Author Topic: I'm tired of it... (Read 3800 times)

Prospect · « **on:** September 23, 2011, 02:56:12 PM »

I'm tired of everyone telling me to get a new bike!

It's not that I can't afford it but I haven't found a new model bike that I like fitting to my personality. Sure my bikes break down and I'm often looking for parts and working on them but I take a lot of pride riding a 40 year old bike down the road.

It seems to me that I'm one of the few people that appreciate it. Even riders that are riding their new BMW and Harleys mention that they wouldn't ever have an old bike as a primary bike. I've often tried to tell people why I ride what I ride but I'm just tired of it and people just don't understand.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Gordon · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:01:04 PM »

Stop trying to make them understand. They either do or they don't.

wrenchmuch · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:06:40 PM »

I Ride with guys that have new bikes . I wouldn't say they turn their nose up at my K1 but I'm always the oldest bike there . When we stop most people are drawn to my 750 and I have a lot of conversations with people about it . My brother in law rides a brand new VXT 1300 interstate . People go right around it to see the 750 . Bugs the hell out of him . I've done a lot of work on my bike and I like that I know it back to front . Come out to Oakville sometime . Lots of great riding close to town . Maybe we won't feel so alone .

brooze72 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:11:34 PM »

Gordon's advice is good. Keep riding & enjoy it. Take pride in your ride. You're probably getting more envious & appreciative glances than you even know. Find some vintage lovers to share your passion with, it's a blast!

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:18:51 PM »

I thoroughly enjoy riding an older motorcycle. I've been to Daytona Bike Week with friends who ride Harleys and you would not believe the number of people that walk past dressed out Harleys of all types to fawn over a 35 year old Honda. It's usually somehing like "Wow! I (or my brother/dad/best friend,etc.) used to have one of those!" and "What year is that?". I love it, especially when my friends start grossing about how my decrepid old ride is garnering more attention than all of their bikes put together!

rklystron · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:24:23 PM »

I was riding my 1977 CB750F2 about a 2 months ago and stopped at a gas station in Prescot WI to fill the old girl up with 91. I walked into the gas station to take a whiz and when I can out a bunch of Harley riders were standing around the old F2. Most of them had no clue what bike it was or the vintage. My gas tank and side cover have no emblems. But I can honestly tell you they were impressed when I told them this Honda was a 34 year old bike. Some people appreciate these old girls and some do not. I say who the hell cares...I appreciate these and so does everybody on this forum. If you want a bike that looks and sounds like every other bike on the road, get a new one. However if like me you have come to love and appreciate what these are and a bit of the history of the CB750 you will see that you too have something special to ride that needs no apology.

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:30:33 PM »

I can tell you that a few minor mechanical issues with any new bike will have you begging for your old SOHC back! Digital instrument clusters, unreliable suspension designs, magnetic pickup speedos, electric fuel pumps that trigger from computer diagnostics, and the list goes on. YUCK!

lone*X · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:32:35 PM »

"Any one else in the same boat?"
Most of the 11,511 Members of this forum could relate. (stats bottom of the main forum page). It's why we are members. The difference is how you perceive peoples comments and how you respond to them. If they know nothing of the history of these bikes how could you expect them to feel as you do? Also, if they are making comments that means they are paying attention. Put twenty crotch rockets in a pack and they all look and sound the same. Your sohc will stand out and be noticed and commented on. Enjoy being different.

ofreen · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:33:09 PM »

Quote from: Prospect on September 23, 2011, 02:56:12 PM

I've often tried to tell people why I ride what I ride but I'm just tired of it and people just don't understand.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Naw, who give's a rat's ass what ignorant people think?

RustyJC · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:39:42 PM »

New bike or old bike? It's not necessarily an "either/or" proposition - sometimes it's a "both/and". See signature. Different horses for different courses.

Rusty

brooze72 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:43:13 PM »

Quote from: madmtnmotors on September 23, 2011, 03:18:51 PM

I thoroughly enjoy riding an older motorcycle. I've been to Daytona Bike Week with friends who ride Harleys and you would not believe the number of people that walk past dressed out Harleys of all types to fawn over a 35 year old Honda. It's usually somehing like "Wow! I (or my brother/dad/best friend,etc.) used to have one of those!" and "What year is that?". I love it, especially when my friends start grossing about how my decrepid old ride is garnering more attention than all of their bikes put together!

LOL If we only had a dollar for every time we heard that from someone.....our maintenance costs would be covered

domer · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:34:37 PM »

i once noticed a patch that read "If I wanted one, I'd buy one. But i dont, so i didnt." sounds fitting here... cant find one anywhere though.

