Topic: What's your "other bike?" ISO a good SOHC4 stable mate

[BenelliSEI]

I only have SOHC cb750s, but a few years ago, and outsider snuck in...... it is a “750”!

[Short shins]

Only got 5 stable mates to the 1977 CB750
2006 Kawasaki W650
1985 Honda CBX550F
1980 Yamaha DT175G
1986 Yamaha TZR250 /SR500 (ex Race Bike)
1992 Honda VFR400R (ex Race bike)

2 Hondas 2 Yamahas 1 Kawasaki looks like I need a Suzuki... and some Brit iron, or even some eurotrash again

[Terry in Australia]

I only have SOHC cb750s, but a few years ago, and outsider snuck in...... it is a “750”!

And the design was "Borrowed" somewhat from a Honda SOHC4 John, if I remember correctly? I owned a Laverda SF750 for a little while, it was an engine that had a "remarkable" resemblance to a Honda 305 dream engine. The Japanese are often accused (quite correctly) of being "Imitators, not innovators" but that hasn't stopped other marques from drawing inspiration from Japanese manufacturers either..........

[BenelliSEI]

I only have SOHC cb750s, but a few years ago, and outsider snuck in...... it is a “750”!

And the design was "Borrowed" somewhat from a Honda SOHC4 John, if I remember correctly? I owned a Laverda SF750 for a little while, it was an engine that had a "remarkable" resemblance to a Honda 305 dream engine. The Japanese are often accused (quite correctly) of being "Imitators, not innovators" but that hasn't stopped other marques from drawing inspiration from Japanese manufacturers either..........

Terry..... this Benelli is a total copy of the Handa 550 with two extra cylinders.  In order to increase sump capacity, the well known switch is to bolt on a CB650 pan. Exact fit!

[Terry in Australia]

I only have SOHC cb750s, but a few years ago, and outsider snuck in...... it is a “750”!

And the design was "Borrowed" somewhat from a Honda SOHC4 John, if I remember correctly? I owned a Laverda SF750 for a little while, it was an engine that had a "remarkable" resemblance to a Honda 305 dream engine. The Japanese are often accused (quite correctly) of being "Imitators, not innovators" but that hasn't stopped other marques from drawing inspiration from Japanese manufacturers either..........

Terry..... this Benelli is a total copy of the Handa 550 with two extra cylinders.  In order to increase sump capacity, the well known switch is to bolt on a CB750 pan. Exact fit!

Ha ha, well there you go mate, I knew about them borrowing the 550 design, but didn't know about the 750 pan? A guy I worked with in Army SF many years ago had a father with a collection of Benelli's, and I had the option to buy one, but wasn't a big fan, I'd much rather have a 1979 CBX.

[BenelliSEI]

Terry..... fat fingers! The pan that bolts on is a cb650. I had a slightly later CBX (it went to a guy in Australia!) and truthfully I prefer the Benelli. It feels half the size and working on it is such a pain (unlike a well designed Honda)!!! Pretty unique too.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry..... fat fingers! The pan that bolts on is a cb650. I had a slightly later CBX (it went to a guy in Australia!) and truthfully I prefer the Benelli. It feels half the size and working on it is such a pain (unlike a well designed Honda)!!! Pretty unique too.

Yep, I never liked the later CBX's John, but I still remember the cover of the "Two Wheels" (Aussie motorcycle mag) with a picture of Kel Wearne and another journo who's name escapes me wheelstanding two twin shock CBX's and thinking to myself, "one day". I'm sure the Bennelli's are great bikes, but they never did it for me, and my experience with Italian motorcycle ownership (Laverda SF750 and Bevel Drive Ducati 900SS) was less than inspiring. I would like a Ducati Monster S4RS with the "Testastretta" 999 engine just because it's the best of both (Ducati) worlds, a sports bike engine in a bike comfortable to ride more than 50 miles at a time, and will eventually snag one, when the wife's not looking.....    

[BenelliSEI]

Terry..... fat fingers! The pan that bolts on is a cb650. I had a slightly later CBX (it went to a guy in Australia!) and truthfully I prefer the Benelli. It feels half the size and working on it is such a pain (unlike a well designed Honda)!!! Pretty unique too.

Yep, I never liked the later CBX's John, but I still remember the cover of the "Two Wheels" (Aussie motorcycle mag) with a picture of Kel Wearne and another journo who's name escapes me wheelstanding two twin shock CBX's and thinking to myself, "one day". I'm sure the Bennelli's are great bikes, but they never did it for me, and my experience with Italian motorcycle ownership (Laverda SF750 and Bevel Drive Ducati 900SS) was less than inspiring. I would like a Ducati Monster S4RS with the "Testastretta" 999 engine just because it's the best of both (Ducati) worlds, a sports bike engine in a bike comfortable to ride more than 50 miles at a time, and will eventually snag one, when the wife's not looking.....

Terry.....missed this post. I have to say that CBX is one bike I regret selling. It was extremely low mileage, not a mark on it and never left outside. It had been in storage for +30 years when I stumbled on it and was not free! It was only missing the extra leg fairings that had disappeared (which I replaced) Had the original tool kit, owners manual, and even the silly air pressure gauge that came with them new. Mike Nixon did the carbs for me and it was silky smooth and quiet. Went like “the hammers from hell”. It was gorgeous.

