In the Beginning...

Having never written a blog, I thought I might as well start this along with starting on my motorcycle. I have long wanted a bike, but when I wanted to get married, my wonderful wife (Now of 22 years) gave me a clear choice... Her or a bike. Needless to say, I picked her and have never had any reason to regret it.

But the desire for a motorcycle never went away. So, I began a long campaign of wearing my wife down to the idea. And last week, I achieved my goal!

I now own a motorcycle!

But it comes with a few... little... minor... problems.

First, I do not ride. I had ridden dirt bikes and mini-bikes a few times when I was a kid, but I have never ridden a street bike except as a passenger. I need to learn. And, of course, I need to get my liscence. M2, here I come!

Second, I didn't go out and buy some huge hog. No, my dreams are small. I spent $300 CAD on a 1981 Honda CM400T that I found on Kijiji. It was advertised as running... And it does.... barely. I have absolutely no background in mechanics, so I go into this project with the wild enthusiasm that only the truly ignorant can have.

For those of you who have read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I must make apologies for my blatant rip off of the title. I am hopeful that by learning to repair and maintain this old bike, I will be able to revive a wonderful machine to use.... And to find in myself a new spirit that comes from the mastery of a new skill.

Either I will find a state of Zen in this project or it will drive me as mad as Phaedrus.