Quit riding, sort of

[Road Rocket]

 Closing in on 76 and 3-1/2 years of treatments for non curable cancer has erroded my riding skills...I just don't feel confident or comfortable any longer..I might take the BSA A10 on a short ride...but I now lack the leg muscle to kickover a cold engine so I use a roller starter.I can start it when warm...usually....I'll sell the Honda 650NT Hawk..
   But my wheelman driving seems ok ......So just bought my self a very straight non rusty 92 S10 with a swapped in Chevy 350 engine and 5 speed. 2950 pounds, V8 rumble and torque... ...Running and driving project hot rod like several I built in the past....
   I will miss the bikes but to be honest I liked to work on them more than riding...So no big deal......
The best part of this? I am still alive despite the odds.....
   
  .
 

[bobrebos1]

Sorry to hear of the medical diagnosis.  Enjoy the truck!  Take care

[Scout63]

I’m so sorry to hear about giving up the bikes and the cancer. Hearing a v8 rumble coming out of an S10 will be pretty cool.

[twowheeladdict]

Cancer sucks!!!

My Van Van 200 will be the last bike in my garage as I decline in the ability to ride heavier and faster motorcycles.  Hopefully will be 20 or more years from now. 

Enjoy your new toy.  Nothing, and I mean nothing like the sound of a finely tuned V8 engine. 

[Road Rocket]

 Thanks.....No need to be concerned about cancer...It has shown a inner strength I never knew about....And there are others here with similar health issues....

[cliffrod]

Glad to hear you’re still doing what you can & like to do.  Very cool.   Enjoy your S10.  It sounds like fun.

[Ncdan]

I deeply respect and admire your positive attitude,Sir.
I also love the idea of the little S10 project!

Dan

[Huzo]

I found out that touring on this


Was much more fun than I imagined.
You’ll never be too old for something like this.

[larrys]

Sorry to hear of your issues. We're all gong to physically fail at some point... A friend built a 350 V8 first generation S-10 some years ago. Couldn't keep a rear end in it until he built a narrowed Ford 9 bolt for it.
Larry

[MMRanch]

Good morning Road Rocket

Sorry to read about anybody parking their bikes  , we all know how they can move a persons soul in a healthy way.

I'm approaching my70th year in a week , and my toys are getting lighter !    Huzo said it right when he suggested the Honda Trail 125 !     
They don't have to move the body fast to move the soul ! 

Sounds like a nice truck , my old S-10 (2500) served me well , I hope yours's  serves you as good.

[Road Rocket]

Sorry to hear of your issues. We're all gong to physically fail at some point... A friend built a 350 V8 first generation S-10 some years ago. Couldn't keep a rear end in it until he built a narrowed Ford 9 bolt for it.
Larry

Mine was originally a 4.3 5 speed so it has the 8-1/2 inch differential like full size 1/2 tons and Camaros...Set up correctly they can easily handle 400 hp ....

[Huzo]

   Huzo said it right when he suggested the Honda Trail 125 !     
They don't have to move the body fast to move the soul ! 

Touring on a big bike, you “experience” the ride.
On a small bike you “digest” it…(you just have so…much…more …time to do everything and not that gnawing feeling that the thing will fall over at some point and you’ll be stuck.
There is just no pressure at all and it can be a relief.
My ride was 16,000 km and it disappeared in six weeks and this is the bike AFTER the ride.


There are no downsides if you have the right approach.

[Roebling3]

I share from where you cometh; As the Brits used to say: "press on regardless"!

I'm back to where I started - on 2 stroke 125cc bikes. They have always been a hoot. None of them weigh more than 270#, but go like stink. 
The rest are for sale.

    Good fortune,  R3~  88+

[twowheeladdict]

Light bikes. Slower pace. Enjoy the ride. The Van Van weighs 285 lbs. fairly low seat height with a fat comfortable seat.

[guzzisteve]

Sorry to hear bout that. My time's coming BUT I kept my sidecar rig for just that purpose. AND i don't have to down size. You do need some arm strength if no earl's frontend. Good Luck.

[drdwb]

Sorry to hear your completely logical reason for leaving riding. At 68 I often wonder just how long I’ll continue riding.

But I’d like to hear and see more about your S-10 / 350 project. I had a standard transmission, V 6, 89 S-10 that had 200,000 on it. Both daughters learned how to drive in that little truck. I had plans on hoping it up, but the youngest daughter totaled it in a steep ditch one winter day. That truck was so light, unloaded, you could break the back end loose at will. I can’t imagine how squirrley it would be with that many ponies under the hood. You must have had to do a lot of fabrication to squeeze that in there.

