Bottom line: it's an uncomfortable CB750 that's hard to steer
and you ride in the fetal position (or use the hwy pegs).
This morning I got a 1-day permit so that I could take the bike
on a shakedown cruise.
It was a warm, sunny day, the first in a long time, and bikes were
all over the roads, right out of hibernation. Just as I got to
the blueberry farm a pack * (or whatever the collective noun for bikers
is) went by on sportbikes. Three of them were doing wheelies half a mile
long and another one was sitting on his gas tank. "Silly show-offs,"
I thought, wheeling my award-winning trailer queen with all its chrome,
custom paint and raked out springer forks out to the side of the road.
There were several problems right away (1) the battery was almost dead,
and (2) it wouldn't idle.
Using a spare car battery and some cables we got it going and warmed up.
(I'm condensing the story considerably here)
Then I grandly took off down the road... whereupon it stalled.
(rewind/repeat several times)
So then taking care to keep the revs up I take off down the road and
do a yoowie after reaching the end of the comfort zone for pushing it
back, the highway being extra wide there. It's got a steering radius
at least the width of a traffic lane.
The seller had already told me that the steering is too stiff
and needs adjustment. It doesn't track very well at the moment
and I had to keep correcting it manually.
In the operator's part of the seat you're sitting very low and scrunched
up (if your feet are on the control pegs) which wasn't at all
comfortable, so for the first while I sat higher up on the passenger
part -- I must have looked a proper narner.
Meanwhile this is all taking place on a narrow, two-lane, high volume
secondary highway with big semi's roaring by and there's no shoulder
on one side, just a drop-off to a deep ditch. Not the ideal test
environment. So for the next test run I take it down half a mile to
a paved side road with lighter traffic and roll on the throttle.
At higher speeds it began to feel strange. Each bump in the road
(funny, I don't remember this road having so many bumps) the whole thing
would flex: forks, frame(?), seemingly everything. PF's chopper
in _Easy Rider_ flexes like this; for instance just after he throws
away his watch and rides up onto the highway.
The springer forks don't just plunge the springs, they also bend
lengthwise. The effect is something like riding on a trampoline,
and there was less shock to my tailbone than I had expected for
a hard tail frame.
Then I went over a higher bump and the front end momentarily lifted
enough to loose traction. When it returned, it wasn't steering the same
direction as the bike, which tried to veer off at an angle. As I was
correcting for this, another tall bump caused the same problem in
the other direction.
I don't know if there's a technical name for this effect more specific
than "instability", but I was glad to discover it at a speed low enough
to regain control safely. However the seller told me he would take it
up and down a straight stretch on the Trans Canada Highway passing
every cage in sight and never noticed a problem. What it will do on
a sweeper I've yet to find out.
Aside from these problems it's a fun bike to leisurely cruise along on
enjoying the scenery (if you stay within its limitations). I'm going
to install a sprung saddle for a more comfortable riding position.
Since I've owned the thing it has traveled more miles by trailer
than on its own (I thought Beav would like to know that) and I took
it to my repair shop for a tune up and steering adjustment.
ps Another strange thing was that after a short time cranking
the starter motor would just whir but not engage the motor.
Then after a while it worked ok again. (?)
More details after I get it back from the shop.
* "I'll never forget him, Leader of the Pack" -- Shangri-Las, 1964
Sean_Q_
'99 FLH... / '06 S40 / '04 XV250 / '81 CB750 Custom / '81 Stires
>More details after I get it back from the shop.
Looking forward to it Sean.
Right now it sounds like a very challenging bike to ride. Be careful.
Once you get it dialed in and used to the way it handles, I am sure
you will be able to smile a little more when riding it.
--
See Ya On The Road
2000 Yamaha Venture Millennium
2004 HD Road King
> Bottom line: it's an uncomfortable CB750 that's hard to steer
> and you ride in the fetal position (or use the hwy pegs).
