"Modern" Bikes....

[smegballs]

Yesterday after being ripped for "riding that 750 like a granny" I decided offer a ride on the offending beast to perhaps give a 1st hand demo on why I don't ride it fast. the bikes general vibe is "imminent fear of death on anything reseblimg over 50 mph or a corner".

This gave me the chance to ride a 1991 CBR600F back from sainsburys to my house, about 2 mile maybe. It was amazing, the bike felt like it was superglued to the road and it handled easily and smoothly. Banking it over just wasn't an issue as it felt totally surefooted and safe. Braking was sharp and responsive with plenty of feel.

Basically it wiped the floor with an 87 GPX750. Which feels fast, but totally unsafe on the the roads. The power is there (more than I need anyway) but the braking and handling is so poor that it just feels dangerous to ride. Whereas my GS felt dodgy, the vibe was that the bike was ok but the shot chassis bearings (about all of them) were what made it feel so unsafe. Sadly with the GPX the bike feels fine, just the actual bike is this dodgy naturally.

Then I considered what would happen if I compared the GPX to my dads XS650. Braking would be way better than the XS's single pot single disc. Power would be up and handling possibly too. Yet my dad loves the XS , loves its handling and thinks the braking is adequate etc etc. I think the thing is a deathtrap and the braking pant-pissingly poor.

So I think that "shitness" is probably down what your actually comparing. No doubt my old man would think the GPX a super-fantastic sports bike. Whereas the CBR makes the GPX look like a tractor. I can't imagine what a "new" bike must be like compared to the old CBR with getting on for 20 more years of development.

I thought the CBR was fantastic and would go out and get one right away if poss, although it was a tad small for me so I had a bent back on it.

Have anyone any bikes to compare shitness of ?

[craigs23]

I find newer bikes a tad boring, as more often than not, I know it's the bike that's making the difference in performance terms, as they will always have far greater potential/ability than my average skills can provide. Add in the fact I don't like the look of 90% of the new bikes available today and the fact that the ones I have tried left me a little cold in the long term, I can't see myself being excited about any of the newer models for the time being (CB1100F excluded).

Older/smaller bikes give me so much more satisfaction, on a performance/riding basis, as it gives me the impression that I'm making the difference more.

Having said that, I get satisfaction from riding at whatever pace, and it's rare that I'd push my mediocre ability on the road, if at all nowadays. Those older models, especially ones that are in dire need of some TLC tick more of my 'biking enjoyment' boxes. They just seem to, more often than not, boil down to being a lot of fun. Even at 50mph.

[virus]

I get exactly the same thing mate. every bike ive had on the road has pretty much been a knackered old 80's contraption, that barely passed mot. Most rideouts im out with people on gsxrs, cbrs, hornets, fireblades, speed 4 etc who then suggest im a bad rider as I dont keep up with them. one of the few people I let ride my old 750 actually came back with a white face with horror, then agreed with me that the suspension and brakes are in no way suitable for the job, and seen as its an 80s 750, it only made as much power as a modern cbr600 anyway.


The joys of riding old bikes eh?


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[stinkwheel]

You should have a go on a 1100 Katana if you want to scare the shit out of yourself. The Oldskool suzuki club doesn't have a dinosaur as their logo for nothing.

People scoff at my Jawa because it only does 65mph. My usualy reply is that it takes more skill and concentration to ride a Jawa at 65mph than it does the ride an R1 at 120.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[27cows]

IMHO, bikes should take a bit of riding, particularly large ones. The CBR600 (of various vintage) pretty much sums up modern bikes. It's sweet handling, fast, well braked but definitely lacking character and charm.

I like bikes that are a bit of a handful but not outright dangerous, require some skill to ride (ie they don't have brakes and handling so good the bike almost rides itself) and have a bare minimum of plastic/superfluous cobblers. If I wanted to go round a corner like I was on rails, I'd drive a car.

Modern bikes are dangerous (I think) because you can go so fast with such ease. When things start to vibe/shake/twitch as the speed climbs, you're much more likely to keep things relatively sensible.

People using steering dampers and fork braces on road bikes should be forced to drive V*lv* for the rest of their lives.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Think part of it is wear on older bikes, but newer ones definatly have far more power and far better handling.

As to the GPX, from the one I had a while back the brakes weren't bad (one thing that was better on the GPX than on my FZ750). Handling wasn't great, but they were known for that when new. Very slap happy. Those raced landed up with a large amount of chassis bracing added if the class allowed it.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Alex A]

[Ariel Badger]

You lot should try hanging onto the Badger
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[27cows]

[truslack]

[smegballs]

Yeah my favourite bike is my MZ, which is always character filled. To be honest if I didn't ride with "sporty" other riders, I would be less inclined to go for fast.

I think a say a cbr along with my MZ would be a good combo. I like character bikes and rarely go "fast" by any definition, however its nice to have something that simply starts when you push the button and can just be ridden without to much fear.

Low power but good handling would be the best at the moment, I only need something with a bit more go than the GS so I'm guessing 50-60 bhp would be more than ample (on assumption that GS400 was a knackered clapped out ride). This is seeming to push me back into middleweight twin categories than the fours so maybe something like a GPZ is worth looking into?

[Mystery]

the only prob i have with new bikes are theirs well to much that can go wrong electric wise anyway
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Carbon knuckles assure you maximum protect against debris and unfortunate accidents or if someone cuts you off, their side mirror.Mopeds are like chubby chicks.. they are really fun to ride until you're friends catch you on one

[smegballs]

I dont hold with this EFI business at all, no sir not a jot!

ABS can go get fucked as well..

[hmmmnz]

my vf1000 is the scariest bike ever to ride,
the air suspension in the bike leaves alot to be desired,
you can get airborne by just hitting a bump at speed,
its far too powerful for its ability to handle,
saying that my mz500 doesnt handle either, but because it feels lighter (not a whole lot lighter) i feel free'r to throw it about and i dont give a shit if i slide off it, (its such a bullet proof bike, i doubt an indicator would even break )

the gs500 out handles both bikes with ease
(and anyone who's ridden a gs500 knows what a statement that is)

im sure their was a point to my post, but during my ramble, ive completly forgotten it... sorry
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Shreddie]

[27cows]

[Noxious89123]

I like my CBR6. I don't think it's "too modern". It's very capable (to me atleast) but will still let me know when I'm pushing too hard.

It's far from a handful though! It behaves and does what I ask from it. Don't think they are really any 600 sporty sports tourers being made these days. A blackbird is too big, a vfr is too "tourer" for my liking. The new CBRs are full on super-sports.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[ms51ves3]

[Redoko]

[hmmmnz]

[garth]

Less is more. C70 FTW!

Crap brakes, bouncy suspension, it's a right giggle.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[stevo as b4]

I want to see this bad boy VF1000 finished and on the road! Old skool Honda V4 FTW!

[.Chris.]

It depends on the bike and what wear has taken place I guess.

The bike I felt the most comfortable on was my '89 CD250U. Not a bike normally renowned for good handling but it was smooth, giving me a lot of confidence. I'd frequently deck out the pegs even with a Cheng Shin front tyre.

In comparison my RXS, which I am now back on after a break of about 18 months, feels pretty untrustworthy - like it wants to 'fall in' to corners. Strange as I don't remember it being like that initially
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[ms51ves3]

[swiftb]