why don't you just back off, I posted in here, "If you arent going to offer up advise that is helpful, GTFO" Kthnks.
Sorry Nancy, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. But again, try Craigslist for a mechanic if you're not able to work on the engine yourself. There is a chance you'll find someone who can do it for cheaper than Honda. Or get a bike lift so you don't have to bend over as Seaweb suggested.
As for people posting in your thread, unfortunately this is an open forum and any member can comment. You'd better get used to people adding their two cents.
Again, I will state that ALL, and i do mean ALL of the local people who work on bikes have stated. Not until winter, and even then they are worried abut working on an old bike. I've considered the lift, more than once. IF i end up HAVING to do the work myself, ill invest in one. if i can find someone i can pay to do it, ill keep from buying something i have no room for.
Public Forum, Open Thread, Any Member Can Post and yet i can respectfully request you keep you negative comments to yourself, as has been suggested more than once in this thread. the bulk of the stuff here is helpful. your comment was not.
please keep things this way. I am aware how forums work, I've been a moderator on 8 different forums over the years. Im used to deleting negative posts on the forums ive run, and banning repeat offenders. Obviously I can't do that here, but i will again ask you keep you negative stuff to yourself.
Ok. I stayed out of this for as long as I could but it is painfully clear that you are just looking for someone to say "Yeh, bring it to me and I'll make it look like a show bike for $100." That ain't gonna happen. The fact of the matter is that if you want something you'll have to earn it, either through putting up some hard cash or by putting in the time to learn to do it the right way, making errors as you go and learning from them as well.
Almost everyone on this forum has spent untold hours trouble shooting, researching, and working on these bikes. When someone offers $3K to do the work that is based on their experience (and they must work FAST at that rate). Unfortunately there is a tenancy with younger generations (you're not that much younger than me so it's not me calling you a kid) to think they are entitled to things without putting in the effort. My first bike (a '73 350F by the way) was a learning experience I worked on in college after a full day of classes and working full time in the evenings. It took me a long time to get her on the road but I learned alot. It seems you want the easy answer when there is none to be found.
Those that have suggested your money would be better spent buying a newer bike are not trying to be mean. they are absorbing the input you've given and returning a very good suggestion that would yield the quickest and easiest result which is what you seem to require.
If you are interested, there is a great book that many on here have read at some point in the last 30+ years which I have found to be a great asset. Robert Persig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It is not about working on a bike as much as it is about the approach the author takes to all things in life through the pursuit of the definition of quality. It just might help put things into perspective.
Hopefully you don't see this as an attack but as advice which is the intent. Please understand that you have asked a question of folks that know much more than you do and you are receiving their answers. No need to get upset. Just try to learn. Hopefully you'll get converted into a full-on SOHC addict like the rest of us.
Good luck
Cville
