Honda CB-1 vs. BMW R75/5

[pfestus1]

Hey Assq,
now I'm biased to boxers, so take that into consideration. I was at Ricky's Rendezvoos on the green 1972 R75/5/Dnepr sidecar rig. That bike I bought as my second bike back in 1974, it had Windjammer fairing, Wixom saddlebags, and trunk and 2000miles. I rode it up into the early 80s then it got parked. 17 years later it was still rusting away in the corner of my garage and I pulled it out and started going thru it. Had it running with little effort. Back on the road, and shit started happening, speedo went south, tranny started leaking and bearings started squealing, oil seals started seeping. But a little time with a good wrencher and it was running strong, and oil tight. A few years later I put the sidecar on it. Going back to 1972, my Brother, EAP on ADV, had a new Honda CB500. I learned to ride on that bike. A friend of ours would ride his father's black BMW R60/5, the first Beemer I ever remember seeing. As a newbi to the world of motorcycles, I could discern a BIG difference between the 500cc Honda and the 600cc Beemer. The Beemer while slower than the Honda, was way cooler, made power right off idle. Putted around at slow speed without any drama, was way more comfortable as a passenger, didn't have a rattly oily chain drive, an obviouse quality of build that the Honda didn't have. But the Honda was faster. Needed a lot of rev's to get it going fast, but it was faster. It was a year or so after my introduction to the R60/5 that I decided to buy a bike, and I only looked for used BMWs. So I wouldn't hesitate to trade the Honda multi for the BMW twin. But you do what feels right to you.
Oh, my first bike was a 1963 BMW R60/2 that I bought thinking it had only 18,000 miles, but later found out that it had 118,000 miles. Never regretted buying it, and loved it till the /5 caught my eye.
My first:

[pfestus1]

OH, Asquatch,
That R75/5 you are considering has the way coolest of frame mount fairings, the Avon-Air. They are pretty cool even today. I think the R100RS fairing is an indirect descendant of it.

[assquatch20]

Originally Posted by pfestus1

OH, Asquatch,
That R75/5 you are considering has the way coolest of frame mount fairings, the Avon-Air. They are pretty cool even today. I think the R100RS fairing is an indirect descendant of it.

Hank, thanks for the input and giving me an ID on the fairing. It took me forever to tell you and Ed apart, but I think I finally worked it out. Hopefully I can get a look at the thing when my friend gets home from basic training. I have a feeling it'll come home with me and we can compare come next RDV. Great meeting you, by the way!

[beemerphile]

It has the original BMW anti-stop front brake.

[Packer]

Originally Posted by beemerphile

It has the original BMW anti-stop front brake.

That item should not be confused with a brake. That is a "gentle retardation device".

Asquatch, get the Beemer, you'll spend far more time riding and far less time fettling. The massive suspension travel will take some brain adjustment. The bean cans are troublesome but if you use it as a regular rider fit replacement electronic ignition.

[Cat0020]

Which bike would you rather have the first time (or many times after) you encounter drivers talking on cell phones and not paying attention to driving?

[mrbindc]

I like Hondas and I like Beemers. But I really like old bikes.

I vote Beemer.

[Chico]

Beemer.

Way cooler.

Next

[assquatch20]

For anybody that wondered, I finally caved.

[blaine.hale]

Originally Posted by Packer

That item should not be confused with a brake. That is a "gentle retardation device".

Asquatch, get the Beemer, you'll spend far more time riding and far less time fettling. The massive suspension travel will take some brain adjustment. The bean cans are troublesome but if you use it as a regular rider fit replacement electronic ignition.

There are no bean cans on the /5 series. Just points and there is nothing troublesome about them, honestly.