 for a flight of four Hawks of varying disrepair. Got one running and sold it to a friend (still ride together), sold one as a parts bike, spent an outrageous number of hours (and $’s) on the one I’ve kept (see my avatar), and I’m currently in the process of rebuilding the top end for what I hope to be a future sale. A much overlooked bike, these Hawks. I’m hopeful that one day 3 of the 4 will be back on the road. I love mine, she’s a keeper.
So I’ve skipped all the bikes I’ve owned in between, and recently I purchased a set of twin 1977’s CB550’s. I felt it was time to bring this full circle. One is a pretty nice, clean, apparently stock ride (she’s a leaker, but nothing a few seals and gaskets won’t fix). Too nice to modify. The second is an old girl that’s a bit rough around the edges. My plan is to clean and sell the nicer stock bike and build up the project bike with a modern GSXR fork, nice new wheel set, and a MotoGPWerks pipe, all items that I have recently gathered.
I have enjoyed being a part of the CX500 and Hawk forums. This looks like a comfortable place hang out, gain some knowledge and contribute where I can. Build thread and pics to (hopefully) commence, soon…
-tom
