Restoring a relationship, by restoring an old motorcycle
The deep, rhythmic thumping of a single-cylinder Harley, the grunt of an old two-cylinder Honda, or the shriek of a brand new sport bike; all unmistakable noises, even for those distant from the world of motorcycling. For some, it is a call to ride, others a reason to double-check their blind spot before changing lanes, and others still a reason to be wary.
Motorcyclists are a strange and wonderful group of people. As children, most of us were told to steer clear of them, lest we get sucked into their world and become drug addicts, trouble makers, or long red smears down the centre lane of the 401. But for a moment, let me paint you a different picture. One of a welcoming, open-minded group of people of vastly different backgrounds who share a common love for a piece of machinery that, to their minds, gifts them with a level of freedom and a feeling of peace unmatched by any other experience.
And how might one find their place in this community? You could certainly go down the well-worn path of throwing caution to the wind, buying a 250cc sport bike at your local Kawasaki dealership, and hitting the road. But let me propose to you another way to test the waters of motorcycling, one that might, at the same time, allow you to find a new connection with someone you thought you knew everything about.
By the time I finally grew the confidence to become part of the motorcycling community, I had developed a love for old motorcycles. The clean, simple, elegant lines of the Universal Japanese Motorcycles of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I knew that anything reasonably priced would need some work to make it right, and I was woefully unprepared to perform any manner of mechanical heart surgery. So I recruited the help of my girlfriend (a long-time car fanatic and an all-around genius) and, along with a very thorough shop manual, we set about buying and restoring a little old Honda CB400T Hawk.
By the end, I had a running motorbike that I’d paid less than $700 for, but more importantly, my girlfriend and I had developed a very deep connection over a shared experience. She has no interest in ever riding, but we shared a love for the process of fixing that little bike. It’s a trying, aggravating, painstaking task, and couples often try and insulate themselves from stressful or difficult situations, for fear that they could lead to frustrations with one another. But it’s that kind of strife and struggle that makes a relationship stronger! And those moments of anger and impatience are massively out-weighed by the indescribable joy of hearing that engine cough to life, stutter, then grumble and roar just like it did when it first rolled off the assembly line all those years ago.
So I implore you; as 2015 slowly approaches, consider making it a resolution to find yourself a challenge, and tackle it with someone you care about. It could be a friend that you’ve lost touch with, a parent you’ve been distant from since you came to university, or a love that has grown comfortable and content over time. It could even be your own self, part of which you may have lost along the long and winding path that’s taken you to where you are. Whoever you choose and whatever the challenge, I can promise you, at the end your understanding and appreciation for that person will be just like that little Honda; reinvigorated and made new through a liberal application of anger, joy, hard work, and tenacity. You’ll have a relationship with unmatched depth and understanding that you have proven will stand the challenges that define our lives. You may even have a new hobby, too.