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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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Posted: 18:00 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: bikes you don't see much any more |
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I'm not on about really ancient stuff so much as older bikes that for one reason or another aren't spotted as often these days. One bike I don't think I've ever seen is the old z750 from the late seventies:
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Kawasaki%20Z750F%2076.jpg
It's interesting because of its square engine - bore and stroke are both 78mm. Apparently, it sold poorly because it wasn't designed with power in mind - which buyers had come to expect from the Kawasaki name.
A second bike I don't think I've clapped eyes on is the Sachs 800 - nicking an engine from the Suzuki VL Intruder and plonking it in a roadster style frame and chassis:
https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/upload/1005/images/sachs-roadster-800-01.jpg
That seat and subframe arrangement isn't very flattering - but I sort of get why someone would want to put that particular engine in a less stylised bike. But, as with the z750 above, it was unpopular and unloved.
Still, even knowing that, I'm surprised to have never seen either of them in the metal - at places like Squires (up in Yorkshire). On a Thursday night in summer, chances are you'll come across most makes and models from those eras if you attend on a regular basis. ____________________ "Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."
Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125 |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 18:51 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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I had a hankering for a Z750 when I were a lad, because of the photo in this brochure...
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20B/Kawasaki%20%20Z750E%2081.jpg
...this very photo, which i think caught it rather well. The brochure I picked up at the London motorcycle show, where my dad took me and my brother - '81, I think. The other one that stuck from the same show, which I've never seen one of on the road, was the Triumph Bonneville Electro Special...
https://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/images/82Triumph-Bonneville-Electro-R.jpg
...which is a bit meh to me now.
Also at that show was a delectable display by Moto Martin - can't remember the last time I saw one of their frame-kitted bikes out and about.
Five reasons I can think of why certain bikes aren't seen anymore:
1. They were crap.
2. They were unreliable (they were crap).
3. They didn't sell well in the first place (they were crap).
4. They rotted away (they were crap).
5. They were very expensive when new (but they weren't necessarily crap). ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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mentalboy |
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mentalboy World Chat Champion
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Posted: 20:36 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip YFPOS wrote: | I had a hankering for a Z750 when I were a lad, because of the photo in this brochure...
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20B/Kawasaki%20%20Z750E%2081.jpg
...this very photo, which i think caught it rather well. The brochure I picked up at the London motorcycle show, where my dad took me and my brother - '81, I think. The other one that stuck from the same show, which I've never seen one of on the road, was the Triumph Bonneville Electro Special...
https://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/images/82Triumph-Bonneville-Electro-R.jpg
...which is a bit meh to me now.
Also at that show was a delectable display by Moto Martin - can't remember the last time I saw one of their frame-kitted bikes out and about.
Five reasons I can think of why certain bikes aren't seen anymore:
1. They were crap.
2. They were unreliable (they were crap).
3. They didn't sell well in the first place (they were crap).
4. They rotted away (they were crap).
5. They were very expensive when new (but they weren't necessarily crap). |
I had one of those. It was crap, unlike my Z400 twin which was crap but fun to ride and the girlies got a buzz riding shotgun...
EDIT: Actually it was a Z750b, which stopped nearly as well as the Z750e, ie, it didn't! ____________________ Make mine a Corona. |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 21:52 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Ah, but the B model was a twin, and known to be crap (although I can't remember specifically why now). ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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Posted: 22:10 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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The reason I mentioned it was because I came across a review of the bike in an old mag from 1978. Btw, the style of writing then was so much different. And the things the reviews picked up on, too. Probably because bikes were still regarded as a form of transport rather than a source of entertainment, and/or toys. Crusty as the prose was, I've got to admit that I often find it better to read than e.g. current copies of Bike. Where it's usually the case that whatever machine's being reviewed is The Best. Come on - they can't all be the best. The older mags seemed more objective, even if they waffled on and on. I think I prefer text over pictures for one thing - and back then, there wasn't the printing technology to reproduce glossy shots of shiny machinery. Contemporary stuff is porn in comparison - and the writing itself is secondary. Also, I think publishers and editors are more worried about offending advertisers. Having said that, in the current issue of Bike the review of that Indian flat tracker thing isn't exactly glowing - nor the round-up of the various iterations of the MT10 (though in both cases you do have to sometimes read between the lines and decode the language to suss out that there are e.g. fuelling issues and shortcomings w/ suspension that really shouldn't be happening - often it's not so much what is said as what's not said...).
