You are forgiven, my Son. In 72 you had to start someplace. Hopefully you have been cured of Limeyness? And that you got cured before the vibration ate your fingers? One of my old buds still owes me 80 bucks for a Bonneville I helped him buy. Ungrateful essobee.
Young and stupid.
What really astounds me, looking back, is that at 17 I bought a 1964 Triumph Spitfire which was a mechanical disaster - although it was pretty damn cool looking. Outside of those lying bastards at the bike mags, what possessed me to buy a Brit bike 3 years later???
Oh well, like the crazy ass women I dated, at least I had the sense (or dumb luck) to get out before it was too late. ha ha