Topic: On my way to work today.

[sparty]

I had a doctor’s appointment at 8 AM this morning.  After the appointment I stopped for a coffee on my way to work.  Now, this is a coffee shop that I go to all of the time, but today I was there about an hour and a half later than usual.  I pull into the parking area, step out of my car, and hear the distinctive sounds of a SOHC4 behind me.  I turn around and there it was -  a 1972 CB750K2 Flake Sunrise Orange, 100% all original and in great condition.  (This is the first K series CB750 I have seen in my area). 

The older guy riding the bike steps off and begins to walk my way.  I made conversation with him.  It turns out that he has had the bike since 1974 and rides it quite a bit.  But now that gas prices are high, he commutes on it daily (when the rain isn’t pouring down).  His commute is 28 miles one way.  I asked him if he was worried that the commute would beat-up his bike and he said that he was thinking about taking off the original pipes and putting on MAC pipes so that the originals didn’t get banged up or worn out.

We talked about our bikes as we drank our coffee and before we parted ways we agreed to meet up for bike night tomorrow if it isn’t raining.

P.S. His bike was in such good condition you could tell he has cared for it very well over the years.  However, IMO it was in too good of condition to ride it like he does.  Sorry, but if it was my bike, it would be trailer queen for bike shows.

BTW, You do meet the nicest people on a Honda.

Sparty

[Ecosse]

Thanks for sharing!

[fixahonda]

That's a neat story. I think it's nice to hear that he's on the bike so much. Maybe it's nerve wracking to think of an original out there with so much danger on the roads, but really, that's what they were built for and that's what he's using it for. Chances are if he took this good care of it for so long, it will still be as nice in another 20 years.

Around here there is a guy on a nice original 550K. I've been next to him at stoplights on my 350F twice and he won't even look at me. I was going the opposite direction one time and waved and he didn't wave back. It's makes me feel kind of bad.

YOU seem to meet the nicest people on your Honda. I meet someone who ignores me.

[kirkn]

Trailer Queen???

Ugh.  Mr. Honda would be spinning in his grave to think that that's all one of his creations was good for...

I'd be riding it every chance I got.   

Kirk

[Hope]

BTW, You do meet the nicest people on a Honda.

Sometimes you don't.

I rode to work today and when I took my lunch break, I found that the black Honda crotch rocket owner next to me had scotch taped a note that reads, "Don't park so close to me." 

No problem with the note other than the fact that I was a good 2 feet from his ride, and the fact that he used about 10 inches of scotch tape to stick the stupid freakin note on my tank.

Totally uncalled for.  If it had been my newly painted gold tank, some #$%* would have went down today.  I have the orange tank on the bike right now...  but that doesn't mean that I am inviting any more scotch tape to be stuck to my tank.  however I am trying to deal with this civilly.

[DarkRider]

Its always nice to meet fellow SOHC owners. However what sucks for me here is the fact that if i get the two bikes im looking at in a package deal i would be the only one in town that actually does somemething with them...I think i have spotted a few SOHCs kicking around town when i was delivering pizza just before i got on as a guard. But they were always parked in sheds off of the street and seemingly to be left to sit for the rest of their days..

[Ecosse]

Hope, you're a stronger person than I. I would have waited for this snot-nosed SOB and yanked his exposed boxers up around his Generation Loser neck. He has no respect for your property, even if the tape does no harm, but watch out for his precious belly button (everyone has one) bike. What a punk.

Where is this guy... I'm fired up!!

[cleveland]

Nice to see a cherry out there being used daily.  My first thought would be to keep it safe too, but that is assuming I took all the time and work involved in restoring it.  I have to agree that if the guy has kept it that nice for this long, he will continue to. 

Today there was a guy at the gas station that ask me if my bike (CB550) was a Triumph.  I told him it's a Honda and he looked at it and said, "Hmmm, very deceiving."  I did my best to hold back from laughing until he pulled away.

Where is this guy... I'm fired up!!

I was thinking the same thing.  LOL!!!  What an ass hat!

[andy750]

Art  -trailer queen!? How could you!?  A bike is a functional machine which is meant to be ridden. Like a sheep dog that has to work  a Honda CB750 has to be rode...hard and fast 

Hope - put a big notice on this guys tank with lots of duct tape that says "Ok, but dont put duct tape on my tank or Ill break your legs". Duct tape residue can remain sticky for ever...take some WD-40 and wipe that crap off.


Andy

[tramp]

Trailer Queen???

Ugh.  Mr. Honda would be spinning in his grave to think that that's all one of his creations was good for...

I'd be riding it every chance I got.   

Kirk

same same

[750K2]

hope - i'd have to have been restrained from kicking his precious crotch rocket over onto it's side.  which hopefully will be where it ends up...soon...with him wrapped around a tree somewhere.
frank

[DammitDan]

Today there was a guy at the gas station that ask me if my bike (CB550) was a Triumph.  I told him it's a Honda and he looked at it and said, "Hmmm, very deceiving."  I did my best to hold back from laughing until he pulled away.

Now THAT'S funny! 

