In the "Biker Scene" How are old hondas treated?

[jmorgan]

So im new to riding street bikes, How are fellow bikers towards various brands of bikes? Obviously people in this forum tend to have a bias towards honda, so how are you treated at the local bike night in town?

I've never been to one, atleast not on a bike.. Is there any brands that are made fun of behind the owners back(or infront?).

I really thought my CX500 was one to be laughed at, but I have become shocked at how many people ask about it and really check it over even just bringing it to get inspected, and filling up with gas. I guess that V-twin isn't something you see everyday! I even looked at some new bikes and came back to liking the way mine looks, sure i'd prefer it to be lower and a bit more custom stance, but I defiantly like it alot more then wide saddle cruisers that really don't get my attention.

Anyone have stories?

Well I might not be a good example as my bike is about as un-Honda as a Honda can get, but I do get a lot of “Biker Scene” people coming up and looking my bike over with enthusiasm. Anyone who wrenches could appreciate many of the engineering marvels I have pulled off on a budget.

[grappler]

Well the "older folks" tend to look at me as another one of those "rascally kids" on a crotch rocket. A not undeserved view as most of the crotch-rocket riders in So Cal ride like brain dead monkeys.

Not really what your asking but thats how it is for me.

[Rocky]

The year was 1971. A friend of mine had triumph, I had a honda. We go to a biker bar. We leave. My bike is still sitting there---his isn't.

Things haven't changed.

[SleazyRider]

Hahah thats great!

[kitty kat]

Originally Posted by jmorgan

So I'm new to riding street bikes, How are fellow bikers towards various brands of bikes? Obviously people in this forum tend to have a bias towards Honda, so how are you treated at the local bike night in town?

Over here in UK, we joke about about Hondas (except those who own one), but that is all it is, a joke. At the various bike meets I go to every type of bike is accepted, even mine which is desperately in need of some cosmetic work.
I was at a meet last Monday and a group of cruisers pulled into the meet area, but parked away from everyone else, they were all from some club or something. A friend of mine rode in with them and tried talking to them when they parked up but the back marker just turned round to him and told him that if he wanted to ride with them or talk to them it would cost him £50 a year
Talk about unsocial.
I am an associate member of our local Harley chapter (I ride a Japanese bike) and have been welcomed by most of the group, despite the fact I do not wish to own said make of bike.

[Schneiderman]

My first streetbike was a 1982 Honda CB650 and everyone thought that was a way cool bike, myself included.

[buellosaurusrex]

The tide is turning....if slowly...and the Japanese bikes of Yesteryear are suddenly becoming 1) desirable, and 2) valuable.
Reason? The kid that learned to ride on the CB350 is now earning in excess of 100k per year.....has just turned 50, and is re-discovering his inner child.
Think I'm full of it?
Read Motorcycle Classics.

[92katana750]

I think if you drive a motorcycle your accepted. I ride a 84 xj650 and a 92 gsx750f, everyone loves 'em. My dad rides a 84 yamaha 1000 virago, 94 1100 honda saber(?), a 750 virago etc (he loves bikes!), and every where we go people with bikes just seem to walk up to us and start talking. hell i've had some people slow down on the high way to ride along. be proud of what you ride, it's yours and you chose it for a reason!

[kitty kat]

I love the way other bikers come and talk to you.
The other week I went on a long ride for the day, on my way home I stopped at the side of the road in a rest area in order to relax in the evening sun and eat my tea. I am doing just that, when another biker pulls up behind me, gets out his flask, pours himself a coffee and stops there for half an hour chatting to me. You don't get the same camaraderie when driving a cage.

[weezerfan84]

Never had anyone pull up next to me yet, but I also ride a lot on public streets. I do have some buddies that I ride with from time to time, which is pretty fun. Where I live you have your cruiser group and you have your crotch rocket group, and they rarely ever intermingle. I like cruisers, but they're just not a bike I would like to ride on a daily basis. I like to rush from going fast on occassion, which is why I'm gonna try and get an RR around this time next year. Been looking at the CBR 600RR, R6, GSXR600, ZXR6, ZZR-600, and Ninja 636. Most likely if I can I will try and end up with the CBR600 because it has that torque curve that I would like to have in city driving, but the 2005 636 is an awesome looking bike! We'll just see what happens between now and this time next year.

