09-11-2018, 09:02 AM
I've been wanting one ever since I sat on one couple years ago at a local dealership. But it was priced beyond my budget. I planned on getting a used one but these rarely come up for sale and when they do they usually have a whole bunch of mods I dislike. But luckily for me, prices have dropped enough on leftover 2014s to pull the trigger.
However it wasn't going to be that easy. None of the local dealers had one in stock and the nearest dealer with a leftover 2014 was 3 hours away. I considered just riding it home but previous experience (full story for another day) taught me well that new bike and new roads is not a good combination. After much googling and deliberation I figured a U-Haul trailer is the way to go. Not wasting another minute, I made a deal with the dealership over the phone, booked the trailer and sold the CB300F next morning. And then I had to wait three days for Sunday.
I never towed anything ever in my life before. I was very nervous about the whole thing, particularly given the precious cargo. U-Haul staff were super helpful as always. They hooked the trailer up in no time and I was on my way. Getting to the dealership was uneventful. Once paperwork was all done, I had the dealership staff load and tie the bike down for me as I didn't trust myself. And still I was so worried about the bike falling over on rough roads, I drove no more than 50mph all the way. I'm sure I annoyed a lot of other drivers on the road but I simply couldn't take a chance. Along the way, I developed a new appreciation for truck drivers and their merging skill. But I made it home, without any incidents. And trailer proved to be a very cost effective way to transport a motorcycle.
It was evening by the time I reached home and it was already a very long day. So I just got the bike off the trailer and parked in the garage. I went to work next morning but couldn't stop thinking about getting home and riding the CB for the first time ever. I was literally daydreaming all day. Not to mention, nothing got done at work that day. It was dusk by the time I reached home. I got the bike out, checked the tire pressures and turned it on. Odometer showed 8. I warmed the bike up and took off. The next 20 minutes of my life rank right up there with the one time I drove a Boxster Spyder in the mountains of Carmel and the time I drove a rental Gallardo for two hours.
What an experience it was, this bike is so unique compared to everything else I rode before. It just goes with absolutely zero fuss. No hesitation, not noise, no nothing. It just goes, with no effort, either on my part or engine's. I am not new to low end torque (owned a '04 VFR for many years) and I not new to speed either. But the CB delivers both in it's own unique way. And I am so glad I didn't buy one of those used CB's with aftermarket tail pipes because I adore how quiet this thing is. I am also glad I ignored all those reviews that said CB is characterless compared to Thruxton and such.
This one's a keeper.
However it wasn't going to be that easy. None of the local dealers had one in stock and the nearest dealer with a leftover 2014 was 3 hours away. I considered just riding it home but previous experience (full story for another day) taught me well that new bike and new roads is not a good combination. After much googling and deliberation I figured a U-Haul trailer is the way to go. Not wasting another minute, I made a deal with the dealership over the phone, booked the trailer and sold the CB300F next morning. And then I had to wait three days for Sunday.
I never towed anything ever in my life before. I was very nervous about the whole thing, particularly given the precious cargo. U-Haul staff were super helpful as always. They hooked the trailer up in no time and I was on my way. Getting to the dealership was uneventful. Once paperwork was all done, I had the dealership staff load and tie the bike down for me as I didn't trust myself. And still I was so worried about the bike falling over on rough roads, I drove no more than 50mph all the way. I'm sure I annoyed a lot of other drivers on the road but I simply couldn't take a chance. Along the way, I developed a new appreciation for truck drivers and their merging skill. But I made it home, without any incidents. And trailer proved to be a very cost effective way to transport a motorcycle.
It was evening by the time I reached home and it was already a very long day. So I just got the bike off the trailer and parked in the garage. I went to work next morning but couldn't stop thinking about getting home and riding the CB for the first time ever. I was literally daydreaming all day. Not to mention, nothing got done at work that day. It was dusk by the time I reached home. I got the bike out, checked the tire pressures and turned it on. Odometer showed 8. I warmed the bike up and took off. The next 20 minutes of my life rank right up there with the one time I drove a Boxster Spyder in the mountains of Carmel and the time I drove a rental Gallardo for two hours.
What an experience it was, this bike is so unique compared to everything else I rode before. It just goes with absolutely zero fuss. No hesitation, not noise, no nothing. It just goes, with no effort, either on my part or engine's. I am not new to low end torque (owned a '04 VFR for many years) and I not new to speed either. But the CB delivers both in it's own unique way. And I am so glad I didn't buy one of those used CB's with aftermarket tail pipes because I adore how quiet this thing is. I am also glad I ignored all those reviews that said CB is characterless compared to Thruxton and such.
This one's a keeper.