Boomer - the answer's simple, big Kwak motor's have soul! A Kawa engine on song gives goosebumps, and they pull stronger and stronger toward the redline, the big Honda unit never did that for me...............
When I was 13/14 living in rural Kent I had an RM250 crosser that I used to use to blat around the lanes on. There was a road that led to 'Summer Hill' with a small hump backed bridge on it.
In the mornings I used to ride the RM the two miles to the bus stop, leave the bike behind a hedge (those were the days eh!) and jump on the number 12 bus to get to school which was 12 miles away in Maidstone. I was well paranoid of hitting the bridge too quickly, especially as the 2stoke250 was a bit punchy (if you've ridden one you'll know what the power delivery's like - on or off!) I wasn't experienced at jumping at all and the bike had sandcross tyres which were shite on tarmac.
One particular morning my mind must have been elsewhere and I didn't remember to back off for the bridge. We took off for what seemed like ages and to my suprise landed perfectly on the rear wheel, smooth as anything, front comes down absolutely perfect and still on the throttle............fook me I lived off of that buzz for the rest of the year.
Those definately were the days - school uniform, no lid, no gloves, not a care in the world and safe in the knowledge that the yellow RM would still be hidden in the hedge for the ride home..............awesome childhood
I'll see if I can dig out a piccie