Topic: Modern motorcycles - what am I missing?

[70CB750]

Let's say I would sell my first born on ebay and got the latest CBR1000RR.  Would it be such experience and love that I would never again mess with old iron like CBs from 70ties? 

The newest motorcycle I had was 87 CBX750 - back than it was 8 years old - and I loved it.  The power, comfort and behavior was so much better than my first ever motorcycle.
 
But my first ever motorcycle was CZ250 two stroke - basically 60ties technology, nothing to go crazy about.

I guess my question is: 

If you ride new and old, how does the vintage iron compares to the latest and greatest?  Do you take the old CB out because you feel sorry for it, or because you are bored with the new machine or because as far as it has two wheels the other difference is negligible?

[IndyFour]

For me the difference is negligible really.  It all depends on how you like to ride I think.  If you want to ride fast in lots of twisties, you might enjoy a more modern sport bike since you are less likely to press the handling capabilities of the newer machine like you would on a vintage bike with very limited brakes and suspension.

I have a '74 CB550 and a 2000 VFR800....these bikes are VASTLY different.  I really ride about the same on both of them...I'm a very conservative rider (not slow necessarily).  I got the VFR for the fuel econ (I get nearly 50 mpg on that beast...only mid 30s on the CB) and for long-distance comfort.  For me, riding either bike is equally enjoyable.  While the old CB is fun to ride and does fine on the highway/interstate, it sometimes feels like I'm really working to ride it.  The VFR, on the other hand, will do 110 mph effortlessly and is smooth as glass on the interstate.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for that kind of riding....sometimes I just feel like a more "organic" kind of ride that the old CB gives me.  It all depends upon my destination too.....if there's a chance of rain, I generally leave the CB at home...or if I'm going to shop while I'm out, I'll normally take the VFR and put the saddle bags or tail bag on it.

Sometimes I just like to hop on the CB because I know that I'll encounter people who will enjoy seeing it and may ask about it.   

[Raul CB750K1]

Modern bikes are a blast to ride, even if they are not sport. Reliability is a plus. It is true that they go so well that they "bore" you, as they don't rattle, don't vibrate, are firm both on straights and curves... but on the other hand, they can be freaking reliable.

I many times think about selling my 750K1 now that they are valued, and simplifying my life staying with the "modern" -1993- CB Seven Fifty. But then, you get a lot of looks and appreciation when riding the old Honda. For some reason people tends to like you because they like the bike you ride.


I would say best of both worlds: have a classic for your leisure rides, and a modern bike, cheap to run, cheap to buy, for your commuting duties.

[Killer Canary]

I'll try not to run on too long! I started riding close to 40 yrs. ago and no matter what I had, I was always looking for something faster. When I finally did get a fast bike, I found that my daily 70mile commute was killing off rear tires quicker than I could afford to replace them, so I picked up  derelict 550 ( I had first bought one when I was 15 ) and turned it into the Canary. Riding 350 miles a week taught me a new appreciation of the old girl; cheap to operate and never once left me standing, through wind and rain and occasionally snow. Now I own a Fireblade which is a brilliant bike but  a lot less fun than my vintage bikes. I keep it around to occasionally frighten myself.

[WhyNot2]

Exactly.................................

The
Harley for long trips and cold day riding. Has saddlebags, for riding gear, cause morning ride in very cold, coming home in the afternoon, very warm. Plus, has removable windshield.

The Hondas are for short rides, such as bike nites, poker runs, and gatherings. As been said b4, peeps just seem to like you and like to convers about the older bikes. And because mine has no badges, I'm always asked what kind of bike is that.

Also, use the Hondas as daily riders to and fro work, when the weather is warm. I want to get this little CB100 I have bratted out so I can ride it on those gathering occasions. Having engine issues at the moment.

I just don't like driving cages. If I can ride, I will.

[70CB750]

Thanks for the insight.  I am sure it also depends on the bike type, the american type cruisers never talked to me, on the other hand colleague of me had a loaner BMW R1200GS  and that thing was so sexy I commited adultery in my mind right there 

Wish there was a place near by where you can rent a motorcycle for a spin on closed road.

[Bob Wessner]

I keep it around to occasionally frighten myself.

 

[shark]

Had a 97 GSXR600 between 98-03. Did everything better than the Honda. Jump on and ride, no fuss, no muss.

Old Honda just put a bigger smile on my face when riding.

If I had to use my own transportation to go to work, I would buy a newer bike.

[totty]

I have a '74 CB550 and a 2000 VFR800....these bikes are VASTLY different.

I have a 79 CB550 and a 1990 VFR750. Apart from the riding position brakes are the first thing I notice when switching bikes, the VFR has a reputation for at best average brakes but they're in a different league to the CB.

