Topic: ANCIENT BUILDS!! What was your first project back in the day?

[zzpete]

  I just found some old pictures of my first 1971 CB750. It was all stock when I got it in 1975. Being 20 years old I couldn't leave well enough alone so I tore it apart. 811 kit with cam, I bought a NEW set of lester mags (I think they were $300 back then). The thing hauled ASS!!!!
I had a touring set up and a street set up (53 tooth rear sprocket) Man... those were the days, you know ,when you had hair!!

Here I am in the basement contemplating my next move!

Here it is in everyday driving form.

This picture was taken in August 1977 on a trip to Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island. The bike could still lift the front wheel with that HUGE Daytona faring. I sold the bike in 1983 and bought a honda Sabre(big mistake). You can do a lot of crazy $#!+ before you have a family

Today, I have another 1971 but its staying stock.

[ksmith0034]

Nice thread!  I don't know how many folks will have cool old photos like yours, but I'm sure there are many stories. 
I learned to ride on a Suzuki T500 (maybe a '75?) back in 1984, but didn't have my first project until a couple years ago (too busy RIDING!!!)  Now I am turning my '71 CB750 into a custom cafe racer.

[zzpete]

Cool Ksmith,  1 of the old pictures was a polaroid and the other 2 were taken with one of those old film disc cameras from kodak. I'd like to see a pic of your 71 when its done.

[CycleRanger]

I like the red stripe tires in the first pic. 

Hair, yeah, I used to have that too...

[gerhed]

 In '67 I got a '55 Harley service cycle
--took off the box--installed plastic rear seat
--no one would ride on it with me!

[zzpete]

  Now thats what I'm talking about.

[bucky katt]

no pictures of this one, i didnt own a camera and digital cameras were really a futuristic pipe dream in 1989. 1951 triumph bonneville t-100 hardtailed chopper. 500cc's, pre-unit construction, denvers choppers 18" over springer front end. i paid 270 dollars for it, got it from a co-worker at hunt truck sales and leasing before he had to turn himself in for a 5-7 year sleepover up in starke florida. i'd never ridden a motorcycle before, i finally got it kicked over, rode it around my front pasture for 10 or 15 minutes (the horses werent real impressed) and then i hit the road. i never even had a bike license for 5 years after that for nearly 10 years i rode a series of british and italian (ducati 250cc 2 smoker) motorcycles until i finally had enough of the wonderul electrics and the amazing motors with their great oil seals (insert sarcastic tone here) i didnt get my first japanese motorcycle until february 2004.

[mycb750k6]

Me on my 71 K1 in 1971. RC Engineering pipes, cam and pistons. Chrome valve cover and white jugs. Hot dam!

[MJL]

I progressed in this order:
bicycles
lawnmowers
cars
motorcycles
4x4s.

In '95 I had a '79 Monte Carlo with a 231 v6. That motor died and I spent a small fortune (to me) to swap in a v8.
My first motorcycle project was getting a kz440 running. (needed points) Since then the projects have done nothing but become larger and more expensive.

[dhall57]

Not a project bike, but just one of my first Honda's. What a great little bike it was. Here I am on my 1971 SL 175.

[Calflash]

54 Harley KH. Got back from Nam and bought it for $75.00. It smoked like a 2-stroke. Got a repair manual and rebuilt it with the help of an "old biker". I thought he was old, he was in his 60's. I've changed my mind about that!!!

[ksmith0034]

...I'd like to see a pic of your 71 when its done.

Me too.   It's taking FOREVER!!!  Stupid unemployment!

[dave500]

hey dhall,my first bike was a SL100 73,,before that we found at the dump one of those reel type mowers where you pull the cone clutch in and it drives,we rigged up a motor with angle iron and tacked a board to stand on the back with wheels nailed on,we ran  the drive chain bypassing the reduction,it did about 20 miles an hour,,it was great for a whole weekend untill the cast iron drive drum shattered,,we were riding it all around the neighbourhood on tar roads,what a racket!!we were 13 or 14,,what do kids do these days?

[GammaFlat]

I hope you don't mind if I copy your color scheme - that is one gorgeous bike. 

[zzpete]

  Hey Gammaflat, Its Valley Green Metallic from  vintagehondapaint.com I also used his decals. Thanks for the complements. Heres the link. http://www.vintagehondapaint.com/Site/vintagehondapaint.com.html

[grumburg]

1950 Harley Panhead with sidecar in 74-75. Paid $1000 and rode it home. No one wanted old Harleys (or new ones) in the mid 70s. Kept for 25 years and sold to someone in 2000 who thought it was worth more than I did. Pans haven't appreciated very much in the last 10 years. Everyone wants Knuckleheads.

[ekpent]

I kind of thought that the color was more of the K0 Candy Blue Green. The Valley Green Metallic seems greener. I am trying to secure a 71 750  that has that color scheme if we can get it out of the back of the guys pole barn. The place is packed with boats and non-running cars. Pictured bike is a sample shot from paint Colors.   http://www.spookytoms.com/CB750K-PaintColors.html

[country joe]

A 1974 Harley Davidson Sprint 350. I got it in 1991 from my dad as part of my 8th grade graduation present. It was in rough shape (and still is). It was super hard finding any kind of parts or anything for these bikes, especially back then. Well, it was supposed to be a Father/Son project, but over the years I got distracted and never did get it running. It is still a basket case. It was complete when I bought it, but I did so much so long ago I think I actually threw away some of the parts. I'll never sell it. It's part of what got me interested in bikes, and is still a part of my history. Maybe one day I'll hear her run. We did rebuild the top end when we finally found rings and pistons for it (In 2003). I started playing in bands and #$%*, so I got real sidetracked from it in high school.

[zzpete]

  That picture doesn't really do the color justice, heres another. I bought the paint from vintagehondapaint.com.  I think it looks good. I put it up next to an old side cover and it does look different but the old one is so faded its hard to tell.

[ekpent]

That is a great looking bike-a real head turner for sure-nice job on it.!!

[fastbroshi]

I nabbed my first project back when I was 19 or 20.  It's a '78 cb550.  I promptly tore it all down to the frame, didn't label things very well before I bagged them, and threw out the carbs because they were so old and cruddy.  They were so covered in grime they probably would've been okay.  Bores and head are perfect, probably should've kept them in hindsight.

   I still have everything but the carbs and exhaust.  This is the bike I'm currently converting to my track ho.  Never got a title for it so I guess it's fitting.

[vorhese]

Here's some pics of my dad in the 60's on his Dream

[zzpete]

  Ya Gotta LOVE IT!!!!!!!

[dhall57]

I like that super hawk vorhese. Those were the days!!
Lets play name those cars. Can anybody name them all??

[Hush]

I guess I started with small Hondas, I had heaps of two stroke bikes and motors floating around my shed from which I built rat trail bikes for me and my kids.
One memorable bike was a lovely CB360 I got for a case of beer, new pipes from Japan and some tidying up and it was mint.
Same guy gave me a CL175 with a shattered motor, spend about a year rebuilding and painting that wee thing, damn pretty bike, I think it went down to Wellington to the Honda Owners Club when i sold it.
One trail bike I was proud of was a TC185 which is the farmers model of the Suzuki TS185, had electric start and all, this bike taught me about welding alloy cases as it had a fracture through the main drive shaft.