Out of da blue!

I'VE often commented on the status of "friendship." This Blog is an element of that.

Before extricated from the back yard... 

Case in point... 

My younger daughter Lisa sends Dad a text this week.  Seems someone from Alberta has called and left a message looking for me.  The name is not important in the bigger picture but this gentleman is trying to track me down.

I was pretty sure I didn't owe any money nor did I think it was a long lost relative but pretty close as it turned out.

I called the number back asking for him by name and the voice on the other end says with a slight crackle... "Yes this is D."  I identified myself and he says, 'do you remember me?'

For the life of me, the name being quite common and of course I lived in Alberta most of my life, I could not picture who I was talking to.  He replies... "A few years ago I did a restoration on a bathtub in your main privy."

Bang... of course, I remembered.

We had a pleasant conversation centered not on bathtubs but rather old Honda's one in particular.  This occurred not a few years ago but more like 10 years past.

Given that when he did this job for me, I had several motorcycles (Brenda tells me there were 36 when she met me) he casually mentioned he likes bikes especially the pre UJM Japanese bikes, and of those he had a particularly soft spot for the late 60's early 70's Honda 450.

These were bikes I was riding regularly.

A little background here.  The Honda CB 450 was rather unique in many ways and if not a market leader, certainly pointed the new Japanese brands firmly into that direction. A DOHC* torsion bar valve system and for the day, a displacement giant.  Remember that before this bike appeared on the North American scene the sought after motorcycles were rather few.  A handful of Norton's, Harley's, and of course the mid sized twins from Triumph and BSA.

Anyway, D tells me he would like to do a customized CB 450 at some time, if... and this is a BIG if... he could find one.  I listened to his story going into detail, shortened seat, low bars, custom pipes wild paint etc.

Prior to him leaving my home that afternoon and keeping in mind that I did not know this person and I only met him that one time and briefly at that, I asked him to give me a hand out back on my overgrown RV parking pad.  Of course I had an ulterior motive...

My '72 XS2 650 Yamaha (since sold) and it's 1960's older brother. (Still own.)

There, next to my fence with shrubbery growing from between the spokes, stood a bike I had owned for years with similar ideas to his.  Considering I had about 2 dozen 'projects' on the go at the time including but not limited to various Yamaha's 2 stroke twins, a Victor 441, Honda Trail 90, and more... and with a potential move to the east coast in the offing, I introduced him to the bike growing from the weed's. Well, the other way round really.  His knees got wobbly, he began foaming at the corners of his mouth and his eyes became glazed over.  D looked like the starving dog that was salivating over a bone!  When asked me if I would part with the bike and what I wanted for it, I answered 'yes' and as for price... zero.  Nada. Semit.  Free... He nearly feinted. He thanked me profusely and promised to complete the project and yes... I would get a ride on the bike before I die (I hope)

A short while later if my memory serves, a book that I still own showed up at my back door.  He'd left me a hardcover book on the History of Japanese MC's, which I still have in my library.

Now keep in mind that he was there at my home in Calgary to do a reno job.  I didn't know him before and we have not kept in touch since... until this week.

So... to answer your questions... no he had not customized the Big Honda but he still had the bike and he still had plans to do so.

The phone call ended on our agreeing to keep in touch and more frequently this time round and I reminded D. that I was owed a ride.

So, getting back to the title of this blog... no matter how much distance, no matter how much time has past, no matter if you're black, white or purple... Motorcycles are like an invisible glue, and motorcycle enthusiasts are the same everywhere.

We do it because we love doing it.

Now (what the hell) Dave... get your ass in gear and customize this Honda.  Who know I may just want her back...

* Double overhead cam DOHC

PS How did Dave find me?  One of us had scribbled her number on the back of a business card, and he still had it after so many years.

After.  Game changer