bngt
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Post by bngt on Dec 5, 2018 23:41:41 GMT 1
Most old bikes are just disappointing. I liked XT500 but got myself a Husaberg 570 instead. Twice the power 2/3 the weight. Much better suspension, fuel injection and electric start. For me it is mainly the twostrokes that haven't yet been succeeded with something similar or better. I'd like a Suzuki GT500 1977. I had a GT250 1977 as my first big bike.
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Post by dazzle on Dec 12, 2018 17:47:23 GMT 1
Lusted after a laverda Jota, motor guzzi V7s and a ducati 750ss when i was young, all i could afford was 2 strokes Id still love one of the above but would like an LC 2 will be looking for one in the spring.
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Post by Mr Kipling on Dec 12, 2018 18:17:09 GMT 1
I have all my dream bikes apart from one, and I'm never going to be able to afford it now. Should've bought it when I had the chance and went to see it... An NR750 Nice bike , cost a fortune these days... but I can dream !!!! Wouldn,t mind an RG500 or a Bimota V due either....
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Post by nokturnal on Dec 12, 2018 18:58:07 GMT 1
Would love an R7 or 98-01 R1, or reverse cylinder TZ for the track.
Street a 97 TLS or a 93-94 Fireblade would be nice.
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Post by donkeychomp on Dec 12, 2018 23:42:33 GMT 1
I remember when the Firebucket first came out, only been in the UK a few days and as I walked down a very quiet Somerset lane I heard a slight wail, then the loudest howl ever as one flew past me, front wheel off the deck, the rider caning it in every gear. What a sight. Cracking bike!
Alex
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Post by veg on Dec 13, 2018 19:20:28 GMT 1
In the days of immortality nobody was going to die we were all gonna live forever.
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Post by reggieperrin on Dec 17, 2018 11:26:24 GMT 1
I have all my dream bikes apart from one, and I'm never going to be able to afford it now. Should've bought it when I had the chance and went to see it... An NR750 Nice bike , cost a fortune these days... but I can dream !!!! Wouldn,t mind an RG500 or a Bimota V due either.... Yeah, annoyingly though, I went to view an NR and turned it down at $29,000 Canadian. Should've bought it..!! Sold my RG500 when it was at a stupid low price as well... 20:20 Hindsight is an amazing thing.....
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Post by 1966baz on Dec 21, 2018 8:06:58 GMT 1
Nice bike , cost a fortune these days... but I can dream !!!! Wouldn,t mind an RG500 or a Bimota V due either.... Yeah, annoyingly though, I went to view an NR and turned it down at $29,000 Canadian. Should've bought it..!! Sold my RG500 when it was at a stupid low price as well... 20:20 Hindsight is an amazing thing..... Yeah ,been there .Ilooked at an 0w01 just up the road for £5000.Should have bought it.
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Post by cbm on Dec 21, 2018 9:11:08 GMT 1
Most old bikes are just disappointing. As are most classic/old car, dream breakers most of them
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bngt
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Post by bngt on Dec 31, 2018 18:07:45 GMT 1
There are a lot of hyped classic bikes I avoid. 1. Early GSXR 750. Should have been water cooled and had a beam frame instead of alu-perimeter frame. Weak brakes and bad anti-dive fork. 2. RD500. A fake copy of the worst Yamaha racer. Everything is a compromise. 3. Ducati before Panigale. 4. Kawasaki triples. Vibration and bad road-holding. Not as quick as a Yamaha 350 YPVS. 5. CBX. Weak frame and disappointing power. 6. Jota. Vibrations and harsh ride.
Around 2005, bikes got great, before that you had to be an enthusiast to love them.
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Post by firmstools on Dec 31, 2018 19:19:27 GMT 1
There are a lot of hyped classic bikes I avoid. 1. Early GSXR 750. Should have been water cooled and had a beam frame instead of alu-perimeter frame. Weak brakes and bad anti-dive fork. 2. RD500. A fake copy of the worst Yamaha racer. Everything is a compromise. 3. Ducati before Panigale. 4. Kawasaki triples. Vibration and bad road-holding. Not as quick as a Yamaha 350 YPVS. 5. CBX. Weak frame and disappointing power. 6. Jota. Vibrations and harsh ride. Around 2005, bikes got great, before that you had to be an enthusiast to love them. Ooohh, harsh! Early GSXR s are still fantastic fun to ride today, dispite large wheels and skinny tyres, as are 916/748 SPs. Kawasaki tripples are a different era to the YPVS so unfair to compare. The CBX was all about Hondas "because we can"attitude, (the NR750 was fairly crap too) You are spot on with the RD 500 and Jota though!
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Post by earthman on Dec 31, 2018 20:41:27 GMT 1
Two members not liking the RD500? "Everything is a compromise",....did the motorcycling press think that about this bike back in the day? Is that why I hardly ever saw one on the roads??
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Post by firmstools on Dec 31, 2018 22:34:43 GMT 1
Two members not liking the RD500? "Everything is a compromise",....did the motorcycling press think that about this bike back in the day? Is that why I hardly ever saw one on the roads?? Had one as my only transport for a couple of years in the late 80s.It felt heavy, slow and a let down after my 350 YPVS It looked a bit rushed into production to be honest, not quite the finished bike somehow, strange thing is if I could afford one I would have one now !!!
