Old School CB's

[Wisedrum]

your FIRST bike was a CB 750. That is a lot of first bike!

I've posted it before, but I was a skinny 20 yr old who walked into my Honda dealership looking to buy my first street bike. My experience was on a 1964 Sears Allstate Vespa copy that me and several friends rode, mostly in mall parking lots where the malls were closed on Sundays and also off road!

I was drooling over the CB750 when the salesman came over and informed me it would be too much bike for a young beginner and he could not sell one to me. I did buy a CB360 and two years later moved up to the CB550F.

I've posted it before, but I was a skinny 20 yr old who walked into my Honda dealership looking to buy my first street bike. My experience was on a 1964 Sears Allstate Vespa copy that me and several friends rode, mostly in mall parking lots where the malls were closed on Sundays and also off road!

I was drooling over the CB750 when the salesman came over and informed me it would be too much bike for a young beginner and he could not sell one to me. I did buy a CB360 and two years later moved up to the CB550F.

My first bike was the cb1100, which I very quickly learned to respect after getting just a little bit in over my head.

It would be awesome to see modern, smaller CBs exported to the states but I guess Honda thinks Americans wont buy anything smaller than a liter or something.

-
Very old school cool, Guaza!

A number of people have bought the CB1100 as their first bike and opinion on the forum has been divided as to the wisdom of that decision. My view, for what it's worth, is that 1100 ccs is a lot of bike for a novice rider. You would not be allowed to ride such a large bike on the road in Australia for at least a couple of years after obtaining your first open licence. I think the same is true in much of Europe too.

As to a smaller bike, I was going to tell you that Honda imports a lovely CB400 four cylinder bike to Australia and even give you a link so you could drool over it. But I went looking and it's no longer shown on Honda's Australian web site which means they've dropped it. They're still available in two models in Japan. We are getting the new CB600F tuned down to make it legal for learners. It's not nearly such a pretty bike as the CB400, but it's OK.

In Germany you must have a certain age, I think it's 25, to drive all kind of bikes immediately after getting your driving license. If you're younger, let's say 18, you start in the 48HP class and will grade up to the open ones after 2 years.

Don't know, if the CB is a good bike to start with. Too long ago, that I started motorbike riding.
So, yes and no. You should have a somehow good physical condition, because it's kind of heavy and has relative thin wheels. What feels good once in motion takes some experience and getting used to when the CB stands still or is being tried to be put on the main stand or being moved back and forth by yourself without the engine running or helping. The engine is certainly not the strongest one on earth but far away from being weak and can create some surprising excitment while being reved even for an more experienced rider. It depends on which gear he is in. But if a beginner is careful and takes his time to grow and develope with the Honda, the process will be mastered and he will enjoy a lovely bike for lots of years to come.

Wisedrum