Topic: Can't take my bike anywhere!!!

[jonda500]

"Is that a 500?" - a guy had followed me into the supermarket from the carpark and after briefly discussing my SOHC4's, proceeded to fill me in on a large portion of his lifes motorcycle related history both here and in New Zealand. By the time his wife finally managed to drag him away I had completely lost track of what groceries I still needed to find...  I don't mind though! - it's all par for the course!   
John

[Desert-SOHC]

Went to Cycle Rider the other day to buy a new helmet (I have to have it match my bike), as I was getting off Mayble I heard...."Holy crap, I haven't seen one of those in 10 years. NICE RIDE!"

[Restoration Fan]

Went to Cycle Rider the other day to buy a new helmet (I have to have it match my bike), as I was getting off Mayble I heard...."Holy crap, I haven't seen one of those in 10 years. NICE RIDE!"

[Restoration Fan]

So I rode Stella to Starbucks to meet a friend from work.  A guy rode up on a beautiful Harley cruiser and parked a couple of spaces over from mine.  After coming back out with his coffee, he walked over to look at Stella.

He saw my helmet and walked over to our table (we were sitting outside) to say, "man, looking at your bike makes me wish I had looked for one of these before I bought my Harley."

The guy turned out to be pretty cool and we had a great time sitting there talking to him.

[RevDoc]

Fired up Angie & made a run up into NY to the Finger Lakes region to visit my brother for the Labor Day holiday. Bailed out off I-81 at Homer to run up the middle of the lakes. Stopped at a gas station to tank up. Lot of Harley cruisers and choppers. Pair of HD choppers with custom paint pulled up at the pump that was behind me. Heard a young fellow, mid-20s, comment on Angie. Other fellow, late 40s-early 50s, asked "Is that a '76?" Replied, a '78. He grinned and bellowed "The great '70's, looks really nice!" Thanked him and wished them a safe trip.

[DH]

I took my 550 rolling frame to the dealer for a v.i.n. and mileage verification. Four employees stood around my truckbed looking and talking about a bare, rolling frame. Young inspector asked after inspection was done if I
was going to "cafe" it. I tend to think most of the young guys are attracted to these type bikes for that main reason. Never thought tho, that a roller would generate much interest.

[parm94]

Had my 76 550F straight piped and a cop pulled me over. I thought it was going to be a ticket for sure but he just wanted to tell me you meet the nicest people on a Honda. 

Recently went on a long ride with a few friends who have modern cruisers (Harley, Suzuki, Yamaha) and had people telling me at every gas stop they liked my bike the most. Old School just gets the respect.

[70CB750]

I found myself on the other side.   I was at the DMV and there was  1980 Kawasaki 750 parked outside.  It looked like it just rolled out of a dealership.   Talked to the dude, he just finished rebuilding it, it had less than 100 miles on after a frame up.

Told him it was beautiful.

[Hope]

For years, I've called my CB550 an 'old fart magnet'. Regardless where I go, people walk right up to my bike and start talking about how they used to have an old CB way back when.

Really? Why did you get rid of it? Maybe you should get another and then you can ogle your own bike.

[HondaMan]

Needed fuel a couple of weeks back so stopped in my local gas station and filled up.
While fueling, I noticed 4 guys on sport bikes that were parked off to the side, standing by their modern sport bikes, shooting the bull. 
As I rolling out, I wave and two of the guys waving their arms signaling me to come over. So, I did, and they had all kinds of questions: what year is it? You restore it?? How's it run???  I answer all their question and accept their compliments on my '74 that is very close to complete restoration. 
Not one word was mentioned about any of their bikes!

This is what I get, almost every day I ride it! Even at traffic lights.
After several years of it around here, I've learned to follow up their comment of, "Boy, I wish I had one again", with, "I [re]build them: want one?". It's working, I'm building the 3rd one, now. And now, the 500/550 'wanters' are following me home...

