The General Motorbikers Discussion Thread

[Ottobon]

I've heard that before, and I'm happy you love your Hondas, but for me, now, here, I try to avoid them because something about them reminds me of something i didn't like in my past experiences. My opinion may be unjustified in some circumstances, but i can't just change it like a flip of a switch.

Don't hold it against me just because i may disagree on some accounts. Maybe i'm a weirdo but i kind of enjoy disagreeing on this issue, as there really is some weird little thing about the way Honda builds their engines that seems too Japanese for me. Maybe its just the huge size difference between the primary pipes and the main pipe, who knows? I'd even be willing to say that some of them sounds fairly good in the right conditions, but if it was a Rock-band then it would somehow not be my style of music, its just that simple. Hell I'll even give you ammo and admit that i rather like mid 90s industrial metal-techno crap from Videogames, so there, now you can just question my taste in music whenever, if ever, i Dis a Honda!

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

I've heard that before, and I'm happy you love your Hondas, but for me, now, here, I try to avoid them because something about them reminds me of something i didn't like in my past experiences. My opinion may be unjustified in some circumstances, but i can't just change it like a flip of a switch.

Don't hold it against me just because i may disagree on some accounts. Maybe i'm a weirdo but i kind of enjoy disagreeing on this issue, as there really is some weird little thing about the way Honda builds their engines that seems too Japanese for me. Maybe its just the huge size difference between the primary pipes and the main pipe, who knows? I'd even be willing to say that some of them sounds fairly good in the right conditions, but if it was a Rock-band then it would somehow not be my style of music, its just that simple. Hell I'll even give you ammo and admit that i rather like mid 90s industrial metal-techno crap from Videogames, so there, now you can just question my taste in music whenever, if ever, i Dis a Honda!

Did a Honda Super Cub run over a beloved pet from your childhood or something?

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Did a Honda Super Cub run over a beloved pet from your childhood or something?

Hmm no, but on that Note of Hondas+Pets+that link you shared

Is it just me or do these two photos go togethor in your mind?

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

I've heard that before, and I'm happy you love your Hondas, but for me, now, here, I try to avoid them because something about them reminds me of something i didn't like in my past experiences. My opinion may be unjustified in some circumstances, but i can't just change it like a flip of a switch.

Don't hold it against me just because i may disagree on some accounts. Maybe i'm a weirdo but i kind of enjoy disagreeing on this issue, as there really is some weird little thing about the way Honda builds their engines that seems too Japanese for me. Maybe its just the huge size difference between the primary pipes and the main pipe, who knows? I'd even be willing to say that some of them sounds fairly good in the right conditions, but if it was a Rock-band then it would somehow not be my style of music, its just that simple. Hell I'll even give you ammo and admit that i rather like mid 90s industrial metal-techno crap from Videogames, so there, now you can just question my taste in music whenever, if ever, i Dis a Honda!

http://noda-kenichi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/sound/rc166.wav
http://www.honda.co.jp/SoundofHonda/...S02/rc166.html

[Spectre]

Saw this commercial on TV tonight, the first Honda motorcycle ad I've seen on a non-motorsports channel. It's pretty good.

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And, the Greatest Ever Motorcycle - worth watching the destruction testing sessions.

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I mention this because I just found out that Honda *just* sold Super Cub number 60,000,000 back in May. That's not a typo. That really is sixty million bikes of just one basic type!

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/honda-sells-its.html

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Honda bikes, with few exceptions, are nothing like their automotive cousins. Far more interesting, fun to operate, and, where not choked by local market noise restrictions, sound *fantastic*. Well, except for the V4s, which are all stuck with that flat drone of an exhaust note.

The story is that the only reason Honda builds cars, lawnmowers and watercraft is to fund their motorcycle and racing divisions.

I disagree. I think my V4 has a fantastic exhaust note. Granted, the stock pipes don't show off the sound as well as some of the aftermarket pipes (or modifying the baffles on the stock pipes), but I find the V4 note to me much nicer sounding than a typical V-Twin. It has a much smoother sound but without loosing the resonance.

I love riding my bike through tunnels, just so I can hear the exhaust.

