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bechtoea -> RE: The best Honda street bikes of all time (4/4/2007 6:37:51 PM)
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I have been reading on this board for years but rarely post. This subject really lit a fire under me and I had to post.
I think that you have to go to the bikes that changed the industry. First would be the 69 CB750. It put the British bike business outta business and tanked Harley for the next 15 years. It also set the standard for your standard Japanese inline 4 cyl motorcycle from that day forward.
You would think that Honda redefining what a streetbike is would be a once in a lifetime deal, but then in 1975, they did it again with the Gold Wing. Flat four, shaft drive, liquid cooling, just a remarkable bike for it's time. Vetter and other's started designing the bags and fairing and the US touring industry was invented. Fast forward to today and the GW is still the standard for a US touring bike.
You all are going to blow your top on the third bike that I am putting here. It may not even count...the Honda Helix 250cc scooter. Prior to this machine, scooters were underpowered, cramped, smelly (2 stroke), buckboard riding pieces of trivia in the US and the world. Then Honda took an Elite 250, stretched the frame out 14 inches, designed a built in trunk and "feet forward" seating position, and presto, instant "touring" scooter. Throw an oil change, valve adjustment, and belt at it every now and then and it will run forever. The damn thing will run from coast to coast like a Gold Wing and will go well over 100K miles. Just one of the most unbelieveable machines that Honda ever built. The first time I road one of these I was making fun of it. After doing about 10 miles at 65MPH, I was a believer. 2006 was the last year for the Helix, but to date the industry has not found it's equal, not even Honda.
Finally, my fourth pick is my current ride, a biased pick if I may say so myself. I have been riding for 20 years, owned a LOT of bikes and ridden many more. My current ride is the best overall machine I have EVER owned or ridden. The Honda Horet 600, better known in the states as the 599, is simply the best bike I have ever ridden. No techno mumbo jumbo, this is just the Honda CB series designed and refined to the endth degree. It has a CBR600F3 drivetrain tuned for torque yet still dyno's around 85HP at the rear wheel. It has a standard seating position that lends itself to touring, sport riding, commuting, or anything else you wanna do. I can commute and get 47MPG, cruise at 55MPH on the backroads, or run 85MPH on the interstate for miles on end, this bike will do it all. It has no issues and no equal when it comes to an all around standard.
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