 

[RevDoc]

This is what I get, almost every day I ride it! Even at traffic lights.
After several years of it around here, I've learned to follow up their comment of, "Boy, I wish I had one again", with, "I [re]build them: want one?". It's working, I'm building the 3rd one, now. And now, the 500/550 'wanters' are following me home...

 
[/quote]

Good for you, Mark! That's the spirit...remember, feed a stray once and it'll keep coming back for more!

[RAFster122s]

Hope they respect a nice restored bike and just immediately want to cafe it and throw pods on it.

[Hon3ybadger]

Kind of a funny story. I was rounding the corner to my house and this "very young"girl walking home with groceries in hand, stopped in her tracks to watch me ride by. Once i parked at home she was tapping on my shoulder. She asked what year and size. Then mentioned she had a K in her shop. I about fell over in shock. Turns out her dad owns a custom shop who do mostly harleys. She's still in highschool and almost done building her own 1400cc softtail. The next day her dad and his friends stop by. Sons of Anarchy looking guys riding three completely custom full dress harleys with air ride and 26 inch front wheels. They spend probably 30 mins admiring my 76 SS. I was floored that they showed so much love for the honda. And the praise they gave me when I showed them pictures of the restoration. It totally made my day that these guys couldn't believe a young guy like me restored a classic bike and rides it everyday. An added bonus is the daughter is my riding buddy now.

[RAFster122s]

Hon3ybadger,
Cool story and great outcome!
David

[Mr. Mike]

Badger,
She's your riding buddy now? You know what they say here on the forum don't you? "Pic's or it ain't true".
Cool story, surprise ending though. It tops all the "Nice bike...what year" stories.
Not a 750 story (although I've had the what year what model questions about my 78 750), but a vintage nonetheless:
I decide to visit this "Annual Corn Feed" type custom car/bike show here in town last year.
The place was abuzz with car people, vendors and the like. I decided to park my 66 Scrambler next to this BMW R60 which was registered in the show and walk about. I intentionally parked next to him and asked if he'd keep an eye on mine. Returning to my bike, there are a number of older gentleman gawking about the little Honda. Here comes, " Your bike? What year? And 'Is it a 250?" and so on. Made me feel good that these "custom" car/bike fellas are interested in my little unrestored, yet stock 305.

[BobbyR]

I am not seeing the problem here. 10 or more years ago we were ignored or rude remarks made. Now we have HD people wanting to talk to us and ask questions. Unless you want to act elitist as they have in the past, talk to them. It does not hurt to be pleasant.

[BomberMann650]

love the "stopped in her tracks" story!

a few weeks back i was riding the 101 when a gal on her cbr came up on my side, looked over, then dropped gear and took off.

i don't think she expected me to keep up, but I did.

+1 for old school speed

[754]

 She dropped transmission ? Or Tshirt?......... Suddenly I hear...
 "Come out and Play".........by Offspring.......
 

[HondaMan]

Badger,
She's your riding buddy now? You know what they say here on the forum don't you? "Pic's or it ain't true".
Cool story, surprise ending though. It tops all the "Nice bike...what year" stories.
Not a 750 story (although I've had the what year what model questions about my 78 750), but a vintage nonetheless:
I decide to visit this "Annual Corn Feed" type custom car/bike show here in town last year.
The place was abuzz with car people, vendors and the like. I decided to park my 66 Scrambler next to this BMW R60 which was registered in the show and walk about. I intentionally parked next to him and asked if he'd keep an eye on mine. Returning to my bike, there are a number of older gentleman gawking about the little Honda. Here comes, " Your bike? What year? And 'Is it a 250?" and so on. Made me feel good that these "custom" car/bike fellas are interested in my little unrestored, yet stock 305.

You have a SuperHawk?
Or is it a Scrambler? Dream?
I miss my old SuperHawk some days. It was a terrific ride-to-school and then ride-to-race bike.

[5thofhonda]

I don't get out as much as I'd like because my whole bike has a laundry list of issues, but it runs and rides well enough to get out here and there.  Most of the older crowd seems to love it.  They come straight up and start asking questions and talking about their old CBs or their old hardtails, or their buddies' bikes, etc.  It seems most of the guys in my age group (mid 20s or so) that ride HDs are very elitist.  Now don't get me wrong, I love me some HD, but these guys just get under my skin.

