This may seem odd...

brettp

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I have a VTX 1800, a Honda 919 hornet, and an 81 cb750k. I had the chance to ride a bit tonight and choose the 750k. It doesn't have the power of the other bikes and doesn't handle as well as the 919. But the ride was better. That 1981 cb750k is only 4 years younger than me, but the ride is always more....soul filling. There is something about being on a bike almost as old as I am and cruising the streets.

Anybody else get that?
 
You are much younger than I am but I understand what you mean. I was in a bad crash on a '79 750K in the spring of '84 and it took me a long time to get back on a bike. When I got the '81 Custom that I ride now it was like going back in time and conquering the beast. It felt good to get back on one again. I really like the new stuff with fuel injection and ABS brakes and all that, but getting on one of these bikes takes you back to a simpler time. It's all I want to ride now.
 
I think there is an element of "I work on this bike and very few can" kind of a feeling, too. Everybody wants the fuel infected bike for ease of maintenance (no carb) and the power. And I get that. But I feel more connected to a bike that I put so much time into to get running well.
 
I just get off on old Honda's. My dad brought home a CB350 when I was 10 years old. We put the bike in the walkout basement. It was my dads bike but I went right to work on it equipped with the owners manual, chrome polish, sandpaper and a can of black paint. Tools, we didn't have metric tools then, I used the tool kit. Every day after school I had something to polish, paint or adjust. I always had the bike ready to ride when my dad got home. My dad always trusted my work and rode the bike no questions asked.

Nowadays, I like the fact that most of my bikes only cost $300-$400 when I got them. Even after spending only $1000-$2000 more they are ready to ride with any bikes costing tens of thousands more.

And I never get tired of hearing, "What year is that bike?".
 
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I had a 80 CB750F when they first came out absolutely loved that bike but ended up selling it and only riding dirt for the next 35 years. Picked up a fairly clean 80 750F a couple of years ago and spent time tuning and setting it up for me. Put a few thousand into the suspension, carbs, and ignition. It is one awsome fun bike to ride.
After that bike was finished I picked up a 82 CB900F in boxes. Took about a year to build it but I never liked it as much as the 750 so I sold it and bought another bike I have always wanted a 2009 HD XR1200, the most un Harley ever made.
I only put 80 miles on it before having the suspension built. Different types of riding for sure, I mean the Harley is done at 7000 RPM and thats when the 750 is realy starting to pull.
I just love motorcycles!
 

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Why did you not like the 900 over the 750?
The 900 had better brakes and more power but it just did not handle as good as the 750. I put a good amount of effort into the suspension ignition on the 750 but was unwilling to do the same level on the 900 it was never more than a project for me to see if I could bring a bike back from the grave. It is a very nice bike but the 750 was a keeper from the get go.
 

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I have a VTX 1800, a Honda 919 hornet, and an 81 cb750k. I had the chance to ride a bit tonight and choose the 750k. It doesn't have the power of the other bikes and doesn't handle as well as the 919. But the ride was better. That 1981 cb750k is only 4 years younger than me, but the ride is always more....soul filling. There is something about being on a bike almost as old as I am and cruising the streets.

Anybody else get that?
Good morning Brett. It's still morning where I'm at. I too enjoy riding my old 750k5. You helped me with a fuse blowing issue a while back. When I was alot younger and fearless, I was one of those riders that people would point at on the freeway riding in the bad weather. I've got plenty of good memories on my 750. Been to every state west of Nebraska. I know what you're talking about. I'm about as far away from you as I can get up here in Washington state what I would call riding heaven at least for about 4 months of the year. My steady ride now is a 10 year old HD ultra limited. Not the same as my old friend. The 750 is a member of my family. Happy trails.
 
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