Why

 Why do I want to build a cafe racer when I don't even have a motorbike license? Well it's all about process. Some years ago I rebuilt a triumph spitfire that I hardly ever drive so why not build a motorbike that I will never drive. I have Parkinson's disease and it has been shown without any shadow of doubt (there is always some shadow) that physical activity reduces the symptoms, so you could say this is therapy although I daren't ask my doctor if I could buy the bike on prescription. When I built the spitfire I used the side effects of my medication to be able to work on it every day for two and a half years. I don't have the space for another car so I thought I would try a bike. I used to ride motorbikes but lost my license when my drivers license was converted to Norwegian. I have recently stopped work and find myself in doors a lot of the time. My garages are on the road and patients fro the Haugland rehab centre are always walking by. When I rebuilt the spit a lot of them would come in for a chat; I miss that social interaction.

When I first came up with the idea I visited Finn.no A Norwegian version of Ebay There was a yamaha XJ 600 for £1000. I contacted the seller and the bike was sold however he had another one for £300, perfect. The photo shows the £1000 bike but the other one is apparently the same.So the idea is to convert the bike on the left to the bike on the right, or something similar. My first job is to sort out the floor of the garage and organise my tools. On Wednesday I will travel to Bergen in my friends van and we will pick up the bike. It won't start so the first thing I will do is find out why and hopefully sort out the problem before stripping it down.



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