|
Author |
Message |
stevo as b4 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
|
Posted: 11:18 - 09 Sep 2018 Post subject: Bikes then and now. |
|
|
I've just been reading about a restoration of a 1992 Yamaha FZR 600, and found it really interesting in regards to the specifications. An FZR wasn't new or cool enough for me in 2001, hence I bought my ZX6R J.
But now all the cutting edge best in class shit doesn't bother me in the slightest, but a really mint or restored 90's bike would carry much more kudos to me now, and the stuff like bhp figures, top speed, weight and fancy big piston suspension doesn't bother me or seem very relevant to my needs or enjoyment of riding bikes.
Anyone else feel the same way, and were there any bikes in the day first time around that you outright dismissed because not cool/fast/trick enough?
Just comparing the specs of the FZR to the ZX6R is interesting too. 146mph, 78bhp r/w, and 179kg vs 166mph, 95bhp r/w, 172kg. Not all that different in 10years of progress really?
Interesting enough the torque figures are within 2ib/ft but the long stroke, small carbed Yamaha makes its peak at 1500rpm less than the Kawasaki. I guess the maximum amount of torque you can make from a 600cc capacity is pretty fixed, no matter how much high revving top end power you can squeeze out.
Another old bike that never used to be on my radar that today would be nice to have is an mk1 Speed triple. I'd rather have a restored example of the Triumph today than a brand new Yamaha MT09.
Is this my inner old bastard coming out, or just that I'm feeling meh about electronics, and modern styling, or 160mph top ends these days, I don't know? |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
chickenstrip |
This post is not being displayed .
|
chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
|
Posted: 12:31 - 09 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law".
I have just discovered what Crowley's phrase really means and am embracing it fully. I think it is apt in your case too.
I just don't think that bikes are where your heart is. I have realised myself that lately, they have become a means to an end, and not even a necessary one. But I still love to ride in the right circumstances, and won't sell mine even though times are tight at present. I've ridden it just 4 or 5 times this year, but have enjoyed every ride. That's enough to know I shouldn't sell it.
I wouldn't be willing to spend thousands of pounds on trying different bikes anymore. And although the bikes from my youth still interest me, I have no real desire to go back to owning them. The memories of those I owned and rode are sufficient. It's not about old vs. new for me. I've changed, and don't need to try everything that has two wheels anymore. I'm happy with what I've got, and although I enjoyed my Street Triple for a brief time, it also taught me that I'm not the same as I was all those years ago. I don't need lots of different bikes in my life now. They have been relegated to an interest, and don't define me like they used to. ____________________ 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
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Fisty |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Fisty Super Spammer
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
jjdugen |
This post is not being displayed .
|
jjdugen World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :
|
Posted: 14:53 - 09 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
Agree 100% with Stevo. Although I've never really strayed from Fireblades, it became pretty obvious that my neck and back muscles were not going to stand the strain for much longer. Although I'm giving the Aprilia a good run, and now its been 'relaxed' considerably is far more comfortable, its obviously far more bike that I really need, or can actually use. Not that I am down to pottering about, just yet. Its that a blip of the throttle has it sitting at really, no argument, go to jail speeds quite happily, these days its just inviting trouble.
Now, I've rebuilt or repaired hundreds of bikes over the years, always had a sneaky ride, just to see what they are like. Of them all, the one that seemed to stand out for pure usefulness, comfort, cost and above all, performance is the ZZR600. I can honestly say that that particular model is all I should ever, really need on UK roads. A decent rear shock and Nissin calipers, there you go.... ____________________ The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi? |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Kentol750 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Kentol750 World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
recman |
This post is not being displayed .
|
recman World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Polarbear |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Polarbear Super Spammer
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :
|
Posted: 19:14 - 09 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
I've pretty well given up riding now. OK, it came to a crunch when I had heart problems but it was heading that way anyway.
However that wouldn't stop me wanting a bike from my formative years, a 70's/80's stroker, or from the other thread, an RE5 but it would be as a Sunday pub ride and pose machine only.
It could probably just as easily be an old car or a historic boat as a bike though.
