The first vehicle I owned/purchased was a 1980 Honda CM400A Hondamatic as a milestone birthday gift to myself in 2014.
(A car purchase came later
)
Initially it was about avoiding having to operate a clutch; I just had no confidence in my left hand ability after completing the mandatory motorcycle course two years earlier. I could have bought a big scooter... but I wanted a *motorcycle*. *Shiny*!
Of the automatic motorcycle options at the time - a Hondamatic was going to be the most affordable, if not easily obtainable in my area (took me two years to find it).
As a complete beginner, I was pretty amazed at how quickly I was able to learn how to ride - how light and comfortable it was, how relatively simple it was to maintain, and how available aftermarket parts were. Once it warmed up, I could open up the throttle and start faster from a stop than most bigger bikes. With the full windshield it'd do highway speeds... mostly.
I was hooked.
Next came a 1982 Honda CM450A, and more recently, a mostly-1976 Honda CB750A Hondamatic - both of which I had to ship to me.
The 450A is my absolute favorite. I could ride that thing all day. I'd buy two more if Honda still sold them, and I want it buried with me
The 750A has been a big spend $$$, and actually continues to be my least favorite. It's big, stupid heavy, near impossible to put on the centre stand, harder to find parts for, and has issues with idling that my other two bikes don't have.
I haven't had it on the road more than twice, briefly.
But I wanted to "collect the whole set", and it's a Hondamatic - so it's in my garage, and why I'm here on this site.
I'm expecting it'll grow on me, once most of the issues are sorted out.
