Topic: Losing faith

[Raul CB750K1]

For the first time in a very long time, I have considered today selling my bikes and buying a new one.

Today was "Honda Day" in Madrid, a day for free test rides. I have always liked the CB600F Hornet, so I registered to try one.

What a great bike!!! Plenty of power, easy to handle at low speed -low center of gravity-, comfortable riding position, and great looks -at least to my eye-



Electronic fuel injection, water cooled, digital display, ABS, the brakes are so powerful that you can quickly stop the bike just with your index finger, and the engine has it's peak power at 12.000 rpm, so you need to have it revved, with that addictive sound that increase your sense of speed.

6.800 euro out of the showroom. I have spent nearly 5.000 in my CB350 rebuild, not counting the endless work hours.


For the first time in a long time, I have thought I should have just bought a new bike and forget about these old machines.

[kirkn]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all that, but.....





What an ugly motorcycle.   

[Raul CB750K1]

I must admit that it takes some time to get used to it, and that it looks different in the flesh than in pictures. Now the "streetfighter" looks is in vogue, and because of the Euro3 regulations for noise and pollution, a new exhaust has have to be designed, ditching the classic mufflers and using catalyzers -or whatever the name is- and sound muffling devices below the engine. The classic Hornet with the traditional round headlight appeals more to my eye, but you know, it has been around for a while and a new thing always turns more heads.


Anyway, I'm just talking crap. I'm not going to buy a new bike nor am I going to sell mine, but when you ride a modern bike, "character" "classic" and "do it yourself" are put in perspective against the "turn key & ride", that is also quite appealing.

[Fish]

I can totally understand what you are going through.  I just sold my '75 cb550f so I could pay off some of what I owed on my new Kawaski Versys.  The money that you spend on these old bikes really adds up and there is the nagging uncertainty of availability of parts.  When I rode my 550 I was always thinking about the wear and tear that I was causing just by riding it.  I was never totally care-free because I was always paranoid about "THAT DAY" - the day when  something would go on the bike and I wouldn't be able to find a part or fix it.  I know that for guys like Two-Tired and Hondaman, there isn't much that they wouldn't be able to fix, but for me it was a concern.  It has been really nice to jump on a new bike and just ride it.  No reliability or spare parts concerns, no worrying about if something was going to happen to my precious right side cover. 

If I am hard on the Kawasaki I don't really care because it wouldn't be a real loss to the world if it met an early end.  With the 550 I felt like there was a sacred responsibility to keep it going  .  They don't make them like that anymore and there are getting to be fewer and fewer of them around. 

Prior to the Kawaski I owned the 900 Hornet.  It was an outstanding machine:





I have heard that the new 600 is an even better bike so I don't think you can go wrong.


However, my advice is that if you can afford to keep your vintage stuff - then do it!  I had to sell my 550 and I regretted it immediately.  A new motorcycle is just another one of many like it.  No one looks twice at my Versys.  Those old bikes though are special.  I'm not sure if I will ever come across a 33 year old bike in as good of shape as this was again: 





Best of luck with your choice.  Sorry for the long post, 

- Chad

[dustyc]

And "turn key & ride" only lasts so long.  Then it is spend money at the mechanic or buy a bunch of expensive special tools and expensive new bike parts and be back in the same old boat.

[RRRToolSolutions]

Raul, I'm glad to hear you've had time to cool off. I have both old and new and I always prefer old 10 to 1. My passion for the old bikes is something personal. These are the machines that I remember having or wanting. They were very much a part of my dreams and for a few of them, reality of growing up. The privilege to ride several pieces of history is one of the things I'm greatful for today. I have a chance to live in the dreams I had almost 40 years ago.

This week alone, I've ridden a 1970 Kaw H1 for 35 miles, a 1973 Yamaha TX650 for 40+ miles (my 2nd favorite ride of all time), 1968 CL175 for 15 miles, 1972 CB500 Four for 40+ miles (my absolute favorite rider of all time), 1974 CB750 Four for 40+ miles, and a 1976 KZ900 for 100 miles or more. I get out every afternoon and ride. I like to finish off the day after work with a ride up the mountains which I've turned into a 40 mile loop. I never want to take the newer ones - it' s the vintage machinery that does it for me. The new stuff gets ridden when the wife wants to go some where on the bike, there is something to carry and I need luggage space, or when I feel the ZRX needs some excercise. I've had the ZRX since new for 8 years and showing 6,000 miles, the 2003 Nomad 1500 for 5 years and 8,000 miles. I've got almost that much on my 1973 Yam 650 I've had for 2 years while putting over 5,000 miles on the CB500 Four in the last 3 years I've had it - clearly a preference for the old stuff.

If you do get the new bike fever, just find a way to hang onto the old bikes too. Once the new wears off riding that Hornet, there won't be any character for you - you'll want to get close once again to some vintage machinery. The old school shake and noises coming from the old Yamaha twin 650 make me smile and forget the stress of the day. A very good friend of mine owns a Kawi dealership and recently offered me a new, never serviced 2006 ZX10 still crated in Bumblebee yellow - $7,500 out the door. I wanted it bad - just because it had "don't mess with me" paint and 181 horses. I decided I would get a 32 year old Kaw 900 instead and make it nice for about the same money. I never question that I made the right choice - I put that 100 miles on the 900 today!