[jstfkndi]

Haven't gotten to ride my little 350F as much as I'd like for a true comparo, but what I notice from the short stints: It's obivous my bikes are from two separate worlds. Whilst I am not old enough to remember how bikes ran way back when (my bike is older than I), I feel I bought mine because I wanted to bring something back from the dead. Playing a bit of Dr. Frankenstein so to speak I have only ridden newer bikes (1996 being the oldest year before the 350) and my current bike is a 2003 Aprilia Tuono. I will have to blow the motor up on the Ape before I ever think about selling it!

Like everyone else here says. There is great comfort in knowing you can get on your bike and just go. Maintenance is low (fluid changes and a battery here or there), performance is stellar and speed.....yes please! So I guess it makes it easier for me to hold on to the little 350F. It sure as sh#@ wouldn't be my daily and even less so my commuter! My only complaint about the Ape and possibly the other reason I bought the Honda, is that around the city, the bike is just too much. It is not happy in a 3-4K RPM range which is what is a comfortable speed in 2nd around town. Sure I could buy a Ninja 250R or CBR250R, but I like to know that I got this little thing running again and giving it a second shot. Can't help but think that in about 20-30 years, my cutting edge technology will probably looked at like a dinosaur.

[70CB750]

I am risking a jinx here, but my old Honda is just that, get on and go.  I have no doubts that she will get me anywhere I go, she is one of the most reliable vehicles I ever had.

[MoMo]

Character is what is missing.  The newer bikes just don't have it.  My .02...Larry

[madScientist]

I started out on the 78 750F about 14 years ago. I've always been drawn to the old bikes primarily because my dad has a bunch of them. I got a lot of looks with the F...even more so when i pulled the baffle out of the 4-1 megaphone. That lasted about 20 miles...I digress.

When I hit 18 I thought I wanted more speed and better handling so I went out and got a cbr954. Sure it was crazy fast, would wheelie at 80mph, and carve tight corners at 60 with little wheel bucking but I stopped being noticed! Everyone had a crotch rocket at that point and the individuality was gone. No one looked at it or came up to talk to me about it. I started to realize that I missed talking to random strangers about my bike.

I had the 954 for one summer and went back to the F (and a kz900) because the F is just so much more interesting! I enjoy talking to people and love it when people come up to chat about 60's mustangs (have 2) or old bikes! Everyone has new stuff...not many people have functional old stuff.

[azuredesign]

What kind of oil... Such a subjective subject! 

My son has a friend who went out to motorcycle tech school in Arizona a few years back. He must be in his early 30s and rides an rc-51. He wont even look at a spoked wheel bike.

Personally, I love them all. Yes, I understand old bikes, and am not put off by limited isolation from rough roads( hell I grew up on english sports cars), pogoing during cornering, pathetic brakes, filing points contacts, etc. etc.
But I also like being able to go long distances without having to take a leak every 20 minutes, not lusting after the extra tranny gear I dont have, and still being able to stop or turn even if I pull the periodic bonehead move. Better still, I find some new bikes very visually appealing. Maybe not like a chrome tanked Lightening, or with an exposed distinctive engine piece like the sohc valve cover(my all time favorite), but... I guess I mean if bikes were all the same, what reason would I have for having a garage full of them?? To me they all have personality. The word character
is interesting to me, as that word is also used to describe someone who is at odds in some way with everyone else, someone who will most likely not respond in a predictable fashion. I am not sure that is something I want in a bike.

[ShermanPain]

Maybe i shouldnt be commenting here because ive only ever ridden these old bikes but in reality how fast do you need to go, and how much handling do you need? I get the argument for reliability and ive been late for work a few times because of mine, but at the same time thats part of the character of the motorcycle and of myself. I see it as me being "ian the interesting guy who rides an old bike" not "ian the douche with a crotchrocket". I like that i can cheaply easily fix and modify them. built not bought. They are definitely more interesting than the 30grand "custom" HD

[Killer Canary]

This is ironic; in the '70s, these same bikes were considered to be completely lacking in character.

[simon#42]

This is ironic; in the '70s, these same bikes were considered to be completely lacking in character.

very true , and todays new bikes are tomorrows old bikes so this argument will keep repeating itself !
must admit i prefer older bikes but new bikes are very very good and if i didnt enjoy the mechanical side of bike ownership i would certainly have one .

[Stixxy]

My '09 CBF1000 is nice to ride. Comfortable, powerful, reliable and the brakes work. But it's not fun like the old '77 550K. That bike wasn't nearly as fast, powerful or reliable. And the brakes... well at times they could be down right scary. The CBF1000 has ABS brakes while the 550K had what Jay Leno would call "Anti-Stop" brakes. 

