I've been thinking about a bike for the past two years and been searching for one on Craigslist for the past three months. I finally found one for a decent price and in really good shape.
1978 Honda CB400T for $875.
Please spare me the horror stories. I've been thinking about it for two years and realize all of the dangers of riding in the city and highway. I plan to take all safety precautions. It's going to be fun learning to ride.
Thanks guys. I definitely plan to take a course to learn to ride properly. I'll get my M class at the end of the course and it'll help with insurance. I plan to go get a helmet and the rest of the gear in a week or two. Like I said, I'm in no rush.
I'm new in the bike world. What exactly is a cafe racer? The CL ad called it one already, but he didn't change the bike much from stock, so I'm at a loss.
I'm new in the bike world. What exactly is a cafe racer? The CL ad called it one already, but he didn't change the bike much from stock, so I'm at a loss.
Wow, I remember when those bikes were selling new. They had a pretty nice exhaust note. Pretty cool how the previous owner reworked it a bit. Looks much better.
Congrats, welcome to the madness we call motorcycling. This decision will change your life.
Now strip everything off of it, get some rubber knee pads for the tank, a solo seat and a rear cowl, chop the rear fender, get some clip ons, bar end mirrors...
You think mods for the Goat are addictive? Pfff...you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Then get some rockabilly on the jukebox and try to get back to the truck stop before the song is over.
My first street bike was a '72 Kawi 750 Triple, kind of a contemporary of your little Honda, that I caffed when I was back in high school. Two of my friends who lived at the end of the street had CBs, a 400F and a 350Four, we used to race from their house to school in the mornings and see who could blow past the most school buses. My Kamikaze triple always wiped the floor with the CBs, but the CB was a nicer bike in every other way.
Your Goat is a six speed, right? So you've got the "learn how a clutch works," step complete already. That's the biggest obstacle for new riders, trying to keep everything coordinated, and you're half way there if you already drive a stick.
If you ever need riding tips or advice you know where to ask.
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"Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube, that's why god made fast motorcycles, Bubba."
Yup. I've been driving a manual for 7-8 years now. Please do give me any pointers you can. I already know that I'm going to keep this bike (so mods are in the future ). I would like to get a nice little Sportster someday. I like the simple look with black and chrome. I don't need a lot of power or anything fancy. That's just how I am.
There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.
Congrats, welcome to the madness we call motorcycling. This decision will change your life.
Now strip everything off of it, get some rubber knee pads for the tank, a solo seat and a rear cowl, chop the rear fender, get some clip ons, bar end mirrors...
You think mods for the Goat are addictive? Pfff...you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Then get some rockabilly on the jukebox and try to get back to the truck stop before the song is over.
My first street bike was a '72 Kawi 750 Triple, kind of a contemporary of your little Honda, that I caffed when I was back in high school. Two of my friends who lived at the end of the street had CBs, a 400F and a 350Four, we used to race from their house to school in the mornings and see who could blow past the most school buses. My Kamikaze triple always wiped the floor with the CBs, but the CB was a nicer bike in every other way.
Your Goat is a six speed, right? So you've got the "learn how a clutch works," step complete already. That's the biggest obstacle for new riders, trying to keep everything coordinated, and you're half way there if you already drive a stick.
If you ever need riding tips or advice you know where to ask.
Sure it was tough to pass one of those oil burners. Can't see shit with the smokescreen they laid down.
Finally, someone who bought a sensible, perfect first bike. Good job, congratulations.
Thanks. I had my friend, who is a Harley mechanic, help me choose the bike. I figured he should know a good starter bike. I would hope so at least. lol.
Nice. I always wanted to pick up something cheap like that and Cafe the thing.
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........GTO Owners of the North East........
MODS: Pedders GSR Struts+3/8" Drop Springs / Lovells Radius Rod and Sub-Frame Bushings, Differential Mount, HD Strut Mounts, and Rear 350mm Springs / 3M Clear Bra / HIDs: 4300K Low and 3000K Fog / Wretched Motorsports H-Pipe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel Chicken...
Wall of text critically hits Steel Chicken for 283781273ty billion points of damage, Steel Chicken dies.
Here's a novel idea: How about you just smurf off?
Ah, yeah, I was being sarcastic....especially considering your (true) statement about how to avoid all the "it's too unsafe" stuff. Figured I laid it on thick enough with that post but apparently not.
Ah, yeah, I was being sarcastic....especially considering your (true) statement about how to avoid all the "it's too unsafe" stuff. Figured I laid it on thick enough with that post but apparently not.
Not for nothing dude but your general demeanor here tends to be dooshy and argumentative. It is hard for you to convey sarcasm with a statement that people expect from you. Had it been TLSAddict, an avid rider who is in almost every motorcycle thread, people would assume sarcasm.
I keep looking at that bike, I'm jealous. If you are just learning to ride, take the course. Even the privite run courses, the ones that cost money and you can actually get into, are worth the time/money. I took the Harley course called RidersEdge. It is at great way to get over the initial jitters and start riding with the right habits instead of starting out with bad habits.
And as I say in every "I'ma Noob Rider" thread Read This Book..
There are a lot of great riding tactics and a shit tone of information on how to read the road. It will greatly enhance your chances of survival on the road and will make you a better rider.
I plan to pick up another shortly. I started with dirt bike, went to a Honda shadow, then to a 2007 Goldwing, then to a 2007 Harley 1200C, then riding a 600 Katana, now about to buy a Hayabusa.
I can tell you its the crazy people you have to worry about. The whole time you are on the bike you need to be playing the "What if" game.
Ah, yeah, I was being sarcastic....especially considering your (true) statement about how to avoid all the "it's too unsafe" stuff. Figured I laid it on thick enough with that post but apparently not.
You're in desperate need of a sarcasm font.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sxty8goats...
Not for nothing dude but your general demeanor here tends to be dooshy and argumentative. It is hard for you to convey sarcasm with a statement that people expect from you. Had it been TLSAddict, an avid rider who is in almost every motorcycle thread, people would assume sarcasm.
Not for nothing dude but your general demeanor here tends to be dooshy and argumentative. It is hard for you to convey sarcasm with a statement that people expect from you. Had it been TLSAddict, an avid rider who is in almost every motorcycle thread, people would assume sarcasm.
Please show me these past threads that show dooshy and argumentative demeanor....and please don't mistake an opinion that differs from yours to be "dooshy" as that's what forums generally are, a collection of people stating opinions. Also, if you look at the nearly all previous bike threads you'll see that I have posted in nearly all of them and am an avid rider myself. Thanks for your 2 cents though.
Last edited by Boss Hogg : 09-18-2009 at 07:06 AM.
2004 GTO Owner
Guess who just bought a bike last night
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