|
Post by sixxfiftyboy on Dec 27, 2010 11:40:56 GMT -5
Hey guys, I just want to say that I have a hard time finding people like me, guys who like to sit around bullsh*t and work on motorcycles, cars, and whatever involves cutting wrenching welding and greasin' it up. I realize I am 23 years old and there are probably alot of people like that round but I live in a small town and everyone here is either a loser or a drug addict (or both I guess). I read alot about the old times where your friends have your back no matter what and there is no drama just good times, but Nowadays theres no ''stand up'' guys left. I guess its small town syndrome but everyone just seems the same. Nobody's happy unless they have that new toy or 30 000 dollar bike. Whatever happened to the simple life? Times when you didnt need an X box to have a good time. Everyone wants too much and in my opinion its contributing to the downfall of society. Kids have the total wrong idea of what life is about lately. No one knows how to ''go outside and play'' anymore. Cheers
|
|
|
Post by richard on Dec 27, 2010 19:36:45 GMT -5
Sorry to say it but life has changed. Almost no one has weekends off anymore, money is a lot tighter than ever and the skills we learned to work on bikes no longer exist in general population. The last two jobs I had were 10-12 hour days six days a week, so I spent my only day off paying bills, washing clothes and grocery shopping.
|
|
|
Post by yamasarus on Dec 27, 2010 22:32:06 GMT -5
Just go to a cruise-in, bike or car show, or join a club and then count all the grey beards.......
The times, they are a'changin'.....
|
|
|
Post by zlanderson3378 on Dec 27, 2010 23:20:06 GMT -5
I know what you mean man! I am only 21 and none of my friends know how to turn a wrench. I would much rather go out side and get dirty on a freezing cold day than sit inside. I love just relaxing and going out in my garage and working on my bike.
|
|
|
Post by 5twins on Dec 28, 2010 0:59:22 GMT -5
I'm not sure it's as bad as all that. When I was a kid, my parents and grandparents said the same thing - "you kids nowadays .....". The world kept turning, time marched on. God, just think, how did we function before cell phones? Quite well obviously or we wouldn't be here now ..... and the world kept turning, lol.
I will admit though that turning a wrench correctly on a motorcycle is a bit of an art. I didn't give it much thought when I was younger but now I see and have seen the results from those less talented. It's not pretty to say the least, lol. I never considered my skill set "special", I thought everyone could or should be able to do it. I've found out I was wrong. The motorcycle world, and just the world in general, needs mechanics. We fix the stuff that keeps the world turning. We're under appreciated and VASTLY under-payed, lol.
|
|
|
Post by Tom Graham on Dec 28, 2010 10:13:56 GMT -5
You need to start a club. There is a sort of a club here in Columbus called VinMoto. You can search for Vin Moto and find out about the different cities. The thing is, there is no dues, officers or rules. The theme is old bikes and there is a ride in to a bar/restaurant one day a week. There is also an email list. The idea is to promote working on old bikes. It's all about the bikes, large or small, nice classics or real junk. The guys I've met have turned out to be amazing, some with super skill. I'm such a loner I'd have never known these guys if I didn't show up every week.
Tom Graham
|
|
|
Post by sixxfiftyboy on Dec 28, 2010 11:26:47 GMT -5
I am going to look into it for sure. I am not joking when I say that I will be the only one in my town with a home built sled, even out of the old guys. Literally, I know kids my age and even older that dont even know where to start when changing the oil or even checking the oil in anything wether it be a car or bike. I know times are changing but at least back a generation you guys still had the basics in mind.
|
|
|
Post by richard on Dec 28, 2010 23:47:23 GMT -5
My earliest memories were of the motorcycles my Dad had apart in the garage. All I could do back then was stand in one spot and watch all the shiny parts scattered across the floor. Later on as a kid I took everything apart which I think Dad just tolerated until finally one day he said I couldn’t take any more stuff apart unless I could put it back together. I was about eight or nine at the time.
