Topic: Another reason to be a member of the VJMC

[nickjtc]

In the December/January issue of the club magazine is an article on prepping a dinged-up 750 tank for paint.

Also a nice article on the restoration of a 1971 750K1, owned from new. One comment about the bike being shown at a rally caught my attention:

quote: I did feel badly for one motorcyclist. As he and I discussed motorcycles he watched the attention my antique was garnering. He then pointed to his own gleaming cruiser parked nearby, while commenting: " You know, I spent over twenty grand on that 2006 machine over there and it looks just like every other damn bike up here. Here's your machine, over thirty years old and folks are tripping allover themselves to get a good look at it!"

How often have we heard those sentiments?

[Uncle Ernie]

What a maroon.  To quote an ad from who-knows-where, "The more you know, the better it gets." 
It's funny... when the wife and I go out, she'll occasionally comment that I don't seem to notice all the people staring.  I say, "When I've got precious cargo, I need to keep my eyes on the road."  Usually good for a point or two.

[nickjtc]

To quote an ad from who-knows-where, "The more you know, the better it gets." 

From the MSF training videos of the '80s.

[petercb750]

What a maroon.  To quote an ad from who-knows-where, "The more you know, the better it gets." 
It's funny... when the wife and I go out, she'll occasionally comment that I don't seem to notice all the people staring.  I say, "When I've got precious cargo, I need to keep my eyes on the road."  Usually good for a point or two.

Oh you silver tongue! 
It's true though - went to a display recently on the wife's 400/4 and couldn't believe the amount of attention and comments it got, and there were bikes there from all makes and types. One bloke was so smitten with it that he walked across the arena and bought on the spot (and unridden) another 400/4 that was for sale - said he "had to have one"!! And he doesn't even have a bike licence. 
I love watching the people when hers and my 750 are parked together - never miss on a conversation from complete strangers......
Peter.

[turtle]

Our local VJMC had a club display at a bike show in July. My CX500 Custom got a lot of attention including one guy who, very knowledgably told his sons that "this bike was made up out of a whole lot of bits off other bikes" and "honda never bult anything like this". Wish I'd heard him - I would have let him know.  that my bike isn't real. 

[grumburg]

Mastercard moment from local charity bike event in September: Dondirtbiker paint kit....$128. Mint 323 pipes...$400. NOS parts from Honda..$300. Watching 25 people going over my $2000 74 550 after walking past all the $20,000 Harleys..Priceless

[Bob Wessner]

Mastercard moment from local charity bike event in September: Dondirtbiker paint kit....$128. Mint 323 pipes...$400. NOS parts from Honda..$300. Watching 25 people going over my $2000 74 550 after walking past all the $20,000 Harleys..Priceless

 

[Magpie]

The crowds often gather when I park my '71 too. Best time is when someone will ask to hear it run and watch the faces light up. The bike becomes a time machine for the older ones and a lesson learned for the younger ones. A more "knowledgeble" person did point out to his buddy that the CB750 didn't come with a disk brake in the early years and my bike wasn't really true to form. Oh well, there's usually one in every crowd.
Cliff.

[medic09]

It's funny how it works.

I had a fellow ride up and park next to me at UNM on his Harley.  He spent the next ten minutes admiring my beat up old bike, telling another admirer how it's a "real bike", a "classic", "they don't make them like that any more".

I didn't ask him why, with those sentiments, he was riding the Harley.  I can't imagine what folks would say if I had a clean, restored bike!

I like it. 

[grumburg]

Seems like old bikes seem to stir even stronger emotions than old cars. Reminds people of their younger, more carefree days. At the AMA Homecoming Concours, people would look at the Vincents and Brough Superiors but would stop at the 550 and tell the people they are with: "I used to have one of those", "I used to sell these", " I had one of these when I met your mother" (and the kid is 30, makes you feel old). Had a guy about 70 put his hand on my shoulder after we talked and said "Thanks for bringing back some good memories". Met more nice people in one day that you would never meet otherwise based on a common interest. You can't do that with a stamp collection.

[grumburg]

One of the nicest ones of all was Pete Boody, president of the VJMC. Had his MINT 75 Goldwing parked next to me at the show. Serial number 40. Bought new and has 101,000 miles (looks like 1000). Restores Gold Wing carbs as a hobby. Web site is www.oldwings.com. Just a super guy.

[sparty]

It's funny how it works.

I had a fellow ride up and park next to me at UNM on his Harley.  He spent the next ten minutes admiring my beat up old bike, telling another admirer how it's a "real bike", a "classic", "they don't make them like that any more".

I didn't ask him why, with those sentiments, he was riding the Harley.  I can't imagine what folks would say if I had a clean, restored bike!

I like it. 

I have had three guys pull up next to me at stop lights and comment on my bike, they wanted to carry on a conversation about it.  There are many people out there who truly appreciate a classic bike.  I have even had more than a few Harley guys come over to look at my bike during Bike Night and they all gave it a thumbs up.  I do agree, our bikes draw a lot of attention.

Sparty

[toycollector10]

Nostalgia apart, I think that there is a special something about the way the SOHC4's have the engine cradled in the frame.

What you have is in effect a 'naked air-cooled street bike', in todays lingo.

Add the bling bling chromium headers lined up across the frame and the nice rearwards flow of the pipes and you have a great visual statement.

[Rocking-M]

When I picked up my bike while it was on the PO's truck a fellow rolled up
in a car and said. "that's the bike that started all this superbike stuff".
Sorta let me feel good about the decision to buy another old 750