[Ecosse]

Just want to say before we go way off topic that it's important to remember the the good experiences (sparty's) so that when the bad ones come along (hope's) we can keep perspective.

Just a little thing I think of to keep me from the brink. 

[cleveland]

Agreed!  The good far outweigh the bad.  These stories are alway nice to hear.  What I find funny is the guy riding the vintage Honda that looks down on himself for it.

[sparty]

Art  -trailer queen!? How could you!?  A bike is a functional machine which is meant to be ridden. Like a sheep dog that has to work  a Honda CB750 has to be rode...hard and fast 

Hope - put a big notice on this guys tank with lots of duct tape that says "Ok, but dont put duct tape on my tank or Ill break your legs". Duct tape residue can remain sticky for ever...take some WD-40 and wipe that crap off.


Andy

Andy,

I know, I know.  But if you saw this bike you would say the same thing.  It looked like it rolled out of the show room.  I thought that it was a resto, but it was 100% original.  They are only orginal once and the value of that bike is HUGE.  How he kept it in that condition is beyond me.  Not a ding, chip, scratch, rip, rusted bolt, dull finish, crack, etc.  The only thing he changed was tires, oil, and filter, bulbs, cables, brake pads, shock oil, and air filter.  Odometer was 40,000 ish!  If he ever sells it, I have first dibs.

Sparty

[750K2]

sparty - you mean like this?

[neil young]

Agreed!  The good far outweigh the bad.  These stories are alway nice to hear.  What I find funny is the guy riding the vintage Honda that looks down on himself for it.

i have nothing to feel bad about ....i get old timers who owned one back in the day tell me how awsome it is to have one in such good shape on a day by day basis .and these guys are riding $30,000 bikes.

[Gordon]

Hope - put a big notice on this guys tank with lots of duct tape that says "Ok, but dont put duct tape on my tank or Ill break your legs". Duct tape residue can remain sticky for ever...take some WD-40 and wipe that crap off.


Andy

It was Scotch tape, Andy.  Scotch tape... Take a deep breath...

[Gordon]

I have to agree with the other sentiments about the 750:

Trailer Queen my ASS!!!!!!  These bikes were made to be ridden, and they're happiest that way.  Save the trailers for the OCC type crap that was never meant to be ridden.  Even if I somehow ended up with a pristine, unrestored K0, I'd be ridin' that #$%* all the time!!

[fixahonda]

What I find funny is the guy riding the vintage Honda that looks down on himself for it.

I was sitting at a donut shop after riding with a friend and he told me he was never embarrassed to be riding his nice new Z1000 until he parked it next to my 350F. He feels like it's cheating riding something that you have no love into.
Now he's got the Z1000 and a '72 350F of his own to play with.

[andy750]

Hope - put a big notice on this guys tank with lots of duct tape that says "Ok, but dont put duct tape on my tank or Ill break your legs". Duct tape residue can remain sticky for ever...take some WD-40 and wipe that crap off.


Andy

It was Scotch tape, Andy.  Scotch tape... Take a deep breath...

Ooops thanks Gordon for reigning me in there....far too hot-headed sometimes 

[Ecosse]

Andy,

I know, I know.  But if you saw this bike you would say the same thing.  It looked like it rolled out of the show room.  I thought that it was a resto, but it was 100% original.  They are only orginal once and the value of that bike is HUGE.  How he kept it in that condition is beyond me.  Not a ding, chip, scratch, rip, rusted bolt, dull finish, crack, etc.  The only thing he changed was tires, oil, and filter, bulbs, cables, brake pads, shock oil, and air filter.  Odometer was 40,000 ish!  If he ever sells it, I have first dibs.

Sparty
[/quote]

Good point about only being original once. It's history and all the more precious with all the ratty and customized SOHC's. Surely some mileage can't hurt though.  What he needs is another bike because if I were him I'd want to be buried with the one he has now.

[Gordon]

Not that I have ever been a judge at any bike show, or ever will be, but if I were and there were two 750's, one that had low miles and looked like it had never seen a drop of rain or a spirited ride in it's entire life, and one that had 60K on it and looked nice but had obviously been ridden and enjoyed and still managed to look good, I know which one I'd be giving the trophy to.   

[cleveland]

Agreed!  The good far outweigh the bad.  These stories are alway nice to hear.  What I find funny is the guy riding the vintage Honda that looks down on himself for it.

i have nothing to feel bad about ....i get old timers who owned one back in the day tell me how awsome it is to have one in such good shape on a day by day basis .and these guys are riding $30,000 bikes.

I'm with you 100%!!!  Here in Harley Town the old timers tend to get a bit glossy in the eyes when then talk about how great that old Honda was when they had it.  It's the 20-30 something crowd here in town that think they are less of a man for not riding a Harley.  Personally I would rather ride a Jap bike that I wrench on myself then a Harley that is taken to the dealer for an oil change.  Since the gas prices are claiming and the market is down, I have noticed a lot more non-Harleys on the road.  Hopefully the trend will increase.     

[Sam Green Racing]

Hey Art, Did you tell him of our forum?

Sam.