Why do we keep our Fs?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:41 am

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike
They are tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention
R6 will totally blow it off the road.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:43 am

F bikes are cool.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:52 am

Yeah, so?

Any boob with a line of credit can have a new bike...
Just try living in Milwaukee....you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Harley that looks just like the last 25 you just went past. Now they're all on Craigs List for 22K.
It's brought back a time in my life where my bike kept be out of a lot of trouble. Maybe it will again!! I also like knowing what the underside of #3 piston looks like, they fact that I can fix it with simple tools in my own garage. AND....I get to tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention ....PERFECT....kind of like me!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:52 am

trekrider wrote:

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike
They are tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention R6 will totally blow it off the road.

Why be like everyone else? People don't call them rice burners, crotch rockets, etc. I also like it when you stop and people come over and say I remember those bikes. Tattoo

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:57 am

It's the granddaddy to the crotch rocket, the genesis of the "modern" sport bike. Yes, it's not technologically current, and will be outperformed by newer bikes, but who cares? It's fast enough to get me in trouble, handles well enough to put a smile on my face, doesn't look like every other "cookie cutter" crotch rocket on the road (personally, I can't tell a Yamaha from a Kawasaki from a Honda anymore), and guess what, some of us enjoy "tinkering" (look at some of the project bikes on here, you'll see guys who are artists, creating rolling sculptures with their F's). I had my 900 washed at a car wash this past weekend, and the 25 yr old hottie washing it asked what year it was. She didn't believe me when I told her it was older than she is, but the look on her face was priceless to an old guy like me.

Hope this answers your question, at least that's why I have mine (and will have a full set, adding a 750 and an 1100 to the stable), and will for years to come.

Cheers, my friend,

Rick Cool

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:01 am

I really dissagree with a 250 taking one out....but anyway....

They are cool bikes that are fun to work on. Working on new things is a nighmare.

They can handle if you put the time in. I kept up with my F4i friends on our last TN outing. Of course I nearly died of exhaustion though.

I keep a daily rider (GSF400), a cruser (Shadow), and L bike (R1) ready to go at all times....but none are as satisfying to ride as an F!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:25 am

Trying to relive my (not so) youth?

Actually I have owned a lot of bikes and I liked the looks, brakes and handling of my old 900F I can't assume the position on a crotch rocket anymore and I tend to use all the power the bike will make so the 1100F might keep me out of a speeding ticket. Not to mention I like to "rescue" down in the heals bikes and get em back on the road reliably again. Fiinding deals both on bikes and the needed parts is kinda fun too. I guess I am like the experimental aircraft guys too. As much fun working on em as riding em.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:42 am

Why not?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:57 am

trekrider wrote:

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike.

Part of the reason is because of a wonderful forum called cb1100f.net where F enthusiasts get together to discuss gun rights and politics.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:12 am

First of all...HOW DARE YOU!..lol...

Second of all..I own a EX500 ninja(I let mt sister use it most tyme's) and it won't hold a candle to my poor little 750F..my lap tyme's are always faster on the 750F..case closed..

Third of all...I also own a 02' R6..and while it is faster and brakes better..it's tyme's around the 2 1/4 mile track are only 8 seconds faster..

I own a pair of F's because they are the pinnicale of enginering circa 19 and 79..

A tyme when I was a teenager and motorcycles where the melding of man and machine..

No radiators..no STUPID plastic..No wave rotors..

Just you and your skill verses every other punk on a suzuki...

Nothing more disgusting then a suzuki...

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:25 am

Because its "payed" for Very Happy

oh and i like the thrill of knowing that theres no way i can steer or stop at high speeds!! and the girls like it!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:25 am

Because its "payed" for Very Happy

oh and i like the thrill of knowing that theres no way i can steer or stop at high speeds!! and the girls like it!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:26 am

trekrider wrote:

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike
They are tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention
R6 will totally blow it off the road.

Cause our F-Bikes are BADD ASS Cool

....Tinker daily? You mean the enjoyment of modifying it Cool

... Something wrong?? So we have a charging issue sometimes, at least we don't have to worry about a coolant leak Laughing

....Poor handling??? I go around ZXRCBRRGSXRYZFR on the outside of turns at the track, yeah it's a challenge to keep up on a 750F down the straight, anybody can go straight for a bit Cool

..... Carb problems???? See answer one, the enjoyment of modification will fix that Wink

........ Noisy????? You mean that the Vance & Hines, Kerkers are too loud?? Wink

At any bike gathering, the current crop of plastic rockets look very alike at a distance... Friday & Saturday Night down at Cannery Row, Monterey, for MOTO GP weekend, our F-Bikes stand out.... A lot of folks stop for a second & just stare, while they just cruise by the plastics.

Our F-Bike are BADD ASS period. Did I mention that I love my F-Bikes?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:03 am

Doesn't the saying go something like "If I have to explain it you can't understand..."?

Not sure I understand myself. I miss my Triumph a bit but can honestly say that getting this F last spring and being able to ride it after fixing what needed fixing has really rekindled the joy of motorcycling for me.

I get much more enjoyment out of riding it than anything else in recent memory.

I am not sure why but I am sure that I don't care about the why and am just going to enjoy the hell out of it. Smile

I could do without its tempermental nature though.

I don't understand how it can go from running like a dream one day to running like total shit the next.

Time to pull the plugs again I suppose.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:03 am

Double post, not my fault. Confused

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:13 am

'Cause I bought it new; I've had it more than half my life.

Outlasted about six jobs; two cars, and my first marriage. (but not my wife--I married her again!)