"Why couldn't you get a real bike?"
"You wouldn't have those problems if you bought a Harley"

And when I point out the flaws of some of the HD bikes like oil leaks, catastrophic engine failures, brake pads falling off, etc. their only retort is "Well my bike will hold its value".  Then I go to a show and a small crowd gathers around the CB, because you can only look at so many black Dynas with exhaust and an air cleaner so many times before you want to see something different.

[RAFster122s]

5th,  maybe you should retort to their bike holding its value with, my bike will grow in value.

[72 yellow]

Badger,
She's your riding buddy now? You know what they say here on the forum don't you? "Pic's or it ain't true".
Cool story, surprise ending though. It tops all the "Nice bike...what year" stories.
Not a 750 story (although I've had the what year what model questions about my 78 750), but a vintage nonetheless:
I decide to visit this "Annual Corn Feed" type custom car/bike show here in town last year.
The place was abuzz with car people, vendors and the like. I decided to park my 66 Scrambler next to this BMW R60 which was registered in the show and walk about. I intentionally parked next to him and asked if he'd keep an eye on mine. Returning to my bike, there are a number of older gentleman gawking about the little Honda. Here comes, " Your bike? What year? And 'Is it a 250?" and so on. Made me feel good that these "custom" car/bike fellas are interested in my little unrestored, yet stock 305.

You have a SuperHawk?
Or is it a Scrambler? Dream?
I miss my old SuperHawk some days. It was a terrific ride-to-school and then ride-to-race bike.

This is my dad's 1966 305 Superhawk, he bought it in 1970 from a guy he worked with. It's mine now and it will go to my daughter when I am gone.  This pic was taken in 1983. That's my daughter sitting on it and my dad in the background. The fenders and sidecovers are now the proper silver and the handlebars are the original flatbars.

[Mr. Mike]

@HondaMan,
66 CL77 (Scrambler). Fun Little bike too. Not only is it the easiest to drag outta the garage when the urge hits, but it seems to get the most gawks from the male crowd generally 55yrs of age and up. I'm impressed when a much younger person identifies even the make, let alone model within a few minutes. Oh...and also an '305Forum' member... as yourself?
@BobbyR-
Agreed.

[socal1200r]

I don't get out as much as I'd like because my whole bike has a laundry list of issues, but it runs and rides well enough to get out here and there.  Most of the older crowd seems to love it.  They come straight up and start asking questions and talking about their old CBs or their old hardtails, or their buddies' bikes, etc.  It seems most of the guys in my age group (mid 20s or so) that ride HDs are very elitist.  Now don't get me wrong, I love me some HD, but these guys just get under my skin.

"Why couldn't you get a real bike?"
"You wouldn't have those problems if you bought a Harley"

And when I point out the flaws of some of the HD bikes like oil leaks, catastrophic engine failures, brake pads falling off, etc. their only retort is "Well my bike will hold its value".  Then I go to a show and a small crowd gathers around the CB, because you can only look at so many black Dynas with exhaust and an air cleaner so many times before you want to see something different.

I say two things when the HD "rebels" start to get under my skin...

1.  "If Harley made a plane, would you fly in it?"

2.  "Yeah, I heard 95 percent of all Harleys made are still on the road...and the other 5 percent actually made it back home!"

I used to own a 2005 Sportster 1200R, so I can say that, lol...

[dhall57]

I am not seeing the problem here. 10 or more years ago we were ignored or rude remarks made. Now we have HD people wanting to talk to us and ask questions. Unless you want to act elitist as they have in the past, talk to them. It does not hurt to be pleasant.

I'm with you Bobby. By nature I don't talk a lot and don't like being around a bunch of people. but when I'm out and about on any of my bikes I welcome all the attention these old Honda's get. These bikes bring back such good memories for most people including me and I'll talk to anyone as long as they want to talk about them.