Keeping up with the Joneses... or is it the Sparkys?

[ceebie13]

Well folks. There I was in Motomart last week with "her indoors" and I nearly (very nearly) walked away thinking that there wasn't really much on show that was catching my eye. Wrong! Up till then I had been reading forums and roadtests and downloading internet images but not actually seeing one in the flesh. Until I spotted this brand spanking gleaming black beast right under my nose! My bottom lip started to drop and salivation set in. I was hooked...instantly hooked. Just had to have one. In fact, it would have been rude not too! I'd been hankering to get back to naked muscle bikes since I sold my beloved ZX9 last March and the withdrawal symptoms of having no bike since then got the better of me (or rather us!) Of all the nakeds, the CB1300 was coming up trumps for me despite early desires for a GSX1400. A quick chat with Todd at Motormart revealed that Sparky had already snapped up said beast but that they would be getting more at the rate of one a month. I knew I there was no going back... having made the initial enquiry, the conversation soon got round to "when's the next one due?" "December." "Oh, bugger!" "Well I can make a phone call and check". "OK then, thanks". "Well you are in luck, Richard. I can have one here by next Tuesday" That was it - the point of no return had been reached so deals were done for dollar bills rather than finance and by Thursday this week the new addition to our household was ready. Well, as you can imagine I was like a dog with two tadgers. Sods law prevailed of course and at the time of pick-up, the Wellington weather was surpassing itself by pissing down for what seemed like forever. Nevertheless, I dodged the wet stuff and now having added a mini Givi we are at last on two wheels again.
I have no qualms about reverting to a bike such as this after about ten years of sportsbikes. It seems a lot of us are doing it. Must be an age thing! After an initial trip today doing the usual Hutt Valley, Rimutakas, Martinborough, Gladstone, Masterton loop I have to say that I feel far more confident on the CB than I did on the Ninja. The bike feels planted much firmer on the road and even two-up, it handles like a dream - almost begging you to bank her into the corners and effortlessly forgiving you for any slight misjudgements. Grin factor? Twelve out of ten. And all with more torque than Michael Parkinson! Brilliant! Just brilliant! In the words of Canned Heat, I'm on the road again! Yippee! See you all out there. Enjoy the pics.

[MattRSK]

Mate thats gorgeous. But I would say that, I am a fan.

[sels1]

Congrats. nice bike. Sparky must have started something.....

[ceebie13]

Cheers for that. I notice you ride a Tiger 900.
Just wondered if you have seen the new 2007 Tiger 1050.
Check it out here;
http://www.triumphchepassione.com/triumph-tiger-1050.htm

I think its stunning. Might still be tempted...

[Clivoris]

Welcome back to the brotherhood of naked riders:hug: Those muscle bound things certainly have a strong following.

[paturoa]

Nooooiiice:cool:

I don't normaly like givi add on screens some how they look messy around the light, but that one looks excellent!

[MSTRS]

Tres nice. In the immortal words of SuzieQ 'Can the can'?? Ever'ting else luvverly

[gijoe1313]

Very nice, very very nice! Good on ya for going the naked way - it looks fantastic and I bet you are already deciding how you are going to mod it! Have fun and keep it rubber side down!

[Maha]

Rather look at pictures than read, been like that ever since i bought my 1st Penthouse........anyway, cool bike ceebie...:2thumbsup

[SwanTiger]

That is one very beautiful piece of machinery, I need some toliet paper.

[oldrider]

Nooooiiice:cool:

I don't normaly like givi add on screens some how they look messy around the light, but that one looks excellent!

I thought that too, how effective is it? That is one smart looking piece of bike! Congratulations, black too! :2thumbsup Cheers John.

[ceebie13]

I thought that too, how effective is it? That is one smart looking piece of bike! Congratulations, black too! :2thumbsup Cheers John.

Well, having been used to a sportsbike fairing (and the ZX9's was excellent) I certainly knew I had returned to an NMB (naked muscle bike) when I first rode the CB home. Naturally officer, I didnt come anywhere near the national speed limit as I am running the motor in. But after adding the Givi you do notice a difference. You'd be surprised at its effectiveness. It takes the windblast off your chest and it now skims my shoulders. You can experiment when riding to detect exactly where the airflow is. I have to admit to being a wuss...and an ageing wuss at that!! Well, that's my excuse, but I don't hack it everywhere at warp factor speeds so I'm not getting neck ache on the CB, but on the odd occasion that I do open her up a bit for half a mile, the Givi does a great job. For info, it's a Givi A210. $135. (Universal fitting, fits anything...including zimmer frames!)

[ceebie13]

Very nice, very very nice! Good on ya for going the naked way - it looks fantastic and I bet you are already deciding how you are going to mod it! Have fun and keep it rubber side down!

Oh yes! Its definately one of those bikes that you tinker with isn't it? Well, short term mods have started as you can see with the screen. Next up will be a Renntec sportsrack (not the prettiest add-on, but hey, useful as we do fair bit of touring with soft throwovers, tank bag and small tail pack. Sorry but I have an aversion to Ventura pack racks.) Longer term, I will have the wheels re-coated in silver. To me, black wheels and black rubber just look too much...too heavy. So a bit of contrast is needed I think. Then I could be tempted to get rid of the huge great rear fender and replace it with a tail tidy and hugger. The list goes on and I bet you're all saying change the muffler before you do anything else! Anyway check out the pic attached. There's food for thought there. I could even be tempted in to the orange wheels....!

[Sniper]

Welcome back to the brotherhood of naked riders:hug:

Yea.... ummmm. Saying that with that smiley just isnt right....

[Clivoris]

Yea.... ummmm. Saying that with that smiley just isnt right....

There's always room for a "bent" FZR rider in the brotherhood. :chase:

[scumdog]

muy bueno!!
I approve, you've got one smart looking scoot there and one that'll be an ideal tourer for this summer!:2thumbsup

(A fan of naked bikes myself, like to see all the 'bits')

[Macktheknife]

Yea.... ummmm. Saying that with that smiley just isnt right....

You think he should have used this one?????
:buggerd: :buggerd: :buggerd:

[Hitcher]

I think we spotted you a couple of times in the Wairarapa yesterday. I think you were icecreaming in Featherston at the same time we were gassing. Gotta love those big nakeds!

[ceebie13]

I think we spotted you a couple of times in the Wairarapa yesterday. I think you were icecreaming in Featherston at the same time we were gassing. Gotta love those big nakeds!

How right you are, Hitch! Mine was a choccy covered boysenberry thingy and Lyn's was a choccy covered coconut thingy. And very nice they were too!
I have to admit to drooling over FJRs in the decision making process about what bike to have next. In the end, funds dictated the CB, but I'm more than happy with it. Went out today again on my todd with a couple of mates from Whitby. On the way back I stopped at the same gas station only to find they had "run out of petrol"!! Had to backtrack to Greytown to fill up and then return. Still, all good fun! Will say hello next time we cross paths.