Honda Shadow

This nice looking cruiser was parked in a Wendy's parking lot. Nice floorboards and chrome package. And it's a Honda. But I really think the license plate ought to read 'Wan-A-Be'. It strikes me as bringing nothing to the table except a desire to be a Harley Davidson.

Boggling Bagger

Honda entered the burgeoning Bagger market with a chopped and channelled Gold Wing re-branded the F6B.  It was a cool idea, and some of the press photos and reviews have made it seem appealing.  But in person you can see its awkward heft and beam.  All black is cool.   I suppose Black is slimming.   But it looks like it needs to go on a diet.

Cowpoke

A visit to the local Kawasaki dealer offered me an up close view of the new Vaquero.  The name means "cowboy" and ironically the bike looks (and I presume handles) like a cow.

Razor MX350

Sure, it's not made by one of the Japanese Big Four.

And it's not gasoline powered.

But the Razor MX350 is a great first dirt-bike for a child.

Clutchless operation; chain drive.

Not street legal; no headlights or turn signals. 

Quiet operation; won't annoy the neighbors.

Nobby, tubeless tires.

Single, rear, drum brake.  The brake and throttle are interlocked; squeezing the brake lever turns off the throttle.  

Kawasaki Ninja 500R

Not really a Ninja, they say. Began its life as a GPZ500, before being renamed under the Ninja badge to leverage the brand recognition of the "Ninja" name.

Bulletproof parallel twin powerplant and good fuel economy keep this one going and going.

Honda Gold Wing Interstate (GL1100I)

The Honda Gold Wing Interstate GL1100 was produced from 1981 to 1984.



Fully dressed with fairing, saddlebags and top trunk, it weighs 770 lbs. Even as heavy as that, it has incredibly solid handling.

Honda Magna VF750C

The Magna has a V4 engine, instead of the common cruiser power plant, a V-Twin. A distinguishing characteristic is the four-into-four exhaust, with balanced pipes -- two on each side of the bike.


This particular specimen has some after-market upgrades. Drag bars, VTX-style headlight, and forward controls.



Also note the chrome radiator cover. Unlike many V-Twin cruisers, the Magna is liquid-cooled.

Honda CBR1000RR

The under-tail exhaust and hideaway license plate holder are aftermarket items added to this bike.

I like the paint scheme.

I wonder how comfortable it is to lie down on that gas tank. Because that's what you'd have to do to ride this bike.

The passenger perch doesn't look very comfortable.

Honda CM400T

I see this bike frequently on my way to work. Its owner works in the office building across the street from my own.

I finally captured it here. It's a CM400T -- it says so proudly on the side cover. I don't know much about the bike, but a few things are obvious. 400cc -- just by the naming convention of the bike. Two cylinders. No radiator.

It has the UJM look of the late seventies / early eighties.

And a single downtube on the frame, ending at the engine block. Likewise the swingarm doesn't mount to the frame, but begins at a point on the rear of the engine/transmission assembly. From this configuration, I can see that it was an early Honda experiment into "engine-as-stressed-member" frame design.

Honda PC 800

Every one of these I've ever seen in the wild . . . and there have been a few . . . has had the "Body By Tupperware" wording. The first time I thought it was a joke, but since it seems universal, I wonder if it's for real.

Honda CB750

I spied this Honda CB750 in a parking lot over lunch hour. I parked next to it but never got to meet the rider. It's well preserved for a 30 year old bike (or so) -- and for one which is obviously ridden.

Yamaha Virago

I was pulling into the parking garage at work, and I heard another bike approaching. It wasn't a familiar sound. The rider parked and took off his beany helmet.

"What do you have there?" I asked.

"A Yamaha Virago," he replied, beaming. "It's my first bike, I've only been riding about a week."

"Very nice," I said. "Shaft drive. Great starter bike."

"Thanks!" He replied.

The front fender is sun faded. The kick stand lets the bike lean pretty far over.

Honda Guzzi (Honda CX500)

Saw this delightfully unique creation at the gas station tonight. Looks like a Guzzi with the transverse V-twin, but has a Honda logo on the engine. Seat is custom fabricated from plywood painted black. Sport bike exhaust (on other side) sounds wonderful. It leaked gasoline in little droplets as I watched it. A glorious bastardized cafe racer!