Red Rocket

12/31/2018

2015 Honda CBR 600RR (ABS)

What can I say about him? The story of Red Rocket is the story of love lost, and love found - in more ways than one. 

I bought him Christmas of 2017. A couple years earlier I had over the course of 6 months or so, traded my 2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 for a Harley Davidson Classic for a 2008 Honda CBR600rr Graffiti Edition. I was just having fun with buying and selling back then and had no idea it would lead to love. 

I had always wanted a sportbike, so the trade for the Honda was a no-brainer. It was exciting to ride for the first time!I knew nothing of these middleweight bikes, so the 2008 600rr was my introduction to lightness, endless revs, and nimble handling. At 410 lbs and almost 100 hp, it was an almost perfect blend of power to weight without being too much or too little. The riding position made long rides difficult for my 6' 3" frame, but for an hour ride on a Texas evening it was perfect. I was enamored of its lightning quickness and how the bike seemed to understand intuitively what I wanted it to do. Two lane curving blacktop, light traffic, and time to kill - it was the therapy I didn't know I needed. Unfortunately, the other thing I needed was cash...so a few months later, in response to my ad, a man came and forcibly pried my hands off the grips and made me take cash from him.

Fast forward a couple years after very reluctantly selling the black 600rr, and I had the itch once again for a motorcycle. I had never gotten the black Honda out of my mind, so I set to work looking for another one. I had two requirements: One - it had to be red. An acquaintance of mine had a red sportbike back in the day, and I always thought it was such a good-looking color. Two - It had to have ABS. I'm only an occasional rider, and wanted as much help as possible not to crash. And three - It had to be red.

After a couple months of  obsessive searching and talking myself in and out of it, I found a bike near Dallas, TX a few hours away from where I lived. It was two years old with only 900 miles on it. Basically new, in my book. I hooked up the trailer, and drove up there one cold December night to buy it. I wasn't just going to look at it - I knew it was mine. After weakly haggling with the young owner, I loaded it up and hauled Red Rocket to his new home. I was single and renting at the time, so his new home was my living room. Yes, and the best piece of furniture I owned, in my opinion. 

It was everything I remembered and more. Razor sharp handling, engine screaming to 15,000 rpm, touchy throttle, uncomfortable riding position. Perfect. At 140 mph it just hunkered down on its suspension and glued itself to the road like a tick on a dog's back.  It laid over and bit into the curves like a sharp skate blade on ice. It was glorious. I spent many summer evenings riding the back roads of east Texas, each ride a combination of adventure and therapeutic release. 

The following July, I met the woman who was to become my wife. I found out later that she kept an "impossible list" of things she wanted in a soulmate. Whatever was on that list, after I sent her a picture of my red motorcycle in the living room, it removed any doubt I was the one. Red Rocket is a part of the family, and will be for a while - afterwards maybe I'll find a red Ducati I like...those Italians.

08/30/2020

Red Rocket is for sale. It's with a heavy heart and an eye to the future that this inevitable day has arrived. Winter is quickly approaching, and with it the need for longer-term projects. I won't lie and say it's all gloomy. I really look forward to my next bike - whatever it ends up being. Until then, Red Rocket will give up his place in the garage for a yet-unnamed and undiscovered gem. You can find him on eBay, if you are interested in the details!

Update: 10/23/2020 No takers on Red Rocket, so he has been winterized and stored away on stands. If you are interested in purchasing him, email me at eric@carsarepeopletoo.com

Update: 11/30/2020 Red Rocket has found a new home with a family here in Minnesota! After meeting them, I am pleased to know he will have a good home with people who appreciate what he is. My wife and I fought back some sad feelings after making so many memories riding together. Red Rocket was certainly a part of our love story and always will be.