04-02-2018, 11:36 AM
Funny thing about weight. Like most things it's relative. For those coming from a 250, the CB will seem big and heavy. For those coming from a Goldwing it will seem small and light. I'll bet if someone traded you a CB halfway thru your Texas trip you'd have thought it was a super moto lol.
As far as character goes, I must be think skinned or thick headed. I've NEVER understood the charachter thing. I have owned Harleys, Triumphs, BSA's, Hondas, Yamaha's, Suzuki's, Kawasaki's and an Aermacchi, and ridden about everything else..Ducati's, KTM's, Indian's, Moto Guzzi's BMW's, and I have never described one as having character compared to another. To me they were either good motorcycles or not as good motorcycles depending on whether I enjoyed riding them. Whether the power delivery was suitable, the brakes worked well, whether they handled well, sounded well, whether they were reliable, pleasing to the eyes and ears. Like I said I've owned 29 street motorcycles that I can recall, and I don't recall ever telling someone that one of them had character. They either make me happy, or they don't. Most have.
I think the CB is a great motorcycle. It's features please me. The looks, the sound, the feeling when I ride it. The brakes work well, the power is broad, and it handles well. It gets good mileage, it's got great ergos. It's been ultimately reliable. Does it have character? Who knows? It's just a great motorcycle as far as I am concerned. I feel the same about my ST, and they are hundreds of pounds different in weight.
On the other hand my son's Ducati is one that "supposedly" has character. I dislike the ergos, I dislike the powerband, and I don't particularly care for riding it. I don't find it particularly attractive, it hasn't been very reliable, the rear brake squeals horribly, it vibrates. It's rather loud ( that may be the special Italian exhaust he put on ti). Even my son won't ride it further than 50 miles from home. He was glad that he bought a 5 year extended warranty, and has used it. If those are the features that describe character, give me souless and appliance like please.
As far as character goes, I must be think skinned or thick headed. I've NEVER understood the charachter thing. I have owned Harleys, Triumphs, BSA's, Hondas, Yamaha's, Suzuki's, Kawasaki's and an Aermacchi, and ridden about everything else..Ducati's, KTM's, Indian's, Moto Guzzi's BMW's, and I have never described one as having character compared to another. To me they were either good motorcycles or not as good motorcycles depending on whether I enjoyed riding them. Whether the power delivery was suitable, the brakes worked well, whether they handled well, sounded well, whether they were reliable, pleasing to the eyes and ears. Like I said I've owned 29 street motorcycles that I can recall, and I don't recall ever telling someone that one of them had character. They either make me happy, or they don't. Most have.
I think the CB is a great motorcycle. It's features please me. The looks, the sound, the feeling when I ride it. The brakes work well, the power is broad, and it handles well. It gets good mileage, it's got great ergos. It's been ultimately reliable. Does it have character? Who knows? It's just a great motorcycle as far as I am concerned. I feel the same about my ST, and they are hundreds of pounds different in weight.
On the other hand my son's Ducati is one that "supposedly" has character. I dislike the ergos, I dislike the powerband, and I don't particularly care for riding it. I don't find it particularly attractive, it hasn't been very reliable, the rear brake squeals horribly, it vibrates. It's rather loud ( that may be the special Italian exhaust he put on ti). Even my son won't ride it further than 50 miles from home. He was glad that he bought a 5 year extended warranty, and has used it. If those are the features that describe character, give me souless and appliance like please.