[jrbooe]

My attitude has always been, it doesn't matter what you ride as long as you are riding. Yes, people like to joke about my metrics when I am on them. However, because I also ride a Sportster I get my share of joking comments about being on a skirtster as well. Anymore, because my CB is 30 years old, when I am on it I get a lot of comments from people who say they like seeing an old school piece of iron still on the road.

[renbent]

Great bike, know exactly where your coming from bro

[Maico Shark]

I can understand how young people want to be accepted....and respected. But for me the motorcycle has always been a symbol of solitude. I have my gregarious moments and have owned customized party vans, but when I ride a bike I am usually alone, going at my own speed, and following whatever whim that enters my thoughts. I am a solitary cruiser and a midnight rider who could not care less what some other person may think of my 1985 Honda. It was the best bike I could find for $500 and has went 2 years with just chain oil & tightening.

I guess it depends on why you ride and what you seek. To me it seems as close as I'll get to flight and the embodiment of freedom. All else is vanity.

[Speedzter2000]

I go to a lot of car cruises and motorcycle shows. Never have I received a negative comment. I hear "WOW! I had that bike when I was learning how to ride..." I had a GS550, and now have the GPz. Like someone said previously, people remember these bikes from their youth, and it's a source of nostalgia for them. Many years ago I knew people who hated "Jap bikes" and spoke of parties where they burned them and what not, but those days are long gone. At least around here. I did have ONE instance where a smart donkeys rear-end was making snide comments about my bike. He was blabbing about how he was going to get this that and the other thing. How my bike was a piece of junk compared to this other bike. Meanwhile, he's in his 30's, lives at home with Mom and Dad, and rarely works. And doesn't even have a tricycle. Yeah, right...whatever....
I never wash the GPz, and don't give a hoot what others think, and neither should you. Ride your own ride. Getting caught up in the hype is just that. I know of other people who have re-mortgaged their homes to get a $20k or so motorcycle, and that is not the "American Dream" to me. Being up to your eyeballs in debt for 30+ years doesn't sound like a dream to me. More like a nightmare.
Anyway, get what you want, and ride the snot out it. At least you're out there riding!!
Good luck!

[SleazyRider]

Ya i ride a 76 CB400... Shes a cutie that moves thats for sure.

Ive got a friend at work and we were talking about bikes...and he said "You should have gotten a harley man" and harley this and harley that... And i said...Well...wheres your harley? Wheres YOUR bike?

Although he LOVES his honda civic haha

[MrBash]

These are very interesting thoughts. I had no idea that people had bad thoughts for Hondas. I've been riding for three weeks now and I purchased a 2004 honda Shadow Aero (first bike) and I love it. I do about 60 - 70 on the highway and I generally keep to myself. I can careless what other riders think. I DO wave at every bike though. I'm waving at the bike, not the rider.

My bike has 6700 miles on it and I paid $4,400 for it. Got my leather boot, leather jacket and leather gloves...I feel good on the freeway. Although I like crusing the streets more often. Sometimes the freeway can be way too windy especially afternoons. Along with the loud aftermarket pipes, I love my bike. I've parked my daily driver and I ride everywhere I go everyday. I throw on my jeans over my slacks and wear my boots to work. When I get to work I take the jeans off, hang the jacket and change into my work shoes.

I like the fact that my bike has a drive shaft and I get 54mpg.

So why do people not like Hondas?

Here's my Honda...

and here's my Jeep...B!tch hahahaha

[buellosaurusrex]

It's not necessarily Hondas, rather, "other" makes besides HD. Some even look down on American icons such as Indian, and snub their noses at newcomers such as Buell, Victory, etc. This attitude dates back to the sixties when biker gangs rode Harleys almost exclusively and didn't care much for Mr. Clean on his Honda 50.
Times have changed. Ride what you want and be proud of it!

[Nighttrain]

The old CB's are rapidly gaining in price and earning respect as vintage bikes. Not that I care what anyone else thinks, I like what I ride.

[jrbooe]

I love my Harley but I have a very soft spot in my heart for my CB. Many people have asked me since I bought the Harley, why I am clinging on to the Honda. I have owned the bike for 30 years, it owes me absolutely nothing and I owe nothing on it. Plus she is pretty and very reliable.

[gammaqueen]

I personally like all kinds of bikes. I don't give a flip what the name on the side says. As long as you are riding, you understand the feeling of freedom that I get every single time I ride. Last night on my way home from work I was riding the Ninja and I don't relly know what made that night different. It could have been the stars, or the cool breeze, but I never felt so alive, it was awesome. You all know what I am talking about, no matter what bike you ride.

