"Too much bike" or nostalgia? 100hp 4cyl vs <50hp twin for leisurely back road riding

[Gorminrider]

no offence intended per your article-really, I it takes me 1/2 hour to choose a bike to ride today and they are all 400-500cc twins these days...but worrying about your buddy zooming ahead on his 750 is kind of pschyzoid in the context of trundling secondary roads on a medium twin.....Plus,, if you started first, and gave the motor time to wind up, it'd at least take him awhile to catch up, and "how long it takes" is just as satisfying where you have the disadvantage...and-need say- if you don't both crash into a tractor at the upcoming hairpin...

Overall, I think being 21 again on your first decent (or not) bike is at the root. Can't be done, IMO. The fun you can have now is where it's at. A Honda CT70-110 or a light dirtbike, an XS650, a REAL Triumph, an Indian BSA ..all simple unblended bikes with kickstarts- all Fun and at least reminiscent even if they're not time-machines.

Look up "Jedz", a member on the forum and his minitrail! Bags of fun are everywhere- it's just a matter of spare cash and choosing...

PS I've considered a new RE650 but it always goes to "why?" How is it "better" or even as good-as, the bikes I have now? My GSX400T apart from the EFI is really really close as far as I can tell and spending (CAN)$9000 to $11000 seems just silly. I could get so much else for that or buy tents for Turks or first aid for Ukranians with that....

[salty_monk]

In the UK we’d call them “B” Roads…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_...mbering_scheme

[rphillips]

Now that's confusing, I've been on single track back rds., but never remember being on one of them dual carriageways, I don't think we've got any of them around here.

[Maddevill]

We have some very narrow, bumpy roads around here. When I'm going to be riding them, this is what I take.

Mad

[dorkburger]

Per gtem's mention of Rt 414.. a couple of pics. A small / midsized bike would be a hoot.

GS1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Spook Hollow looking north by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[GS1150Pilot]

I've kinda jonesed for one of these for a long time:

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cb1%20400%2089.htm

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I was talking to my brother about this today, how we should try doing a "throwback tour" both riding out first bikes. Me on my XS500 and him on his old CB360. He summed up in a single sentence what I wrote a whole dang substack article about (https://substack.com/inbox/post/108584692

That was a nice piece, Grisha. Thanks for sharing. Always enjoy your writing.

[GS1150Pilot]

These could be perfect for that kind of riding, too:

https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/honda-transalp-xl600v/

[LAB3]

These could be perfect for that kind of riding, too:
https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/c...ansalp-xl600v/

Ran across a German couple last summer that had their Transalps flown over here to tour the US for six months. After hanging out with them a couple of times it was obvious he's a top notch wrench.

You gotta admit, packing up two bikes and shipping them to another continent with practically ZERO parts availability takes some guts but more importantly a good deal of confidence that your bikes won't be needing repairs along the way!

His only mistake was not packing some oil and air filters, he assumed those would be available but no dice. Luckily I was able to help him out with finding a place for him to have them shipped to a few weeks later.

[GS1150Pilot]

Ran across a German couple last summer that had their Transalps flown over here to tour the US for six months. After hanging out with them a couple of times it was obvious he's a top notch wrench.

You gotta admit, packing up two bikes and shipping them to another continent with practically ZERO parts availability takes some guts but more importantly a good deal of confidence that your bikes won't be needing repairs along the way!

His only mistake was not packing some oil and air filters, he assumed those would be available but no dice. Luckily I was able to help him out with finding a place for him to have them shipped to a few weeks later.

That's a cool story. I respect anyone who can manage that sort of shipping and ride. The only bikes I've ever shipped and ridden in another country were bicycles, for a tour from Austria to Hungary, and even there, having to repair a derailleur hanger and replace a derailleur on one bike was not fun.

[roeme]

On topic; gtem, you might like a (modern) Guzzi V7.

Still has the looks & the frame (mostly) from back when, but with an updated engine and some minor tweaks to the frame etc. People chatting me up on my V7 regularly confuse it
to the vintage models. (The story is that when Moto Guzzi was resurrected, they "simply" took all the existing drawings/plans/etc. and updated it to modern standards).

[Rob S.]

All Guzzis are now liquid cooled?

[GS1150Pilot]

All Guzzis are now liquid cooled?

Say what? The V7 and V9 are air-cooled.

[rphillips]

Ya'll got me wondering, Looked it up and MSC specs shows Guzzi V7 air cooled and Goozi V9 air/oil cooled.

[gtem]

I haven't ridden one but I like the looks and specs of the V7, but I am very suspicious of the "retro-remakes," my one brush with one, a 01 Bonneville, left me wanting. Too polished, missing sense of adventure of riding a real vintage carbureted motorcycle.