Adventures on the Old Girl, and with the Old Girl

[jensey]

Hi,

I think it has something to do with what you are saying, together with age. As for me (I'm 47 years old), I never rode those bikes when they did swarm the roads back in the sixties and seventies. I have no memories of the bike from the past, to me the CB72 is just a very nice bike, one of the best designs of Honda (together with the CB92, CB450 K0 and K1 from my point of view)

Jensen

[sarals]

Jens, you started a great discussion! I had originally intended to ride my Superhawk, as you all know. However, things being what they are as well as a few miracles, the Old Girl came out of my garage much, much nicer than I ever expected. I have ridden her, but I realized the times we had together on the road are over, they were an age ago. I always feel like something bad will happen to her, too, when I'm riding her, and I can not bear the thought of that. I discovered that people love seeing her and asking about her, because many don't know these bikes, or if they do, they have never seen one. I came to feel that she needs to be in a place where she can be seen and enjoyed, not locked away in my garage. So, the museum seems to be the perfect fit. I will still ride her, but only on special occasions.

Thank you for your kind words on the Hawk! The more I ride that bike (and that is a LOT) the more I appreciate it. It is wonderful motorcycle.

Speaking of high mileage bikes, there is a BMW in the museum the Old Girl is in that has over 150,000 miles on it, and has never, NEVER, had a mechanical breakdown. It's had a clutch replaced, and that is all. That's quite a testament!

[G-Man]

Sara

I understand your feelings. When I got my Matchless from my Uncle in 1980, it was just an old bike. I used to fill it up with gas, change the oil and just ride it to the shops to work or whatever. At the same time I had the CB400F and Moto Guzzi V50. Of the three, the Matchless was the most dependable. The Honda was hopeless in the wet and the Guzzi was a struggle to start in the cold.

It didn't have electric start or winkers but it could be started with a flat battery so got used quite a lot. It has been serviced but never really needed repairing and remains unrestored. Then, sometime in the '90s I suddenly realised it might have a value and I started feeling nervous about parking it unattended in the streets. Slowly I stopped using it unless I could just go for a ride without stopping and leaving it unattended.

1966 Matchless G3 at Upper Harford by graham.curtis, on Flickr

My Bikes by graham.curtis, on Flickr


I think that it is easy to feel guilty about the situation but I, for one, enjoy preserving these old bikes and will enjoy a few miles on each of my bikes when time permits. I may yet travel across the US or around the world on one of my creations but it won't be this week or this year. Maybe next.....

G

[sarals]

Graham, I am completely with you on that one!

I have become just so nervous about exposing all my work and love that is my 305 to any possible harm. I guess it's my nurturing instinct, I don't know. But, I feel far better about my bike being in a museum than I do riding it around where something can happen to it.

Oh, I am getting post partum regret, too! I think I'm going to have to find another 60's era Honda to restore. Sometime!

[sarals]

Well, I rode her home from the museum last weekend. One of my brothers will visit next week and I want him to be able to see her. I was a little worried that she might not want to start after sitting for three weeks. I should have known better - she fired right up. A museum visitor said "there's that sound, I haven't heard that in a long time!" It so cool how that CB77 brings back fond memories from people!

On the way home I was "accosted" at EACH stop light (a new record) I waited at by nice folks asking about the bike. Pedestrians and drivers alike! I didn't get any "do want to sell it?" questions, although that does happen fairly often. As always, she ran beautifully. After riding my Hawk, she's an itty bitty thing, but she's louder and more raucous than the Hawk is. That's pretty cool!

I spent some time yesterday working on the front wheel. I cleaned the brake hub center with the Flitz Aluminum Prep and a brush, and then cleaned the spokes. That wheel still has a ways to go, but it's better than it was, especially the hub center (some would say it's more than good enough, but good enough don't get it!).

After my brother's visit, she'll go back to the museum. She's in good hands there and she gets lots of attention. Like most females, she likes attention :)

[G-Man]

Sara

Glad to hear that you have ridden the Old Girl again. My plans for my CB77 have slipped some more but I am edging ever closer. I keep getting distracted with work and other things....

G

[sarals]

G, I know all about distractions! Here's hoping you can started again soon.

One of my brothers was out from New York yesterday. He positively loved the Old Girl. His most profound memory of her was of my dad crashing her right in front of me and my brothers! He recalled that it was after she had broken down and I'd gotten her home. So, my dad wiping out on her was the coups de gras that caused me to park her for all those years. It's funny how memories are!

Last night he and I and a girlfriend went to a local restaurant, and it just so happened that there was a classic car and motorcycle gathering going on. As we pulled into the parking lot, what did we see but a red CL77 Scrambler! I made a beeline for it as soon as I could and chatted up the owner a bit. He said he'd restored it eight years prior, and he rode it quite a lot. It looked immaculate, but you could see that it was a rider. I told him about the Old Girl, and told him where he could see her. He suggested I bring her down to that Thursday night meet, and the next time I get a free Thursday night, I just may do that. He chided me for not wanting to ride her, but understood my reasoning. He fired up his Scrambler, complaining how "cold blooded" it was, and then rode off. It had straight pipes on it, and yes, it was LOUD! But, oh my, did it sound good!

It reminded me that I'd like to have one of those bikes. Well, I can't have everything.