Upon further reading, might I just add - very sorry to hear about Yrjo's injuries. Specifically. The crash, well - THAT'S all a part of racing. I can look at a thousand of these bikes being crashed, at ALL of our bikes being crushed and know it would only inspire us to rebuild 'em and build 'em even BETTER next time. Even the rarest Unobtainium parts of ten years ago which we see being re-produced and for cheaper today, only proves how much things could be IMPROVED by smashing each and every one of our bikes! But a person shouldn't have to get seriously hurt while racing, just to make it exciting for the rest of us, to help us all get our adrenaline rush. Not PERMANENTLY anyhow! So here's hoping Yrjo's mended up as nicely as a bike can do. Having dealt with some accident injuries, some disability and some 16yrs of round the clock chronic-acute pain which heavy doses of narcotics can't mask, I can certainly appreciate what a difference each and every inch worth of recovered abilities can mean. I don't know you from Adam, but I admire what you've done here and surely there's gotta be truth in "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" - So I'll go on the off chance that you're not a horrible person and wish you all the best with recovering. Sounds like a horrific injury. It's almost enough to put one off about this whole project of yours. But what a hell of an achievement what a hell of a beautiful beautiful bike. It's a thing of beauty to race a bike like that. I can accept the risk of sudden death. But of long-term chronic pain and disability? Going through #$%* like this can make you question EVERYTHING you've ever done every risk you've ever taken. Well - suffice it to say, the #$%* I screwed up MY health for were a lot less worthy than your bike! Those fleeting heights can sustain one through the most deep & prolonged lows. If only we let them.
'Cause it's one thing to "live the dream", another thing to dream it - but something else entirely to REMEMBER the dream once it's turned on you and bit you with more than just a nip in the ass but really tears you in two. My own problems are the result of a whole list of incidents, but the 1907 house my first-wife & I were fixing up when my back truly #$%* the fan, well - now I can't even LOOK at homes & architecture - would live in a tent if it weren't such hell on my back sleeping in one ... more to the point if I could stay awake 24/7 (AND stay alert enough not to hurt somebody - which is to say being kept away 24/7 hasn't proved that difficult these past years), if I could I'd live on the seat of my BIKE ha-ha. If only to avoid having to look at those lovely old homes & gardens which once seemed so appealing. Which is to SAY, I hope this hasn't done the same for Yrjo with respect to BIKES! Now that would be the real tragedy.
-Sigh.