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Post by JonW on Dec 31, 2018 23:35:47 GMT 1
They were a compromise as I expect at the outset the plan was that they wanted to give us a racer for the road, but by the time they made it reliable along with longevity, sensibly priced and had all the road gear on it it was sadly very heavy and down on power. Many prefer the 350s for their light weight, good power (especially these days) and ease/cost of rebuilds, but there will always be the lure of a 500 if youre an RD/RZ fan.
I do think there is a lot of the ground work in the 500 that shows where bikes were headed and for an 84 bike its quite modern in places. If you compare the way its built over the 350s you can see that the smaller models were built along the lines of the 70s bikes still with large bolts (check out the 500s engine bolts and rearsets if youve never seen them) and everything based around being hidden as they were naked bikes.
They did also suffer by being saddled with the technology of the day, probably added as it was 'racer cool', ie 16" front wheel and anti dive etc. This would have been fine if it helped (or worked lol) the handling on real roads.
The contemporary Aussie mags were blown away by the 500, citing it had good brakes and handling as well as lots of power, perhaps compared to much of what was out in 84 it did, but of course a well ridden late 90s 600 would see it off these days I suspect.
That said, I cant wait to ride mine. It was a bike I never bothered about as I knew I couldnt afford one and then one day the stars aligned when a mate wanted to sell his brother's old bike and suddenly out of the blue I had one. Do I expect it to be the best thing Ive ever ridden? no. But it will make a great noise and I expect it to be fun.
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Post by icarus001 on Jan 1, 2019 5:54:38 GMT 1
Around 2005, bikes got great, before that you had to be an enthusiast to love them. That's simply not true, I agree with most of your points, a lot of the bikes you mention aren't great by todays standards, but there were some absolute gems that came out well before 2005. I'm riding around on a 1992 CBR600, I ride it for fun, sometimes I go to work on it and I do trackdays on it as well where I can easily run in inters and have no problem staying on the pace, I would also happily tour Europe on it - it's almost the perfect bike. Todays motorcycles are so hyped up that the manufacturers mostly sell on pure marketing, every bike is a compromise, I just sold a 2018 MV Agusta Dragster RC, a simply amazing bike but too focused as a road bike. And a Panigale V4 is a ridiculous machine to ride on the road, it's so focused it makes no sense as a bike for the public roads - same with any of the latest superbikes, amazing bits of machinery but they don't belong on the road. My TDR250 is a compromise, you definitely wouldn't want to tour on it, my LC is a compromise, and whilst my 1936 Rudge 500 is sublime you probably wouldn't throw panniers on it and tour Europe. Looking back there are very few bikes that don't have limitations and modern bikes are generally more focused and less practical.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 7:05:00 GMT 1
I really like my 86 gixxer. brakes work well on mine and suspension for my riding ability is great. Also love my H1. find the vibration about the same as my RD's.Brakes are ordinary at best though. Every bodies different. PS My 98 R1 goes ok too.
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Post by LC_BOTT on Jan 1, 2019 9:55:05 GMT 1
Nice list of classics there Ken, a stupid question, but how do you get the front wheel out of the GSXR? Also the start, of an era of bikes that killed the two strokes it seems.
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Post by markhoopy on Jan 1, 2019 10:44:08 GMT 1
The contemporary Aussie mags were blown away by the 500, citing it had good brakes and handling as well as lots of power, perhaps compared to much of what was out in 84 it did, but of course a well ridden late 90s 600 would see it off these days I suspect. A well-ridden mid-80s RG500 would do that too
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 10:51:04 GMT 1
Hi LC Bott. Ive only had the slabbie for about 5 years. I've never removed the front wheel. But how id go about it is lift the front off the ground with straps attached to the beam above it to the clipons and undo everything till it drops off. Axle, speedo cable etc. As I normally have to put them back on by myself, id undo at least one caliper off the leg and feed it back on after wheel is reattached.
I'm not overly scientific and normally have to relearn everything i do as i dont do it often enough for it to sink in. After Ive done it the second or third time I normally say, "now I remember". ha
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 10:58:57 GMT 1
I suppose being pre 2005 it has a lot to answer for bngt. Its such a pile of shite. haha.
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bngt
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Posts: 202
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Post by bngt on Jan 1, 2019 14:04:06 GMT 1
A little controversy makes for a great debate . Lol!
I am an enthusiast so I can accept some issues if the bike has character and I guess those I mentioned have character.
Cheers!
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Post by veg on Jan 1, 2019 14:23:17 GMT 1
Got to agree with lots of the comments above bikes before 05 were built to the technology of the day and they were relatively great for the time comparing modern bikes to 70-80-90s bikes is irrelevant be like comparing a Ford Focus to a mk1 escort. However I ride bikes for fun I do it for the giggles and the sensations. I get more out of pushing a 1986 slabby or a 350 lc along at 90mph on a B road than I ever would out of a modern soulless race rep that has 10 x the ability I have and makes me feel frustrated and lets be honest 150+ bhp slightly intimidated.
