04-15-2015, 01:38 AM
41 years old. I too dislike plastic on bikes. Triumph Bonnies have plastic rear fenders now (they didn't used to -- it was a change somewhere in the carburetor era). I lusted after the ZRX1100/1200's, but didn't want to deal with 4 carbs ever again. My first road bike was a '79 CB650, with the blessed electronic ignition (adjusting points is not fun for me, although I did it on my wife's old CB450 until the head gasket blew and the 450 went to a new home with a much-depleted set of gaskets/seals -- I'd replaced most of them already from earlier failures or the clutch replacement). In other words, I like metal bikes, but with modern metallurgy, ignition, and FI. I loved the swoopy CB400-style exhaust headers on the CB1100 and everything else about the bike, but hemmed and hawed until I realized: buy it now! This bike is like the Kawasaki W650 -- it's not long for the U.S., and if I don't buy it I'll regret it! I found a nicely discounted used model with Yosh pipe and it's been a love affair ever since.
My Guzzi Stelvio is better at slab or long trips (huge aluminum panniers). But the CB is better around town, tight spaces, and there's nothing like the sound of the CB in full inline 4 song. It's also a pretty capable 2-up bike, with some preload added.
My Guzzi Stelvio is better at slab or long trips (huge aluminum panniers). But the CB is better around town, tight spaces, and there's nothing like the sound of the CB in full inline 4 song. It's also a pretty capable 2-up bike, with some preload added.