Giving up on an old friend...

I've been riding for about 5 years. I bought a '74 Honda CB360 as a junior in college, and slowly turned it into the bike I wanted it to be. I'm still tweaking it, but I'm close to satisfied with it. Color is what I want, love the style, riding posture is fine. I'm still working on the seat, that's really the only thing I have left to finalize.

The problem is its kind of a one trick pony. Great for low-speed, in-town or country road cruising. Mildly terrifying in highway traffic, or even at highway speeds.

Additionally, I'm HUGE in comparison. 6'4", 220lbs. The handlebars and gauges are the only part of the bike that are higher than my inseam. Friends who've seen me riding describe me as resembling "a gorilla humping a football".

Went motorcycle shopping with a friend (as an enabler), and they happened to have a Ducati 848 Evo Dark (I've hankered for a Duc for some time now). While I feel a kind of familiar fondness for my Honda, I can lust after the Ducati. Didn't ride it, as its well out of my self-imposed price range.

Same friend brought his '03 SV650 by the other day. Visually, it does nothing for me. I took it a couple of miles down the road, though, and the performance was embarrassing. Brakes and power like I'd never had access to with the Honda.

So the big, nasty, Italian. I LOVE the look (now). I know the performance would leave nothing to be desired. I'm concerned that I'll lose interest in its looks and/or miss the classic Honda look.

So should I:

A. find a bigger vintage bike (like a CB750 or 1000), build it into the style of bike I want, and enjoy the unique look with somewhat increased performance

or

B. invest in the big, mean sportbike, make a few tweaks to suit me, and enjoy the stunning performance, knowing that its not all that unique?

How about you shoot the middle and look at Honda 919's?

In reply to JohnInKansas:

You would look even funnier at 6'4" on a Ducati.....they're well known to be bikes with an excessively cramped riding position. At your height, that's where most people go straight to the zx14r/Hayabusa. Just throwing that out there.

Sell it and you'll spend the rest of you life trying to find it again.

In reply to yamaha:

If you feel cramped on a motorcycle, why would you shop for a Hayabusa? cycle-ergo.com doesn't make the ZX-14 or the GSX1300R seem like good candidates for a tall person. My VFR800 beats both, never mind the Guzzi California I threw into a comparison on there for giggles.

This is about my setup now. (kind of an eye opener in terms of just how far I moved the bars and pegs...)

I don't mind the riding position, just wish it wasn't comically small next to me.

pres589 wrote: In reply to yamaha: If you feel cramped on a motorcycle, why would you shop for a Hayabusa? cycle-ergo.com doesn't make the ZX-14 or the GSX1300R seem like good candidates for a tall person. My VFR800 beats both, never mind the Guzzi California I threw into a comparison on there for giggles.

The zx14/busa are a bit bigger and a little easier to get down behind the fairings than a traditional superbike. And I would hope your VFR had better ergo's, because its more of a Concours/FJR1300/Can'A Tuna rival mascarading as a sportbike in appearance....

In reply to yamaha:

An early 90's FJ 1200 would actually be a perfect bike for a 6'4" guy looking for handling, looks, speed and brakes but not high sticker price or fancy-pants fuel injection.

What's your self imposed budget? I just picked up an '03 SV1000 naked for $3k. I'm 6' and I still want to have the rearsets moved down maybe half an inch.

A Suzuki Vstrom has the same engine and similar frame with nice tall people ergos.

I feel like the Suzuki Vtwin bikes give you most of that Ducati sound with bulletproof reliability.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In reply to yamaha: An early 90's FJ 1200 would actually be a perfect bike for a 6'4" guy looking for handling, looks, speed and brakes but not high sticker price or fancy-pants fuel injection.

Indeed, I always seem to get impressed when I see FJ's around. The guys who normally buy them freaking pile on the miles though.

Have you considered old goldwings? The GL1000s and GL1100s can look pretty mean stripped down. Plus for me at 6'2" it felt like a good size. I also have a CB550 that starts to feel small.

It really depends on what you want. If you want a cool old bike that can keep up with traffic and fits you better I second the early goldwing

You could also go with a CB750.

If you want modern handling, stopping and don't want to have to tinker with it I would go with something newer.

dont' feel bad about moving on.

I know what you mean based on size. I'm 6'2 / 225, and had an old CB500. After riding modern sportbikes, much of the thrill was just gone. one trick pony as you said. It sucked getting on the highway so commuting to work was pretty much out.

When you're a bigger guy, and once you've experienced the power of a modern/bigger bike, the perspective changes.

I haven't regretted selling mine, a decade later, and it served it's time well. A younger friend of mine actually still owns it. I've never tried to buy it back.

That's pretty unique.

CB1000

John, I would consider any of the 10+ year old bikes in the 1L+ range. In my group of friends there is a Bandit 1200 (killer bike for the money right now), a pair of Triumph 1050s (Speed Triple and ST), and some other touring/ADV bikes (Big BMWs, mid BMW). I would suggest looking at anything listed here. They are all going to be "tall guy friendly" and any of the Japanese standards from around 2000 will be comfortable. The SV is small in comparison.

Bandit 1200:

Easily had in great shape for $2500.

This is pretty persuasive too. Lower numbers are stock

it seems like you still want something vintage that you can make your own. I would say find the newest nicest 750+ vintage bike you can get for your money go from there

I really wanted an Aprilia Mille (the predecessor to the RSV) but was told that it was a LARGE bike. I have only sat on one, but I think they are right. I think that may be better for you than a Ducati superbike, which tend to be kinda small.

That being said, I ride with other Ducati guys and some BIG guys ride 848 style bikes, they just don't care what they look like doing so.

I thought about getting into riding through building a similar style bike out of a XL250s. Bike I was given ended up being too far gone (motor seized, rusty bits, etc) and I also live near DC and decided that riding down here would be suicide.

That sure is a pretty bike! Would like to tool about on something like that. (if I wouldn't get a Land Rover suppository because of someone running late and using their smart phone)

As far as what to do..

Just answer the question. What matters more? Do you want to build, or do you want to ride?

So how big is your CB? I ask because I'm 5'11" 180lbs. I've been looking at old Hondas lately and I know how big CB750s are but not sure on the smaller ones.

Not really sure what my self-imposed budget is... I guess if I'm going to modify it, I can't justify more than about $2500. If I'm going to leave it pretty much as-is, I could justify as much as $5000 right now, and save up for as much as $10k.

Octavious, its a CB360. Seat height as it sits is around 28". I'd ballpark it at about 80% the physical size of a 750.