03-28-2024, 06:42 AM
Talk about dreaming of owning something for 20 years, I have a little story .....
I wanted a BMW motorcycle since I was a kid..literally. My dad was an Indian/Harley rider, but I saw BMWs in his magazines. I saw how they would go 100K mi without major repair unlike his Harleys which got numerous top end and bottom end jobs in far less mileage. The cylinders sticking out in the air made sense to me from a cooling aspect and the shaft drive made a lot of sense compared to a greasy ol chain, but they were very expensive. After I grew up and had been riding about 10 years, had gotten married, had a kid, I decided it was time. It was 1976 and I was managing a Kawasaki shop, Norwood Kawasaki for a Honda-Kawasaki dealer with 4 stores. I had managed to save up $2000 towards a new motorcycle. A new BMW R90S was $3995. I was going to put down $2K and finance $2K. Finally going to get the bike I had been dreaming of owning for 20 years. My wife and I went out to the local BMW dealer and asked to take the R90S for a test ride. It didn't go well. The bike shuddered from the opposed cylinders and the rear shaft made the bike rise up and down every time the gas was applied or shut off. Shudder, up-down, shudder up-down, shudder up-down. I hated the thing. I was crushed. Heart broken that something I had wanted for so long was so disappointing. I actually preferred riding my vibrating Yamaha XS 650 P Twin. A few weeks later the first of the 1977 Kawasaki's arrived at my shop. I had the mechanics set up a new KZ 1000, and I took it out for a test ride. Now THAT was a motorcycle..big, fast, smooth, great brakes and good looking to boot. I called the owner and asked what my price would be. He said he'd figure it out and call me back. A little later he called and said $1888 out the door. I could pay cash for it and have a little jingle left over. Done deal. Loved that bike (it's very similar to the CB 1100). My wife and I rode it all over the country.
![[Image: 533322cbee969eee803b4ae2017a0c8f.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/202403/533322cbee969eee803b4ae2017a0c8f.jpg)
Eventually sold it to bolster the down payment on a house, and bought a used 76 Honda CB 750 to ride.
The moral of the story for me is, sometimes what you think you want, isn't exactly what you really want...or sometimes reality doesn't meet expectations.
Hope the Thruxton is everything you expect it to be Mr P.
I wanted a BMW motorcycle since I was a kid..literally. My dad was an Indian/Harley rider, but I saw BMWs in his magazines. I saw how they would go 100K mi without major repair unlike his Harleys which got numerous top end and bottom end jobs in far less mileage. The cylinders sticking out in the air made sense to me from a cooling aspect and the shaft drive made a lot of sense compared to a greasy ol chain, but they were very expensive. After I grew up and had been riding about 10 years, had gotten married, had a kid, I decided it was time. It was 1976 and I was managing a Kawasaki shop, Norwood Kawasaki for a Honda-Kawasaki dealer with 4 stores. I had managed to save up $2000 towards a new motorcycle. A new BMW R90S was $3995. I was going to put down $2K and finance $2K. Finally going to get the bike I had been dreaming of owning for 20 years. My wife and I went out to the local BMW dealer and asked to take the R90S for a test ride. It didn't go well. The bike shuddered from the opposed cylinders and the rear shaft made the bike rise up and down every time the gas was applied or shut off. Shudder, up-down, shudder up-down, shudder up-down. I hated the thing. I was crushed. Heart broken that something I had wanted for so long was so disappointing. I actually preferred riding my vibrating Yamaha XS 650 P Twin. A few weeks later the first of the 1977 Kawasaki's arrived at my shop. I had the mechanics set up a new KZ 1000, and I took it out for a test ride. Now THAT was a motorcycle..big, fast, smooth, great brakes and good looking to boot. I called the owner and asked what my price would be. He said he'd figure it out and call me back. A little later he called and said $1888 out the door. I could pay cash for it and have a little jingle left over. Done deal. Loved that bike (it's very similar to the CB 1100). My wife and I rode it all over the country.
Eventually sold it to bolster the down payment on a house, and bought a used 76 Honda CB 750 to ride.
The moral of the story for me is, sometimes what you think you want, isn't exactly what you really want...or sometimes reality doesn't meet expectations.
Hope the Thruxton is everything you expect it to be Mr P.