Ok, so it's customary for these blogs to have a little about section. I go by the nickname 'Hightower' - I will let you figure out why. I'm quite new to the motorcycling world, starting off with a Chinese 125 and then moving up to a FZS 600 more recently. I've had the 600 for nearly a year, but for some time have wanted to get stuck in to a project bike - something I can truly make my own. I've loved the simplistic look of brat bikes ever since I first laid eyes on one, so that is what my first ever project is going to be.
The missus bought a new car recently, so I used that as an excuse to dive in and find my project bike. I started looking realistically about January 2014, and at the time I saw a 1981 Honda CB350. It was stunning but needed a lot of work, not least getting it home from all the way down the country. So I let the bidding continue without me where it finally sold for about £650 - I was gutted to miss out on it, but hey ho. I'd been keeping one eye on eBay since then, adding various bikes to my watchlist as they came up. But nothing struck me, and perhaps more importantly nothing was local to me. Then I started talking to the wife about it, and she gave the nod of approval that this desire was real and that I could spend some money on a project. I started looking zealously, at anything and everything. I came across a few things, one of which was a new version of the CB350 - a 1990 plate I believe. It was 50 miles away, and going for a steal. But something didn't feel right. I let it go, and told myself that when the right thing came up I would know it, I would feel it. |
Not 30 minutes after watching that CB350 sell I came across a KZ440. It looks good, it looks like it could work I'd said. "I may have a pop at this" I told the wife (and myself). It had 24 hours left and was very local. I started to search for brat bikes on the same model, and stumbled on the white brat style I've pinched to show off my blog. Wow, this is the one. I knew it.
The next day I watched eagerly on eBay. I couldn't wait: bid, bid, bid. I set my maximum straight away, and got it for a lot less. I was ecstatic. And that was the beginning, and the blog will document the process. I have so many ideas flying through my head I literally can't keep on top of them, and I haven't a clue if I could put any of them in to practice. But that's partly what excites me - the fiddling, the problem solving, the grin of success, and more than likely the tears of failure too. I can't wait for the ups and downs - the first of which will likely be trying to get them home. Oh, that's right. Not it, them. You see, the item I won on eBay came as a pair. A KZ440 along with a GPZ500. The GPZ is in terrible shape, but it's going to be useful for two reasons. Firstly, to experiment, to learn, to make sure I break this bike if any. And secondly, to sell as parts on eBay - that should give me a little extra income to be able to get the project well and truly underway. So stay tuned, watch this space, ask away, follow closely, and enjoy the ride. I hope I can do the same! |