Topic: best sohc to start with?

[SClay115]

hi, new to the forum here, been looking for a CB for a while. but i'm curious as to what displacement to go with. i rode dirt bikes with my father when i was younger, but haven't rode since(21 now), and i was thinking i might get a 750, but have since maybe thought that it is a lot heavier of a bike that i want to get myself onto. so then 550? just not much power. there are just so many choices, and i was curious if anyone could draw from their own first sohc honda experience...

thanks,
steve

[heffay]

if you can get your hands on a 400f do it.  i haven't ridden one (although i have one  ) but i hear they are hands down the way to go.  but this is coming from a 350 typeaspeak.  i love "baby"... the 350... oh what another 50cc and 6speeds would do to the enjoyment level. 

[eldar]

Well I guess it just depends on your size and such and what you are comfortable with. If you are under 5'10, 550 or smaller would be better probably just cause of height issues. The 750 is a tall bike.
I went from a 100cc enduro to virtually 10 years with hardly any riding to a 750 and liked it and hade no problems. But again, I am 6' and just tall enough to put both feet on the ground when sitting on it.

[douglascoolgrey]

Like Eldar said, rider size is a key issue. I could ride a 400f, but I might not be able to straighten my legs out again once I stopped. I'm 6'4". My 550 is a little small, but I like it for that reason.

Also of key interest: how important is looking good and impressing people? You'll find most people agree that the 750s are much uglier and not nearly as impressive as a fine 550. I used to have a friend with a 750... well, maybe friend is too strong a word... He was richer, better looking, and much nicer than I, but, without fail, every time the ladies compared his motorcycle to mine.

My advice, if you got with the 750, get a solo seat. You may need a side-car if you get the 550.

[heffay]

my 350 has a solo seat and its fast enough to scare the bjeezus out of me... although so is the zx7r

[Bob Wessner]

You'll find most people agree that the 750s are much uglier

Excuse me?!   

[Gordon]

You'll find most people agree that the 750s are much uglier

Excuse me?!   

A classic case of what we like to call "Displacement Envy". 

[SteveD CB500F]

There have been a few threads like this.

The answer is the same every time.

Go with what you like - other people's views are, well, other people's views!

You'll end up 5 years from now with one of each anyway!

[mcpuffett]

has to be a 750/4 everytime for me    mick.

[grumburg]

I have had both a 750 and 550 and prefer the 550. They are cheap,smoother, and do not suffer from the "sandcast syndrome".  The 750 was better for longer riding, but for short trips, the 550 is better handling.

[78_SaltLick]

Well I guess it just depends on your size and such and what you are comfortable with. If you are under 5'10, 550 or smaller would be better probably just cause of height issues. The 750 is a tall bike.
I went from a 100cc enduro to virtually 10 years with hardly any riding to a 750 and liked it and hade no problems. But again, I am 6' and just tall enough to put both feet on the ground when sitting on it.

Thats the reason im selling my 750, i am 5ft 11 inches tall and weigh 210lbs, i guess thats about average height (weight im too fat) and my feet touch the ground when i sit on it, but not very solidly. If i stop at an angle, or slope i kinda have to do the tipy toe routine to touch the ground. I know you can lower these bikes, and take some foam out of the seat, but for me its not just the height but the weight of this bike, and i dont like how big the tank is. I like the power, just not the bulk. I have no interest in going over 80 mph, or going a super long distance, my bike is just for going around town and to work sometimes. Thats why i am going for a 550. I had a guy come over to look at my bike, he was pretty short about 5ft 8 inches. He got on it and on his tippy toes he barely touched the ground. I asked him if it was a problem and he said no way, he loves big bikes. So who knows, i think its all just personal preference.

[Gordon]

This thread has me wondering...

I'm only 5' 7" and I can put my feet flat on the ground while sitting on my 750, not firmly, but my heels do touch.  And no, I don't have grotesquely long legs.  The bike has stock length shocks, stock rims, and stock seat.  What gives?  Why is it I can put my feet on the ground, but guys taller than me have trouble?   

[Uncle Ernie]

Gordon, after you get the tires on, get back to us on that...


For looks and rideability, I vote 400 or 550.

[jotor]

He was richer, better looking, and much nicer than I, but, without fail, every time the ladies compared his motorcycle to mine.

No, no, no, no..........you can't leave us hanging like that.  What happened every time the ladies compared you bike and his?

[dusterdude]

salt,you`re 5 11,im only 5 5 and all i had to do was drop the rear about 2 inches.

[eldar]

Well I thnk the later 750s were taller bikes. My seat height is 32 - 33 inches. the average 6 foot person's inseam is 32 - 34 inches. My 750 is all stock too. I just think the later years were taller.

I like the larger tank. It has nicer lines and is not the round half squashed peanut shape the older 750s have.

[74cb750]

Gordon,
 did you put 14 inch rims on that machine? I'm 5'8" and cant reach the ground from the cb750.
But then again, I no longer wear high heels.
Thinking of going back to the cb550, after I get a louder exhaust.
michel

[Beav068]

Duster,

I', 5'7" and it is a stretch for me to reach.  This isn't a huge concern as I have damned strong legs and excellent balance.  However, I would like to get a little closer and am interested in lowering the bike a touch.  How did you do it?  Did it affect the ride much?  Can you still ride double up?

Thanks for your help. 

Oh, and the 750 kicks arse.  The answer to which bike is best, though, lies in the heart of each individual.  If you take one look at it and fall in love, than it truly IS the right bike.

Tim

[dusterdude]

tim,you can do it one of two ways.the cheap way is to buy the lowering blocks that jc whitney sells and they are about 50.00,or you could look on ebay and find the guy selling shocks.i bought 11 inch shocks for a yamaha or a suzuki i dont remember which.all i had to do was press out the metal and rubber bushing in the top and replace it with the honda upper bushing,now i will also say on the bottom,the clevis of the shock will be too wide for the honda mount.you can either make a spacer or do like i did and put the bolt in and squeeze the clevis together.i havent had any problems at all.if you want to buy the shocks let me know and ill try to find who i bought them from.oh yea,the new shocks were 100.00.

[Beav068]

Duster,

Thanks for the info.  I will probably go with the lowering blocks as my shocks are very good still (only 15k original on bike). and I can't justify the extra expense.

Tim

[dusterdude]

yea,i hear ya.let me know how they work out.

[turnenwheels]

Yes!...Slash those Shcks.  Brought my 750k4 down three1/4 inches...I'm 6'1...Like it low and LOUUUD!