07-18-2010, 11:42 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elburn, IL
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Observations from an Old Noob
In one of my first posts I mentioned that I hadn't ridden for 30 years and felt like a noob on the bike. I'm happy to say that the moves are coming back and getting smoother. The more I ride the Hi Bird, the better I like it, though a 46 tooth cog, er... sprocket, is in my future.(sorry, bicycle speak snuck in there)
I don't recall much about my days with my CB500, other than I was new dad with a ton of new responsibilities and I had more on my mind than riding. I do, however, have great memories of my CS90 when Nixon was president and this is where I base my observations and comparisons. First off, today's helmets are much nicer. More comfortable and the full face ones are well sealed and vented. Back in the day, an open face with bubble shield was as good as it got. And it wasn't any good when a bumblety bee managed to get between your shield and your face. Probably still happen with today's full face, but not as likely. Fewer trucks hauling hot mix asphalt today, or at least the loads are covered. Riding with an unbuttoned shirt in the seventies and having an uncovered hot mix truck go by the other way was usually hot, sticky, and painful. I think the fuel tank on the CS90 was similar in size, but I got change back from my buck when I filled it. The CS90 didn't have electric start. It didn't have a kickstart either, cuz it broke off. But I lived on a slope and could push start it. If it didn't start, which happened, it was light enough to push back up the driveway. I live at the top of a 13% grade today. I won't chance having to push a bike that doesn't start back up the hill. Points and condenser. No brainer. Although fun to fiddle with, during a downpour I'd rather 'plug and play' than 'gap and regap' plus lose small screws in the gravel. Can't tie wrap points in place. Brakes have improved greatly. The drums on the CS90 did a decent job of pulling her down, but can't compare to today's disc/disc set up. The wheels were really heavy, too. This I remember about the CB500, the front brake rotor was undrilled steel and had a scary tendency to be slow to grab in the rain. I had a few scares when the rear wheel would lock up before the front would even start to slow down. :( I imagine one thing hasn't changed, though. A June Bug in throat at 60mph will feel the same today as it did back in 1970. cheesy |
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07-19-2010, 12:10 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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I'm glad you are back in the saddle, Cheesy! I am also very glad you decided to join us here, at China Riders.
Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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07-19-2010, 12:43 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Show Low Arizona
Posts: 2,889
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LOL, Yes bugs suck...Took what I think was a beetle to the face a few weeks ago.
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<br />2001 Suzuki DR200SE<br />1997 Suzuki RM250 YIKES<br />1995 Yamaha Breeze 125 daughters<br />1991 Honda XR80r Restored<br />maybe a 2003 Yamaha TTR90 |
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07-19-2010, 12:50 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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07-20-2010, 08:24 PM | #5 |
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Take my helmet off after getting home from work yesterday, park the bike in the garage, and walk in the house. Say hi to Mrs. Cheesy. She gives me a startled stare and screams "On your neck, on your neck", and promptly smacks me across the face with a wet dish towel. Turns out a Spruce Bug or one of its relations hitched a ride and decided to end its ride in Mrs. Cheesys' kitchen.
That wasn't all that ended for it. Slightly OT: Mrs. Cheesy tends to overreact in the unexpected presence of wildlife. You should have seen the look on Mrs. Cheesys face when she pulled what she thought was a wad of lint from the washer and it turned out to be a drowned mouse. I laughed heartily. The bruises barely show anymore. |
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07-20-2010, 10:05 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,274
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07-23-2010, 07:43 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 293
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Confucius says: A wasp in the face at 25 MPH is way worse than a wasp in the face at 40 MPH.
Wifey cracked up when she read about the lint ball lol - classic. Daddy 8) |
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07-23-2010, 01:39 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
Spud
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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07-24-2010, 06:48 PM | #9 | |
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Back in the mid-eighties, I was racing(bicycle) in my 2nd WISILL 24 Hr TT Challenge, hoping to break 300 miles in a day. The day was hot so I decided to ride with my skinsuit unzipped to my waist(I didn't have much of one then). About a half hour into the race, I felt something crawling on my chest so I swatted at it and it fell into my open skinsuit and the sucker nailed me about three times. Man, did that hurt. When I limped into the start/finish checkpoint, my crew(Mrs. C and the two Curdettes) had to help me off my bike. We peeled back my suit and I had three welts to the left of my navel and a triangle shaped rash that spread from the welts, across my left side, to my spine. Against medical advice, I continued to race. I couldn't bend at my waist to reach the drops so I did the entire race sitting upright. Although I wasn't pleased with the results, I still managed 258 miles in 24 hours. Apparently, I was quite stupid in those days. |
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07-25-2010, 12:48 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Show Low Arizona
Posts: 2,889
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Oh we all still have the stupid in us, We are just to slow at reacting to it
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<br />2001 Suzuki DR200SE<br />1997 Suzuki RM250 YIKES<br />1995 Yamaha Breeze 125 daughters<br />1991 Honda XR80r Restored<br />maybe a 2003 Yamaha TTR90 |
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07-25-2010, 01:49 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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Pretty hardcore Cheesy! You must be in awesome shape!
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Happy to serve. |
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07-25-2010, 05:29 PM | #12 | |
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Now, it's like the line in one of my favorite blues songs, "What I used to do all night, now takes me all night to do". :wink:
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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