10-18-2023, 02:19 AM
Well, as my hero Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies "Ya know, a mans just gotta know his limitations." I had a Harley CVO Softail Springer for 10 years starting in 2007. That thing weighed over 750 lbs. and was like wrestling a tank in around town traffic. I was younger and stronger back then, but it got to the point where I knew I needed to downsize. So, in 2017 I started looking at the options and was thrilled to find that Honda was making a machine called a CB1100EX, and huzzah, it was four cylinders just like my CB750 Four back in the day. By going getting rid of the Harley I cut over 250 lbs. of weight, and increased maneuverability dramatically.
Now I am going from the CB1100 to the Monkey. Oddly enough, the Monkey has the almost exactly the same wheelbase and seat height as my very first motorcycle, a 1968 Suzuki K11 Sport 80. Brand spankin new, the K11 was $350. I worked all summer at a 24-hr. restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables to make the money to buy it. It wasn't long before I started wanting a bigger bike with more HP.
The Monkey is a lot of fun, and it allows me to still ride when I want to. Despite age catching up with me, and various related ailments, it is easy to maneuver in and out of the garage, as well as the actual riding.
Now I am going from the CB1100 to the Monkey. Oddly enough, the Monkey has the almost exactly the same wheelbase and seat height as my very first motorcycle, a 1968 Suzuki K11 Sport 80. Brand spankin new, the K11 was $350. I worked all summer at a 24-hr. restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables to make the money to buy it. It wasn't long before I started wanting a bigger bike with more HP.
The Monkey is a lot of fun, and it allows me to still ride when I want to. Despite age catching up with me, and various related ailments, it is easy to maneuver in and out of the garage, as well as the actual riding.