At the time, I had too many bikes and simply couldn’t pay the insurance on it. Put it on EBay and got what I thought was a ridiculous amount of money for it........ $9K I think. Idiot.

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, yeah John, if I kicked myself for every stupid thing I did selling bikes and cars (usually when I needed the dough to buy more bikes and cars that I don't have now either) I would have kicked myself to death by now! Of the 13 cars and maybe 50 motorcycles (maybe more, I lost count years ago) at least half of them are now very collectable, and worth more than I can afford to buy them back. But that's the way it goes, my house is now worth 4 times what I paid for it 20 years ago, I only have a small mortgage, and I wish I'd bought another one.

The weather here is miserable this week, cold, wet and really strong winds (no, nothing like you guys get in winter, but too cold for me) and I woke up when I heard a big bang early in the am. I remember being worried that somehow the wind had blown one of my bikes over, but fell asleep again. When I woke up and got out of bed this morning the wife told me that someone had crashed his car into mine at around 1am. Mine was parked out in the street and apparently the other driver (who did stop and gave my wife his details etc) thought he must have fallen asleep, but my poor Mitsubishi Outlander (that's had more hits than the Beatles) has one front wheel pointing dead ahead, and one at right angles. I don't think the Mitsi will ever be collectable, and to be honest I'm just glad none of my bikes had fallen over........

Mitsubishi damage 9 Jun 2021 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

This is his car, it didn't come off well either..........

Mitsubishi damage 9 Jun 2021 6 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[grcamna2]

Ouch Terry !  Do you have insurance to cover the damage in case his insurance somehow doesn't ?

[Terry in Australia]

Ouch Terry !  Do you have insurance to cover the damage in case his insurance somehow doesn't ?

Hell yes Bill, everything I own is insured, my monthly insurance bill is as high as my mortgage!

[BenelliSEI]

Yikes! Good hit. Broke the tie rod? Body looks OK....

[MauiK3]

I’ve ridden an early CBX, most impressive feeling engine ever, it just quietly wound out to 100+ mph like a walk in the park, amazing bike. In the end they had trouble selling them, now, you can’t touch them.
You never know.
Ask Jay Leno, he has a later one, first owner and I bet he’s glad he kept his.

[Kelly E]

I almost bought a CBX in 82' but decided it was still too much bike for me. I had only been riding street for a couple of years. I would have dropped it and busted it up. I bought a V45 Sabre instead.

[Terry in Australia]

Yikes! Good hit. Broke the tie rod? Body looks OK....

Yeah, the wonders of modern plastics John, he's plowed into my car and the plastic "Bumper" would have badly deformed, then returned to it's original shape afterwards. The mechanical damage is the concern, he actually told me that if there's structural damage, it's an automatic insurance write off. That was told to him by the panel shop that fixed his car last time.....

I think that not only has the wheel been shoved outwards, but backwards as well as it doesn't sit in the centre of the wheel arch any more. I was just impressed at how this young guy with his hotted up car could "fall asleep" between his place and mine, 150 feet away, he must have narcolepsy! (or he was "hooning" in the wet and lost control, which I'd suggest probably happened) Anyway, it should give my insurance company a laugh.

[Magpie]

My "other" bike is a 2007 GL1800 Goldwing for touring with the wife/navigator - she tells me where to go. More others are more CB750's. I currently freshening up a K3 amd an 1978 Super Sport. Cliff.

[grcamna2]

My "other" bike is a 2007 GL1800 Goldwing for touring with the wife/navigator - she tells me where to go. More others are more CB750's. I currently freshening up a K3 amd an 1978 Super Sport. Cliff.

Cliff,is your Super Cub the traditional color red/white ?

[supersports400]

One of my other bikes is something totally different. It's a 250 cc twin stroker, have the bike from new. 20-25 years ago the bike is used on the circuit now and then. It still is a blast to ride, and one of a kind in daily traffic in the Netherlands. However, in the past it was able to win (almost) every traffic light race, today it's a complete other story with the modern bikes and electric cars (mainly Tesla's).

[Terry in Australia]

One of my other bikes is something totally different. It's a 250 cc twin stroker, have the bike from new. 20-25 years ago the bike is used on the circuit now and then. It still is a blast to ride, and one of a kind in daily traffic in the Netherlands. However, in the past it was able to win (almost) every traffic light race, today it's a complete other story with the modern bikes and electric cars (mainly Tesla's).

That's a nice KR250 mate, last time I was in the Netherlands was 1974 and everyone rode mopeds, pretty much all of them two strokes. I lived in Amsterdam for a month, (and loved it) and can't imagine how a Tesla would negotiate the narrow streets?

[supersports400]

Yes, Kawasaki KR1-s, 1990 bike. Yes, Amsterdam is a city with narrow streets indeed, but the Netherlands is bigger then Amsterdam. And if I take the bike into the city of Amsterdam I will probably be shot by the environmental(s) (What I don't understand since there is a lot of smoking going in Amsterdam ).