[Jon]

I was playing around with a ZX9R Ninja today, he said i could ride it around some quiet streets but i knew i'd probably crash it so didn't (bit of a step up from my 125!). The sound that thing makes is awesome! This is the closest i've been to a superbike so far..

[KaJuN]

Originally Posted by Spectre

What show is that from? I must see the full version.

[Spectre]

I think it's from a Brit show called "The Greatest". They've done things like "The Greatest Motorcycle," "The Greatest Car" and "The Greatest Infantry Rifle."

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by KaJuN

What show is that from? I must see the full version.

Just leave the check in the mail.

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

I disagree. I think my V4 has a fantastic exhaust note. Granted, the stock pipes don't show off the sound as well as some of the aftermarket pipes (or modifying the baffles on the stock pipes), but I find the V4 note to me much nicer sounding than a typical V-Twin. It has a much smoother sound but without loosing the resonance.

I love riding my bike through tunnels, just so I can hear the exhaust.

I have to agree with Him that some Honda V4s are rather nice, no production Honda i've heard is Giuseppe Busso good, but they can be neat. And just FYI i used to think i like smooth sounds until i actually lived with a car that had completely broken exhaust and a burly V6 . I don't think anybody thinks they want a rough sounding engine, but if the rest of the engine sounds good then its like adding chunks of Lime to a good Gin-Tonic, aka i can't live without it.




Spectre:I know the RC166 sounds awesome, but thats a race bike and probably not limited to cost-saving bull-crap like the regular Honda bikes are. Find a rockstar atleast as cool as Billy Gibbons (or Billy Gibbons) posing next to a Honda and ill shut-up about the way they sound like melodic rubber bands.

PS: from same episode as The Honda Cub destruction

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What i suppose i mean by too Japanese is the same issue as the current gen GT-R has, its too sadate at safe speeds, i have a feeling (feel free to tell me if i'm wrong) that you can hardly cruise along in a straigh line between 35-45 mph on one of those CBs and actually enjoy the experience. In that sense it fails. Whats the point of technical progress if you can't have atleast as much fun at the same speeds slower-older vehicles travel at. This may be were you and I differ, but personally i need to be able to feel like I'm tearing the car/bikes brains out at a without having to go more then 45mph, in a straight line, or i get bored.

[Jon]

My ears are killing me. I've just come back from a brisk ride and I wear a balaclava but clearly it doesn't work too well. Anyone know of any tricks to keeping your ears warmer? I was only riding for about 2 hours at 30/40mph occasionally 50/60mph.. I was hoping to go on a sizeable trip in August.

Also, sometimes my bike refuses to change gear. Like i'll downshift but it won't do anything, i'll let the clutch out and it'll click it down the gear as i release the clutch slowly. It's in warranty so i'm not too fussed, i just want to know if anyone else has had similar problems really and what it turned out to be? Or even if it's something i can just do myself?

[Spectre]

Your shift dogs may be wearing a bit, though it's not unusual to have to roll the rear wheel to get into a gear at a light.

As for the ears... considered wearing a full-face helmet with decent neck curtains?

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

Spectre:I know the RC166 sounds awesome, but thats a race bike and probably not limited to cost-saving bull-crap like the regular Honda bikes are. Find a rockstar atleast as cool as Billy Gibbons (or Billy Gibbons) posing next to a Honda and ill shut-up about the way they sound like melodic rubber bands.

PS: from same episode as The Honda Cub destruction

What i suppose i mean by too Japanese is the same issue as the current gen GT-R has, its too sadate at safe speeds, i have a feeling (feel free to tell me if i'm wrong) that you can hardly cruise along in a straigh line between 35-45 mph on one of those CBs and actually enjoy the experience. In that sense it fails. Whats the point of technical progress if you can't have atleast as much fun at the same speeds slower-older vehicles travel at. This may be were you and I differ, but personally i need to be able to feel like I'm tearing the car/bikes brains out at a without having to go more then 45mph, in a straight line, or i get bored.

Sorry, but if that's the case, then you're an idiot. If it feels like the thing's going to fall apart below 45mph, it's probably not something you should be riding. And yes, you can and do enjoy the experience at low speeds on a CB.

As for the RC166 being a fluke for Honda... Well, Honda built a road going version, called the CBX1000.

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