Why motorcycles are good for mental health Ironhorse EP 4 

My wife had breast cancer and I had a BMW R100 GSPD I spent hours in the garage fixing that old bike up, it kept me sane during what was a very tough time. Fortunately my wife has recovered and is now cancer free. I love watching your channel Adam.

I took my trip master to Jörg in Lausanne in Switzerland on my way back to the UK from Italy. What an absolute gentleman. Met his wife (speaks six languages) and spent a wonderful evening with the two of them. Two highly intelligent and educated people. Trip master is still going strong after six years. One of life's wonderful experiences meeting him.

Rebuilding an old bike is rarely something you do without taking a loss in $$ but man the hours of entertainment and therapy are well worth it.

At 63 years old I'm still working in a industrial maintenance management position trying to keep a bunch of 30 something engineers from screwing my plants up. After a 10 hour day I come home and go to my shop and start working on one of the six bikes I own. And yes it is my therapy. After a couple of hours of that I sit down with an evening refreshment and look at my bikes and plan the next evenings task. On the weekends I ride! I don't know anything else. I will tell you this I have three young mechanical engineers working with me that couldn't change the blade on a push mower if it was sitting in my shop with over 20K worth of tools and a RU-vid video showing them how to do it.

You are the fair dinkum embodiment of Aussie Quality. No bullshit, practical, effective, honest, and humble. Let the world know this.

I suffer from depression, always feel better after a ride off or on road.

Got a garage full of bikes and spend about an hour every night after work just de-stressing and doing maintenance, fixing things etc which is my zen time, no phone, nothing, just me and the bikes and relaxing time.

Just bought my first own bike yesterday. 1990 honda nx650. I haven't been this excited for material thing since childhood. Been watching your videos a lot in the past month and it influenced me quite a bit. Great series. Thanks

I’ve just come out my garage after doing some work on my CRF 300L and I see this video. Exactly how I feel when working on my bikes.

My dad used to tell me every real rider has his main ride, then always has a machine in the garage to tinker with that’s laying in waiting. He also suggested to rebuild the wheels first and put brand new rubber on them. Then as you work on the bike you will stare at those wheels for inspiration. 😊

As a 24 year old just getting into the motorcycling craft, I look forward to many projects like this. Thank you for all your wisdom and inspiration!

the best mechanic for your own motorcycle is YOURSELF, cos things are done with love and care... Great video Adam, as usual!!!

Thanks for sharing. When I was a kid, family life was rough and all due to things I had no control over. That said, I owned a Honda XR80 and that thing permitted me to find whatever release I could find. I was in control so to speak. It worked, I stayed out of trouble during those critical years, my list of rides evolved over time and as I was building my life and destiny. To that end, the only time I didn't have a motorcycle was when I attended university. Once I graduated and got a job, I got another bike,. I'm now on my way to 60 years of age and I still manage to ride off and on-road. I love riding motorcycles and I still feel the way I did when I was 12. It's a passion, it helped me live my life fully. :)

Had for two years a Heavy time Because i had a lung surgery. I saw your videos and they helped me to think positiv for the future. Thank you for that. Best wishes from Austria 🤘

@ARiemann1 … the man who got me into motorcycle riding and paying attention to all the details around it. Thx for that mate !

You just knocked me off the fence. I am retired love riding and mechanics. I have four bikes that are in excellent condition. It was rough finding things to do last winter. This summer I am going to sell a few bikes, setup my garage and buy a rescue bike to restore for the upcoming winter project. Thanks for the motivation.

Great to see another XRV750 resto. I've done a few myself. I'm a full time BMW tech but I restore these classic overland bikes for pure relaxation as you say. And I run a 97 AT as my daily. Nothing beats real motorcycles.

It's a therapy to watch the work and listen about the mechanism. Thanks Adam.

Incredible amount of knowledge one can get by just viewing such videos. Thanks to RU-vid, we all have such a great platform to learn from the experts of the game!

That book from years back was before it's time- ZEN and the art of motocycle mechanics. 46 years now been into bikes.

it is my friend, it is ! Cheers from Greece ! A T7 lover !

Your approach to rebuilding the warhorse resulted in a beautiful, appealing and inspiring bike and story.

