1969 CB750

[metallyguitarded_imp]

Agreed. Great video! Thanks for posting. I find the lack of soul comment interesting. I wonder what it stems from. Is it the subtle distinction between the motorcycle and motorcycling? If you have a motorcycle that rumbles and shakes, possibly leaks oil and needs frequent if not constant maintenance, I can see how those sensory characteristics can be viewed as "soul." The rider, by necessity, has a very real connection to the bike that demands he or she take notice and whose hands must get dirty along the way. Undoubtedly, there is bond between man and machine that is forged through hands-on maintenance and repair that simply can't be achieved otherwise. Is the "lack of soul" the result of a motorcycle that runs too well, too efficiently, with the need for very little maintenance? Is it a motorcycle that shifts the focus from the machine itself to the experience of motorcycling in general?

I love my CB11 and feel that it has character and style. Maybe that character can be described as refined or polished or some other similar adjective, but there's something else there. Something deeper. I can't quite define it and maybe that itself is the best definition of soul. My CB is a beautiful machine. It allows me to enjoy the experience of motorcycling without demanding my focus be on the motorcycle itself.

I wonder how much nostalgia plays into these comments. I bet, someday, people will look back on the CB1100 and fondly remember when motorcycles had soul, unlike the machines of the day.