I learned to work on stuff because it was fun but mostly because I never had the money to pay someone to fix it. I bought old cars and motorcycles because that’s all I could afford. I think a lot of people learned that way. :-)
|
|
|
Post by sixxfiftyboy on Dec 29, 2010 1:20:48 GMT -5
you'r right sometimes that's all you can do because there was no other choice. I do it because there is nothing more relaxing and its usually the time when I do most of my thinking.
|
|
|
Post by yamasarus on Dec 29, 2010 16:48:48 GMT -5
I also learned out of necessity. I have never been able to pay someone $60.00 an hour or more to work on my stuff. I feel like a dinosaur, hence my handle. I love to ride 'em but I love working on them as well. I gives me a real feeling of validation when I am finished with one. One of these days I will have to sell them, as I am retired now, and I really dread that day. Sometimes I just go sit among them and have a cup of coffee. It's a really relaxing time. Oh well. Time waits for no man......
|
|
kiwi
New Member
Posts: 4
|
Post by kiwi on Dec 29, 2010 17:51:28 GMT -5
What small town in BC you in. Can't be that bad can it, every town or city has it's problems and it's good points. I'm in Surrey, and as you know that name alone scares some people, but it is still a great place to live. As far as finding like minded people, they are out there, working in their garage on some kind of bike waiting for summer to roll around. Do you own thing and have fun with it. In the spring the Delta swap meet goes on, not sure when in 2011, but try to make it this way and you will see some pretty good Jap bikes. Maybe meet someone from your town.
|
|
|
Post by sixxfiftyboy on Dec 29, 2010 20:15:58 GMT -5
nice I would really like to go to that
|
|
|
Post by hardway1969 on Dec 30, 2010 10:07:41 GMT -5
As mentioned above, check out a local swap meet. Worse case, post an ad up on Craigslist. Ya never know who you might run in to. Also, if you see guys selling vintage MC parts on CL, send them an email just asking if they know of a local meet.
|
|
KAMAKAZEE
Full Member
RIDE HARD RIDE FREE
Posts: 196
|
Post by KAMAKAZEE on Mar 4, 2011 10:50:27 GMT -5
Hey guys, I just want to say that I have a hard time finding people like me, guys who like to sit around bullsh*t and work on motorcycles, cars, and whatever involves cutting wrenching welding and greasin' it up. I realize I am 23 years old and there are probably alot of people like that round but I live in a small town and everyone here is either a loser or a drug addict (or both I guess). I read alot about the old times where your friends have your back no matter what and there is no drama just good times, but Nowadays theres no ''stand up'' guys left. I guess its small town syndrome but everyone just seems the same. Nobody's happy unless they have that new toy or 30 000 dollar bike. Whatever happened to the simple life? Times when you didnt need an X box to have a good time. Everyone wants too much and in my opinion its contributing to the downfall of society. Kids have the total wrong idea of what life is about lately. No one knows how to ''go outside and play'' anymore. Cheers Click on this link below dude you will find plenty like you there, please don't forget to say hello to my uncle Wrenfeild if you visit the joint. history.dircsa.org.au/1800-1899/lunatic-asylum/
|
|
|
Post by headcase on Mar 8, 2011 20:03:34 GMT -5
Sixxfifty: Seems you've found a bunch of like-minded gearheads already (right here), even though we're spread across the globe, we're out here. I think it's so cool to see younger dudes like you get into the mechanical side of things, as opposed to all the softy lame things a lot of people do nowadays....used to paying someone to do stuff for them. Which brings me to this point - Gotta look on the positive side. Use your talents to your benefit. You said yourself, there aren't many people your age who have the smarts, let alone desire, to use whatever passion they have to do something with it. So...turn it around and make a positive thing of it. Being the only one in your hood with the tinker gene, why not make it you motivation to start a biz or offer services in your area that noone else has or wants to do? If you can do what you love and make a living at it, THAT's one of the biggest things to being truly happy. Fine tune the skills, let that sponge betwixt the ears soak up as much as it can, and be that much farther ahead of everyone else. Once you get good, and word gets out, people will be knocking your door down to do work for them = $$$. Don't be bummed about being an oddball, turn it into a rarity that works for you. And don't be afraid of the graybeards, most of them would LOVE to teach younger people what they know, and usually the older someone is, the more of a walking library they are.
|
|