The Fs are still some of the most beautiful bikes ever designed. The flowing lines from tank to side cover to tail piece are masterful. New sport bikes remind me of insects, somehow. The back of the seat seems too "jacked up" and unsupported--looks like the ass-end of a wasp.

If I had bought in '84 instead of '83, I'd have gotten a Yamaha FJ1100. But I didn't.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:13 am

Sorry, double post.

Having troubles with this web site; kept getting an error message about "e-mail not sent".

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:38 am

trekrider wrote:

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike
They are tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention
R6 will totally blow it off the road.

Huh?
I only work on mine in the winter...not daily...
Rarely is there anything wrong. but when there is I can fix it myself..
Carb problems? none, use good gas and use a stabilizer, and drain the carbs when you put it away.
Rather slow? Psst..they are 25+ years old...and dam fast for bikes their age..
I pass 250's like they are standing still, and the neighbor bought a CBF1000 because I was always passing him on his 650 ninja...
Even a R6 will only move away from me in the straits...off the line he has no chance...

I also like how allot of the HD riders come over and admire my bike in a crowd of 100's and usually say "I remember these, dam fastest bike I ever rode" Very Happy

I also like the fact I can have 5 or 6 of them for the same price as a R6..now the whole family can ride...

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:52 am

I had a suxuki gs1100E...fast bike...always kicked butt with a friends 900f...but the F was WAY better looking. And as for the Harley guys(I was one for several years) its because the F isn't trying to look and sound like a Harley. It is unique,beautiful and fast enough for me. And it doesn't look like all the cookie cutter crotch rockets.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:53 am

I had a suxuki gs1100E...fast bike...always kicked butt with a friends 900f...but the F was WAY better looking. And as for the Harley guys(I was one for several years) its because the F isn't trying to look and sound like a Harley. It is unique,beautiful and fast enough for me. And it doesn't look like all the cookie cutter crotch rockets.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:53 am

Double post, sorry

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:13 am

I guess he "touched a nerve" in us...

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:15 am

Best looking Classic Milestone Sport Bike IMO. Reliving my youth............... or at least reliving owning a bike before I got married and lost my man-hood. Razz

This site is a major factor as well.

Dave

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:20 am

Nice response, since I started the post, reason I am keeping my F is , when I got it it was not working right and now after hours of working on the cycle it works fine, still could use the carbs cleaned, but my tech experience is holding me back, and everyone is right, it does turn heads whether someone is thinking what a piece of @## or WOW I could careless, also have a co worker that keeps saying it is nothing more then an old bike, but I know he is jealous, somehow he keeps telling me that 250 ninja is much faster, he is an egomaniac.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:49 am

250 Ninja? 500 suzi? NO WAY! And as for 600s? I have yet to see one that will hang with my 11F.

I think these Fs are the best looking bikes from the period. And besides, you meet the nicest people on a HONDA Cool

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:28 pm

Quote:

And as for 600s? I have yet to see one that will hang with my 11F.

I think you ran into the new rider problem here, being 600s are generally the beginner bike (yes, bad, but thats the way it is). Any modern 600 will take an 11F. With the exception of some SVs and similar bikes.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:29 pm

Progress is all about MORE. MORE horsepower, MORE top speed, etc. Maybe some will only be satisfied when they're going Mach 3 between corners. If you like that, that's ok. It's one option, and after all, it's what led to the ultimate F, back in '83.

But once you've decided that the race to exceed the speed of light on two wheels is unrealistic (and maybe a little bit impractical), you can just enjoy being on two wheels and all that entails. Maybe you're the product of a certain era and a certain style of bike feels good to you. That frees you up to not having to ride the latest 'Busa or 'Busa wannabe (not because it's fun but because it's the FASTEST and not riding the FASTEST makes you somehow ? Rolling Eyes

) but being able to ride whatever you think fits your riding style or just plain looks and sounds good to you.

Our F's have character. The new plastic fantastics definitely blast around the track faster than we can, but on the road, governed by (admittedly too restrictive) laws, where real biking happens, one can argue that just about any legal bike can give you an enjoyable riding experience.

The F's just happen to be in that happy place where historically significant meets fun to ride with relevant real-world performance. One can definitely argue about the maintenance requirements...but there are life lessons to be learned in those occasionally vexing garage sessions.

Cheers.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:44 pm

Well the 386 # 600 will no doubt beat me up on the track and around street corners, and yes out brake me everywhere, BUT not in a drag race. Too much torque and too much hp.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:46 pm

trekrider wrote:

somehow he keeps telling me that 250 ninja is much faster, he is an egomaniac.

That is funny, Not a chance, even against a 750...SOHC even. Very Happy

A N250 wouldn't compare anywhere except in the corners..(off the line, strait line speed, top end the CB750F >>> ninja 250)
Now if we were talking CB1100F the you could add another 5 or 6 >>>>>>>>>> Ninja 250...CB1100F>= R6 (in the right hands)

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:47 pm

trekrider wrote:

Just wandering why other F owners keep their F series bike
They are tinker daily, always something wrong, noisy, poor handling, allot of carb problems, rather slow and heavy for its size and as most modern 250-500 ninja will out perform the F not to mention
R6 will totally blow it off the road.

If you need to ask the question then you likely will never understand. To some it was a bike they had purchased new and never wanted to part with, to others it was a bike they fell in love with as a teenager and now have the opportunity to own one, to others they love the timeless style lines that todays manufactures try to reproduce and often don't succeed. Many of the problems you mention can be limited by proper maintenance. A 2009 Corvette will blow a 1966 427 Corvette off the road too, but which one do you think will be more valuable 30 years from now and still get all the looks from the crowd?