01-25-2022, 03:12 PM
So many choices out there, so much information out there, and still people are surprised when they get their "New" bike home. I have to admit, I will ride just about anything and enjoy the ride.
My first bike was a Honda SuperHawk, 305, bought for $200 in 1967 in Saigon and sold 2 years later when I left for $200. Great bike, a little Vietnamese guy adjusted the valves by feel, no feeler gages. My first indication that Honda engines are low or no maintenance. Next I bought a Honda 450, then a Honda 750, then a Kawaski KZ900, then a Suzuki GS 1000, then a Kawasaki ZX10 (the old heavy one) then a Kawasaki ZX 9R, then a Ducati Monster M1100, then my present 2013 CB 1100 and 2016 Suzuki GSX S1000.
The point is I loved every one of them, loved to ride them, thoroughly thrashed some of them. The SuperHawk took me all over S. Vietnam with little to no maintenance and no problems, the CB 750 ended up a victim of roadracing with a 1,000cc kit, the ZX 9R gave me 46,000 miles with many track days and 10,000 rpm runs down the Ontario back straight. Valve adjustments were rarely needed on these bikes. I have 11,000 miles on my CB 1100, the valves hum nicely for me, and I will not be even checking for about another 10,000 miles.
I am now 79 years old and I love to ride either of my bikes, but the CB 1100 is definitely more user friendly. The GSX is for when I am feeling good for a fast ride.
My first bike was a Honda SuperHawk, 305, bought for $200 in 1967 in Saigon and sold 2 years later when I left for $200. Great bike, a little Vietnamese guy adjusted the valves by feel, no feeler gages. My first indication that Honda engines are low or no maintenance. Next I bought a Honda 450, then a Honda 750, then a Kawaski KZ900, then a Suzuki GS 1000, then a Kawasaki ZX10 (the old heavy one) then a Kawasaki ZX 9R, then a Ducati Monster M1100, then my present 2013 CB 1100 and 2016 Suzuki GSX S1000.
The point is I loved every one of them, loved to ride them, thoroughly thrashed some of them. The SuperHawk took me all over S. Vietnam with little to no maintenance and no problems, the CB 750 ended up a victim of roadracing with a 1,000cc kit, the ZX 9R gave me 46,000 miles with many track days and 10,000 rpm runs down the Ontario back straight. Valve adjustments were rarely needed on these bikes. I have 11,000 miles on my CB 1100, the valves hum nicely for me, and I will not be even checking for about another 10,000 miles.
I am now 79 years old and I love to ride either of my bikes, but the CB 1100 is definitely more user friendly. The GSX is for when I am feeling good for a fast ride.