03-09-2021, 09:06 AM
Greetings,
My mantra has always been that the garage needs at least one bike that "looks like a bike." Also, air cooling was a plus with the CB. It was clear a decade ago that air-cooled road bikes were going the way of two-strokes.
Back about the turn of the century I did a light restoration on a 360T that had sat in a dry garage unregistered for 20 years. Not only was that bike incredibly fun (the most willing 36hp I've ever ridden, seriously, the thing would push past redline in the bottom 4 gears, and love it), but it also raised my appreciation of vintage Hondas, and Honda bikes in general. The CB1100, announced in Japan very close to my 50th birthday, hit me right in the demographic.
Having said that, if the current Speed Twin had been available when I bought my 2014 EX (I think I got the last new EX west of the Rockies, July 2015) it would have been a much harder decision. The Speed Twin looks like a bike too, even with a radiator.
My long-distance and hooligan bike is a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT. I use all of that 118rwhp for a few seconds at a time, about a half-dozen times a summer. All is vanity. You want a bike that was invisible to the American market? Behold the Sprint GT.
This happened about 25 years ago. It was cool sunny early spring day and I was riding back to Seattle from Great Falls, MT after spending a long weekend riding dirt bikes with my good friend TW. I stopped in Silverton, ID for a burger and sat on the bench outside, because, you sit outside when bike touring, unless you are hypothermic.
A bright red Honda Magna, at least a decade old at the time but perfectly polished, clean and shiny, pulls up to the curb in front of me, next to my K75S. Everything is done carefully and deliberately for this rider, who is barely able to tiptoe when he stops. He deploys the kickstand and slowly rocks the bike over on it, like he doesn't trust the stand to hold. He just as carefully kicks his right leg over before we make our introductions.
Later, reminiscing over our burgers, I realize this guy is easily double my age, in his mid-80's, if not older. I admire that he's still riding at his age. He is jealous of the 600+ miles I'm covering today. Before I take off, there is one thing he needs me to remember. Looking me right in the eye, he says, "If I drop it, my wife will never let me ride again."
I have not owned a lot of bikes; I tend to keep the ones I have for at least a decade. I hope, from wherever he is riding now, that the old guy in Silverton, ID knows he was an inspiration. I want to be that old guy, with my perfect polished red bike, even when a ride to the local burger joint is the most I can do.
I think my 2014 EX will fit the bill, if I can get gas for it. It's going to be a long ride.
Gus
What was the question?
My mantra has always been that the garage needs at least one bike that "looks like a bike." Also, air cooling was a plus with the CB. It was clear a decade ago that air-cooled road bikes were going the way of two-strokes.
Back about the turn of the century I did a light restoration on a 360T that had sat in a dry garage unregistered for 20 years. Not only was that bike incredibly fun (the most willing 36hp I've ever ridden, seriously, the thing would push past redline in the bottom 4 gears, and love it), but it also raised my appreciation of vintage Hondas, and Honda bikes in general. The CB1100, announced in Japan very close to my 50th birthday, hit me right in the demographic.
Having said that, if the current Speed Twin had been available when I bought my 2014 EX (I think I got the last new EX west of the Rockies, July 2015) it would have been a much harder decision. The Speed Twin looks like a bike too, even with a radiator.
My long-distance and hooligan bike is a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT. I use all of that 118rwhp for a few seconds at a time, about a half-dozen times a summer. All is vanity. You want a bike that was invisible to the American market? Behold the Sprint GT.
This happened about 25 years ago. It was cool sunny early spring day and I was riding back to Seattle from Great Falls, MT after spending a long weekend riding dirt bikes with my good friend TW. I stopped in Silverton, ID for a burger and sat on the bench outside, because, you sit outside when bike touring, unless you are hypothermic.
A bright red Honda Magna, at least a decade old at the time but perfectly polished, clean and shiny, pulls up to the curb in front of me, next to my K75S. Everything is done carefully and deliberately for this rider, who is barely able to tiptoe when he stops. He deploys the kickstand and slowly rocks the bike over on it, like he doesn't trust the stand to hold. He just as carefully kicks his right leg over before we make our introductions.
Later, reminiscing over our burgers, I realize this guy is easily double my age, in his mid-80's, if not older. I admire that he's still riding at his age. He is jealous of the 600+ miles I'm covering today. Before I take off, there is one thing he needs me to remember. Looking me right in the eye, he says, "If I drop it, my wife will never let me ride again."
I have not owned a lot of bikes; I tend to keep the ones I have for at least a decade. I hope, from wherever he is riding now, that the old guy in Silverton, ID knows he was an inspiration. I want to be that old guy, with my perfect polished red bike, even when a ride to the local burger joint is the most I can do.
I think my 2014 EX will fit the bill, if I can get gas for it. It's going to be a long ride.
Gus
What was the question?