I am rebuilding my own Warhorse (RD07) and your videos are a huge inspiration. I love the excited look on your face, exactly how I feel every time I go into the garage. Good for the soul! Enjoy the Himalayas...

From memory, the engine only comes out from the left side, I know on my xr650r and xr600r they come out from the left lol

In my younger years i worked at a moto dealer as a mechanic /detailer ,striping down used bikes and painting them up stickers plastics seat covers mostly XRs traded from cattle stations in bulk 15-20 bikes ,and assembling new bikes out of the crates ktm yamaha honda

Broke my wrist in a sporting accident. Iv needed the stationary bike just to keep myself sane for weeks. All the small jobs done as my condition has improved. keep up the great work Adam. The videos are brilliant and so inspirational.

Ik heb mijn burn-Outs (met de rd04) weg gereden en weg geklust. Het is zo goed een hobby en passie te hebben. 1000% waar. Bedankt voor de mooie films die je maakt! 🎉

Agreed. I call it throttle therapy.

Mate, I love your channel, your mindset and all the advice you give, a really dedicated and passionate guy. Cheers from CA

A therapeutic session that is ;-) There's more to motorcycling than just riding. Thanks for your channel, Günter/Nürnberg

I started my RU-vid channel creating all kinds of motorcycle content. Street bikes ,dirt bikes, duel sport bikes. All types. But what I also did was added a how-to motorcycle mechanics Playlist. My recurring most watched videos is of the How to play list. They are timeless. Folks love a good tip at this stuff. And to show them they can do it themselves, priceless. GOOD video Adam. You got me waiting

Zen and the art of motorcycle mechanics

A very nice 'ode to motorcycles' mate... got me a little choked-up to be honest. took me right back to my teens when I first started fiddling with bikes in the 80s For sure motorcycles have helped with my mental game over the years.

I recently bought two old bikes I am fixing up, KTM640 99” model and a 08 drz400 Both are now my pride and joy Adventure bikes. Slowly doing them up to make them my own, Gotta say I’m lovin your videos, recently found your channel and the wealth of information in one place is just awesome, I hope to post some of my own adventures on RU-vid one day. Your a great inspiration cheers mate

I could not agree more and more about all you said! It has been part of my life! Motorcycles isn't Just a hobby, it is also a great therapy riding and of course repairing , upgrading etc.

I can’t agree more with you, I put my Kawasaki Z1000-A1 (‘77 model, yes on of the old one’s) to long in the garage and thought work is more important 😅. Boy was I wrong. Work almost destroyed me. So I took the Kawa out of the Garage and get it running again, together with my brother. And that process put me back on the road again.

Yesterday I bought a T7 in preparation for my long distance trip from the US to central America and your advice and videos were a big reason I decided to do it. I've ridden the new bike all day and am over the moon with it. Thanks for the inspiration and the guidance through your videos.

This was therapy to watch Adam, thanks mate 🙏

You may have just inspired me to rebuild my Y250 2000 instead of selling it "as is". Thank you for the inspiration Adam. Cheers

My dad taught me to get all the bolts in and partially threaded before torqing anything down. I think you just explained why.

This is what I'm doing right now 😊 I don't have my drivers license yet but getting one is on the agenda as the goal of a journey that started 20 years ago but had to be put on hold because of.. well, life. I found a 1982 Moto Guzzi V50c that was in a shed untouched or ridden or maintained for the past decade. I have (or rather had, by this point) zero experience with motorcycles or combustion engines, etc, but this restauration project has been so exciting and relaxing and finishing this bike and getting it up and running again is going to be a huge achievement for me and I can't wait to take it out for its, and mine, first spin in very long time :)

Looking back, as a prior professional tech, who had a garage always full of projects, including my own special bike - with which I had an intimate relationship... I don't think I was ever happier.

Always love seeing these old bikes get the love they deserve!

I found a love for motorcycles when I was a kid my uncle got me into Dirt bikes. I still ride to this day and it has truly always been a great stress relief for me. Love your channel bro!

Therapy 100%. Still waiting for mine to arrive. Going nuts waiting !

That was absolutely hilarious watching you do your head in over getting the engine into the frame. You have embodied the Zen state within The Art of Motorcycle Mechanics!

