Vintage is my thing and I get originality and, to some degree at least, "correctness" in fittings and equipment. As I say, to a point. My take on it is the "sleeper" approach: originality as far as appearance, but anything goes and will go and should go beneath the skin. I mean, one is practically obligated to keep an iconic fifty-plus year old Honda looking "right" in my book. The CB500/550 four deserves preservation of its unique lines and pleasing form.

But not to the extreme. I say "no!" to glycol brake fluid and organic pads. I say "why?" to the original weak headlight. And I really don't understand the Dunlop Gold Seal tire ethos. They were crap tires on a good day, and that day was decades ago. Why would I propel even a moderately-powerful machine in the mountains in which I reside on square block treaded and rib treaded tires? No way.