Hello Chris, from the USA. Sorry to hear about your Dad. Thank you for introducing your video with the topic of suicide, mental health, grieving, seeking counsel and recovery. Your artful weaving in of the 70's history is both remarkable and commendable. I just subcribed to your channel. I ride a 2013 XL1200C as well. God bless.
Afternoon Spike - many thanks for your very kind words (& subscription!). It was certainly an unusual way to look at 1974, but thank you for saying that it worked so well. I'm really looking forward to making the Evo Sportster videos, as they're my favourite. I never imagined that I'd only get to 1974 after seven flickerin' videos: wild. Still, it is great fun, if demanding. Enjoy your Sportster Custom Spike - they're just wonderful, 'ain't they? God bless you too, Chris
Afternoon StraightPipe - thanks for appreciating my video. (Yes, it was a 'heart wrenching' time!) As you say, there were bright spots - I just don't remember any... I see that The Who rocked Chalton FC that year, and Evel Knievel was doing crazy things on a rocket bike. Funny old world, I suppose. Cheers, Chris
An honest option of the AMF tenure . I think the 70s were a turning point for many manufacturing companies in the West . I wonder how we and hopefully the sportster will be perceived in 50 years . Keep am coming my friend 😊thanks.
Morning Lee - thank you for being so nice about my video. I agree that the '70s marked a turning point as manufacturing began moving east. Painful for us in the West, but inevitable. I think the Sportster will be an immortal classic - but I fear I may be biased! Cheers, Chris
You are a storyteller second to none. Albeit a tragic story this time, but nevertheless. Sorry about your 1974. And very sorry for your dad. He must have had it really hard - being the head of a family in such difficult times is not an easy task. And to leave your loved ones behind like this - very, very hard - extremely hard to just pull the plug. The man must have been desperate. But as you say - back then, boys did not cry, and so there was nobody to talk to... Didn't expect this as the 6-th episode of the Sportster story. I hope you don't blame him anymore. And you may have just convinced me to never ever take that route.
Afternoon - thank you for being sympathetic. Yes, dad's suicide was an act of dreadful despiration. He had sever 'emotional' problems - mum even suggested paranoia at the end. He suffered debilitating and ferocious headaches for years, which led to codeine addition. He was a butcher (as was granddad), but when supermarket opened across the road, the butchers shop went bust (in White Waltham, Maidenhead) and he went down hill from then. As for 'blame', well, dad is responsible for what he did so that is something our family has to accept. But I don't think anyone 'judges' him for it - no-one should judge anyone else's pain. Interestingly, I'm not 'anti suicide' (so to speak). However, I wish so much that dad had the care & support he needed. From my perspective, dad's choice was bad - even back then, I have to believe there were other options, given the circumstances. Nowadays, I am certain there are other options, especially 'cos mental health care is more readily available (mostly - on the British NHS, it's a nightmare, but psychological counselling, for instance, is not too expensive, and even on benefits, I chose to pay for it - and will again, if and when I need to.) You comment here meant the world to me because you began 'You are a storyteller second to none'. Given the content of this episode (which is heavy on history & tragedy, light on Sportsters), you saying that was a hugely encouraging thing to read: THANK YOU! Cheers, Chris
Afternoon Henry - many thanks for being so positive about the series (again). I try to release videos on Fridays at 5 p.m. (GMT or BST, whichever it is.) Thanks Henry, Chris
Hi Chris, good man you are! Well done for your great passion on Sportsters, on my second one, the beautiful 98 S1200 what a bike, I have had over 60 bikes, been passionate since I was a lad. For me a Vespa 300 and my beloved Sportster are a great pair in my yard. Keep up the great stories, we look forward to them. Best wishes, Martin
Morning Martin - 60 bikes?! Blimey, that's quite a record. Nice that you've got a Sportster there now - not quite so keen on the Vespa, although the long-time salesman, Harvey, at Riders H-D in Bridgwater, does not have a Harley, just a 1958 Lambretta. Must be something in the H-D oil... Cheers, Chris
Hi Chris, love your work, thanks, it's really important what you are doing.... It's better than lest we forget, it's more like... You NEED to know this... To get perspective.... Thank you. You are a wonderful soul, I would love to go for a ride with you... Maybe one day... I love my bikes past and present, special beings if you will.... The 98 Sportster S is my 3rd Sportster... Wow what a great bike... Really looking forward to seeing all of your vids, very fun, open and enjoyable creations. My sympathies for your struggles... I only met my father when I was 58...he was 89.....couldn't talk to him, he was deaf by then... Such a loss not having a dad around.... At least we have our bikes and hopefully others who care... Be well, go well friend and best wishes👍😎
Morning Martin - many thanks for your good wishes, and for saying nice things about my videos: thank you again. Families are tricky things, aren't they? (Fathers, especially, apparently...) And, as you say, it is such a dreadful loss not to have a dad knocking around. Ride safe Martin, my best wishes to you as well, Chris
Chris, I rewatched this episode today and then glancing at my previous comment, realized I had said nothing about your losing your father, let alone in such a tragic manner. Please do forgive this thoughtless and insensitive oversight on my part! And please do accept my most sincere sympathy for your loss. May our Covenant Keeping Lord continue to bless, use, and keep you always! Henry +
Hello Chris, from the USA. Sorry to hear about your Dad. Thank you for introducing your video with the topic of suicide, mental health, grieving, seeking counsel and recovery. Your artful weaving in of the 70's history is both remarkable and commendable. I just subcribed to your channel. I ride a 2013 XL1200C as well. God bless.