Also, I'd spend many enjoyable hours picking at and fixing the 550K. It was so much fun to work on and easy to work on. However I'm almost afraid to touch the CBF1000 with it's electronics, fuel injection, etc.

For me:
CBF1000 = nice to ride
550K = FUN to ride

[Really?]

This is ironic; in the '70s, these same bikes were considered to be completely lacking in character.

very true , and todays new bikes are tomorrows old bikes so this argument will keep repeating itself !
must admit i prefer older bikes but new bikes are very very good and if i didnt enjoy the mechanical side of bike ownership i would certainly have one .

Will it?  I am wondering if many of these newer bikes will survive that long. 

Young kids sitting still while the motor is bouncing off the rev limiter, the amount of bikes crashing at 100+, the amount of bikes that end up pure shiite after these youngin's have had them for a while, the amount of plastic on these bikes that won't live the test of time from becoming too brittle to repair and probably no one making replacement plastics...

Personally, these newer bikes all look the same to me and TOTALLY lack character!

[FunJimmy]

The difference is night & day. Modern bikes, especially sport bikes are incredible mechanical marvels, able of making mere mortals feel like and appear to be super heros!
Handling that continues to amaze right up to speeds three times the posted limit. Not that I'd personally know, but you get the drift. They can be ridden hard and put away wet, day after day and still deliver on the promise of outstanding performance, handling with minimal care at a bargain price.

Vintage bikes and the likes of modernized classics like my CB550 Interceptor do all the above to about 75% and only to about 110% of the posted speed limit. Push them much farther and you're gonna find out what 35+ years of engineering has brought to the table.

But that's just my take on it.
FJ 

[FunJimmy]

Wish there was a place near by where you can rent a motorcycle for a spin on closed road.

Try www.sportbikes4hire.com

Have a couple days at Deals Gap while you're at it.
You won't be dissapointed.

[Bailgang]

Every now and then I'll sneak out on my kids cbr600 f3 and it is without a doubt a thrill ride compared to my cb550 and I actually wouldn't mind owning one myself unfortunately I still have too much of a kid inside me and this 49 year old would get into too much trouble with a modern sport bike. The only real problem I have with my kids bike is that every time I hop on it my feet are always searching for the foot pegs.

[Stev-o]

I like to ride fast. Years ago I had a Kaw 1000 and pushed it to the limits in the twisties and top end.
The CB's are slow compared to modern bikes of the same displacement, it's like a governor for me.
I am missing is super high performance but I don't want the risk that goes with it now that I have a wife and kid. Not worth it, I get enough of a thrill at 75 on my little 550 cafe.

[azuredesign]

I like to ride fast. Years ago I had a Kaw 1000 and pushed it to the limits in the twisties and top end.
The CB's are slow compared to modern bikes of the same displacement, it's like a governor for me.
I am missing is super high performance but I don't want the risk that goes with it now that I have a wife and kid. Not worth it, I get enough of a thrill at 75 on my little 550 cafe.

Steve, what you say makes sense to me. Sport bikes today are crazy fast, but they dont have to be ridden that way. I have had a Hayabusa since 07, and I have to admit to earning a $300.00 ticket on the sucker soon after getting it. In getting 5 years older and riding the bike over that period, I have both slowed down and found that as I have tuned the bike to fit me, I dont have to go fast in order to enjoy it. In contrast, I also have a little 250 single that is a blast to go 50 on, makes me remember the excitement I felt when I borrowed my first street ride in high school.
Also, it becomes relatively quick to get the plastic fairing bits off the bike in order to service it, when one infrequently has to do so.

[azuredesign]

I like to ride fast. Years ago I had a Kaw 1000 and pushed it to the limits in the twisties and top end.
The CB's are slow compared to modern bikes of the same displacement, it's like a governor for me.
I am missing is super high performance but I don't want the risk that goes with it now that I have a wife and kid. Not worth it, I get enough of a thrill at 75 on my little 550 cafe.

Steve, what you say makes sense to me. Sport bikes today are crazy fast, but they dont have to be ridden that way. I have had a Hayabusa since 07, and I have to admit to earning a $300.00 ticket on the sucker soon after getting it. In getting 5 years older and riding the bike over that period, I have both slowed down and found that as I have tuned the bike to fit me, I dont have to go fast in order to enjoy it. In contrast, I also have a little 250 single that is a blast to go 50 on, makes me remember the excitement I felt when I borrowed my first street ride in high school.
Also, it becomes relatively quick to get the plastic fairing bits off the bike in order to service it, when one infrequently has to do so.