Church Of MO: First Impression: 1996 Honda Rebel 250

The Honda Rebel 250 is probably the bike many of us rode when we were taking our Basic Rider Course. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing back then, when I rode the bike while trying to get my license, I could still tell it was a bit of a turd. A lack of experience meant I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why, though I chalked it up to being used and abused after having gone through the hands of many new riders.

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Church of MO: Ducati 748

Today’s reading, brethren, comes from the Book of Luke, which tells us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Hence the Ducati 748, little sister of the now-legendary 916, which reaches the age of consent this year. On a race track, the 916 was the trustiest motorcycle of the day. On the street, where sheer horsepower is seldom the key to happiness, the 748 and its higher-revving L-Twin extended an even more sincere invitation to twist its grip and let the feathers fly. Amen.

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Church Of MO – First Impression: Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport

When you think of Italian sportbikes, Moto Guzzi isn’t the marque that comes to mind first. Heck, it’s probably not the marque that comes to mind third or fourth, either. But every now and then, Moto Guzzi decides to break from its mold and produce a sport (well, sporty, anyway) bike. Such was the case in 1996 with the Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport. A combination of MV quirkiness and performance parts, the 1100 Sport wasn’t your typical Moto Guzzi. How did it work? Here’s Spanish correspondent Antonio Regidor Rao to tell you.

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Church Of MO – First Impression: 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7R

While Suzuki’s GSX-R750 may be the Godfather of the sportbike category, perhaps the most under appreciated 750 superbike of the time is the Kawasaki ZX-7R. The machine that changed little since 1993 while still managing to win superbike races and titles both here and abroad, many praise it as being one of the best handling sportbikes in existence. In 1997, our own Shawn Higbee (yes, the same Shawn Higbee who was the lead Buell test rider) got his hands on a then-new ZX-7R, for this first ride report. Considering Shawn’s vast experience on two wheels, his ability to evaluate a motorcycle and communicate what it’s doing is top notch. See for yourself in his review below in this week’s Church of MO.

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Church Of MO – First Impression: 1997 Honda 750 Magna

This one hits home for me, personally, as the Honda 750 Magna was the very first motorcycle I had ever ridden — and I was a passenger. Sure I had seen and sat on other bikes, but this was the first one to actually transport me somewhere. Both physically and mentally. I eventually gravitated towards sport(y) bikes, but it seems fitting the Magna gave me my start, considering its blending of both sporty and cruiser attributes. It was the safer choice of motorcycle for those who maybe couldn’t decide which spectrum of motorcycling they wanted to play in. The Magna has a cult following among its loyal fans, and hearing Associate Editor, Billy Bartels, talk about his first ride aboard the bike in 1997, it’s easy to see why, after a few modifications, the bike is still popular today.

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