Where my story begins...

I am building a chopper so I came here for help, advice, and pics. I've decided from the guys attitudes around here that maybe I need to stay. I have read lots of post and found nothing but alot of people here that love their bikes and arent too stuck up to help. Anyway, I have been building Harleys for quite a while now but when my wallet ran dry I needed something cheaper. I'm not gonna lie, I did not know anything about Honda chops a year ago. I kinda lucked upon an old chop in the back of a truck, in a field, under a tree. The price was right, so I bougt it. It sat in the garage for a few months while I kinda planned on a look, and tried to find help. I found this site and the fun began.

How I came to build my sohc..

As a kid, I worked at a near by bike shop to pay for parts. The atmosphere there was Harley only. Yea, we worked on others, but just enough to pay a few bills. Infact, the owner rarely let me work on anything other than a Harley. Fast forward...In my late teens I bought my first Honda, man did I get harassed. After I'd had enough harassment I decided I needed a different bike. Still couldn't afford the Harleys and trying to avoid the harassment, I got a crotch rocket. That might not make sense so I'll explain, they couldn't talk shit if they couldn't keep up. I dont remember all the details due to the concusion but I crashed. I had a concusion, broke neck, fractured knee, bruised every rib and burnt my leg to the bone. Boy the harassment! That's when I decided no more jap bikes for me! Fast forward..."Nice day to ride! Lots of bikes on the road! Man I wish I had the money to finish my bike!" (Harley ofcoures) My business was going south and so was my wallet! But I needed to ride BAD!!! I did everything I could to get some cash to finish building my Harley, but all the cash was going to bills, GAS, and food and we were still behind! I checked into buying an "off the shelf" Harley but no go, too far in the hole already. I'd have to pay cash for a ride now and knowing the prices of Harleys, I could have finished mine if I had that much cash. It was hopeless, I wasn't going to be riding any time soon. "Another nice day I wont be riding!" and another and another and another! I can't take it anymore!!! I don't care if all I can afford is a damn POS, If it runs I'm buying it!!! Besides, I can make ANYTHING look...decient. So I put the word out, "I'm looking for a runner, and I dont care what!!!" Just about the same time my business started to pick up, I had to hire a few more people. Well...One of the guys I hired happened to be holding out on me!!! I had worked with him in the past, and he was always against bikes, says his dad made him that way. When his dad passed, his bikes went to hell. The guy had to move so he loaded his dads bikes onto his dads truck and drove to his new place. He wanted the truck out of the way, so he parked it in the field under a tree (for about 5 years) Sitting around on lunch one day a few of us were talking about our bikes and my dad mentioned he wanted to do an old school chopper like he had in the 70's. Well the guy spoke up "I have 2 Honda choppers, been sitting for a while, but 1 ran when it was parked, needs some work but i'm sure it will run!" No mention of being under a tree in the back of a truck for 5 years. How much for um? $100.00 I'll take them! I handed the guy 2 $100.00 bills thinking a buck each...WRONG!!! HE HANDED 1 BACK!!! "Youre only gonna sell me 1?" "No $100.00 for both." HOLEY SHIT!!! I just bought 2 70's style 750 honda choppers sight unseen for $100.00 bucks! I knew in ANY condition I could get way more than that back in parts, maybe use that money to put towards the Harley. Anyway, we get to his house to pick them up and uhh... what did I get myself into! I knew the bikes were well worth what I paid, but I still had to take them home! Of course my wife told me where she thought they really belonged (beside the road for the trash) and was not far from putting me there with them. I kinda went over some of what I could sell and the kinda money I could make off them and she kinda said...well not anything good. So I put the word out that I had these bikes. So, I'm sitting on 2 chops and prices are going up on everything. Great, now I'll never sell them and my Harley will never get done. Wait, I got 2 bikes, I'll fix 1 to ride until the Harley gets done and sell the other and put that money toward the Harley! After all Honda parts aren't near as expensive as Harley and it being a 70's chop a cheap rat bike will be perfect! I cought the building bug, but on a Honda?! After letting a few people know my "new plan" I got alot of good response, but this was comming from the same Harley guys that had been harassing me earlier! WTF!!! So I started trying to learn about what I had, every picture I looked at, every article I read, I could feel myself getting deeper and deeper! "But its a Honda" still ringing in the back of my head and not many people who could help, I went to the web. I keep getting bit by that damn bug (you know the one!) So now I'm knee deep into this Honda, but no help or advice. A few asshole sites later I found this place! Wow, where else can you find EVERYTHING about the sohc. From stock to prize winning customs and everything inbetween, and everybody is willing to help! I got to say, I'm ALL IN now and this site is to blame!!! Not that thats a bad thing, but you guys showed me its not all about the Harleys! I got to say, I'm feeling proud about the bike that I'm building with you guys help! As for the 2nd chop (remember I bought 2) well its my brothers now, but my next build! It's funny though, with a whole family of Harley guys, he's always been into Hondas. As for my Harley build, it's still in the works, but who knows when it'll be done. As for my Honda, (hopefully) be riding it by spring if not sooner. Thanks guys for all your help!