I guess you have to have owned and ridden lots of Hondas to appreciate this, but I am amazed at how many times I look at the digital clock and see that the time is 7:54. :). I owned one of them in the late 1970’s. One like this.
The prevous owner had fitted electronic ignition which was nice and it went like slag off a shiny shovel, but it also handled like a wheelbarrow full of wet walrusses and I became very disenchanted with it very quickly and sold it on. In my ignorance I didn’t even look for what the cause of the poor handling could have been and, with the benefit of hindsight, I now realise that it was just badly worn steering head bearings. Chalk it up to experience, I suppose.
In the same vein, I am amazed by how often I look at the clock and see 3:54. Yes, I owned one of them too; in fact it was my first bike, way back in 1974. One of these.
Along the way I owned a 400/4, a 500/4 and a trio of CBX550/4’s as well, but, as those names, when said out loud, do not correspond with the way we say the time, they don’t count.
I woke up this morning at 7:54, that’s what promoted this post. Gotta love Saturdays.
In racing news, Lorenzo is half a second faster than the rest at Brno in Friday FP; de Puniet practised but had a near-highside and banged his sore leg on the frame of the bike. He returned to the pits immediately and sat out the rest of the session. The talk is that he will compete with the aid of pain-killers (which he stopped using 4 DAYS after his accident – amazing).
In 125’s, runaway points leader, Spain’s Marc Marquez had a big highside and dislocated his left shoulder in the subsequent fall. Dr Costa has popped it back in place and Marquez will also compete on Sunday, no doubt aided by some miracle pills.
In Moto2, the cream is starting to rise to the top with the “usual suspects” in the top 10. MotoGP-bound local rider, Karel Abraham, led the field until almost the end when he had a big highside also (insert “bouncing Czech” pun here) and he was pipped by Fonsi Nieto as Abraham watched helplessly from pit lane. Moto2 star Tony Elias did not practise yesterday after being fined and banned for practising illegally at Misano last week. He will be able to take part in qualifying and the race.
It looks like a great weekend coming up, hopefully I’ll get out for a ride sometime. Stay safe if you’re on the road.
