Been lurking here for a while. What a great forum. I bought a 76 F1 recently and plan on a complete teardown/rebuild. I really don't have the entire plan in my head but I'm thinking some sort of cafe style. I'm not going to lie, the "Cafe Racer" program got me going but I'm not just another wannabe. I rode the bike home in sub freezing temps and encountered a snow flurry just three miles from my garage. All those great memories came flooding back to me. What a blast! It's been 20 years since I've straddled a bike but every spring since, I've had the urge. When I stumbled on this site, I'd seen so many that enjoy the rebuild as much as the ride. Like that. There's some really cool builds here and some incredible expressions of true works of art. I'll be honest, when I got the bike home, I thought.. "what the f*** am I thinking?". But when I'd kept drilling through the "Project Shop", all I can say is... I get it. That's what does it for me. Taking something old and making it new again. It's a sickness, I guess. "Have media blaster, will blast."
My first ride was a 75 GT550 which I bought in 1978 that got me hooked. Shortly after, I'd read a Cycle mag article about the upcoming 79 GS1000SN and proceeded to the local dealer to stand in line. I bought the first one that came to the dealer, (much to my father's regret) and I promised my father that I'd always wear a helmet and ride responsibly and I did. I joined the service in 1980, went to boot camp and sold it when I needed four wheels to get to the left coast for duty. Huge mistake but it is, what it is. After I made a couple of tours, I bought a Yamaha XJ900 when I arrived state-side. Great bike. It had bars that you could adjust from touring to cafe in matter of minutes. Very cool and was my first shafty. Sold it when I became engaged and the rest is history, as they say. Haven't been back to two wheels since but looking forward to tearing this down and creating a cafe ride.
My Suzuki GT550
1979 Suzuki GS1000SN
XJ900 - My last which I sold for an engagement ring