[buellosaurusrex]

We certainly do!

[59caddy]

i always wanted a harley. most my friends all ride harleys.
when i bought my honda, i bought it because it was affordable and it had the look/style that i like. best part is it was only 3800. had it been a harley, you can immediatly add a minimum of 10k to that sticker price.
so when i brought my bike home, i was scared to show my friends, one i especially because he was the most die hard of them all. he wont ride anything but harley, has to be harley frame, harley motor. he even has a harley tattoo the entire size of his chest. nonetheless i expected the most crap out of him.
surprisingly he likes my bike, was very curious about the drive shaft and every other difference. he even asked to take it for a spin while i rode the harley.
sure he jokes with me about riding in the back (far enough to not be associated with him) he jokes that i cant park on the same side of the street etc etc.
bottom line, he was happy to see me on a bike.
he and i go on rides together all the time.
so like others have mentioned, you will get sh!t talked, you will be made fun of, but bottom line is your on a bike and others respect that.

on a side note. i recently had problems with my bike. NO harley guys would work on my honda. cant say im surprised, but thats the only 'discrimination' i have ever received

[point]

It rarely matters what kind of bike you ride. It's just that you ride. Any time I go on a trip I always wind up chatting with some other biker at a cafe or gas station.
I did a 3 day ride last week around Vancouver Island and the Sunshine coast and at each ferry crossing I met other bikers and usually had lunch with them. Maby it's becaus I am on the high side of 50 but I have no trouble with other people. Everybody will make a polite comment on your bike regardless of what you ride.

[benztechnc]

Awesome news people! I have been kind of worrying about something along this line of thought. I worry that when my brother and I park the bikes outside a store or such, someone will come up with a comment about a honda and a harley side by side. I feel much better, because i know that if there isn't another bike out front, then they didn't ride in and then they just don't understand. It's about the riding. Yeah, I love the sound of my sporty, and the lines and the looks. It's a beautiful bike. But my brothers Honda 919 (hornet) is also beautiful. It's just way too powerful for me at this time in my life. He also jokes that he'd rather park beside me, because he knows that if anyone wants to take one, it'll be mine. LOL

[Bpatts]

I always thought it was always cool when I would be at a stop light or at a gas station and another biker enthusiast would come up and say "wow, I haven't seen a Nighthawk in years, how many miles? this that and the other thing"

I've never been discriminated by other bikers, and I to have gone up to vintage Harleys and new for 2009 BMW gs 1200's and everything in between and say "you bike is in immaculate condition, I can see you take care of it very well"

that simple sentence can spark a whole life story on the bike, and thats cool with me.

[hillbillysurf]

I haven't experiences discrimination from any other bikers at all.

[a1c_joker]

When I first started riding with the group back home that my parents ride in, I had an 82 Honda 700 Magna V45. It was the oldest bike there, and if memory serves, the only Honda. Everyone else was on either a Yamaha, Harley, or a Suzuki. To answer your question, jmorgan, I didn't experience any discrimination. I could hold my own on that old Honda and outrun half of 'em! The group we rode with seemed to care about the ride and the experience versus WHAT you're riding. IMO, that's the way it should be.

[Sapper81]

I have an 07 Shadow 600 and I've had the Harley riders at work tell me how nice mine looks. Went to a "biker bar" this summer and left all my gear on it and no one messed with it. My buddy was on his Ninja 650 and no one gave him crap. The people around here figure as long as you ride you are cool, if someone gives you crap its because they only ride on the weekend. My one friend did get laughed at on his old Honda but he is also goofy looking

[GI Jack]

I dunno, I parked my bike in town next to some customs guys in their 40s(been riding long time), and they where amazed to see some 20something on a bike older than him. So, this other guy in a full custom honda pulled up, stayed awhile and pulled off, and they started making fun of him. I guess cause it had a large v-twin, with an exhaust note that sounded similar to my half liter UJM.

A lot of older big-cruiser guys I've talked to started on a bike similar to mine, if not the exact same one.

[bobby95m3]

Great Thread!

[Frank_W]

Glad to hear that the Harlier-Than-Thou crowd is accepting. I ride an '02 Yamaha Road Star 1600cc, and all I ever hear is, "Man... Nice bike!!"

