The CB1100 Community Forum

Yep had the same experience this summer on a CB350 four. Thought I wanted a smaller bike with kick start like my old CB360. It felt too small!


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In 94 I was a home owner, father of a 3 year old, been married 9 years, and was TOTALLY in love with the Kawasaki Zephyr 1100. Wasn't gonna happen. Now 20 years later, I simply can't let the Honda slip bye. If I can get a damn test ride that is. But I STILL regret not being able to buy that Kawasaki. At the time it was the only retro in town.

(09-24-2014, 10:45 AM)JustJohn_imp Wrote: [ -> ]In 94 I was a home owner, father of a 3 year old, been married 9 years, and was TOTALLY in love with the Kawasaki Zephyr 1100. Wasn't gonna happen. Now 20 years later, I simply can't let the Honda slip bye. If I can get a damn test ride that is. But I STILL regret not being able to buy that Kawasaki. At the time it was the only retro in town.

Ah, the Zephyr. Basically a carbon copy of the KZ bikes of 10 years earlier. I was shopping for a new ride in the mid 90s too and thought I was going to end up with a Zephyr, but by that time Kaw had given up trying to sell the Zephyr in the U.S. and the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the only mid-large UJM you could buy. I bought the Nighthawk and still have it. Wouldn't mind having a Zephyr to keep the CBs company.

CB750, CB350, CB450, Yamaha 650 twin, Norton Commando 850.

(09-25-2014, 06:49 AM)Flynrider_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-24-2014, 10:45 AM)JustJohn_imp Wrote: [ -> ]In 94 I was a home owner, father of a 3 year old, been married 9 years, and was TOTALLY in love with the Kawasaki Zephyr 1100. Wasn't gonna happen. Now 20 years later, I simply can't let the Honda slip bye. If I can get a damn test ride that is. But I STILL regret not being able to buy that Kawasaki. At the time it was the only retro in town.

Ah, the Zephyr. Basically a carbon copy of the KZ bikes of 10 years earlier. I was shopping for a new ride in the mid 90s too and thought I was going to end up with a Zephyr, but by that time Kaw had given up trying to sell the Zephyr in the U.S. and the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the only mid-large UJM you could buy. I bought the Nighthawk and still have it. Wouldn't mind having a Zephyr to keep the CBs company.

Ah, the Zephyr. Basically a carbon copy of the KZ bikes of 10 years earlier. I was shopping for a new ride in the mid 90s too and thought I was going to end up with a Zephyr, but by that time Kaw had given up trying to sell the Zephyr in the U.S. and the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the only mid-large UJM you could buy. I bought the Nighthawk and still have it. Wouldn't mind having a Zephyr to keep the CBs company.
They're hard to find. Cycletrader has some, but there in the U.K. Guess not too many sold here. There was a 550 and 750 too if I remember right?

(09-25-2014, 10:12 AM)JustJohn_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-25-2014, 06:49 AM)Flynrider_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-24-2014, 10:45 AM)JustJohn_imp Wrote: [ -> ]In 94 I was a home owner, father of a 3 year old, been married 9 years, and was TOTALLY in love with the Kawasaki Zephyr 1100. Wasn't gonna happen. Now 20 years later, I simply can't let the Honda slip bye. If I can get a damn test ride that is. But I STILL regret not being able to buy that Kawasaki. At the time it was the only retro in town.

Ah, the Zephyr. Basically a carbon copy of the KZ bikes of 10 years earlier. I was shopping for a new ride in the mid 90s too and thought I was going to end up with a Zephyr, but by that time Kaw had given up trying to sell the Zephyr in the U.S. and the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the only mid-large UJM you could buy. I bought the Nighthawk and still have it. Wouldn't mind having a Zephyr to keep the CBs company.

Ah, the Zephyr. Basically a carbon copy of the KZ bikes of 10 years earlier. I was shopping for a new ride in the mid 90s too and thought I was going to end up with a Zephyr, but by that time Kaw had given up trying to sell the Zephyr in the U.S. and the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the only mid-large UJM you could buy. I bought the Nighthawk and still have it. Wouldn't mind having a Zephyr to keep the CBs company.
They're hard to find. Cycletrader has some, but there in the U.K. Guess not too many sold here. There was a 550 and 750 too if I remember right?

They also sold the 1100 here. Although they were only offered for a few years in the U.S., they were very popular in Europe and Japan throughout the end of the 90s. That's where you'll find most of them.

Z1..until I saw a Z1 turbo. Then it was the SR650 after I regained my senses.

CB1100dlx

Ahh yes, the Zephyr. I did lust after the 750 as well, and I still think it is a very good looking bike. After that I wanted a Triumph Thunderbird T309RT that came out in 94. I really loved that bike and the triple engine, but somehow at the time I ended up getting a Honda XLV750 Africa Twin.

More recently I wanted an MV Agusta Brutale 910S. There was a stunning orange and black version that I was very close to buying. I think the only problem was that I was a bit too cramped on the bike, and I ended up getting a Moto Morini Corsaro. Still, that Brutale remains in my opinion a modern sculpture that I would not mind putting in my living room.

And finally, this year it was the BMW R9T, but I ended up with the Honda CB1100EX and I certainly don't regret it!

However, the very first bike I lusted after as a kid was an XR75. Never got one, just like the CB900F Bol d'Or I also wanted a bit later.

ZRX1200R - did and still do.