Good Feeling

[free2ride]

So . . . I pulled in to fill up with gas this morning and a gent comes over and says "nice bike" and we start talking. Likes the old bikes because they don't look like everyone elses [he has a CBR], we talk for a minute and then he heads off . . . gets about 10 feet, stops, turns around, and asks if he can give me his business card "just in case I ever want to sell".

Days like this make me glad I kept the thing . . . must say, I rode out of that station backbone a little straighter and a smile on my face!

[Piute]

                                                                   

[shinyribs]

Very cool.  Sure,the new bikes have tons of power, but these old bikes have soul. Ever met anyone who regretted owning one?

[LukeM]

Uhmmm...I regret it when they run out of gas or break, and need to be pushed somewhere.  Uphill, typically.  But I agree: the older bikes have that certain something: cachet? rarity? history?  Newer  bikes look all futuristic and stuff.  The older ones look like machines.

I was looking at older Goldwings a few days back.  While the newer ones look all slick and stuff with the fairings and plastic and stuff, the older ones with the engine exposed look cooler to me. I guess that's the crowd the Valkyrie was aimed at.

Luke M

[sgtslag]

Back on '09, when my wife and I were touring on our 750, three gentlemen, in their 60's, stopped to talk to us.  They were touring, as well, and one of them commented he had owned a CB750 (his face spoke volumes about his good memories of it).  One of them said that he felt proud that he was touring on the oldest bike, a 1983 Gold Wing, but he said that honor went to us, as our's was a 1979.  They all looked with joy in their eyes at our then-30-year-old bike, and no further words were needed.  We left that stop with a sense of pride, and satisfaction that money can't buy.  The CB750's really are special, at least to some of us.  YMMV.  Cheers!

[lostson]

 I must say as well I get more stares and people stopping to look at the bike and ask about it. My wife was at the farmers market and ran into a older gentleman with a 82 cb 750 c just like ours except in red. She went to talk to him about his and explain we had one and really like it. They talked for quite awhile and swapped numbers. Hopefully we can get in touch with him and go for a ride.

 On another note where I got my tires done is a motrocycle salvage yard and they had an 78 cb550 sitting in there for 1200 bux and I asked about it and the owner of the place asked me why I would want that old bike. Told him it would make a great starter bike for my wife, who really wants her own, he went on to say how much work it would be and that the carbs needed to be cleaned and probably rebuilt and the tank would need to be done up on the inside and on and on. That's when I asked him why the price was so high then, and he didn't have much to say. I explained to him that I like working on these old bikes, they have a character and class to them. Plus working on them and building something to be your own gives you a lot more respect for the machine and gives you a sense of pride. Plus it would be a fun hsuband and wife project as well. He wouldn't come down on the price at all though but maybe once the snow flies and he is sick of looking at it he will part with it for a more reasonable price.

[Truck]

I stopped in at a small bike shop on my way to the Outer Banks.  I got to talking to the guy that ran the place and we got to looking at the bikes he had.  I told him I was in the middle of getting an '82 virago that I got out of a shed running.  He started going on and on about how Harleys were the greatest bike made and started to try and sell me a bobbed Sportster he had for sale.  I told him I wasn't interested.  I looked in back of the shop and saw an old BSA sitting there.  This bike was a total wreck.  I asked him how much he wanted for it and he just laughed and told me I couldn't afford it.  I said I thought American bikes were the best you could buy?  He said yeah, thats 'cause I was trying to sell you the Harley, you never give up a cool, old bike!

[free2ride]

must be "getting love for the bike" week. this morning a guy in a vehicle beside me at a red light started talking to me through his window about the great old bike I was on, then on the way home a guy on a bike rode up behind me at a light to start talking old bikes and questioning me about mine.

I may just have to get on the thing more often!

[sgtslag]

We get that on our '93 Voyager touring bike, as well.  People often times half-recognize the older bikes, and they jar memories.  It is one of the fun aspects of riding an older bike.


You have to remember, though, that the Honda CB750 was a revolutionary bike, back in '69.  It changed the face of motorcycling forever -- in a very positive way.  The CB750's were extremely popular throughout the 70's, and many, many folks rode them all over the US of A, back in the day.  Honda had a winning design, and it shows, 40+ years later -- those bikes are still running, and they're still popular with riders!  Cheers!

[katman]

I know the feeling. I allways have someone looking or come up to talk when I park or
gas up my clean 77K. Can't wait till the 75 goes on the road(In members builds). It will
be a real head turner!