Most influential bike or manufacturer

[Whosthedaddy]

The Mercedes S Class seems to lead other car manufacturers in what will be on their cars in the next few years, but what for bikes? Is there a bike model or range that depicts or influences others?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[MarJay]

Triumph Bonneville?
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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.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure. Think the first are spread around a lot of makers, even if they have dried up over the last 10~15 years.

First USD forks on a road bike = Aprilia
First fuel injection = BMW or Kawasaki (not sure)
First ABS = BMW
First power valve = Yamaha, both for 2 and 4 strokes
Mass centralisation = Bimota were talking about it with the YB4, etc, in the late 1980s.
First monoshock = Yamaha (although you could argue Vincent)

To me it is Yamaha who seemed to be the most open to coming up with new ideas and being prepared to try them on the mass market.

All the best

Keith
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