It's called growing old I think. ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
This post is not being displayed .
|
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Riejufixing |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Riejufixing World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
ThatDippyTwat |
This post is not being displayed .
|
ThatDippyTwat World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Riejufixing |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Riejufixing World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Shaft |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Shaft World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
stevo as b4 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
G |
This post is not being displayed .
|
G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
chickenstrip |
This post is not being displayed .
|
chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
|
Posted: 12:51 - 10 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
I think there are two things which hold back bike development. One is emissions, and other rules and regulations that limit how mad the public is willing to accept a road vehicle to be. The manufacturers have got paranoid about this once or twice in the past, with "gentlemen's agreements" on power limits.
The second is, how much can the average bike riding individual handle anyway? If you aim your bikes at the top tier of riding god, there must be a worry that everyone else would just go out and kill themselves on them. Hence power modes. You don't want a bike that dumps 200bhp through the rear wheel the second you so much as look at the throttle grip, not on the road anyway. Well, most people don't.
How much further could you go with outright performance and handling anyway? A human's reaction times can only develop so much, there surely has to be a limit to what even the very best can deal with.
My own limit sits with my 140-ish bhp Fazer. In fact, I'm sure even that is more capable than I can get from it, or dare to try. But that level of power gives me the kind of power/torque/whatever characteristics I like, and can live with. Another 60-odd bhp? No thanks. Not unless you resurface all our roads and remove at least 50% of the other traffic on them.
So if I were still drooling over what I could buy with unlimited funds (buy and own, as opposed to try out of curiosity), older bikes sometimes make more sense, simply from a capability point of view. ____________________ 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
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Riejufixing |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Riejufixing World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
AshWebster |
This post is not being displayed .
|
AshWebster Brolly Dolly
Joined: 05 Jan 2017 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
chickenstrip |
This post is not being displayed .
|
chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
|
Posted: 13:25 - 10 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
AshWebster wrote: | doesnt everyone always have nostalgia glasses on? |
Not always for me. I keep them clean and handy for when I do want them, but they're not in constant use. Anything can disappoint with too much use. ____________________ 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
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
RhynoCZ |
This post is not being displayed .
|
RhynoCZ Super Spammer
Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :
|
Posted: 13:25 - 10 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
AshWebster wrote: | doesnt everyone always have nostalgia glasses on? |
I would agree, but then the 90's were the golden years of motorcycling. The regulations were loose, no EURO emissions testing, and manufacturers used fancy materials and other components.
Motorcycles were just made better, with better materials and less restrictions. If you've ever seen a 919RR (last gen.) up close and compared it to what's cool today, you would not believe how cheap motorcycles got. Yes, there are still manufacturers who are not afraid to use fancy materials and components, but those bikes are way beyond the reach of the most of us. ____________________ '87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Itchy |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Itchy Super Spammer
Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
chickenstrip |
This post is not being displayed .
|
chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
|
Posted: 13:33 - 10 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
RhynoCZ wrote: | AshWebster wrote: | doesnt everyone always have nostalgia glasses on? |
I would agree, but then the 90's were the golden years of motorcycling. The regulations were loose, no EURO emissions testing, and manufacturers used fancy materials and other components. |
I could equally argue that the 80s were the golden age. It's when the manufacturers started to leave behind tubular steel cradle frames, got serious about mono shock suspension, started to experiment more with engines - oil cooling, water cooling became established, 5 valve heads, downdraught carbs, even turbochargers. It's when technology from the track first began to have a serious impact on how road bikes performed and handled. It felt to me like a decade where many old ideas were thrown away and new ones tried. It was a decade of experimentation.
The 90s to me was more a decade of refinement and improvement (in some cases) of what the 80s kicked off.
I should probably say that I'm thinking about the Jap manufacturers more than anything. But they put it all more within the financial reach of the average rider than anyone else. ____________________ 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
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Motorhate |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Motorhate Nearly there...
Joined: 02 Aug 2013 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Itchy |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Itchy Super Spammer
Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :
|
Posted: 13:42 - 10 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
|
|
Oh hell this just turned into a when I was a boy thread... ____________________ Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
redeem ouzzer |
This post is not being displayed .
|
redeem ouzzer World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
G |
This post is not being displayed .
|
G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 245 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
|
|
|