A Bike You Would Like to Own, If Only

[redbirds_imp]

That old 175 is gorgeous Kitch.

[RetroKitch_imp]

That old 175 is gorgeous Kitch.

Thank you! Believe it not after all these years I never saw another one like her until last year...same year and color too! I still see running examples of her more famous (and numerous)CB350 big sister though.

[Cormanus]

Thanks for the picture Kitch. Brings back many happy memories.

[davidsargee_imp]

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As far as other bikes I'd love to own (aside from a CB1100 deluxe one of these days) would be the early '80's CB900 Custom with the unique dual range transmission!
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I had one of those CB900s, I believe it was an '82 model, blue one. I loved that bike, but to be honest, I seldom ever used the dual range tranny. Most of my riding on that bike was around town, so I seldom had use for the high range. Like the CB1100, it was an easy bike to just tool around on.

[the Ferret]

The dual speed tranny was just a gimmick by Honda. They used a Gold Wing rear end which was driven on the right, and the engine from the Dohc inline 4 series which was chain driven on the left. They used the dual range case to transfer power from 1 side to the other. Clever, but virtually useless in real life.

[davidsargee_imp]

The dual speed tranny was just a gimmick by Honda. They used a Gold Wing rear end which was driven on the right, and the engine from the Dohc inline 4 series which was chain driven on the left. They used the dual range case to transfer power from 1 side to the other. Clever, but virtually useless in real life.

Interesting, I had that bike for a little over a year and never really thought about that. I didn't get anything out of the dual range, if I remember correctly, sometimes I wasn't completely certain if I was in hi or lo.

[flynrider]

My dream bike was the Kaw GPz 750 Turbo. Kaw brought their bikes to the track to try and entice the local club riders in '84. I rode the new 900r (the original Ninja) first and was pretty impressed.

The next ride was 4 hot laps on new Turbo and I was blown away. At the time, 112 hp from a 750 class bike was unheard of. I clearly recall opening it up coming out of the final turn on to the straightaway and passing through 120 mph, turbo screaming, before I was halfway to the next turn. Soon after I experienced the wonder of modern (for the day) triple discs.

After that ride I attempted to buy one. I could afford the payments on the $4500 bike, but it turned out that the insurance cost (for a 23 yr. old squidly kid) would be equal to the bike payments. That was the deal breaker. These days it's nearly impossible to find one that hasn't been beat to death.

[The Spaceman_imp]

The dual speed tranny was just a gimmick by Honda. They used a Gold Wing rear end which was driven on the right, and the engine from the Dohc inline 4 series which was chain driven on the left. They used the dual range case to transfer power from 1 side to the other. Clever, but virtually useless in real life.

Was the idea to change the ratio of the standard gears by stepping up or down a range in the transfer case? It does seem silly for a bike, although it might be useful for an off road vehicle...

[the Ferret]

Yes around town you could use the lower ratio for more pick up, out on the road the higher ratio for easier cruising. In reality most people stuck it in the higher ratio and just left it there.

[RetroKitch_imp]

The dual speed tranny was just a gimmick by Honda. They used a Gold Wing rear end which was driven on the right, and the engine from the Dohc inline 4 series which was chain driven on the left. They used the dual range case to transfer power from 1 side to the other. Clever, but virtually useless in real life.

Thanks for the info!

I had read somewhere that most owners would use the lower range and then once on the highway in 5th, would shift to the high range for a sort of overdrive. Still, I liked the styling of the 650, 750, 900/1000 Customs...a final homage to the older CB's in some ways as the F models and early Nighthawks were on the rise with sportier looks.