Hi there. First, I'm glad I ran across y'all, hiding here in my laptop! History: in late 1982, I read about the pending Interceptor in a magazine in the college bookstore. I graduated in Dec '82, got the Big Job, and by April I had saved up the $4000 for the VF750. Loved it, but it didn't last long: 1 beer -> loose gravel -> big curb -> flailing acrobatics -> crash tow truck save $1500 more -> fix it -> sell it Lessons learned: booze = bad / my snell helmet & lotsa leather = good. Drive defensively. Oh to be young and drunk. In addition to the original 1983 vf750, I have also enjoyed, in no particular order: 1984 vf500 1986 vf500 – both great handling bikes, but a little short on oomph up top. 1984 sc700 Nighthawk S – really liked this machine 1982 cx500 Turbo (paid $1500, with only 4k pristine miles. Changed the oil and sold it for $3000. The collector who bought it from me moved the Vincent out of his living room to make space for the Turbo. Yes, he had recently become divorced…. I sold it because those 173 patents made me paranoid on maintenance. BTW, if you ever get to the Transportation Museum in London, they have one there, roped off and up on a pedestal. Mine was in better condition that theirs….) 1992 Shadow 1100 – first / only experiment with “crusier” - had only 6 months. I really didn’t like sacrificing handling control for perceived cool factor 1973 Yam RD350 – First bike. I called it the “pee machine”. Vibrated enough that I needed a restroom before the gas tank ever ran dry. Took big tours on this thing, with an apple crate strapped on the back. I remember drafting 18 wheelers on the highway (at night, with the headlight OFF) to save gas $ (remember THAT energy crisis?). Oh to be young & brave. 198x Honda 400. 1978 Yam XS750 1977 Yam XS650. Dropped out of college for a bit to discover the world. Left Rochester NY in Nov on this thing, as the snow started to fly. The crazy idea was to get to Fla and get a job on a private yacht for the winter by flashing my college transcript with the 3.8 gpa. It worked! - spent the winter boating around south Fla and the Caribbean, while getting paid. Got bored pretending to be rich, believe it or not (Paris, I feel you pain…). Returned back to Rochester in April, during the last blizzard of the season. Oh to be young & adventurous. The latest thing: 1985 vf700, with only 5.5k mi. Pleaded for / finally got permission in June 2007 from Domestic Mgr to buy it. Had to convince her that I am now mature & experienced. Done a lotta work so far to get this back to showroom condition: new tires, carbs(cha-ching!), t-stat, cooler t-switch, radiator hoses, DRP oiler kit, air / oil / fuel filters, battery, plugs, flushed and new fluids. Has a temporary blue gas tank, until I de-rust the original red one. Next is rear shock (anybody wanna sell a HyperPro?). Also, searching for the solo seat cowl or a Corbin…. Haven’t ridden the thing since test ride, since the key is bent. Soon! NOTE: No Harleys in my history. At risk of offending some of you, I DO NOT GET the craze to display bulky mechanical flatulence. But obviously, I am wrong, based on Harleys success these past decades. *** I am proud that my most recent ride had to be “neutered” to enable Harley’s success :smile: *** BTW, “Sleepless” is because I don’t get / need much.
welcome to the site. thanks for the interesting read. hope you enjoy VFRworld. I believe we have a couple members over in your neck of the woods. I know what you mean about sleepless as I just finished a trip from CA to Missouri in <2 days... (not on bike btw)
Welcome lots of good info here. You may also want to check out www.v4hondabbs.com between the two you should have her top notch soon.
hope it was fun for you to write/relive all those bikes. I enjoyed trying to picture them. Welcome! try your vise to straighten out da key ;-)
