Best late '80s bike?

[yen_powell]

[chickenstrip]

[MarJay]

Maybe a restomod is the way forward? Choose something with a strong frame and engine, then put modern brakes, suspension, wheels etc on it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[hellkat]

Well I'm currently occasionally enjoying the GSX750 (I dont know what-R-or what what, I still haven't got the V5 back, the DVLA have sent me a letter and put me on a promise, LOL) - its a C reg, so about 1985 I think.

Its alright when it goes
Currently being a bit temperamental about electrical things back to the workshop it shall go.

But when its going ... it goes like stink, yay


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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[chickenstrip]

[Shaft]

Shouldn't the first question be, "Best at what?"
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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

[Easy-X]

[stinkwheel]

GPZ500s?

Downsides of the early ones are a 16" front wheel (although I still maintain they handled better). Early models also had an exploding alternator rotor but there are aftermarket replacements and I'd expect almost all of them have been done by now.

Brakes are a bit on the average side but there's a well documented twin rotor upgrade.

Other than that, you're just looking at wear and tear aspects of a fairly budget sports commuter bike. One thing they are is entertaining, they were intended to compete with the 350 powervalve and don't do a bad job of that. Not quite as banzai but a lot more practical. You'll get 120mph out of one if you push it and 65mpg if you don't.

If you're going to get one, get it soon while they're still old and cheap and not "classic" because I see them creeping up in price as the nut and bolt resto crowd start showing an interest.
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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.

[A100man]

I've an FZ750, most of it is 1987 but the frame and thus reg is 1990 (H)

..it's my most modern bike
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[blurredman]

[Ste]

There's a distinct lack of two strokes in this thread.

[redeem ouzzer]

[Robby]

[Zen Dog]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Another vote for the FZ. I'd probably still be riding it if it hadn't been stolen. A lot of modern stuff isn't much of an improvement on it.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[blurredman]

[Zen Dog]

[Bhud]

[Easy-X]

I was browsing FaecesBook's stolen propery Marketplace and spotted a Virago. "Wow, these things haven't changed in almost three decades of production!" But going back to the restomod idea I doubt anyone's done anything exciting with such a bike
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Bhud]

What happened with cafe racers was, a lot of people thought it was really cool and that it's easy to do. It's not easy. We all know where that led. However, an unfortunate side effect is that prices went sky high for ratty old bikes. This was because of demand. Plus the unharmed ones dried up and people began importing them from the States, where they're basically junkyard scrap. Over here they're gold, and that's not good.

A GPZ750 Turbo is a very cool old bike but as a basic 4-cylinder air-cooled 8-valve with a turbo strapped on, it's not worth £17k. For it to be worth that much implies it was a dream bike for many, and now the people who wanted one will pay whatever for one. But that's not the case. It's a secondary effect of a coolness consensus. Who knows if the same effect will happen to other 80s bikes in the future. In any case old bikes are a lot of work even unmodded. For most people I expect buying a modern bike will end up giving them more utility for the money.

[Blah blah]

Stuff the agricultural twin GPz 500 and go proper 80s sporty Kawasaki like the GPz600 / GPx600r

My choice would be an imported 400, 1989 would get you onto one of the first NC30s, but plenty of Baby' blades before then or an RG250 if you want to go down the stroker route (I always preferred them to the RDs)

[Zen Dog]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Bhud]