[s1120]

Sorry that you are giving it up, but nice to know you have a project to fall back on. Im young by the standards here... only 57, but I know at some point the time will come. I have a old ford convertible that ive had for 30 years that im fixing up, and getting back on  the road. Not something I need to worry about falling over, and sure a lot safer having something that weights over 5k lbs! 

[Road Rocket]

 Over the years we had three early and one later model S10's. All bought used and did the job required...All were manual tranmissions like the project truck...In fact both my wife and Me never owned a vehicle with an auto trans..
  Right now it does run but there a mix of ECU and TBI injectors causing. drivability issues...Got a TBI tuner making me up ECU with adaptability....A lot of people still mess with the 80's to mid 90's TBI and they can perform well even on modified engines for such  a simple speed density two injector  system...Will post a photo or two soon on this O/T subject..
   I feel pretty good, have no fears, I got plans and energy......

[Roebling3]

RE POSTING BECAUSE i'M STILL LAUGHING MY A** OFF.  A weekly from an old friend.

  "ONE MINUTE YOU'RE YOUNG & FUN.

THE NEXT MOMENT YOU'RE TURNING ON THE CAR RADIO TO SEE BETTER". 

                                R3~
I'm wondering what the new 4 cylinder, 400cc Kawasaki sport bike is worth.

[Huzo]

RE POSTING BECAUSE i'M STILL LAUGHING MY A** OFF.  A weekly from an old friend.

  "ONE MINUTE YOU'RE YOUNG & FUN.

THE NEXT MOMENT YOU'RE TURNING ON THE CAR RADIO TO SEE BETTER". 

                                R3~
I'm wondering what the new 4 cylinder, 400cc Kawasaki sport bike is worth.

Or…
 I used to be tough a ruthless
 Now I’m rough and toothless.

[moto]

You’ve got the right attitude. Keep enjoying yourself! And thanks for posting. Good luck.
Moto

[moto-uno]

  Having owned BSA bikes in the distant path , I understand "the tinker more than ride", you really didn't have an option  . Peter

[Deno]

Enjoy the hot rod truck. Life brings different challenges and the best you can do is adapt.

[vintagehoarder]

Closing in on 76 and 3-1/2 years of treatments for non curable cancer has erroded my riding skills...I just don't feel confident or comfortable any longer..I might take the BSA A10 on a short ride...but I now lack the leg muscle to kickover a cold engine so I use a roller starter.I can start it when warm...usually....I'll sell the Honda 650NT Hawk..
   But my wheelman driving seems ok ......So just bought my self a very straight non rusty 92 S10 with a swapped in Chevy 350 engine and 5 speed. 2950 pounds, V8 rumble and torque... ...Running and driving project hot rod like several I built in the past....
   I will miss the bikes but to be honest I liked to work on them more than riding...So no big deal......
The best part of this? I am still alive despite the odds.....
   
  .
 

Great attitude, prayers for strength, keep on keeping on !!  The S10 sounds wicked!

[Gusable]

Sorry about your medical stuff.  Look into carrot juice treatment for cancer if you haven’t already. A buddy of mine met a RN that saw it heal a stage 4 guy. 

[Road Rocket]

Sorry about your medical stuff.  Look into carrot juice treatment for cancer if you haven’t already. A buddy of mine met a RN that saw it heal a stage 4 guy.

  Hmmm, in 3-1/2 yrars of dealing with this non curable cancer I have heard many wonder cures....I have talked to the oncologists about what they know...There are some ,very very few, where there was a person who's cancer went into remission after a special diet or what ever or the person had no medical treatment....Depend ing on your beliefs, maybe devine intervention...
  A few out of millions...What the miracle cure believers don't mention is the millions who died when their lives could have saved or improved by the know effective medical practices..
   I am still alive, not as strong but able to function ok...I have  excellent blood labs, a good immune system...The docs say this is unusual for a person in my situation...The cancer is slowly spreading, eventually it will get into major organs and out go the lights...Could be 6 months or longer, can't say for sure..You could have stroke tomorrow, no one knows how long they got...
  I can't think about it..just keep moving foward , work on my project truck....And teaching my wife how to do basic maintenance on our  gas and Diesel mowing/ garden equipment. She is getting pretty good at it....
   But, drinking carrot juice is not a bad idea...I prefer prune juice...

[steven c]

 You found a non rusty S10? My 88 4.3 Sport would leave little piles of rust under it while parked. I named it the Rust 10 Valdez. It left its mark where ever I parked.

[Petrus Rocks]

I helped Tony and his wife winch it into the basement.  They used a come-a-long to pull it up a short hill onto the basement entrance.  There's snow and mud here- no traction.
Slow but steady, a little jockeying around.  An inch or two on either side, a little grease, a little sweat.  The truck is beautiful- body and undercarriage.  I know little about building cars or trucks.  Will be an education.