Author Topic: Back to the Future?  (Read 4003 times)

Offline Brian G

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Back to the Future?
« on: August 07, 2015, 09:41:38 AM »
Darn - these modern bikes can be confusing...  ;D

G'Day, Everyone! Day 3 of C14 ownership and I've already dropped lowered her gently to the ground once  :censored: And I thought the CBX was a handful at walking pace!

As you can see from my sig, I've been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the twenty-first century ;) My darling wife - who rides the CB550K locally and the back of the CBX for longer distances, finally put her pretty little foot down and insisted we get something that wouldn't rattle her teeth going over the ever-present cracks and pot-holes we have here on PEI roads. I didn't need any more incentive than that so a week later, a 2008 C14 was in the garage.

The thirty-odd year difference in technology is just stunning! I've ridden my son's GPZ900 and Honda Interceptor ('86 and '84) but neither of them prepared me for the Connie. Driving her home from the P.O's house, we piddled through town then when we got to the highway, I dropped down to 3rd and squirted the throttle to get up to speed. Looking down at the speedometer after shifting up, I couldn't believe what I was seeing! 150  kph!! (93 mph) in a 100 kph zone and as smooth and quiet as I've ever felt on a motorcycle. Just fantastic - I'll definitely have to watch that speed, though!

So she's out in the garage right now making friends with the rest of the gang. I've had a go at attaching a couple of pics - one of them is of the three Kawasakis and the other is the remainder of the group. I'm sure they'll all get along very well  8)

Regards,
2008 Kawasaki C14,     1979 Honda CBX
1978 Honda CB550K,    1977 Yamaha XS650D Cafe
1976 Kawasaki KH400,  1969 BSA Rocket 3

Offline Flat-spot

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2015, 10:24:12 AM »
Welcome,  Man what a sweet collection!

Offline tweeter55

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2015, 11:45:47 AM »
Welcome to the forum, Brian. :chugbeer:
Over the years:       1972 Harley Rapido
1972 Suzuki T350R  1979 BMW R100RT
1987 Honda Helix.    2006 Kawasaki Concours

Offline MichiGlenn

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2015, 01:08:34 PM »
A fine looking family you've got there!
2001 Concours
1977 Honda CB750K (sold)
1978 Honda CB750k (long gone)
1972 Honda CL175 (a fond memory)

Offline KevinRLi

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2015, 01:52:32 PM »
Welcome! Now that I'm done wiping the drool off my keyboard NICE bikes! My 1st bike was a 1980 Honda CB650. So I'm a little partial towards older Hondas. The CBX was always a favorite of mine. Completely understand your reaction to the C14 though. It's a whole other animal. You will love it. Once you get used to it the low speed maneuvering is a snap too!

Offline Pilgrim

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2015, 05:28:10 PM »

Congratulations Brian G!  The latest addition to the herd looks like a new matriarch is in the house. 

Offline Brian G

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2015, 06:05:27 PM »
Thanks to everyone for the welcome! I'm looking forward to participating in the forum community.

Pilgrim - hopefully that's the only conflict. The Rocket 3 has been Queen of the Garage since 2005 but Shawn's Ninja is certainly a worthy contender (definitely sounds the part with that Vance and Hines exhaust!) and then there's six - count'em - six inline cylinders; hopefully they'll all get along (you know how the English can be  ;D) (I'm British myself so I can say that  :D)

The cool thing is that each of them is special in their own way and they're all a blast to ride. I still need a single and am on the lookout for a BSA Shooting Star (scarce as hens' teeth around here!)

Regards,
2008 Kawasaki C14,     1979 Honda CBX
1978 Honda CB550K,    1977 Yamaha XS650D Cafe
1976 Kawasaki KH400,  1969 BSA Rocket 3

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2015, 06:37:54 PM »
Welcome!
"LOCTITE®"  The original thread locker...  #11  2020 Indian Roadmaster, ABS, Cruise control, heated grips and seats/w/AC 46 Monitoring with cutting edge technology U.N.I.T is Back! Member in good standing with the Knights of MEH.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2015, 08:20:17 PM »
Welcome.  I had a 550 four supersport that I had to give up after college for new job in New city.  Love that riding position.
My Concours Travels:
2014 New England Tour http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17336.msg212077#msg212077

AlbertaDoug

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2015, 04:48:22 PM »
"The thirty-odd year difference in technology is just stunning! I've ridden my son's GPZ900 and Honda Interceptor ('86 and '84) but neither of them prepared me for the Connie. Driving her home from the P.O's house, we piddled through town then when we got to the highway, I dropped down to 3rd and squirted the throttle to get up to speed. Looking down at the speedometer after shifting up, I couldn't believe what I was seeing! 150  kph!! (93 mph) in a 100 kph zone and as smooth and quiet as I've ever felt on a motorcycle. Just fantastic - I'll definitely have to watch that speed, though!

So she's out in the garage right now making friends with the rest of the gang. "



Welcome aboard.
Nice looking collection. Do you ride all of them on a rotation? 
It's a good idea to keep a eye on your speed but I'd just watch for the RC's  ;D ;)
Cheers M8
Doug

Offline Brian G

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Re: Back to the Future?
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2015, 05:19:14 AM »
Do you ride all of them on a rotation? 

Pretty much, RD - I try to ride each of them at least once a week to keep the internals lubed. Usually it depends on my mood at the time - unless Glenna and I are going somewhere in which case it's the Connie. The Fourteen is now also my weapon of choice when heading out with my son (who just bought a Suzy TL1000  :yikes:)
2008 Kawasaki C14,     1979 Honda CBX
1978 Honda CB550K,    1977 Yamaha XS650D Cafe
1976 Kawasaki KH400,  1969 BSA Rocket 3