What is the best bike ever? Your choice

[27cows]

Probably been done 85 times before but the BCF search is basic, to say the least. Shite and useless, some would say

Simple question - what do you consider to be the best road bike ever made?

I'll nominate the GPZ500 - brilliant all rounder, reliable, capable of touring, commuting, scratching round the back roads, forgiving, ideal for a recently qualified learner or old hand. Can return quite remarkable fuel economy with a little care, yet still hit around 130mph (more than enough for anyone sane, surely ). Spares availability is good, prices have remained sensible and real bargains can be had. Pretty easy to work on. And I would say not unattractive to look at either:

https://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=1099771504
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Good call on the GPZ, I'd go for a CB250RS. Similar reasons, but I'll add kick start and aircooling for added simplicity. Shame they don't make them any more, I'd have one again in a heartbeat. In fact, anyone wanna swap one for my CB500?

https://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2004%5C08%5C28%5Cbikepics-202566-320.jpg
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[colin1]

the gpz may be great, but i like parallel twin 500s to look like retro unfaired things such as the er5 or cb500

i like faired things to have a smooth and powerful il4 600 engine for fast roads

i'm greedy so dont believe in compromises and would prefer to have a different bike to do different duties

a comuter for comuting and a fast bike for fast roads or an offorad bike for offroad stuff

the best road bike may be the 98 r1. I liked it when I tried it, but completely impractical for me.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Frost]

This has been done before and the winner was:

https://www.gutshot.com/images/featurepics/honda90.jpg

Win's in every category except looks and long distance riding.

So excluding reliability and practicality in favour of looks i'd go for this:

https://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1994-ducati-916-1.jpg
It has the looks, technology ahead of it's time such as a single sided swinger & under seat exhaust. It's essentially the same bike that won the last two WSBK races and has been so good it's forced the biggest and best of them to copy it in order to beat it (Honda SP1 & 2).

[Blau Zedong]

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/BLUEX5/701da453.jpg

The original GSXR750. Alloy Frame? - Check. Roadgoing version of factory F1 / Endurance prototype?- Check. Japanese reliability? - Check.

Basically before the other manufacturers had done anything, Suzuki had done everything. The other Japanese manufacturers were still fucking around with steel frames and in some cases twin shock rear ends coupled with aircooled engines so big they needed a fuel tank the size of an upturned rowing boat to cover them. Comparing the GSXR to other mid 80's bikes is like comparing a park bench to an F1 car.

Oh, and it's the bike that's won more races than any other in history.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Carvel]

400 superdream ftw

https://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/RxsOllie/RIMG1079.jpg

Just whoring ma new ride
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[27cows]

The Cub may have sold a trillion units or whatever but it's far from being even the best small bike ever. They're horrible to ride, let's be honest. Bloody appalling suspension. The older ones rust away rapidly. The motors are frequently not as reliable as you'd think. Fuel economy isn't what it should be for the poor level of performance.

I'd go so far as to say that the Cub isn't even a proper bike. It's nearer to a scooter than anything. No manual clutch consigns it to the bin, IMHO. Crap brakes, shit handling, dreadful looks, slow as buggery, all round pretty horrible. If the Cub is the best ever bike, I'm Ghandi.

I could understand the original CB750 being considered - that bike was truly groundbreaking and effectively brought the curtain down on the archaic British bike industry and ushered in a new era where bikes were reliable, oil tight but, if I'm honest, also lacking a certain amount of character.

I dislike plastic on bikes but the GPZ for me is still the closest to the ideal all round bike ever made.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[MarJay]

[Blau Zedong]

[Shaft]

Best bike ever might be a bit strong, but I really did like this:

https://img848.imageshack.us/img848/4982/xj900.jpg

Decent performance (a passenger didn't make any difference) reasonable fuel consumption, no chain to adjust and, once they got rid of the handlebar fairing, it handled pretty damn well for the time.

I toured, commuted and scratched mine and it could deal with everything I could give it; there are faster bikes and better handling ones, but as an all rounder, I would say these are pretty tough to beat.
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[pinkyfloyd]

Its a tough one to answer because if it was the best bike ever then why dont you own one?

