Back in 69-71 time period, I was in the Navy stationed in Lemoore, CA. I had a 305 Superhawk and I used to take weekend trips with the buds around California state. A couple guys bought new 450 Hondas (both red). These were pretty new bikes, and the only time there was ever any mechanical issue, was when the one guy took off his shirt while riding and the sleeve got caught in the chain at about 50-60 MPH. I was behind him at the time, with the other 450 rider, you could see the whole fascinating incident unfold. He had one sleeve still on when the chain grabbed the dangling sleeve and the shirt just sort of disappeared off him, whoosh. Lot's of wobbling. He managed to stay on the bike and skid off to the side of the road. He said his arm was sore, and was pretty miffed at our laughter over the spectacle, normally seen only in cartoon events. We helped him wrestle the bike onto the center stand, where he used the tool kit screwdriver, pliers, and a pocket knife to poke and cut the remains of his shirt wedged between chain and rear sprocket. It took about 20-30 minutes. I think it was the longest duration of maintenance time I ever witnessed on that bike. I'm not sure, he may have had to readjust the chain tension, too. We then rode off and his 450 returned to its normal reliable self. Eventually, the 450 owner stopped grumbling about the incident, retold countless times. However, on a later ride, he zoomed up to take leader of pack position, then pulled off the road to a clearing. We all followed and parked behind him. He casually got off the bike, removed his shirt and slowly bungeed it to the bike, then got back on and zoomed off down the road, leaving us standing next to our recently parked bikes. He did make it easy for us to catch up to him, and then took position near the rear of the pack. We were all surly in our own way.
Anyway, the 450s were always way faster than my 305, of course, and that earned a sneer or two at the "little" 305. The 450 was a pretty comfortable bike to ride long distance, once you got used to the shaking. Later I got a 650 BSA. I don't think it shook as bad as the Honda 450, was faster, and ended all the "little bike" sneering. The Honda was still more reliable and needed far less maintenance than the Beezer.
Cheers,
