Hey CB 900f

When you were test driving that new Dacati, how did you attach the camera to the front?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v =XihQeZpwqpE#t=8s

Wing master

No matter how you spell it, That was a wild ride.

I thought that was you on the D-U-C-A-T-I that was seen passing the R-1.

Wing master

Yea, I was thinking the same thing. I wonder why he bothered wearing a helmet? I don't recon it would do much good.

Wing master

  This is a stunt not unlike what I would have eventually tried on my 3 cyl. two stroke 500 Kawasaki in 1973. Wrecked two of them that summer. Learned a few valuable lessons. 1. You can only lean into a corner so far until your center stand peg catches. (At least on a 500 Kaw.) 2. You can't see through a face shield worth a crap when the guy coming at you doesn't dim his lights. 3. Three inches of blacktop running parallel to your travel is too big a step to try and jump up on at 55 mph regardless of how quickly a guard rail is approaching. 4. Going down the road at 55 mph with out a bike under you is no fun at all. 5. When you grind your knees down to the kneecaps they don't heal in at least 38 years. I'll let you know next year if 39 is a charm.

Have only been on one bike since 1973. Funny thing is; I know if I climbed on one today I'd be very cautious until I got to, maybe, the first stop sign. As Clint Eastwood says, "A man has got to know his limitations".  

Foo, I can't remember the year but it was the last year before they came out with electronic ignition. IIRC these were a bit higher in compression than the later models. Mine had had the electronic ignition installed though and was extremely fast in it's day. It was a finicky starter though and damn near broke me buying NGK plugs. Always two extra sets under the seat along with a wrench. It was Blue. RD

Perhaps my memory is a bit suspect when it comes to model years. I was thinking mine was a 69 but a search says that the blue bikes were 1971s. I bought it in 73 and don't recall it being that new. This was the fastest stock bike at the time they were built and would run 12.5 second 1/4 mile. Your cornering description is exactly what happened. I was moving pretty good through a tight corner and rolled on the throttle as I came out of it. Next thing I know I'm doing donuts around the center stand peg. I went straight up the street with no bike and can distinctly remember my arms and legs slapping against the pavement as I went. Scuffed the crap out of my helmit, tore a heavy denim jacket and jeans all to hell. Bike loop to looped onto the curb and tore the side cover off, struck the crank on the curb and bent it out of true. My adrenaline was riding so high that my buddy came by with a pick up and I threw the bike in the back pretty much alone. Back then I could do crap like that. Bike was totaled. I had a fair case of road rash. And yes, mine was built in one of the first two years. I had almost lost it a week or two earlier going around a long sweeping corner at about 70 mph. The front wheel was hopping as I went around. I later found out what you just confirmed. I believe one of the terms used was that they were an early "close coupled" bike and dangerous as hell. RD

Mine was identical to the blue one about halfway down this page:

http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Kawasaki_H1

Edited by Rockydog