Afternoon Spike - many thanks for your very kind words (& subscription!). It was certainly an unusual way to look at 1974, but thank you for saying that it worked so well.
I'm really looking forward to making the Evo Sportster videos, as they're my favourite. I never imagined that I'd only get to 1974 after seven flickerin' videos: wild. Still, it is great fun, if demanding.
Enjoy your Sportster Custom Spike - they're just wonderful, 'ain't they?
God bless you too,
Chris
In 1974 I lived. 08 of a mile from H-D. I ride 2014 883.
What a heart wrenching story. There were some bright spots that year such as The Who and Evel Knievel. Great video
Afternoon StraightPipe - thanks for appreciating my video. (Yes, it was a 'heart wrenching' time!) As you say, there were bright spots - I just don't remember any...
I see that The Who rocked Chalton FC that year, and Evel Knievel was doing crazy things on a rocket bike. Funny old world, I suppose.
Cheers,
Chris
An honest option of the AMF tenure . I think the 70s were a turning point for many manufacturing companies in the West . I wonder how we and hopefully the sportster will be perceived in 50 years . Keep am coming my friend 😊thanks.
Morning Lee - thank you for being so nice about my video. I agree that the '70s marked a turning point as manufacturing began moving east. Painful for us in the West, but inevitable.
I think the Sportster will be an immortal classic - but I fear I may be biased!
Cheers,
Chris
You are a storyteller second to none. Albeit a tragic story this time, but nevertheless.
Sorry about your 1974. And very sorry for your dad. He must have had it really hard - being the head of a family in such difficult times is not an easy task. And to leave your loved ones behind like this - very, very hard - extremely hard to just pull the plug. The man must have been desperate. But as you say - back then, boys did not cry, and so there was nobody to talk to...
Didn't expect this as the 6-th episode of the Sportster story.
I hope you don't blame him anymore.
And you may have just convinced me to never ever take that route.
Afternoon - thank you for being sympathetic. Yes, dad's suicide was an act of dreadful despiration. He had sever 'emotional' problems - mum even suggested paranoia at the end. He suffered debilitating and ferocious headaches for years, which led to codeine addition. He was a butcher (as was granddad), but when supermarket opened across the road, the butchers shop went bust (in White Waltham, Maidenhead) and he went down hill from then.
As for 'blame', well, dad is responsible for what he did so that is something our family has to accept. But I don't think anyone 'judges' him for it - no-one should judge anyone else's pain.
Interestingly, I'm not 'anti suicide' (so to speak). However, I wish so much that dad had the care & support he needed. From my perspective, dad's choice was bad - even back then, I have to believe there were other options, given the circumstances. Nowadays, I am certain there are other options, especially 'cos mental health care is more readily available (mostly - on the British NHS, it's a nightmare, but psychological counselling, for instance, is not too expensive, and even on benefits, I chose to pay for it - and will again, if and when I need to.)
You comment here meant the world to me because you began 'You are a storyteller second to none'. Given the content of this episode (which is heavy on history & tragedy, light on Sportsters), you saying that was a hugely encouraging thing to read: THANK YOU!
Cheers,
Chris
As I road about my Sportster 48, I wondered when this video might drop! And alas, it did! Thanks for your ongoing series about our beloved XLs!
Afternoon Henry - many thanks for being so positive about the series (again). I try to release videos on Fridays at 5 p.m. (GMT or BST, whichever it is.)
Thanks Henry,
Chris
Another good one. Sorry about your Dad.
Thanks for appreciating the video Chris - and thank you too for you sympathies about dad. (The next video shouldn't be so sad!)
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris, good man you are! Well done for your great passion on Sportsters, on my second one, the beautiful 98 S1200 what a bike, I have had over 60 bikes, been passionate since I was a lad. For me a Vespa 300 and my beloved Sportster are a great pair in my yard.
Keep up the great stories, we look forward to them.
Best wishes,
Martin
Morning Martin - 60 bikes?! Blimey, that's quite a record. Nice that you've got a Sportster there now - not quite so keen on the Vespa, although the long-time salesman, Harvey, at Riders H-D in Bridgwater, does not have a Harley, just a 1958 Lambretta. Must be something in the H-D oil...
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris, love your work, thanks, it's really important what you are doing.... It's better than lest we forget, it's more like... You NEED to know this... To get perspective.... Thank you. You are a wonderful soul, I would love to go for a ride with you... Maybe one day...
I love my bikes past and present, special beings if you will.... The 98 Sportster S is my 3rd Sportster... Wow what a great bike...
Really looking forward to seeing all of your vids, very fun, open and enjoyable creations.
My sympathies for your struggles... I only met my father when I was 58...he was 89.....couldn't talk to him, he was deaf by then...
Such a loss not having a dad around.... At least we have our bikes and hopefully others who care...
Be well, go well friend and best wishes👍😎
Morning Martin - many thanks for your good wishes, and for saying nice things about my videos: thank you again.
Families are tricky things, aren't they? (Fathers, especially, apparently...) And, as you say, it is such a dreadful loss not to have a dad knocking around.
Ride safe Martin, my best wishes to you as well,
Chris
Chris, I rewatched this episode today and then glancing at my previous comment, realized I had said nothing about your losing your father, let alone in such a tragic manner. Please do forgive this thoughtless and insensitive oversight on my part! And please do accept my most sincere sympathy for your loss.
May our Covenant Keeping Lord continue to bless, use, and keep you always!
Henry +
I have an all original 1974 XLH. Love it
Morning Bob - nice to hear from you again. Still got it then? I don't blame ya...
Cheers,
Chris
Thank you for sharing
Really deep video.