Cheap and easy motorcycle?

Question

Cheap and easy motorcycle?

Answer 1

Mine wasn't!

Answer 2

There are all sorts of Low mileage Honda CB400As around.  This is a parallel twin, and they were known as the Honda Hawk type I and type II, and the one of which we speak was the CB400A Hawk Hondamatic. There were also later related bikes, CM400A and the CM450SC and the CB450Tand the Honda REBEL CMX450C.  All these were basically the same bike (A bit larger displacement in the 450 but basiclly the same.)

What these have is a unique Semi-Auto transmission, that you shift from Neutral to first and to second. You want to shift at about 20mph, after that shifing up is a matter of luck and how hard you push upward with the foot selector.  In second gear there is no need to shift down to first. You can start up and stop still in second gear at a cost to your gas mileage alone, much like a GM Powerglide two speed auto.

Now the two non-automatics had a bit more hp than the Hondamatic, and for a long time nobody thought of the Hondamatics much.  

Until about 30 years after they went into production, and the honda 750 began to go up in value as a collector' bike. (The 750A is also know as a Hondamatic.) The unique parts are the carbs, the STATOR, and the CDI unit, these cannot be replaced with the Standard HAWK parts.  These bikes began coming out of the woodwork, from $600-$2000. (they are a good buy in decent shape at around $12-1600.)

THese bikes tend to have a bit better gas mileage on the highway than a regular Hawk, due the smaller carbs.  (2? 4? mm smaller.)

They rarely need a chain replaced, because of the lower power out put, and the auto taking up the shock of shifting.

They rarely have a problem with the Semi-Auto.

And so there are a lot of these twins about and

many are finding their way into women's hands, as a useful item, not needing to be shifted. (Sometime they are lowered.)

And women seem to find them a competent, low-threat sort of motorcycle.  Women can concentrate on riding skills, rather than on shifting and clutching. (On the left side handle bar is the Parking brake.)

Answer 3

Suzuki Bandit 600 ... Kawasaki ZR-7

Answer 4

a stolen motorcycle... with a full tank of gas, and cash under the seat!