10-03-2019, 12:25 PM
pdedse, truth be told, Santa Billy was already considering a red CB1100 EX, after running into that other guy at the Sacramento Bike Night. He was seriously interested because he'd owned a bunch of smaller CBs back in the '60s, '70s, and early '80s. All I did was add fuel to his fire.
It really wasn't all that difficult to sway him. He was well sick of his Harleys, he said. He was more than ready for a change.
Now, that being said, he still wasn't quite ready for what he experienced during his brief test ride on my bike. Following that little run, dude was on fire, he was so thrilled. "I can't believe how smooth it is! Not just the motor, either. That suspension is freaking unbelievable. Makes that thing..." he continued, pointing to his Harley, "feel like a wheelbarrow. The suspension is sh*!, the whole thing vibrates like a paint shaker, the brakes suck. It feels prehistoric compared to this thing."
Anyway, I didn't mind offering him a ride. Two different people on this site offered me a ride on their CB1100s, when I really needed a test ride. Because of Eric's generous offer, I became confident enough in the bike to pull the trigger.
So, yep, pay it forward.
Besides, he left his own bike right there at the restaurant, and he was obviously an experienced rider. Also, come on, who steals CB1100s? Certainly not kindly old codgers like that guy.
I wasn't the least bit worried.
mickey, the thing about the CB is it's just so dead-nuts perfect for certain rides. It's not the best tourer, but it's not bad for that, either. It's definitely not a sport bike, but as long as you stick to moderately slow roads (go ahead and skip high-speed racer roads) and avoid race tracks altogether, it's competent enough to provide decent little bursts of fun. On a smooth, scenic country road that won't let you go too very fast, though, man, she is absolutely ideal. For someone who just wants to ride and enjoy the fundamental sensations of motorcycling polished to a mithril-like shimmer, who doesn't want to risk his license or sanity every time he throws a leg over, there is nothing better, or more pure.
The CB boils it right down to the finest essence.
It really wasn't all that difficult to sway him. He was well sick of his Harleys, he said. He was more than ready for a change.
Now, that being said, he still wasn't quite ready for what he experienced during his brief test ride on my bike. Following that little run, dude was on fire, he was so thrilled. "I can't believe how smooth it is! Not just the motor, either. That suspension is freaking unbelievable. Makes that thing..." he continued, pointing to his Harley, "feel like a wheelbarrow. The suspension is sh*!, the whole thing vibrates like a paint shaker, the brakes suck. It feels prehistoric compared to this thing."
Anyway, I didn't mind offering him a ride. Two different people on this site offered me a ride on their CB1100s, when I really needed a test ride. Because of Eric's generous offer, I became confident enough in the bike to pull the trigger.
So, yep, pay it forward.
Besides, he left his own bike right there at the restaurant, and he was obviously an experienced rider. Also, come on, who steals CB1100s? Certainly not kindly old codgers like that guy.
I wasn't the least bit worried.
mickey, the thing about the CB is it's just so dead-nuts perfect for certain rides. It's not the best tourer, but it's not bad for that, either. It's definitely not a sport bike, but as long as you stick to moderately slow roads (go ahead and skip high-speed racer roads) and avoid race tracks altogether, it's competent enough to provide decent little bursts of fun. On a smooth, scenic country road that won't let you go too very fast, though, man, she is absolutely ideal. For someone who just wants to ride and enjoy the fundamental sensations of motorcycling polished to a mithril-like shimmer, who doesn't want to risk his license or sanity every time he throws a leg over, there is nothing better, or more pure.
The CB boils it right down to the finest essence.