This was a tough decision. There were a number of candidates on the shortlist that merited consideration but there can only be one and I made the choice. I will say though that one of the ones under consideration is a definite future BOTM.
This months winner is known to us all here even if you have only joined recently. He is very generous with his time, knowledge, tools and his garage. I know this for a fact as I was in his driveway with my Sabre's rear wheel and shaft torn apart checking a damper problem 3300 miles from my garage with my daughter while we were going cross country in 2010. He has also helped other Board members with their bikes, or sent parts or loaned tools as needed. As far as Board members go, they don't get any better than this one.
He also happens to rebuild V4's with an eye to detail and a proficiency that I can only hope to achieve, and in case your wondering, yes, I have stood inside the fabled "Living Room Garage".
Congratulations John Hilmer, your Vf500F is March 2013's Bike of the Month.
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3521/1395206911.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/1395206911.jpg/)
A link to Johns thread on the rebuild.
http://v4hondabbs.com/index.php?topic=52432.0
Yep, that's a sweet one alright. a well deserved kudos to you John! :thumb
I cannot think of a more deserving member than John Hilmer. Congrats, John! That bike is actually nicer than when new! tenof10 :thumb :bow:
And rightly deserved. Congrats John.
There are only good words that can describe John Hilmer. What Michael said and a whole lot more. His work reflects the kind of man he is. Although we've never met face to face, (I hope that will change someday) I've come to know him a little more each time we write. I also know he hates being the center of attention, but work like he has done so many times, can't be hid away. I only hope I can learn 50% of what he has stored away in his head. Well done John. The world's a better place with you in it. :thumb :beer: :thumb
Even if his bike didn't look so amazing, he's always in the running for member of the month! I send that pic to anyone asking about a 500 rebuild. Bravo!
Great Choice. I've never met John either, but I think if the rest of the world was a little more like him, it would be a better place.
A well deserved spot...
Congrats John, you are a great guy. Don't know how the forum would be without your posts...
Dutchy
Michael & All,
I'm not real good with words, especially when trying to express my feelings at a time like this. There are so many excellent restorations and projects all across the country and beyond that I have to say that I believe that this honor is not for this build being the best. I see it as just my turn in a string of really superior and stunning efforts by many of us. I could list quite a number of folks and their works, that I'm sure are better than my own. I won't try to list them, we all know who they are, and I'm sure that Michael will be tapping them soon.
I'm just one like the many here that enjoys the process, sometimes more than riding.
When Michael was here and working on his Sabre, I tried to help a bit, but he did the real work. While he was wrenching I started to clean and add some polish to the pumpkin. When He saw this his comment was, "What are you doing? Are ya trying to turn it into a Magna?"
It is just a habit Michael, I can't help it.
Thank you all so much,
John
If I ever see that bike in person....... ;D........I'm going to drool all over it. (black wheels make the bike faster though) ;)
Recalling what I can of the build and the effort that went into it, I think it is a candidate for bike of the year!
Quote from: v65infla on March 03, 2013, 01:48:20 PM
Recalling what I can of the build and the effort that went into it, I think it is a candidate for bike of the year!
I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!!
If I had an Interceptor that looked like that I would park it in the living room too.
Congratulations John on being the BOTM.
As I have only seen this bike in unassembled in your carpeted man cave, it sure looks nice now.
And yes John's work is museum quality.
Not sure if we will swing by your place this year, vacationing on Vancouver Island this summer.
When this topic opened this was the bike I first thought of.
Congrats Mr. Hilmer.
:beer:
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Congrats :beer: Well deserved recognition!
I agree with the others, you deserve it. That's a beautiful bike.
Congrats John!
Very nice, indeed! Congratulations, John! tenof10
Have a good'ern!
Hunter
Quote from: saber_35 on March 03, 2013, 03:12:40 PM
Quote from: v65infla on March 03, 2013, 01:48:20 PM
Recalling what I can of the build and the effort that went into it, I think it is a candidate for bike of the year!
I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!!
AHMEN TO THAT!!
Awesome choice; owner and bike :beer:
If I ever take my "fix my bike" trip I'll schedule a week for John, lol.
Congrats, it is sweet looking!
Big Al
Is your living room on the first floor?
;D
I know the effort and determination you put into this bike John, congratulations on a magnificent restore, just beautiful, :thumb
Earl
There is only one flaw in that bike, it is to clean to ride. :wal:
Well if it was mine, it would have staid in the living room as an ornament. ;D
:thumb what they said. Great job
congrats
totally awesome john. i likey :beer:
Nice bike... well deserved........ :thumb
Sweet looking machine, you deserve the honor John!!
Folks,
I was planning to wait until Friday the 29th to reply thinking that all replies would be received by then, but it seems that this is complete now.
To me, what makes this honor of the highest value is that he who selected this machine and those who have commented are probably more talented and capable than I. So it bears witnessing that I hold these folks and more in high regard.
There are members here that deliberately avoided making comments; I assume for different reasons. Some probably because they like me shun the spot light and others that are just plain thinking this sort of thing is not of value.
I have to answer the last implied because I was reticent to allow my bike to be considered knowing it's faults.
The turning point in my allowing this machine to be considered, was when it was suggested to me that if I allowed this to happen, it might get someone to try to improve what was in hand.
To me saving these machines, whatever the flavor, is the golden purpose.
Clearly I am humbled by the honor and look forward to see the following selections as well as those posted in the restoration threads.
John
Quote from: John Hilmer on March 26, 2013, 07:50:06 PM
There are members here that deliberately avoided making comments; I assume for different reasons. Some probably because they like me shun the spot light and others that are just plain think this sort of thing is not of value.
John
Name and shame them John, because that is just sick.
Just ran across this. Nice job on the 500. Looks super and is worthy of at least BOTM. I agree with you about restoring these bikes. They are super bikes that still are as good today as anything else out there for sport touring and just plan old fun.
I don't know how to reply to this one John... You know the first thing would be the language barrier..
Anyway..
Positive reactions, Always make you feel better, and can really pull you through a hard moment to get to the next level.
Criticism, no matter what it is, always pulls you down, and you are searching for answers (replying a post or researching for an answer) causing extra time..
However, in our mindset, we get credit for the positive answers, and we neglect the negative answers. And here's the trick... :
The negatives don't say anything about you.. It's just what others interpretate as being "how it could be better". However, they have never been confronted to your problem at that time in this moment..
And for this moment, I don't have anything to add, besides that it is a very brilliant VF500F 'ceptor I can't match to buy or restore currently..
Dutchy
I love seeing any of these old V4s looking as good as this one does.
It brings me back to the days as a young man, when I went to the
Honda shop in the small town I grew up in, and walked around the
showroom floor among these awesome machines, feeling not even
worthy of dreaming of ever owning one.
Since then, it's hard to run across them looking as old as they are.
Makes me feel old.
Nice work keeping this one up.
I remember back in 83 walking around the honda shop but always gravitating to the V65 Magna. They had a burgundy one right next to the blue. Wow, the thoughts that went through my head. I had just bought a KZ440 about a year before for $1000 and with nothing else worth any money I was still about $3000 short.
Seeing the care and love put into these machines reminds me why I've still got my first V65 and always will. That one is not for sale.
John, you have done well. I salute you!
Great job! ARe you able to start riding it yet? That model of VF would be a huge find for me here- I could not think of a more ideal commuter bike for Hawaii! I am green with envy.
Quote from: John Hilmer on March 26, 2013, 07:50:06 PM
I was planning to wait until Friday the 29th to reply thinking that all replies would be received by then, but it seems that this is complete now.
Sweet looking ride, John! :beer: