In praise of the Plain Jane

[Roper_imp]

Some here might have caught a recent post in which yours truly commented with measured displeasure on a 700+km riding day, ending in 4° (Celsius scale) temperature, in rain that can't quite decide if it should turn into sleet or not...

What was I thinking while riding? I'll tell you:

"You fool, you could be riding right now somewhere in the sunny Mediterranean, perhaps up and down the east coast of the northern Adriatic..."

It took a couple of weeks to make it happen.

A friend offered his bike while he was otherwise engaged. The bike was something quite pedestrian, certainly when compared with our cb1100-s, but I decided it deserves a word of praise. But first, a couple of photos documenting what I would call "a few days of roughing it in Croatia". Tough gig, but if someone had to do it, why not I?

On the two-lane highway, winding south along the coast, somewhere near of the town of Senj. Deep blue sea on the right (west), Velebit mountain limestone and sparse Mediterranean vegetation on the left (east, the photo is looking north):


Ferry connections with the islands are plentiful, sailings are regular and frequent, and the fares are more than reasonable:


On those ferries, there's always room for another motorcycle. Bikes generally don't wait in line with the cars, but wait on the side to be waived to board as the deck chief decides there is a good nook that could be filled:


Don't you love the ferry system where the davit rate is properly marked in units of force instead of weight?


Just off the ferry, on the island of Rab:


A very particular location on the island of Krk:


From a quick side-trip to about 700 meters above the sea level, on the Velebit mountain. No special reason to do it - other than to catch a few minutes of cool breeze coming down the mountain when the coast is baked in the mid-day sun:


How does one ride those roads? Carefully, of course:


Above a beech on the east coast of island Pag:


Pag, the town on the island of the same name. The mountains in the background are on the mainland:


Southern end of Pag is connected to the mainland with a bridge. The fortification visible through the left-most end of the bridge is worth another look:


It was there from antiquity; probably even before the Roman rule of the parts of the east Adriatic coast:


Coastal highway as far south as I got on this occasion:


Finally, a few words about the motorcycle. Here she is:


If somehow there was to be only one model of motorcycle left on the Earth, I believe this should be it. It is not best at anything, but it is darn good at just about everything. Honda CBF600N, this one a 2008. Six speed, 600 cc liquid cooled I4. A de-tuned Hornet, but with more than enough power to deal with spots of traffic, competent in the curves, with comfortable, upright riding position, good for a long day in the saddle. Last produced in 2014, I believe. Quite popular in Europe, never sold in North America in the naked form, although Honda had it in Canada in half-faired version, where it did not sell well at all.

If I had to, I could spend the rest of my days with this bike. I'm quite sure the one I rode on this trip (65K km on its odo) would outlive me...

I used to think the same thing about the 919 (Hornet 900 in Europe.) Then I got my CB1100...