In any case, all this makes me wonder what the best era for bike mags was. Maybe the late '80s to mid-late '90s when development was going mental and there was a BHP arms race - yet perhaps before complete capitulation to ad revenue, and writers could still string a couple of sentences together before lapsing into shite cliches such as handles like it's on rails, never missed a beat, engine as sweet as a nut (erm, nuts aren't sweet), etc.. ____________________ "Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 22:18 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Bike Magazine was one of the things that got me excited about motorcycles before I was old enough to ride. So much so that not long ago I sourced a copy of the very first issue I ever had - August 1980. The writing was excellent, entertaining, and they didn't pull their punches if they didn't like a bike. But they had some good articles about everyday aspects of riding, along with the road tests, plus Team Bike running a CB900F in endurance championships. Having come through a period of being custom chopper fans in the 70s ( ), they got the sports bug - but of course, 'sports' was a very different kettle of fish in those days to what we think of today. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Diggs |
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Diggs World Chat Champion
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Posted: 22:22 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip YFPOS wrote: | Ah, but the B model was a twin, and known to be crap (although I can't remember specifically why now). |
Slow and far too heavy if I remember. Not half as much fun as the XS650, which despite having a hinge in the middle could be thrown about with gay abandon (unless you were homophobic of course, in which case just plain 'abandon')...
I also liked my old z400 twin despite it having no redeeming features whatsoever. Cost me £200, and for those of us old enough to remember was sprayed in that unattractive Halfords metallic blue that everything seemed to end up in after a few years. I got a year out of that bike, then got £300 for it against a CB750FII. Now there is a bike you don't see about any more - shame because despite the massive weight they were great for touring two-up with tent. Here is a picture of one, for anybody who cares... ____________________ Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting... |
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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Posted: 22:24 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Honda CBX550FII
https://classic-motorbikes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/8294.jpg
A great looking bike for 1982, always hankered after one, but the chocolate camshafts and the, ultimately, crap inboard discs put paid to that idea.
Fortunately I bought a 250 LC instead!
Anyway I haven't seen one for years, mind you I only ever saw a couple, both brand new, pristine examples, in a showroom, I assume any others that were sold were, constantly, in for warranty repairs and never actually turned a wheel on the road. ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 22:31 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Diggs wrote: | I got a year out of that bike, then got £300 for it against a CB750FII. Now there is a bike you don't see about any more - shame because despite the massive weight they were great for touring two-up with tent. Here is a picture of one, for anybody who cares... |
Well, I have a memory of those too!
Or rather, the 900 version: CB900F2B. And just to illustrate that Bike magazine weren't always complimentary about everything, they called it the Far2Big, meaning the fairing
I lived next to a Jehovah's Witness hall for a time (they didn't bother us), and a chap who went there had one in red and white, so I'd see it often. Thought it looked ok actually.
I've probably mentioned it before, but I preferred the Benelli 900 Sei that another local owned - sounded mean too! Another rarity these days - was then as well, to be honest, so I guess it would be now...doh! ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 22:36 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Suntan Sid wrote: | Honda CBX550FIII only ever saw a couple, both brand new, pristine examples, in a showroom, I assume any others that were sold were, constantly, in for warranty repairs and never actually turned a wheel on the road. |
One of my motorcycle training instructors who also belonged to a bike club I was in (Harlow 70s) had one of those. I don't remember him having any major problems with it, but might just be a gap in my knowledge. Looks-wise, I preferred the CBX750F - hydraulic tappets is about all I remember about those:
https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/upload/286133/images/Honda-CBX750.jpg ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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mentalboy |
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mentalboy World Chat Champion
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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Posted: 23:10 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Continuing the Kawasaki theme, around the time I bought my 250 LC there were a few weirdos who didn't seem to like 2 strokes!
A lot of them seemed to own Z650B's, many were customised/modded, usually with a very loud 4 into 1, a pair of Marzocchi shocks and a paint job.
Haven't seen one in ages! ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 23:16 - 25 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Suntan Sid wrote: | Continuing the Kawasaki theme, around the time I bought my 250 LC there were a few weirdos who didn't seem to like 2 strokes!
A lot of them seemed to own Z650B's, many were customised/modded, usually with a very loud 4 into 1, a pair of Marzocchi shocks and a paint job.
Haven't seen one in ages! |
Still quite a few of those around I think - mostly due to the wash of US imports, which is what my B model was.
My brother's F2 model blew all the wadding out of his Laser 4-1 in the first couple of rides with it He had a pair of S&W shocks on it, which I think were good.
My H2C had Marzocchi Stradas - like riding a hardtail, way too solid a feel for a bike of that weight.