> This morning I got a 1-day permit so that I could take the bike
> on a shakedown cruise.
> It was a warm, sunny day, the first in a long time, and bikes were
> all over the roads, right out of hibernation. Just as I got to
> the blueberry farm a pack * (or whatever the collective noun for bikers
> is) went by on sportbikes. Three of them were doing wheelies half a mile
> long and another one was sitting on his gas tank. "Silly show-offs,"
> I thought, wheeling my award-winning trailer queen with all its chrome,
> custom paint and raked out springer forks out to the side of the road.
> There were several problems right away (1) the battery was almost dead,
> and (2) it wouldn't idle.
> Using a spare car battery and some cables we got it going and warmed up.
> (I'm condensing the story considerably here)
> Then I grandly took off down the road... whereupon it stalled.
> (rewind/repeat several times)
> So then taking care to keep the revs up I take off down the road and
> do a yoowie after reaching the end of the comfort zone for pushing it
> back, the highway being extra wide there. It's got a steering radius
> at least the width of a traffic lane.
> The seller had already told me that the steering is too stiff
> and needs adjustment. It doesn't track very well at the moment
> and I had to keep correcting it manually.
> In the operator's part of the seat you're sitting very low and scrunched
> up (if your feet are on the control pegs) which wasn't at all
> comfortable, so for the first while I sat higher up on the passenger
> part -- I must have looked a proper narner.
> Meanwhile this is all taking place on a narrow, two-lane, high volume
> secondary highway with big semi's roaring by and there's no shoulder
> on one side, just a drop-off to a deep ditch. Not the ideal test
> environment. So for the next test run I take it down half a mile to
> a paved side road with lighter traffic and roll on the throttle.
> At higher speeds it began to feel strange. Each bump in the road
> (funny, I don't remember this road having so many bumps) the whole thing
> would flex: forks, frame(?), seemingly everything. PF's chopper
> in _Easy Rider_ flexes like this; for instance just after he throws
> away his watch and rides up onto the highway.
> The springer forks don't just plunge the springs, they also bend
> lengthwise. The effect is something like riding on a trampoline,
> and there was less shock to my tailbone than I had expected for
> a hard tail frame.
> Then I went over a higher bump and the front end momentarily lifted
> enough to loose traction. When it returned, it wasn't steering the same
> direction as the bike, which tried to veer off at an angle. As I was
> correcting for this, another tall bump caused the same problem in
> the other direction.
> I don't know if there's a technical name for this effect more specific
> than "instability", but I was glad to discover it at a speed low enough
> to regain control safely. However the seller told me he would take it
> up and down a straight stretch on the Trans Canada Highway passing
> every cage in sight and never noticed a problem. What it will do on
> a sweeper I've yet to find out.
> Aside from these problems it's a fun bike to leisurely cruise along on
> enjoying the scenery (if you stay within its limitations). I'm going
> to install a sprung saddle for a more comfortable riding position.
> Since I've owned the thing it has traveled more miles by trailer
> than on its own (I thought Beav would like to know that) and I took
> it to my repair shop for a tune up and steering adjustment.
> ps Another strange thing was that after a short time cranking
> the starter motor would just whir but not engage the motor.
> Then after a while it worked ok again. (?)
> More details after I get it back from the shop.
> * "I'll never forget him, Leader of the Pack" -- Shangri-Las, 1964
> Sean_Q_
> '99 FLH... / '06 S40 / '04 XV250 / '81 CB750 Custom / '81 Stires
Good ride review... I especially liked the ref to the trampoline
effect. My VTX has been referred to as riding like a pogo stick in
original mag reviews; a trampoline would be better :)-
All bikes have eccentricities and your bike may have more than its
share, but isn't that part of the mystique for choppers like that? I
don't think choppers were meant for the unmanly or for comfort unless
you are willing to spend $24K. Sounds like the kinda bike you've just
gotta ride and become familiar with.
Greg
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