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Car Forum / Ferrari Cars / May 2004(OT) For the bike nuts on the group.
So I bought a bike to replace the old '78 GS400. What I wanted was a Guzzi, Duck, or that badass new KTM Duke 990. Looking at the current cash situation I'd started leaning more toward a Bandit, but I still wasn't all for it. Then I found one that'll do for a bit and that I may keep a long time. Not big, not bad, but too likeable to pass up. It was... (and is....) A 1971 Honda CB350. 6900 miles, Candy Gold in color, everything works great, fires right up, and even the annoying auditory turn signals still function. Beautiful patina. Recent tune, including valve adjustment, wires, plugs, cleaned carbs, etc. Just an absolute cream puff. Do I care that they made tons of 'em? Hell no! Nobody rides 'em around here anymore, so suddenly it's unique. I figure when people spot a guy in a Simpson RX8 and leather jacket on an ancient CB350 they'll think simply: "Man, his other bike must be just wicked!" :-) There'll probably be a V11 LeMans (or Griso?) or similar in my future, but for now the glorified moped will get me back in the wind. -Matt- "Hey, at least it doesn't have pedals or a step-thru!" I owned a few of these plus the CB 450, the 550 four, and the 750 during the early 70s. Great bikes. Remember that the brakes are not the brakes on today's superbikes (like my R-1, 929, or GSXR 1000 K3 ) and you'll be fine. Very comfortable. Very reliable. Biking the way it was meant to be, back when wind, and vibration, and fixing it yourself was important. Congratulations. matt borland <mborland@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message news:lNUoc.9373$sA.613@fe2.columbus.rr.com... > So I bought a bike to replace the old '78 GS400. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > -Matt- "Hey, at least it doesn't have pedals or a step-thru!" > I owned a few of these plus the CB 450, the 550 four, and the 750 during the > early 70s. Great bikes. Remember that the brakes are not the brakes on [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Congratulations. Thank you! Funny about the fixing it yourself part... I'd never seen a bike where you sync the carbs visually until this one. No vacuum gauge, no mercury, just "line up the slides". I really like the mechanical honesty of older bikes. As for the brakes... Yeah, they're drums. 'Nuff said. -Matt- "Psssst! You in the diesel Rabbit. Wanna race?" matt borland <mborland@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message news:gj4pc.4374$SZ.372@fe1.columbus.rr.com... > > I owned a few of these plus the CB 450, the 550 four, and the 750 during > the [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > As for the brakes... Yeah, they're drums. 'Nuff said. You may be able to upgrade the front to a single or double disk. I have a vague recollection of people doing this. > -Matt- "Psssst! You in the diesel Rabbit. Wanna race?" "REInvestments" <nospam@email.com> wrote in message > > As for the brakes... Yeah, they're drums. 'Nuff said. > > You may be able to upgrade the front to a single or double disk. I have a > vague recollection of people doing this. I thnk you're right. For single at least, I believe a later CB wheel fits. Dual, well, this one won't be going that fast. Hell, it'll lock the front tire with the drum if I want. -Matt- "..." matt borland wrote: > Hell, it'll lock the front tire with the drum if I want. Ummm... ackshully, it will lock the front even if you don't want. Disk conversion ASAP, I think. -Paul (remember, you don't get to choose when you're going to need it)  SignatureHttp://www.redmist.freeserve.co.uk (Now featuring the a.a.f. directory) > matt borland wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > -- > Http://www.redmist.freeserve.co.uk (Now featuring the a.a.f. directory) If you're going to ride in the rain, the disk conversion would seem valuable. I seem to remember that in the rain, the drum alternated between getting wet enough that it wouldn't work at all, and then "grabbing" or "biting" too hard, with the potential for lock up. Also, in the 60s and 70s, the preferred braking style was to use the back brake primarily, and the front brake as an "assist", since the fronts were known to throw people over the handlebars. When I came back in 95 to my Ducati and took MSF ERC, I was shocked to find out that modern school was almost exclusively front brakes. YMMV. > When I came back in 95 to my Ducati and took MSF ERC, I was shocked > to find out that > modern school was almost exclusively front brakes. I know what you mean - I had a number of bikes in the early 80's and it was all about the distribution of braking force... now the back brake is really only of use when stopping on a hill or modulating speed in slow moving traffic. I once read an interview with Foggy where he said he doesn't use the rear brake at all when racing. Paul Ducati 900SS (sitting outside the office... red paintwork gleaming in the afternoon sun... seat getting so hot my bum will sweat all the way home) SignatureHttp://www.redmist.freeserve.co.uk (Now featuring the a.a.f. directory) <<Paul Ducati 900SS (sitting outside the office... red paintwork gleaming in the afternoon sun... seat getting so hot my bum will sweat all the way home)>> What a lovely visual and then... not so much. C. :::who didn't need that much information::: > > When I came back in 95 to my Ducati and took MSF ERC, I was shocked > > to find out that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > really only of use when stopping on a hill or modulating speed in slow > moving traffic. Yep, this bike is definitely not like new bikes in handling or braking. Thanks to all for the pointers. I've never ridden a modern bike, so I don't have the new bike habits. Lucky for me I suppose... > Paul > Ducati 900SS (sitting outside the office... red paintwork gleaming in > the afternoon sun... seat getting so hot my bum will sweat all the way home) Ahhh yes, a red Ducati Supersport in the sun and....... Oh hell no... Duffin's swamp-a.s commentary just ruined my digestion. I'll sleep poorly tonight... -Matt- "(_|_)" |
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