That does it. I'm buying a Harley

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th November 2005, 10:42

just so I can be the one guy on a HD who waves back.

also the one guy exceeding the posted speed advisory in a corner.....

actually no, but I do want a Buell.

now the ride report:

I zipped over the hill to Akaroa yesterday afternoon, lots of people out, not too many cages, beautiful day, good coffee at the other end.

and my CB400F sings like a bird at 8000 to 10000 RPM.

**FROSTY:Me** · 6th November 2005, 10:46

Tell ya what henry--- Theres a HD Ive been looking at ever since it was announced. I've been lucky enough to take one for a ride.
Suffice it to say --I looove it.
Mind you it really doesnt look like a "harley"

**James Deuce** · 6th November 2005, 10:49

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

actually no, but I do want a Buell.

now the ride report:

I zipped over the hill to Akaroa yesterday afternoon, lots of people out, not too many cages, beautiful day, good coffee at the other end.

and my CB400F sings like a bird at 8000 to 10000 RPM.

You have good taste, and I really like the noise my CB400 makes too.

I get utterly snobbed by sportsbike riders when I'm on the Cb, unless it's someone who knows me and recognises my helmet. I get more waves from Highway 61 than I get from Metric Cruiser pilots too.

**TonyB** · 6th November 2005, 10:52

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

just so I can be the one guy on a HD who waves back.

also the one guy exceeding the posted speed advisory in a corner.....

actually no, but I do want a Buell.

Erm- what time was it? And was it Black/Orange/White on Gebbies Pass? Might have been me but I wasn't exceeding anything

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th November 2005, 11:06

Jim2 yeah, my CB400F is full retro (its a SOHC 1977) and its too Japanese for the "old bike" crowd, not sporty enough for the sportbike crowd, too sporty for the metric cruider people, and not a HD so as far as the HD guys go, doesnt exist or even deserve to.

I really like it (much more than the SOHC750's I have had, its a hell of a lot easier and more rewarding to ride...).

For NZ conditions generally, and the road from Little River to to Akaroa, a middleweight bike rules.. (IMO, obviously).

Plus going moderately fast on an old bike gives you a unique sensation of speed.... what with the hinged frame (popular at the time) rear shock damping? it might have had some in '77 but its got FA now, and the "lets make an appointment to stop for the corner AFTER this one" now (well soon) braking. Its great....

Tony I did come back via Gebbies and Southern summit Rd but only bike I saw on southern summit was a blue V Strom. its in pretty good condition, gravel on a few corners though.

**James Deuce** · 6th November 2005, 11:16

My taste estimate of you goes UP!

You've got the bike that got me interested in bikes in the first place, and my CB400 is about as close as I've gotten to owning one.

**avgas** · 6th November 2005, 11:37

I liked the cb400.....but i preferred the gb as it had a stonking single.
The advantage of the cb was the fact that half the things i did to the gb were standard on the cb.
i still like the bandit 4's too

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 12:00

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Jim2 yeah, my CB400F is full retro (its a SOHC 1977) and its too Japanese for the "old bike" crowd, not sporty enough for the sportbike crowd, too sporty for the metric cruider people, and not a HD so as far as the HD guys go, doesnt exist or even deserve to.

I really like it (much more than the SOHC750's I have had, its a hell of a lot easier and more rewarding to ride...).

For NZ conditions generally, and the road from Little River to to Akaroa, a middleweight bike rules.. (IMO, obviously).

Plus going moderately fast on an old bike gives you a unique sensation of speed.... what with the hinged frame (popular at the time) rear shock damping? it might have had some in '77 but its got FA now, and the "lets make an appointment to stop for the corner AFTER this one" now (well soon) braking. Its great....

Tony I did come back via Gebbies and Southern summit Rd but only bike I saw on southern summit was a blue V Strom. its in pretty good condition, gravel on a few corners though.

A reason I've kept my '76 CB550FA. Almost forgot-and bought the GB400 recently.

**Jackrat** · 6th November 2005, 12:32

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Jim2 yeah, my CB400F is full retro (its a SOHC 1977) and its too Japanese for the "old bike" crowd, not sporty enough for the sportbike crowd, too sporty for the metric cruider people, and not a HD so as far as the HD guys go, doesnt exist or even deserve to.

I really like it (much more than the SOHC750's I have had, its a hell of a lot easier and more rewarding to ride...).

For NZ conditions generally, and the road from Little River to to Akaroa, a middleweight bike rules.. (IMO, obviously).

Plus going moderately fast on an old bike gives you a unique sensation of speed.... what with the hinged frame (popular at the time) rear shock damping? it might have had some in '77 but its got FA now, and the "lets make an appointment to stop for the corner AFTER this one" now (well soon) braking. Its great....

Tony I did come back via Gebbies and Southern summit Rd but only bike I saw on southern summit was a blue V Strom. its in pretty good condition, gravel on a few corners though.

LOL,That all rings a bell,try an SX650 for getting ignored by every bugger value.It's a japper,it's a brittish clone,it's old,it's slow,it don't handle,it don't stop,,,,,,,stuff it,it's mine an I love it.
Had a 400/4 and a 550/4,both top bikes.
More power to ya'

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 12:40

Originally Posted by Jackrat

LOL,That all rings a bell,try an SX650 for getting ignored by every bugger value.It's a japper,it's a brittish clone,it's old,it's slow,it don't handle,it don't stop,,,,,,,stuff it,it's mine an I love it.
Had a 400/4 and a 550/4,both top bikes.
More power to ya'

Hey aint road worthy 400/4s, 550/4 and XS650s a bit scarce compared with brits and yank stuff of that era?

**Jackrat** · 6th November 2005, 12:59

Originally Posted by Bonez

Hey aint road worthy 400/4s, 550/4 and XS650s a bit scarce compared with brits and yank stuff of that era?

Yes,and when you do see them about they often seem to be ridden by folks that might have a more modern bike at home but are reliving something from their past.
Well it is with me anyway.
I have a lot of good memorys tied up with early 70's bikes.

**Oakie** · 6th November 2005, 18:43

Ahh, a 400/4 ... the first bike I ever lusted after. There was a red one in the motorbike shop I used to visit frequently in Oamaru around about 1980. Loved the curves of those header pipes.
And now I own it's younger brother .... and yep, great on that Little River to Akaroa section, even two up.

**TonyB** · 6th November 2005, 19:00

Originally Posted by Jim2

My taste estimate of you goes UP!

OK Jim, I'm just a liiiiiiittle concerned by the fact that you think about what fellow KB'ers taste like!! Exactly how were you planning on preparing him? Sauteed with a red wine sauce perhaps?? Or just medium rare on the barby?

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 19:06

Originally Posted by Oakie

Ahh, a 400/4 ... the first bike I ever lusted after. There was a red one in the motorbike shop I used to visit frequently in Oamaru around about 1980. Loved the curves of those header pipes.
And now I own it's younger brother .... and yep, great on that Little River to Akaroa section, even two up.

Younger brother had one.He and his mate with pack use to travel all over the place on the bloody thing. Lost a muffler somewhere on the Napier/Taupo road.

**Badcat** · 6th November 2005, 19:45

Originally Posted by FROSTY

Tell
what henry--- Theres a HD Ive been looking at ever since it was announced. I've been lucky enough to take one for a ride.
Suffice it to say --I looove it.
Mind you it really doesnt look like a "harley"

for me, there's two.
an original XR1000 or this bigass biatch:

http://www.storzperf.com/xr1200.html

yeah baby, SAY my name.....