THANK YOU ADAM, there is finally proof I AM NOT DUMB, just because my brain is working different. I am having the same probs with something like this when the motor is on the side, my brain cant just handle this ...and i am building houses and write books... but WIRERING is HELL for me

Man, this information is absolute gold.

your videos are good for my mental health, your the kind of person people should emulate, thx for the videos

Man Ive had a Project BMW sitting the garage for a while now, and Im finally feeling inspired to go tackle that beast and get her back out on the road. Love these videos

Adam, thank you so much for all the inspiring content. I've rebuilded a few old bikes so far and now I'm just missing the warhorse in the collection. It is truly soulfood to work on bikes and ride them afterwards. Your channel gives me new ideas, knowledge and a lot of anticipation for my own projects. Enjoy your time in the Himalayas and ride safe. Cheers from Switzerland mate.

Hey Adam, never a truer word spoken. Absolute mental health recipe, and something I'm using right now. Thank you again. Cheers

I have a KTM 890 Adv and love the exploration and how good it is for both the mind and body. Have just arrived home today from grabbing a vintage GB400TT road bike for short weekend trips to the cafe. You are so right about this. Thanks for all your content. So good!

Proper geeza this guy!! Did FiFo for 2 years and am familiar with your general fitting techniques 😂😂

I own 5 bikes and my yorkie rides on all of them with me! Best therapy on the planet 👌

And now... I'll have to do something like that! I do competitive MTB for 25 years by now and bought a tw200 last year to go from point A to point B. Rabbit hole is kicking hard now and I want MoaAAR power! Love your channel a lot and even more with your restoration project. I always make things my way, this is inspiring, keep going, you're the man 👌

I’m currently restoring an XRV650. It’s my first one & it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Your warhorse vid kicked me into gear to finally do it. Love your content, keep it up.

Thank you. Very inspiring. Tomorrow is workshop day, again. Just to calm down and get some focus.

Zen and the Art of maintaining a motorcycle. Highly recommended!! Thank you for another amazing video.

Totally agree.. People that goes to their doctors with mental health issues the doc should hand them an application for a motorcycle licence... You never see a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrists office....

Spot on Adam, working on your own motorcycle is great therapy. I have a 1980 R80G/S, so easy to work on and very nice to ride.

Adam brings the spirt of riding forward in every video.

Motorcycle restoration as therapy...I couldn't agree more Adam - it's the happy place for sure. Travel well in the Himalayas

I'm not smart enough to gauge my own mental wellness I just know I love being on my bike as often as possible for as long as possible in every possible location.

I’ve been on kidney dialysis for 9 months now, riding and working on my bike helps me forget my health problems. I will always have a bike. 👍

I'm a simple man, i see a new video from you, i click. Man happy

So true Motorcycle are my therapy

Adam, what a beauty is coming out of the Iron Horse! I can't emphasize enough the impact restoring my XRV RD04 had on me in the last year. Couldn't manage to get it done as quickly as you did, but despite the lengthy process, it's having such a great effect on my mood and self-esteem. Embarking on such a project for the first time in my life, in a period of hard solitude after a bad breakup, has made me realise that anything is doable with enough patience and love. Hope my warhorse will come out at least 10% as beautiful as your horses did. Really appreciate you telling these stories here and on the XRV FB group, your work is recognised even on the other side of the globe. Couldn't be otherwise. Cheers mate!

It can’t get any better than this channel,it’s just power packed and full of great insight……Well done Bro

I wish people would learn to ride bike before getting a car licence, they would be happier healthier and more aware of the dangers.

Thanks!

I've been riding on the road 44 years and off road longer. I could not agree more that motorcycles are good for mental health. Now I have broken a femur, fractured back C4 and C5 vertebra (now fused with titanium), busted a lung and many ribs, and fractured my pelvis; in my 20's to late 30's. I'm paying for being a bit adventurous and having a lot of fun, but I don't regret anything and I still ride practically every day.

Hey Adam, Great video as always! I dig your passion for the vintage Honda's, I have done the same full rebuild on my 1998 XR650L, built it up into a really long haul Dual Sport bike, 675CC piston, Cam, Head Work, Acerbis Big Tank, Custom Springs int the forks and Shock, and more... Love that bike and so proud every time i go out riding with brand new bikes and i can keep up or leave them behind!! Keep up the good work man!!

