Tampa Nam Knights Get PTSD Veteran Back on Bike

Bikers refurbish disabled veteran's stolen motorcycle
William R. Levesque
Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 16, 2014

TAMPA — Army veteran Paul Rivera said he was planning to sell his $10,000 customized motorcycle before it was stolen from outside his Tampa apartment on June 18. But he's got it back. And he just might keep it forever.

"I'm never going to get rid of it now," Rivera said.

With the help of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and others, the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club Westside Chapter presented Rivera with his newly refurbished 2005 Honda CBR 600 at the Veterans Memorial Park and Museum Saturday.

After thieves stole the Honda, they nearly ruined it by trying to hide its orange and red colors by painting it black. Parts were missing and the bike's body was damaged. Even the seat was missing.

"Of course, it's not their bike," said Hillsborough Deputy Buddy Rudolph. "They stole it. So they don't take the best care of it."

After the bike was recovered on July 3 and thieves arrested, Hillsborough deputies decided to get the Honda repaired for Rivera, who is a disabled Iraq war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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