Topic: New Member From Napa, CA

[Dave Voss]

Greetings Everyone, I've been enjoying this website and forum for a while now, and decided to join since I once again own a Honda sohc4, having recently purchased a 1978 CB550K in fairly nice original condition.  This is the second Honda sohc4 that I've owned, several years ago I sold my 1975 CB550K that I spent a lot of time and effort refurbishing, which I've regretted letting go.

I've been riding since before I was driving, dirt bikes as a kid, then dual-sports and smaller/mid-size street motorcycles when I was younger, my favorite was a Honda CJ360T that I also refurbished, including wider rims, front disc brake, 6-speed transmission, larger headlight, etc. that were borrowed from other Honda models.  This motorcycle looked factory inspite of the mixture of parts, and was capable enough to run with bigger models on backraod rides.  I went through a sport bike phase, and enjoyed the models I had, but crouched riding positions and 3-digit speeds don't interest me as much these days, and now I'm rediscovering the joys of owning, riding, and working on a classic standard from the 70's.

The motorcycle that I bought needed a fair amount of overdue maintenance performed right away, things like leaking fork seals, seeping brake hydraulics, valve adjustment, etc. which I'm in the process of taking care of.  While it is off the road undergoing work, I've decided to install a second disc and caliper up front, and string a wider (2.15") rim on the back hub, parts that I've had stashed away knowing that some day I would acquire another CB550.

The weather here in Northern California is great for nearly year-round riding, and lately it has been fabulous, so I'm really looking forward to getting this CB550 back out there, hopefully in the next week or so.

[70CB750]

Welcome, Dave. 

[Bob Wessner]

Welcome. So where is the obligatory picture of your bike? 

[Dave Voss]

@Bob, I used a picture of my bike in lieu of selecting an avatar when I setup my profile, and I think that's the only picture I can upload at this time.  For some reason, I can't access the gallery to set that up yet either.

[Stev-o]

Welcome from Texas, Dave.  You'll need 5 posts before you can include pics.

Love Napa Valley, visited a few years ago and had a great time. We were celebrating my wife's Bday, stayed in a B&B overlooking the Valley, rented a Mustang convertible, and drank a lot of good wine!

[Bob Wessner]

@Bob, I used a picture of my bike in lieu of selecting an avatar when I setup my profile, and I think that's the only picture I can upload at this time.  For some reason, I can't access the gallery to set that up yet either.

OK, saw you bike.. nice one. I have the avatars turned off routinely to save screen realestate.

[Dave Voss]

Yes, the Napa Valley can spoil you, I've lived here since the 80's and I still feel fortunate to be here.  I visited Texas twice in the past few years, once in Grapevine in the month of September, and once in Colleyville in the month of February, temperatures were in the 90's on both occasions, is that normal for the Dallas area, or was the February weather out of the ordinary?  It sure surprised me.

[Stev-o]

... once in Grapevine in the month of September, and once in Colleyville in the month of February, temperatures were in the 90's on both occasions, is that normal for the Dallas area, or was the February weather out of the ordinary? 

90's are normal for Sept but not for Feb.  I live 180 mi south of there, we're just hitting 90 now in mid April.  May - Sept can be brutal hot, but Oct - April very nice. But not Napa nice! I've also been to Sonoma Raceway, great track.
I have a 550 too, looking forward to seeing pics of yours.

[Dave Voss]

The raceway in Sonoma (it used to be called 'Sears Point') is great, years ago I would attend the AFM races and watch the amateurs try to keep the shiny side up through turns 9 and 10, this was back when you could stand in the fields adjacent to the track, before it became more commercialized.  They still have a few vintage races there each year, one of these days I'll make some time to go watch again.

[scottly]

Welcome Dave. Since you are in Napa, you might be interested in joining other members for the 3rd annual Relay. The leg that might interest you is from the bay area east into Nevada. Read all about it here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?board=168.0

[tool14]

welcome and good luck with the bike.

[Dave Voss]

Thanks scottly, I read through the thread that you referenced, and the relay sounds great, and I think I will be able to participate depending on the actual dates that firm up, it sounds like the Northern California portion of the route will occur sometime mid-late May, is that right?

I'll need at least another week or two to finish the maintenance and minor repairs that I started on the new-to-me CB550K that I just bought, but provided it's without issue after that, I'll add myself to the sign-up list and plan to join the event.

I'm about 50 miles north of San Francisco, and I'm familiar with many back roads all around the Bay Area and Northern California, so let me know if I can be of any help suggesting routes that avoid the freeways, there are some really fantastic roads on the north side of I-80 that are fabulous for riding.