Fully agree. Got a totally rusted 1190 Adv R in super bad condition. Took me two months to bring it to a great condition again. Did the big 30tkm service even if not yet necessary. Did 2 x oil change to have golden oil. Added stuff like cruise control, grip heaters, better brembos, better brake pump, added decals, etc. Pure focused relax work.

Totally agree with you on mental health. I haven’t ridden for 7 weeks, due to breaking my leg off road on a bike. Really missing riding.

Great, love the gift by Akra!!!

All good advice Adam. The bike is looking good!

Loved it thanks

Only thing I'm nitpicking over is that you didn't keep the bronze clutch cover... Honda went a long way to preserve and carry character traits and styling cues from the XRV to the CRF line and that's one of them! Thanks for bringing us trough the resto journey and putting out your thought process.

I’ve just purchased a Warhorse T shirt so I needed to purchase the bike and found a low Ks XRV750 RD07A in Oz and it arrives in a few weeks, can’t wait I have restored many bikes over the years and i have 3 other Honda’s that are awaiting restoration, I am looking forward to doing a trip around Tasmania on the Africa Twin next March before doing a fully bang resto on the beast. 🏍️ thanks for the advice and fantastic videos.

Yas can't wait 🙌. Getting myself a xtz750 on Friday can't wait. Will make her look real nice

Good stuff Adam, big thumbs up, its the reason i hold on to my eighties and nineties Super Tenere's and my old VW vans, old rust buckets for some, but the work on them's a great way to distract from our crazy world, good stuff buddy👍👍

Love it....All the best from Canada!

Just stripped the DRZ 400 engine and rebuilt it...new drive shaft, bearings, seals piston, cylinder, valves etc...one circlip leftover and it is making me nervous lol but yeah it's nice to complete each little step. Expensive but worth knowing the entire engine inside and out. Definitely good to be able to work on a bike with all of life's other issues.

Adam it’s a great series can’t wait to see the Iron Horse fire up you make it look so easy and simple it’s a great reference for anyone I am a Yamaha fan trying to find a 750 Super Ténéré not so easy but since the War Horse they are are beautiful bikes with so much history to tell. Thanks Dave

Wow, that akra unboxing is just so unrealistic to me. That will cost half of my bikes but who knows. Excellent job Adam

Great video Adam. Love your work.

Old Mate looks like he is straight out of a Boy Band Today!

🎉Love your Work Adam 🤝thanks ✌️

Great video! That way of puting back the frame wtih the engine lying on its side, it's for RD07 and -A models. They have a lower frame bar that can be remove. Best way is the one you followed. Best regards and thanks for the videos!! Fully agree with them!

You're looking well Adam. Wonderful skills and knowledge. Biking has kept me sane and positively mad. Worked for a large part of my life in mental health. Laterly as a CPN and agree that (although not for everyone) biking is a positive force. Loneliness is hard to find when biking, we tend to protect our own. A sure fire way to protect yourself against the stresses of life is to get a dog who's into biking. Looking forward to the next adventure.

The method about engine fitting on it`s side is very good. The problem is You have too start putting the frame from the bottom of the engine, not from the top like You tried :)

Hi Adam . Love those bikes. Can not wait for the start up with that pipe. Oh and thats why i ride my bike and service it makes me feel good. True good for the soul. Cheers John from gold coast.

Love the build content!

Therapy, I agree. I think that's why people drop $1500-2000 on accessories for a new bike. There's nothing broken yet but it affords an opportunity to bond with their new machine. Not as sweet as a first kiss but it's close.

... Thanks Adam ,. quality information and motivation as always mate ... Love your work brother 🙏

I was prompted to get a 125 after 50 years of cars, campers and trucks. Turns out the pilot jet was blocked so I took it apart on the path one afternoon - one afternoon 2 months ago - since then it's been strip - clean. new chain + sprockets, shocks, mod the seat, stator mod, tyres etc etc - planning on my first big trip as LE-JOG Lands End - John o' Groats - but at least now I know my bike

this is soooo true. I really enjoyed rebuilding and modifying my RD04. problem is I can't stop and am already working on a new Aluminium tank and bashguard

im not restoring one but i just bought a Honda 750 transalp that ill kit out for adventure that will keep me sane :) cheers from esperance

Your bikes gonna be bad ass! working on a old 1200 GS myself.