CB750K4 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:40:54 PM »

It's kinda fun owning something that went from being perceived as an old worthless bike, to something that is now 'Cool'.

nccb · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:48:50 PM »

I just got mine fairly recently but have always been drawn to older things. I work at a local Ace hardware and I'll park it out front just to watch how many people come up to it. I have had a dude on a sport/touring whatever the hell bike pull to the side for me to pass so he could look at it and a guy swerve in front of my bike at a gas station while I was pumping gas just to look it over and tell me he used to have one.

I like the positive responses but sometimes its crazy, there was a guy who almost rear-ended a woman in the parking lot looking at the bike. you'd think it was a naked woman spread eagle in the parking spot.

petercb750 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:50:24 PM »

I often ride with a mate on his new $25k Ducati and another on a new CB400- they just shake their heads when we pull up for coffee, fuel etc and people gather around my bike, take pics, want to talk about it, want to talk about "the one they had" - and the other 2 bikes are totally ignored.

I'll put up with the ordinary handling, brakes and power just so I feel a bit different to all the other plastic fantastics out there. The old girl warms my soul, makes me smile and keeps me young.

If I had a modern bike I'd only lose my licence anyway....

bwaller · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:05:07 PM »

Peter, sounds familiar.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2011, 06:31:02 PM »

I tell everyone I don't ride anything that isn't at least as old as I am. That usually leads to a crack about women....

ekpent · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2011, 06:55:27 PM »

These bikes are easy to work on and cheap compared to new. You will get people talking and get respect if they are fairly nice. The secret is because they are so reasonable is to have more than one so if issues arise just swap out the plate for another and keep riding.May sound dumb but has worked well for me.
Once most of the bugs are worked out anyways they are as reliable as you make them out to be .

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:14:02 PM »

I'm actually doing a ride to a Harley dealership tomorrow. It's their customer appreciation day and they asked a vintage bike club around here to show up with old bikes. We'll see what kind of chat I get...

david 750f · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:58:12 PM »

Prospect, you have to come downtown.. There are so many old CB's in my neighbourhood (King/Bathurst) that my bike hardy gets a second glance

ekpent · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:03:49 PM »

Quote from: fmctm1sw on September 23, 2011, 07:14:02 PM

I'm actually doing a ride to a Harley dealership tomorrow. It's their customer appreciation day and they asked a vintage bike club around here to show up with old bikes. We'll see what kind of chat I get...

Perry's Harley here in Kazoo,a very old dealer, opens their parking lot here in Kazoo to a vintage bike show in the summer that's a lot of fun to check out.They welcome rider's of all brands if you got a little grease on your pants.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #21 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:04:12 PM »

Quote from: KingCustomCycles.com on September 23, 2011, 03:30:33 PM

I can tell you that a few minor mechanical issues with any new bike will have you begging for your old SOHC back! Digital instrument clusters, unreliable suspension designs, magnetic pickup speedos, electric fuel pumps that trigger from computer diagnostics, and the list goes on. YUCK!

Can you imagine what someone would have to go through in 25 years when they find that clapped out 2010 Ducati Multistrada and want to restore it? Good luck with that!

cougar · « **Reply #22 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:20:27 PM »

Hey Prospect; I've got to agree with everything the folks have said here. My last bike was a 1995 H-D Super Glide. While I admit it was a nice bike the parts were as expensive as H*ll and in the two years I owned it I did get quite a few "Nice bike" or "Is it new?". I've had my 1976 SOHC cb750 (avatar is it) for about 3 years now and I've had Many Many more people wanting to know what it is, what year model and all sorts of attention. I have a hard time stopping in public without someone coming up to me and making some kind of possitive comment. I love it

!! Remember you are riding the "Original Sportbike" and an "antique" at the same time. So anytime some of the riders around you have something bad to say, look at them and say "Talk to me about your bike in 30 years?" Then just smile

...cougar...

splitt · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:32:02 PM »

Just ride what you want. If you want to ride a $20k+ billet barge, then ride it. If you want to ride a 30+ year old bike, ride it.

VoodooChild · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:34:52 PM »

I try to appreciate most things, even if I don't understand, but my personal preference in just about everything is old school and/or unique. I had a cherry '74 Chevy Vega with the original 4 banger until I sold it and got my bike. Driving it was just like riding an old bike. People would walk right past the brand new Shelby Mustang at car shows to come talk to me about my little Vega and tell me the memories they had of theirs or a friend's. It was no hot rod, but it got all the attention and was just as much fun. That's the sort of thing that draws me to vintage machines- they're fun.

So far, my favorite story about my bike is when I passed a car on the highway with a kid in the passenger seat who was probably about 7 or 8 and his eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head and he started pointing and trying to show his dad. It made me smile from ear to ear because I remember when I was just like that kid

News:

Author Topic: I'm tired of it... (Read 3800 times)

KingCustomCycles.com