What matters in a motorcycle?

[Capo]

Capo...can't wait for your report. I have an acquaintance with same thrill factor you seem to seek, and he test road the regular 1200 Bonnie with the intention of buying it and was sorely disappointed, really low power, and poor fueling he said. Bought a Yamaha XRS900 instead, and so far is loving it. Traded in his Triumph Street Triple.

Yes, I wouldn'tt buy a Bonnie for 'thrills' but the reviews for the bike are consistently good. The XSR gets great reviews, save for fueling and suspension. I prefer the Triumph brand overall, hope to see them come out with an 800 cc triple soon, and it would be great to do a retro 3 cylinder along the lines of the old Thunderbird Sport.

I'm determining whether to keep the CB after a few weeks with the Thrux. The CB's resale is such crap that it's probably worth keeping and doing some customizing.

[Cormanus]

Excellent post, Chip. Even as a one-bike owner, there is much to reflect on there.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Excellent post, Chip. Even as a one-bike owner, there is much to reflect on there.

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip

[Desert viper_imp]

Chip....I belong to H-D Forum, ZRXOA, ApriliaForum, VFR World, Ducati Monster Forum and of course this one. No one comes close to your way with words on any of these forums. I always look forward to your posts the way I would go straight to Peter Egans' "Leanings" articles when my new CYCLE WORLD would arrive in the mail box. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely tag along on some of your epic rides. I have been riding for 50 years and my CB1100 is the smoothest, easiest to ride quickly, very flickable especially for its weight, bike that I have owned. I currently have 9 street bikes and the CB is ALWAYS the one I jump on when I just want to get away and clean out the cobwebs. For me I want a bike to visually move me and them follow it up with great performance. Some mornings when I can't ride I wander out to the garage with a hot cup of coffee and just admire them, each one of them beckons me in a different way. The way the ZRX looks from the rear while on the race stand, that fat 190 grabs your attention and the large black hole on the end of the Kerker, this bike is a brawler. For my black Aprilia RS250 my eyes go to its purposeful look, from its chrome stingers on the carbon Arrow silencers to the polished banana swing arm to the compactness that says "hey take me to the track and stretch my legs". My Monster S2R 1000 grabs my attention with its attention to detail, nothing on it that doesn't need to be, single sided swing arm, open dry clutch, single seat, carbon upswept SPARKS pipes that make the most glorious sound even with the DB killers in place, and that beautiful silver and black paint job. As far as my Vivid Black Road King Classic, the combination of black paint, brilliant chrome pieces, and black leather is a visual overload. I never even thought about owning a big touring Harley until about 4 years ago when I got a chance to ride one and that stuccato cadence of that big V-twin literally gets into your soul. No it's not the fastest, doesn't stop in the shortest distance, but when two people embark on a ride that takes them to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, along those magnificent Tetons, into the bottom of Yellowstone, along to Old Faithful, out thru the West Yellowstone entrance, and 12 miles back home to Island Park, Idaho. The amount of gear we have to take is staggering but this bike swallows all of it. We arrive home relaxed , never tired or beat. My latest purchase is a one owner 2007 Honda VFR 800 ABS Anniversary Edition, completely stock with only 2,400 miles. I always wanted another V 4 Honda after I foolishly sold my pristine VF500! Love the red white and blue paint scheme. I saved the best for last. My 2014 CB1100 Deluxe is one of those machines that looks great from any angle! It is the 1969 Honda CB 750 that I never got but always regretted not buying. This bike is a keeper .....I will NEVER sell it! I drove to Gilbert, Arizona to buy it from GRISO GUY, Mark, a man that I have become great friends with. I love the way it looks but I am installing the complete red K10 kit, 4 into 4 pipes and spoked wheels....excited to see how it comes out. So Chip to answer your question for me it is quite simple: I got my first ride when I was 6 on a friend on my Dads sportster and I burned my leg badly on the pipe when I was getting off, and I was HOOKED! I just LOVE the feeling I get when I ride! Keep the rubber side down Chip and thank you. Randy

[Cormanus]

Excellent post, Chip. Even as a one-bike owner, there is much to reflect on there.

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip
Chip

I seem to remember seeing a picture of you tied on to an elastic band while in NZ.

Come to visit. I'll return the shout. I won't be in Australia in July, but otherwise I'm expecting to be around. Pterodactyl might even come and ride with us as well.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Excellent post, Chip. Even as a one-bike owner, there is much to reflect on there.

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip
Chip

I seem to remember seeing a picture of you tied on to an elastic band while in NZ.

Come to visit. I'll return the shout. I won't be in Australia in July, but otherwise I'm expecting to be around. Pterodactyl might even come and ride with us as well.

Yeah, that was a scary jump. My son hurled himself off that platform without the slightest concern. I was horrified. BUT....I'd certainly do it again!!

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Jump.jpg.html]

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/BJ7.jpg.html]

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Don't be horrified mate. It's only very occasionally that they lose someone bungy jumping.

Cheers

[DaSwami_imp]

Excellent post, Chip. Even as a one-bike owner, there is much to reflect on there.

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip

Cormanus,

Last summer my son Charley and I spent three weeks in New Zealand and he couldn't rent a street bike as he was only 22 years old so we had to settle for dirt biking. I've never been to Australia and perhaps I need to get down there this summer to ride with you bro. I'll buy the cocktails!!

Chip
Chip

I seem to remember seeing a picture of you tied on to an elastic band while in NZ.

Come to visit. I'll return the shout. I won't be in Australia in July, but otherwise I'm expecting to be around. Pterodactyl might even come and ride with us as well.

Yeah, that was a scary jump. My son hurled himself off that platform without the slightest concern. I was horrified. BUT....I'd certainly do it again!!

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Jump.jpg.html]

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/BJ7.jpg.html]

Yeah, that was a scary jump. My son hurled himself off that platform without the slightest concern. I was horrified. BUT....I'd certainly do it again!!

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Jump.jpg.html]

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/BJ7.jpg.html]
Oh he*# no. Not yet anyway.