Regards,
Gordon

[jsaab2748]

This must be a virus goin around. I caught it this past week over a cbr 1000rr. Still can't decide weather or not to spend the money on the new one. Never planned to sell the old ones tho.

[Tim.]

I felt the same way last year when I test rode a Ducati Sport 1000.  I locked up the front wheel with one finger!

Which is why I breathed a sigh of relief when I got the bike and myself back in one piece and got back on my 30+ year old BMW 

[sparty]

Raul,

I totally understand your dilemma.  I sold my modern bike(s) over the years for other modern bikes because I grew tired of them.  They were a dream to ride, but boring.  They required little or no work, always started, handled awesome, had great power, etc.  But everyone had one.  I only miss my S3.

I test rode a Street Triple a while back.  Fun bike.  I could see myself with one in the future, but it will be parked next to my CB750.  If you can find a way, keep the old bike and also buy a new one.

Sparty

[ofreen]

I like my old bikes and I like my newer bikes.  They each have something to offer.  My 750 has been with me so long to be without it is unthinkable.  But the CBR has performance and capability that is in a different universe than the 750, and I wouldn't care to deprive myself of that experience.  If your circumstances allow you to have more than one bike, then why not sample what the new bikes are all about.  Old and new can be appreciated for what they are.

Bikes is bikes.

[crazypj]

One 'good'? thing about the new Hornets, you never do a throttle body synch.
Honda says if something is out you have one of three options
1 buy new bike and scrap old one
2 buy new throttle bodies as there are no adjusters
3 rebuild engine back to stock spec and hope that cures the 'carb' synch problem
( btw, so far I've only checked 2 and both were wayyyy off by my standards but its OK, Honda lowered the standard spec)
PJ

[Raul CB750K1]

Wow, seems that I'm not the only one who has gone through this....

I'm not thinking about buying a Hornet or any new bike for that matter. With five bikes, I can't justify the purchase of another one. Maybe if I would sell a few of them I could have one or two classics, and one new. That would be perfect.

I love my bikes, I feel very attached to them because I have put so much money and time on them. They are good bikes overall, but a new bike -be it Hornet, Kawa 750, Yamy FZ1 etc- do everything better than the five of them together. Only in the "looks" and "character" do my old bikes win hands down.

When I ride my old bikes I enjoy them all the way along. The smell of old oil -you never get rid of it even when the oil is new-, the sound of the engine and exhaust, the gleam of chrome. And you learn to live with their "character": brake well in advance, false neutrals, "clonks" in first gear, slight wobbles, stability around curves etc. Yesterday, I got on the Hornet and I had a blast during the whole 20 minutes of the test ride. I have tested and/or ride quite a few other bikes in the past: Sportster, Electra Glide, V-Rod, Fat Bob, CBR600F, VT600 Shadow, Deauville, Bonneville, Thunderbird. In many of them, it was a good experience, but I always felt that either the bike lacked something or that it was too much bike for me -CBR600F-. And you always had that feeling of "careful with this bike that is not yours". Yesterday it was like if the Hornet had been mine for years, from the very first minute of the ride. It was so easy to shift, so easy to brake, so easy to handle. For 20 minutes I just forgot about the bike, I just had to ride and concentrate on the road and surrounding cars. Taking turns like if it was on rails. Stopping in a couple feet. Accelerating and sending your butt against the seat hump. Shifting so smoothly that you didn't even feel the pressure on the feet.


The whole experience left a doubt lingering in my mind: whether I'm doing the right thing putting all my eggs in the same basket. I have always committed to classic bikes and maybe I should have split my money and time between classic and new to have best of both worlds.

[Raul CB750K1]

I have to share this with you: after my test ride yesterday I decided to take a ride on my CB750 today, even when it was cloudy and likely to rain. As always, the bike run like a champ and today I didn't feel as if there was such a big difference between both bikes. So I was enjoying my ride, in some parts it had rained before so it was a great ride overall, warm and with that wet ground smell.

I get back to where I live and, in a roundabout, a man in his fifties honk at me and ask me if I can stop because he want to ask me something. I imagined he was going to ask about my bike, and it was exactly that. He had been following me for a while because he wanted to know whether I lived there, because he had never seen the bike before. You know how this goes: we started to talk about classic bikes, restoration, titling. We have been almost half an hour chatting.

Sure enough, a Hornet would have not get this attention. The pleasant ride and the compliments by this man had reassured me in keeping the classic bikes. But I wouldn't keep my classic bikes if they weren't fun to ride, despite of the attention they get.

But if I have to choose between getting attention from GHOF or from hot chicks, mmmmm, the decision seems clear.... 

[jtb]

Raul, you're young enough that hot chicks could be an issue.  In my case, however... .  I know what you speak of.  I bought one a couple of years ago, when my CB750F was all apart.  Unfortunately, I bought a big Suzuki cruiser, and didn't like it at all. 

