Reporting as ordered!

[Norton1]

I'm a new member, duh-oh, and thought I'd do as suggested and say a bit about me. I've been riding bikes since I can remember and started with a ride my cousin and I took on my Uncle's 54 Harley FL. I was 13 or 14 at the time and we were lucky we didn't wreck it! Since that time I've owned a Ducati 250, a 67 and a 72 Triumph, a 68 Norton, a 72 Norvil Norton I built, and lots of Harleys. I currently own a 1938 Harley UL Chopper (built by my brother in 1973), a 1968 sort of stock Shovelhead Bagger I ride for touring, and my new (title work tomorrow) 1982 Honda CBX.

My brother bought this bike new when he got tired of getting beat up on the 38 hard tail and the chronic wrenching that goes with ownership of original Harleys. I've liked the looks of the bike for a long time and when he bought his new Harley in 05 I thought about seeing if he wanted to sell. The subject didn't come up until last year and we finally decided on a course of action. I gave him $3000 for it and brought it home with me yesterday. Since he lives in Phoenix and I live in Idaho it was a trailer ride for the bike. But since the bike came from here it's just coming home as far as I am concerned!

I was a machinist and now that I'm retired I have a small machine shop for me and my friends use. Mill, Lathe, saws, grinders, welders, and the usual "I need more tools" mantra of all gearheads! I'm a build it myself if I can guy. Something defeatist about paying someone else getting paid to do it when I could use that money to buy the tool to do it myself. My bad or what? But I need to be doing things. I love a project. Probably why I've always loved older Harleys - they are THE original project.

Let's see - I'm married, got a couple of kids and grandkids all of whom are smarter and better looking than I am. Served 8 years in the Marines and 4 years in the Army. Did a tour of Vietnam in 65-66 and came home only slightly damaged. I worked as a machinist, electrician, and did my last 20 years as a social worker due to my body not letting me do more physical work. I was retired a few years ago due to my disabilities and love the time off. I also love working on cars. I've owned several Oldsmobile 442s and just sold my last car, a 66 442, to my daughter and her husband. they have two boys that are just nuts over cars and they'll finish up that project nicely. My wife rides a Yamaha 1100 V star and isn't much into the car scene - sooooo - more bikes!

Any thing else you want to know I think you'll have to ask. I'm glad the site is here and I hope to contribute as much as I can. I'm also looking for a few parts or ways to get the parts that don't work real well refurbished or replaced.

Be well and God bless ya
Steve

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Now that is an intro!
Welcome aboard, Steve. Pics are always nice and i know there is a lot of us here would like to see shots of the 442.

[Rick Pope]

I'll second that. Welcome to the folds of CBX ownership.

I imagine that with the older bikes in your stable, you're also a member of AMCA? Another nice group of folks.

[Norton1]

Actually I don't belong to any group. I was part of a bike club in the late 60s and early to mid 70s. That was enough for me. I'm not purist enough for some as I build stuff to suit me and if new will work on old I'm all for it. Or even if it needs to be custom built on an otherwise stock machine. Bottom line I love to ride. I can get on the road for weeks at a time and if I was independently wealthy I'd live there! So this CBX will be a new experience as far as touring goes. I do like my comforts and the bags are a bit small - on the other hand there are not tools, other than the stock ones, needed.

I'll figure out how to post some pics and get some up.

[Norton1]

[img][/img]

[Norton1]

the 38 Harley - built in 1973 by my Brother - I hope to get it back running again

[NobleHops]

Now that is an intro!
Welcome aboard, Steve. Pics are always nice and i know there is a lot of us here would like to see shots of the 442.

Boo-rah, I agree. Welcome Steve! Thank you for saying hello in such fine fashion, and let me say, you're among friends and kindred spirits here. We're glad to have you join us.

N.

[EMS]

Welcome Steve! After that intro, I feel like I have known you forever Nice Old Schkool chopper! Friend of mine had one almost exactly like it. Flat head with hand-shifter.
Some of us have Harleys too. I own a 71 FLH with a sidecar, a 93 Springer and my wife (still) has a Sportster with a HD Springer front end.

[Norton1]

Dang - I've been hunting for a sidecar for my 68 for a while now - trade you for a feather? We'd both be tickled -

Thanks for all the kind welcomes - I figured this site was one of those where gearheads plotted destruction on the same-old side of things -

[Norton1]

Here's my wife and I's bikes from last Summer - we were up in the White Clouds near Stanley, Idaho - we'd been up in Montana and Northern Idaho visiting friends and country -

[EMS]

Dang - I've been hunting for a sidecar for my 68 for a while now - trade you for a feather? We'd both be tickled -

Here is a picture of the rig. Paint is original. Sparkling Burgundy.



..and here is my wife's Sportster. The painter screwed up the colors. It was supposed to be Navy Blue and Coral. Turned out to be Royal Blue and Salmon..