The VFR 750 would be a contender for me, and I toyed with the idea of owning one but instead I have a VTR and I cant even say thats the best bike ever. I love the beastie but its not the best bike ever.

I'll with hold my choice until I've ridden more bikes.
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[stinkwheel]

The HRD/Vincent Black shadow.

Decades ahead of its time. Also the racing varient (Black Lightning) was the first bike to crack the 150mph mark.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/dragon%202010/DSCN0481.png

EDIT: An honourable mention to the DKW RT125 which was the design basis for most european and eastern block 125 2-stroke commuters since WW2. The design principles in this engine pretty much spawned every 2-stroke bike that's been on the market since.

It's the Grandaddy of 2-strokes and in terms of shear numbers of people varients of this bike have got from point A to point B over the years, it deserves a mention.
https://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x199/patricksaintpatrick/dkw-rt-125-1939.jpg
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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.

[SuziCat]

The bike that ticks my boxes (may not be to everyones taste though) is the Diversion 900
There just isn't a bike out there to compare it to. Comfortable, reliable, unburstable motor, shaft drive and with the big Yamaha panniers loads of space to tour. Two up and packed to the gills with luggage makes no difference it still pulls like a train.

But it's a difficult one, if I was to choose a best bike of all time, I might have to choose the mad Kawasaki triples (KH500/750) on their reputation alone. Would love to have ridden one but sadly never got the chance
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Regular Rides:- BMW R1200R, Triumph Street Triple
Summer Toys:- Yam Virago 1100, Suzuki GS750 (1979)

[27cows]

40mpg is the very big thing that immediately rules out the CBR600 as being the best bike ever. That's horrific. Cars carrying five people can easily do more than that, proving the engine design is nowhere near as great as you might think, otherwise it'd be doing 70 to the gallon

Thing about bikes is that everyone has a different idea of what makes something 'better'. There are hordes who believe Harley Fat Boys are the best thing ever to turn a wheel. And plenty who think the MZ Supa 5 is the very pinnacle of motorcycling excellence.

I think the 350LC is a contender. It was an absolute sensation when it first appeared. It was a home modders wet dream. There were (and probably still are) some eye popping examples cooked up by enthusiasts.

RG500 is another amazing bike. GPZ900. The early GSXR1100s (of which I had one - absolutely incredible bike in its day). Z1. H1. Water Kettle. RE5. NS400. The Vincents, as mentioned above. CBX1000. Benelli Sei 900. Laverda Jota. Ducati 888. Bimota Tesi. The list is virtually endless
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[HD]

Obviously, I cant really comment as I am too young and inexperienced however why is everyone suggesting older bikes that are 'ahead of their time'. Why not choose a bike that is more modern than THAT bike.

Based on knowledge I would agree with the CBR600F. Again, based on what I've heard and seen, would an sv650 be a contender? Grunt, fair top speed, great sound, pillion-able, wind protection with a double bubble, comfy riding position, looks good...?
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Blau Zedong]

[stinkwheel]

[Villers]

No, the SV650 wasn't even the best bike to be released that year, let alone ever! I like seeing the contrasting styles that people like but there seems to be a tendancy to lean towards 'they don't make em like that anymore' in these threads and any modern suggestions are always shot down in flames.

Its a very personal thing I guess!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[HD]

[MarJay]

[bikertomm]

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[HD]

[Blau Zedong]

Sorry, I stand corrected....the OP does state "best road bike", not "best bike". So that opens the door for all manner of crap like VFR's, CBR's and other identikit two wheeled cars.

Dissapointing.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Polarbear]

The Hayabusa when it came out in 1999 must have been rather mind blowing at the time. Certainly not best bike but an excess of everything that went before it.

The best all round bike I ever owned was a Kawasaki Z650C3. Baby brother of the 1000 but a georgeous bike.

https://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3786/z650c379.jpg
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Chalky.]

Fuckin '98 R1 init.