[barkerdrmmr182]

Originally Posted by MrBash

These are very interesting thoughts. I had no idea that people had bad thoughts for Hondas. I've been riding for three weeks now and I purchased a 2004 honda Shadow Aero (first bike) and I love it. I do about 60 - 70 on the highway and I generally keep to myself. I can careless what other riders think. I DO wave at every bike though. I'm waving at the bike, not the rider.

My bike has 6700 miles on it and I paid $4,400 for it. Got my leather boot, leather jacket and leather gloves...I feel good on the freeway. Although I like crusing the streets more often. Sometimes the freeway can be way too windy especially afternoons. Along with the loud aftermarket pipes, I love my bike. I've parked my daily driver and I ride everywhere I go everyday. I throw on my jeans over my slacks and wear my boots to work. When I get to work I take the jeans off, hang the jacket and change into my work shoes.

I like the fact that my bike has a drive shaft and I get 54mpg.

So why do people not like Hondas?

Here's my Honda...

and here's my Jeep...B!tch hahahaha

sweet jeep man love wheelin myself when im not in the fetal position holdin onto a gas tank j/p

[barkerdrmmr182]

The thing I like is bikers are cool. Doesn't matter what you are ridin you still get a wave when you pass. you still get a looks good man when you show it off. you may get a little when you gonna buy a real bike but they are just messin around. everyone respects on another may give you some greif but thats all were doin we still respect what you have and want you to come ride with us.

[gkim4107]

Around here, there is a group that meets up downtown, that is primarily made up of BMW's, they ride with anyone who wants to join for a quick ride up to the blue ridge park, to just puttin around town. The only ones who refuse to join is the sport bike croud. there are a few old hondas, a couple harleys, couple other japanese bikes, but like I said mainly bmw's. If an old UJM brakes down, all of them stop.

[rengelke]

I ride a 89 1100 Shadow. I get looks from cars and other riders. I only occasionally pass another rider that won't wave but who cares it's my bike and I love it.

[hemenlandm]

Last year at the Nebraska State ABATE show, our local VJMC club displayed about six of our restored '60s and '70s Hondas. There were many beautiful bikes at the show but our display got more visitors. These were the bikes most of us started with and it was with appreciation and admiration that people made about the bike their "neighbor, friend, brother, etc" had. I've got a 1971 CL 350 Scrambler that provides many memories for my fellow "seniors".

[Archangel]

I went for a ride the other day and stopped for a burger and drink and a 2008 crotch rocket came rolling up.
lets see 1981 CB 650C and a new 2008 crotch rocket.
only thing in common both bikes,and both from japan.

Large blackman gets off and comes in to the store and ordered he turned around and took a long look around at the crowd and says to me that your bike yep! I replyed he said Cool Looking good. I replyed ya.. it's not bad for a 27 year old bike , I have rather enjoyed fixing it up and getting it running.
He replyed how long have you been working on bikes?
I replyed 3 months.
WHAT!!! was his reply.
Yep one of the perks of an older bike Great to learn on and you feel more connected to your bike that way.
It is like my right arm I don't leave home with out it.
Ok well as long as it is not raining or I have to take the family along.

I went to hells angels acres 96 (Vancouver island)on a 1981 cx500. got 3rd place in slow bike race and 3rd in street bike sand drags.

only honda at the thing!

But had a few jeers and heard the latest honda jokes but have to admit it was fun and most were a grate bunch yes they were.
can,t post pictures yet but soon.

but i still have two nortons.
the honda motor was used in a harbor skiff.Alternator died $350 for new one parked it in my dead bike pile.

But you can go any where on a honda. Just not as nice as many harleys.

[CDImagician]

I ride my 78 CB400 with my friend that has a Fat boy. He likes my bike. When we ride he complains that he can't keep up with me around the windy turns. Fat boy doesn't lean enough. My 78 runs good, leaves a puddle of oil where I park it. The years have passed and the tables have turned I guess. I've had a few comments from people in the bars I go to. But its kind of like cival war reenactment. I'm getting comments from guys riding shovel heads and pan heads. Then we start arguing about stuff like veitnem and The carter administration. In general people like to see an old motorcycle still running. The paint on my gas tank is faded and sun bleached. My jacket is frayed in some spots and also faded. The bike is comfortable to ride and I can't bring myself to paint the tank. Maybe I'll grow a beard instead. Go on a long cruise.