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Post by allspeeds on Jan 1, 2019 14:25:47 GMT 1
My grandad rode speedway for West Ham in the 1920:30s I,d love to have one of those bikes if they still exist he also rode the wall of death at Southend pier when he was a young man and my dad had a Scott flying squirrel in mint condition when I was a boy it’s now in a collection just up the road from me also would like to get my hands on 1978 rd 50 m and any flat tanker the rest of the bikes I always wanted I have got 👍
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bngt
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Post by bngt on Jan 1, 2019 17:12:10 GMT 1
Nice R1 Ken007! In my opinion the R1 started the modern era sport bikes. Some say the Fireblade did but I only think they got it right with the 1000RR in 2004. R1of 2004 I find to be the most attractive. Kenny rep or maroon metallic!
The GSXR1000 in 2001 was a step up, but they peaked in 2005. I have got myself a K5 and it is incredible even if I can't make it justice. The engine pulls with force from idle to 13 500rpm.
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bngt
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Post by bngt on Jan 1, 2019 17:23:03 GMT 1
Classic bikes that are underrated:
1. TZR 2MA. I have three of them. 126 kg and amazing roadholding. race derived beam frame, proper stiff fork, large dia front disc with four pot caliper. The engine with dry sump gear box is a marvel but a bit too small so I have put a 421 in one and the next one will get a 472.
2. Kawasaki ZX10. Yes the GPZ900RR was a huge step but the ZX10 reduced weight with a proper frame, mono shock, better brakes and fantastic road holding. The most convenient sport tourer I have ridden.
3. VFR 1000 Firestorm. Need better shock (F4i works well) and revalving the fork but other than that it is a fantastic bike at half the price of a Ducati. You must however put a stopper in the cam chain adjuster so that the chain doesn't rip when the tensioner spring breaks.
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Post by copper99 on Jan 1, 2019 19:03:11 GMT 1
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Post by copper99 on Jan 1, 2019 19:09:27 GMT 1
Classic bikes that are underrated: 3. VFR 1000 Firestorm. Need better shock (F4i works well) and revalving the fork but other than that it is a fantastic bike at half the price of a Ducati. You must however put a stopper in the cam chain adjuster so that the chain doesn't rip when the tensioner spring breaks. Recently sold my Firestorm, worthy but uniteresting, too heavy, too under powered and flat feeling un-interresting motor, the Ducati may be twice the price but they do feel like a V Twin should... and as you say, the suspension is very poor. Comfy brisk road bike but a GSXR750 SRAD or similar era CBR600 is a far better and more interesting bike for the money and just as interesting classic.
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bngt
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Post by bngt on Jan 1, 2019 19:22:18 GMT 1
It seems like the RG500 was closer to being the real thing but late. I haven't tried one but that is what I read.
A friend of mine has a RD500 but with R6 fork, swing, wheels and brakes. It is very nice but still heavy.
For modification I am still in favour of TZR. Maybe in the future I will do a Millyard and put a four cylinder YPVS in one.
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bngt
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Post by bngt on Jan 1, 2019 19:33:25 GMT 1
Classic bikes that are underrated: 3. VFR 1000 Firestorm. Need better shock (F4i works well) and revalving the fork but other than that it is a fantastic bike at half the price of a Ducati. You must however put a stopper in the cam chain adjuster so that the chain doesn't rip when the tensioner spring breaks. Recently sold my Firestorm, worthy but uniteresting, too heavy, too under powered and flat feeling un-interresting motor, the Ducati may be twice the price but they do feel like a V Twin should... and as you say, the suspension is very poor. Comfy brisk road bike but a GSXR750 SRAD or similar era CBR600 is a far better and more interesting bike for the money and just as interesting classic. 193kg dry vs a 900SS at 188kg dry. Quite acceptable I think. Mine has now got Fireblade fork and wheels plus SP2 swing so probably matches the Ducati in weight. I would have preferred a VTR SP2 but they are three times as expensive and more than twice the price in insurance. So for a decent classic V-twin, I still recommend at least trying one.
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Post by copper99 on Jan 1, 2019 20:00:00 GMT 1
Recently sold my Firestorm, worthy but uniteresting, too heavy, too under powered and flat feeling un-interresting motor, the Ducati may be twice the price but they do feel like a V Twin should... and as you say, the suspension is very poor. Comfy brisk road bike but a GSXR750 SRAD or similar era CBR600 is a far better and more interesting bike for the money and just as interesting classic. 193kg dry vs a 900SS at 188kg dry. Quite acceptable I think. Mine has now got Fireblade fork and wheels plus SP2 swing so probably matches the Ducati in weight. I would have preferred a VTR SP2 but they are three times as expensive and more than twice the price in insurance. So for a decent classic V-twin, I still recommend at least trying one. Agreed but specs are only a narrow side of the classic bike wish list equation, the title of the thread is “what classic bike do you hanker after”, whilst people do hanker after SP1/2s and air cooled Dukes for good reason, no one hankers after Firestorms, worthy bike n all but no classic in my book, which is reflected in their value.
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