07-21-2014, 10:14 AM
The Spaceman is always so exquisitely succinct, don't you think? The question, though, requires some unpacking and waffle and I've nothing better to do at the moment, so here goes.
To start with, ponder this range of questions and answers.
[li]Are you trying to save money? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you trying to avoid cleaning? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you really a cruiser man? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you trying to hit on the petite sales manager? A. This is a hard one. If you don't buy the Kwaka, she may be so pissed that she'll want nothing to do with you. On the other hand, if you do, your real motivation will be as obvious as ... well, you think of a good metaphor. In that case, she will never really trust you. Particularly when you glance sideways at a Honda. Either way, long or short term you'll dip out.
[/li]
Go this way and when you wake in the morning you'll be stuck with the Kwaka. If you're a cheapskate, cruiser lover who hates cleaning and secretly loves a broken heart, you'll be a happy man. Read no further and hand over the deposit.
But I'm betting you'll always have a wistful glance for any CB1100 you see and will wonder whether you did the right thing.
Now, let's consider another scenario.
You buy the Honda. The petite and beautiful Kwaka sales person is stunned by your integrity, secretly loves the bike and wants to go riding with you. A lot. Sounds all right, doesn't it?
Another scenario? Persuade the petite one to defect across the road and sell you the Honda.
Now to be serious, just for a moment.
When I got back into riding after a long lay off, I bought a cruiser—in my case, a Honda VT750 Shadow. Great bike. Comfortable, powerful enough for me, economical. All good really. But I didn't like riding it as much as I had expected. It just didn't feel right. I eventually realised (I'm in Australia and being upside down all the time means it takes a while for things other than blood to get into the head) it was because I'd done all my earlier riding on naked-style bikes. I felt more comfortable sitting up straight; I liked the way they felt as I headed into and out of a corner a whole lot better; and I much preferred the look of them. The CB1100 came along about this time and it spoke to me of all the bikes I had ever really wanted as a young fella. Eventually a wise friend of mine advised me to stop dreaming and buy one. I did and I've never looked back.
If you like riding cruisers, buy the Kwaka. The CB1100 isn't a cruiser, although I've done a bit of touring on mine and, so far as I'm concerned it does a fine job. If you prefer riding naked bikes, don't stuff around. Buy the CB1100. If cleaning bores you, do a superficial job occasionally and just ride the bloody thing (yes, I know that will have me branded a heretic by many members of this forum). But, like most of us here, you won't stop smiling and you may, just may, have a Kawasaki-riding travelling companion to keep you company.
To start with, ponder this range of questions and answers.
[li]Are you trying to save money? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you trying to avoid cleaning? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you really a cruiser man? A. Buy the Kwaka.[/li] [li]Are you trying to hit on the petite sales manager? A. This is a hard one. If you don't buy the Kwaka, she may be so pissed that she'll want nothing to do with you. On the other hand, if you do, your real motivation will be as obvious as ... well, you think of a good metaphor. In that case, she will never really trust you. Particularly when you glance sideways at a Honda. Either way, long or short term you'll dip out.
[/li]
Go this way and when you wake in the morning you'll be stuck with the Kwaka. If you're a cheapskate, cruiser lover who hates cleaning and secretly loves a broken heart, you'll be a happy man. Read no further and hand over the deposit.
But I'm betting you'll always have a wistful glance for any CB1100 you see and will wonder whether you did the right thing.
Now, let's consider another scenario.
You buy the Honda. The petite and beautiful Kwaka sales person is stunned by your integrity, secretly loves the bike and wants to go riding with you. A lot. Sounds all right, doesn't it?
Another scenario? Persuade the petite one to defect across the road and sell you the Honda.
Now to be serious, just for a moment.
When I got back into riding after a long lay off, I bought a cruiser—in my case, a Honda VT750 Shadow. Great bike. Comfortable, powerful enough for me, economical. All good really. But I didn't like riding it as much as I had expected. It just didn't feel right. I eventually realised (I'm in Australia and being upside down all the time means it takes a while for things other than blood to get into the head) it was because I'd done all my earlier riding on naked-style bikes. I felt more comfortable sitting up straight; I liked the way they felt as I headed into and out of a corner a whole lot better; and I much preferred the look of them. The CB1100 came along about this time and it spoke to me of all the bikes I had ever really wanted as a young fella. Eventually a wise friend of mine advised me to stop dreaming and buy one. I did and I've never looked back.
If you like riding cruisers, buy the Kwaka. The CB1100 isn't a cruiser, although I've done a bit of touring on mine and, so far as I'm concerned it does a fine job. If you prefer riding naked bikes, don't stuff around. Buy the CB1100. If cleaning bores you, do a superficial job occasionally and just ride the bloody thing (yes, I know that will have me branded a heretic by many members of this forum). But, like most of us here, you won't stop smiling and you may, just may, have a Kawasaki-riding travelling companion to keep you company.