I like 2Ts and 4Ts - I ain't prejudiced! ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Shaft |
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Shaft World Chat Champion
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Posted: 01:16 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Suntan Sid wrote: | Honda CBX550FII
https://classic-motorbikes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/8294.jpg
A great looking bike for 1982, always hankered after one, but the chocolate camshafts and the, ultimately, crap inboard discs put paid to that idea.
Fortunately I bought a 250 LC instead!
Anyway I haven't seen one for years, mind you I only ever saw a couple, both brand new, pristine examples, in a showroom, I assume any others that were sold were, constantly, in for warranty repairs and never actually turned a wheel on the road. |
I know three people who had those and one of them was me!
None of us had problems with the cams or camchains (the things they were meant to be infamous for) but the inboard discs were an issue, not because they didn't work (they were fine, as brakes) but because of the faff involved in taking out/putting back the front wheel.
To get all the various spacers and covers in line, you really needed to be an octopus.
Forgetting that, fabulous bike, felt properly screwed together and handled a treat - I vividly remember drifting mine all over the place, you could really steer it on the throttle and it was totally controllable. ____________________ Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035 |
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Shaft |
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Shaft World Chat Champion
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Posted: 01:22 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip YFPOS wrote: | |
One of the mags (might've been John Nutting from Which Bike?) described that as being so good, it was boring, there was nothing it couldn't do well.
That review has always stuck in my mind and now, whenever I see a good one come up for sale, I'm seriously tempted to pull the trigger and find out if it was true. ____________________ Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035 |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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Sister Sledge |
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Sister Sledge World Chat Champion
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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Posted: 08:55 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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No 2 strokes yet?
There were only 800 of these sold in the UK and out of all the bikes I've ridden, this is by far the most fun. It's the only bike I'd never sell.
For those who've never ridden one, imagine a DT125R with 45-50bhp and decent brakes (and usually tyres, as most now have either TZR wheels or aftermarket wider spoked rims).
https://www.advpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Yamaha-TDR250-88.jpg ____________________ TZR250 2MA road, TZR250 1KT road, TZR250 2MA race, TDR250, YZF-750R Boost colours.
Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG. |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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Posted: 09:52 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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1982 Katana:-
https://cdn1.mecum.com/auctions/lv0118/lv0118-314750/images/t128-2-1506375964112.jpg?1516637107000
A mates, sister's boyfriend had one from new.
It was a strange looking thing at the time, still looks a bit odd now.
To me it always looked too long and too tall, still cool though.
There were a couple at the Classic/Manx last year, there may have been one in the parade lap.
I remember a particularly boring M/way journey down to Silverstone for the GP, (free hospitality tickets, natch, for Barry Sheene's last ever GP ride at Silverstone). We set off as a group with the Katana at the back. About halfway Katana guy came flying past, at god knows what speed, swiftly followed buy a Porsche 911.
We finally met up again at the Silverstone car park, apparently fun times had been had. ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 10:28 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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Shaft wrote: | chickenstrip YFPOS wrote: | |
One of the mags (might've been John Nutting from Which Bike?) described that as being so good, it was boring, there was nothing it couldn't do well. |
That's always been Honda's problem for me. Just a bit too smooth, bit too uninspiring, lacking character, even among IL4s. Tame, you might say.
Sister Sledge wrote: | Being an older rider (ancient) for me now it's the simple Honda Cub!
They're probably common elsewhere but up here and now? Nope. |
I always used to maintain that if you wanted one of these, you should probably go look at the bottom of your garden among the weeds and old wood cast-offs, and you'd probably find one half-buried and forgotten - the cockroach of the bike world
Suntan Sid wrote: | 1982 Katana |
I still love those. They were designed by a company called Target (who also designed the Harris Magnum 2 iirc). A very controversial design at the time. They did a 1000 (slide carbs) and the 1100 (cv carbs), which was kind of odd too. I wanted to turbocharge one, and went to look at an advertised example once with that in mind. Stevo as b4 commented on the new Katana elsewhere and I'm inclined to agree with him - wtf? A hard look to do a revamp on. They come up for sale now and again and are beginning to command quite high prices if in good nick. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 10:32 - 26 May 2019 Post subject: |
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mpd72 wrote: | No 2 strokes yet?
There were only 800 of these sold in the UK and out of all the bikes I've ridden, this is by far the most fun. It's the only bike I'd never sell.
For those who've never ridden one, imagine a DT125R with 45-50bhp and decent brakes (and usually tyres, as most now have either TZR wheels or aftermarket wider spoked rims).
https://www.advpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Yamaha-TDR250-88.jpg |
Didn't that come out at about the same time as the KR1, TZR250, RGV250 etc were popular? I think maybe that's why it didn't catch on in a big way - the focus was more on sports 2Ts at the time...? ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 4 years, 329 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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