Topic: How I got started in Honda's

[purf_man]

Well way back when my father was in the Navy during a little conflict in the early 1970's.  I grew up hearing about riding around the west coast on his 750.  alot of this was learned when I was 11 or so and we went camping out west as a family.  We went to a whole bunch of national parks out west sorta retracing where he had been.

fast forward 3 years (circa 1989) and my parents were preparing to move to our new house.  we had BOXES of slides from when my father was in the navy (he bought a Pentax camera cheap overseas and tooks LOTS of pics of Japan and of the ship)  most the pictures on the slides were of temples, sumo matches, downtown tokoyo and the aircraft carrier he was on (pics of his shipmates and friends)

there were a series of pictures that I still remember to this day.  The rule on the ship at the time was that you could buy a bike in Japan but no more than three (unless you had a dealer lic.)  so on the cruise out they stopped in Japan to refuel and such.  One of the parts of the stop was to place the ships order for honda's to be picked up on the return cruise (this was a conventional powered ship and planes and ordenance needed replaced)  The series of slides I found as a jr high kid were that of the ordance deck filled with chromed motorcycles parked handlebar to handlebar.

Later as I got older and bought my own motorcycles the stories of what really happened came out.  turns out when they picked up the bikes you had to find a place for it.  the majority of bikes ended up on the single deck but some ended up in the ships bowels.  The bikes were loaded dry of fuel and were to be left alone for the most part (granted this was the cruise back to the US port so everyone was fairly relaxed)  one bike ended up being stowed in the machine shop by a millwright.  turns out it "fell over" and the carbs "came off" and needed "repaired".....er rejetted and bigger carbs installed....

once in port you wheeled your bike(s) down the ramp and were given a splash of gas.  then he rode over to the "DMV" on base and for $11 had a title and plates on his bike.  they then rode the living snot out of them while on leave (his ship went into drydock for 9 months in seattle so they just rode all over the PNW when not on duty)

His first cruise was in 1969.....so take a wild guess how many 750's were stateside at that time?  not a whole lot!!  Some of the dealers they stopped at during this first ride out had never even seen one in person yet.  He said they were given all kinds of hell from teh law since all the sailors in town were on the fast 750's and none of them could be ran down by the Harley cycle cops.


so they would ride all of leave and sell them to a shipmates father in San Diego that had a motorcycle dealership for what they paid.  they did this a couple times over his enlistment.

so for me a Honda SOHC4 has always ment something special to me.  I enjoy hearing stories of the rides and trouble they got into from my father and only dream for the summe rI cna get off from work to do some touring of my own.....maybe even on a SOHC4

[azuredesign]

Go for it! I took my dad touring in Europe with me in 1987 and 1990, both trips that are near and dear for the remainder of my duration. If your dad is still around, might make for a good and memorable trip!
All best,
Ben

[purf_man]

he is around but has bad knees and can't ride.  Otherwise I would love to get a pair of SOHC bikes and to a tour like that (he still has the pup tent and backpack frame he carried on his sissy bar)

I am working construction right now and saving up my vacation time so when this job ends in a couple years I can take a month or more off and tour.

[azuredesign]

Which way you thinking of heading?

[bill440cars]

he is around but has bad knees and can't ride.  Otherwise I would love to get a pair of SOHC bikes and to a tour like that (he still has the pup tent and backpack frame he carried on his sissy bar)

I am working construction right now and saving up my vacation time so when this job ends in a couple years I can take a month or more off and tour.

          Too bad about your Dad's knees. Sounds like he and I are fairly close in age. I was in the Air Force from Aug 66' - Aug. 72' (4yrs active and 2yrs inactive & remember when the 69' CB750). That is a COOL story though and we ALL should pay close attention to our Mom's and Dad's, if we still have them with us. purf_man, I'm not sure about YOUR Dad, but my Dad (who's had quite a history with motorcycles) would get enjoyment going to a Motorcycle museum or even to a guy's place (a buddy introduced me to, that has about 75 restored bikes of ALL kinds and brands. Or, or example, if my Dad could see the bikes that Gordon (Ilbikes) has gone through, he'd be amazed.   There is something really satisfying about seeing your Dad and/or Mom really enjoy themselves.

                                      Later n, Bill    

[Raul CB750K1]

I think I talk in name of everybody in this forum, when I say I would love to see some pictures of those bikes in the ship!!!!!

[purf_man]

well I would need to get back home (currently 1000 miles away for work) and then go through the thousands of slides (although I am sure I could narrow it to a dozen or so trays)  anyone know a good way to transfer slides to PC?

[hopterfixer]

Get a scanner.  A lot of flatbed scanners have slide and negative adapters, or you can get a dedicated negative/slide scanner.  If you have a bunch of slides to do, as you say, the dedicated scanner will save you a lot of trouble.  Look on Ebay for a Minolta Scan Dual (II, III, or IV) that will work with your computer.  I have both a flatbed with adapter and a Scan Dual II. 

[GammaFlat]

well I would need to get back home (currently 1000 miles away for work) and then go through the thousands of slides (although I am sure I could narrow it to a dozen or so trays)  anyone know a good way to transfer slides to PC?

Scanners are a pain in the neck - time consuming and tedious.  If you want an automated system, you're talking several hundred bucks.  Walgreens will scan slides and give you the digital version for .29 cents each if memory serves me.  When I was interested, they offered to discount the price for larger quantities as well.  There are places online where the slides are converted out of the country that are cheaper.  Ken Rockwell has some good ideas here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/3000slides.htm  He (Ken) also is my source for information regarding photography - just about anything you want to know... from beginner questions to as technical as it gets. 

Good luck!  I'm looking forward to seeing the pics. 

[754]

I got to ask, did they get salt corrosion that was noticeable?

I bought a Ducati Scrambler hulk off a guy in Bremerton Wa, it is very near 3 naval bases. He sells bikes and parts on ebay, and said he found many grey market bikes in that area.. servicemen buying overseas and selling them there later. One of the nicest buyers I ever dealt with.. everthing on the duc was welded on so it was hard to get it small enough to fit in the trunk of the Saturn!!.. it was minus front end as I screwed up my snipe, the buyer said send me the Ceriani forks and do what you want with the rest!!.. so I bought it..

I got started in Hondas, well I hung around the Honda shop a lot cuz I loved bikes..eventually the paid me to help once in a while.. used to put a few together for them.. remember putting together brand new 72 or 73 350 twins!! and trail 90,s.. Got my first bike from them a knackered 67 CL 175..

Was there the day they fired up the first Elsinore they got, a guy from schoool was the rider they sponsored.. went from CZ to the big H..