I got my head back from Mike, got the CB back together, and it's a turn-key ride now.  (Pretty Much)  I sold the Suzuki, and bought an 86 VFR750.  I'm much happier with my old bikes, and wouldn't get rid of them for anything.

[mikedialect]

I've finally got a 'new' bike. It's the first bike I've owned which was made AFTER I was born. It's super fast, super reliable and is now tucked in the corner behind 3 cb350's. I put several hundred miles on it, but it has just been to work and back. It's also the MOST money I've spent on a bike in regards to the initial purchase price.

Per your cb350 being the cost benefit comparison...... That is the NICEST 350 I've seen in a long time. It's better than new. I would have to sell all 6 of my complete 350's to get close to having one that nice. So, you've got the envy of a young guy here, too. Granted, not a hot chick, but they are out there, too.

IMHO I think you should have both if you can make it happen.

[Fish]

For the poor sods like me who can't afford/justify having a new bike and a collection of vintages... these might scratch the itch:

cb400ss being sold in Japan:






cb1100f (concept)




cb1100r (another concept)




And the mythical CB Four.  I don't know what the story is on this bike but I would buy it tomorrow.




- Chad

[toycollector10]

Hey Raul, when a rider stops for gas or a coffee on a brand new "Shagmaster MK II" he doesn't get people coming over to engage in conversation. They don't get flagged down like you did. And next year the Shagmaster MK III will arrive and then it's all over for the hero on his MK II because he now has, horror of horrors, "Last Years Model"   

The longer you keep your CB750 the more valuable and interesting it becomes.

[ofreen]

If you want to ride a conversation magnet, ride a BMW airhead GS.

[RRRToolSolutions]

I would have to say that of all the attention grabbers, the Kawasaki 2 stroke triples Mach III and Mach IV get the most where I frequent. If they miss the strange noise coming in or fail to see it parked - the kick start and crackle on departure draw them out like flies. It seems everyone knows someone who was hurt or worse on one, or they just about broke the speed barrier on one.

Toy Collector makes a valid point  - each year a "new" bike ages - it goes downhill lightning fast - until it's 30 years old. Then the fruit ripens and claims the right of passage into vintage and becomes more desirable ....

Gordon

[andy750]

But if I have to choose between getting attention from GHOF or from hot chicks, mmmmm, the decision seems clear.... 

Hehehe...Raul you are dreaming again! 


Yesterday I went for a ride with some new bikers I met - one riding a souped up Aprilla, the other a Ducati 900 and the last a Kawasaki Ninja 600. I was worried my CB750K4 wouldnt be able to keep up with them. However I found that they rode a little too slow for my liking, despite the Power Commonder system and high performance aftermarket exhausts on the Aprilla for example. New bikes also desire new gadgets and add ons but it dosent make the bike any better if the rider is not going to use it  Anyway all this seemed irrelevant when I was blasting home on my own (with the g/f on the back) at 90+ in the fast lane.....

Be happy Raul and keep dreaming 

cheers
Andy

[Johnie]

I agree...the new bikes are nice for some.  The older guys really appreciate the vintage.  Heck, last year I stopped at a gas station with my KO.  There were 6 Harley riders parked on the side waiting for a friend.  So I figured I would drive this KO into the pack and see what kind of reception I get.  I drove in and said, "this bike is older than all you guys."  They laughed and then were like a kid in a candy store looking it over.  Bunch of real nice guys...

[kirkn]

Now, that CB400SS shown above.... mmmmm, I'd buy that in a heartbeat.      <drool>  <drool>

Kirk

[lordmoonpie]

I had an ex-race CB600F Hornet a few years back. It was an absolute gas to ride and always had me grinning ear to ear. We even went two up on a tour of Ireland for the Northwest 200 races and it was superb except for the 70 mile tank range caused by the race Micron pipe.

I still love my old bikes though and racing the old stuff is a bigger challenge. Less HP, worse brakes, frames with hinges in the middle but you know what, it makes every outing a lottery and adds to the fun. I even get to bring them home and maintain them for the next race instead of the modern stuff that I just threw a cover over.

I've just sold my "modern" 1996 Bimota SB6 this week and get my "classic" replacement on Sunday - a nice 1994 Ducati 888. Oh my cup runneth over 

[gene03079]

I know a bit about owning new bikes and old. I am probably one of the odd ducks here that owns an Harley Ultra with all the bags,CD player and cruise control. I ride it year round in New England,salted roads and all. I have full heated jacket and gloves that plug in with a thermostat on the dash to regulate the heat. It is a fun bike at times and I ride the hell out of it then sell it off and get a new model every 3 years. What a new bike does not have is heart and sole, they are transportation. If they get stolen you are inconvenienced but not all that upset. You call up the dealer and they send you another just like it.


My wife can tell when I have been out for the day on one of my old Honda's. She would come home, take one look at me and say, "You rode the Honda today." I once asked her how should could tell. She told me she could tell by the look on my face.

The old bikes are part of us forever.