03-09-2015, 12:45 PM
I never had a CB750; but I learned to ride on UJBs. The Japanese makers were just starting to ape the Harley-style "cruisers" at that time; no one knew that the UJB was living on borrowed time and it would be between Harley lookalikes and sportbikes with little-grip handlebars, that have you crouched like you're ducking and covering for a Nuclear Civil Defense Alert.
My next-door neighbor and I both bought new bikes the same time, summer of 1986...I was a year at it at the time. I bought an SR 500, which I thought to be well-balanced visually. Naked bike. He bought a Virago...think it was a 650; a big bike in that era. Odd duck...a big V twin with towering jugs; but then a 90-degree bevel gear to a SHAFT; and then ANOTHER bevel gear to the REAR END. I remember reading how much lost energy carmakers were saving by eliminating differential gears and mounting small-car engines transversely. About eight HP the figure was, of the savings. And Yamaha, in its wisdom, just DOUBLED DOWN on that power loss.
Anyway. That marked basically the end of the UJB. Honda soldiered on with a modified version, the Nighthawk series...and a few others of tweaked styling...but the stepped seating putting the pillion passenger up there, was there to stay. And I guess from the POV of young ladies who are exclusive occupants of such a seat, it's a welcome change. But I, I liked the long banana-seat...slide back or forward to get comfy as needed.
I was intrigued by the Suzuki retro, the TU 250. Rode one; with my 250-lb weight, it won't go any faster than the high fifties. WIDE open. Smooth and light but no sale.
The Bonnevilles are nice; but there is NO way in Hades I am gonna buy a Limey machine. NOT. HAPPENING. I don't care if BMW owns the company, as they do with MINI...or if it's a brand-new plant. As with the Yugoslavians with their Yugo; as with the Chinese with their fast-fail scooters...today's British don't have a work ethic.
Yamaha has brought out the SR 400; which is a resurrection of the SR 500 of 35 years ago. I saw one and boy was I tempted; but it is useless to me, with my bulk, in my age, with my present needs.
And so, not even looking, I stumble on this. Holy Moley what a find!...and it's not SELLING?....
For the record: I'll be 57 this summer.
My next-door neighbor and I both bought new bikes the same time, summer of 1986...I was a year at it at the time. I bought an SR 500, which I thought to be well-balanced visually. Naked bike. He bought a Virago...think it was a 650; a big bike in that era. Odd duck...a big V twin with towering jugs; but then a 90-degree bevel gear to a SHAFT; and then ANOTHER bevel gear to the REAR END. I remember reading how much lost energy carmakers were saving by eliminating differential gears and mounting small-car engines transversely. About eight HP the figure was, of the savings. And Yamaha, in its wisdom, just DOUBLED DOWN on that power loss.
Anyway. That marked basically the end of the UJB. Honda soldiered on with a modified version, the Nighthawk series...and a few others of tweaked styling...but the stepped seating putting the pillion passenger up there, was there to stay. And I guess from the POV of young ladies who are exclusive occupants of such a seat, it's a welcome change. But I, I liked the long banana-seat...slide back or forward to get comfy as needed.
I was intrigued by the Suzuki retro, the TU 250. Rode one; with my 250-lb weight, it won't go any faster than the high fifties. WIDE open. Smooth and light but no sale.
The Bonnevilles are nice; but there is NO way in Hades I am gonna buy a Limey machine. NOT. HAPPENING. I don't care if BMW owns the company, as they do with MINI...or if it's a brand-new plant. As with the Yugoslavians with their Yugo; as with the Chinese with their fast-fail scooters...today's British don't have a work ethic.
Yamaha has brought out the SR 400; which is a resurrection of the SR 500 of 35 years ago. I saw one and boy was I tempted; but it is useless to me, with my bulk, in my age, with my present needs.
And so, not even looking, I stumble on this. Holy Moley what a find!...and it's not SELLING?....
For the record: I'll be 57 this summer.