Bikes then and now.

[stevo as b4]

I've got to agree with the 'like what you ride' thing, as im not into bikes for lap times, ease of use, and having my inputs managed so that 200bhp can be semi utilised without hospital or gravel trap rash etc.

But I'm now one of them nostalgia weirdos, and being honest it's all that's keeping me interested in bikes in 2018. I wanted tech and the best thing I could get in the 90's, didn't everyone?
But there my interest peaked. I appreciate the 70's diversity and Japanese engine performance, the 80's space race, and the 90's my company's bike is better than yours competition.

I like now that I could buy an 80's or 90's bike and have it look and work far better than it did when I was young and skint and wouldn't have wanted to do major work on an old bike.

I think the only thing left that I feel passionate about and grabbed by now is 80's off road bikes. You say road bikes improved in huge race bred leaps back then, well I think MX bikes were even more on cliff like ascent to the top, and to a lesser extent so were trials bikes. I'd love to restore a couple of 125/250 MX bikes just a couple of year or so apart, as the difference between some was massive as it was in the late 80's-90's Italian 125 sports bike class. Last year's bike was no good to be desirable, so it made the manufacturers work much harder and out spend themselves until it got silly.

[chickenstrip]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I've never been one for having the latest, greatest, fashionable thing. I do my research, blend that with what my heart wants and buy what comes out. I'm then almost always happy with it for as long as it lasts. I'd happily still have my 1983 Aiwa FX-30 Hi-Fi https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7YICN0Gc2k8/maxresdefault.jpg topped with a PX-30 fully automatic turntable but 5 years ago it had to be replaced after two or three repairs over the years. The modern replacements aren't as good despite splashing out an equivalent amount (a month's wages.) Sure, it was bang on trend back in '83 but my point is, I was happy with it thereafter. I didn't feel the need to change it after a couple of years. I'm the same with cars; get something you like, then run it into the ground.

Back to bikes, I only got into them in the mid-to late 90's, passing my test in '98. Consequently that's my biking era. I have a 2003 R1 (first of the fuel-injected R1s, least powerful [the 150bhp feels massive!] but lightest, prettiest and still simple). I've wondered what a modern Litre-bike would feel like but am not that bothered. I doubt it would be better on the road. However I miss those early days when I ached for something, be it the Aiwa in Buzzards' window ("she will be mine, oh yes!") or a ZXR400. Actually I still want a ZXR400, or a RGV250. It's a bad idea these days but still... want.

[stinkwheel]

Do it. I honk about on a '91 VFR750. Had an absolute hoot last weekend on some pretty challenging roads. We also had a 155bhp '92 GSXR1100 oilboiler, a '97 GSXR 11 and '97 blackbird on the run. All had a whale of a time.

Depending on what you get, stick some modern springs and brakes on. As you say, the motors have plenty of power to be arsing about on public roads, the chassis were just hitting the point of being able to cope with the power. The brakes on a lot of them were rubbish (but your FZR isn't one of those). All the springs will be tired by now and they were made for little Japanese guys in the first place anyway go get them changed.

Try to pick one you can fit some decent modern rubber to.

Or get a '98 R1.
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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.

[Itchy]

[RhynoCZ]

[struan80]

There's a serious shortage of photographs in this thread.

[stinkwheel]

[redeem ouzzer]

[chickenstrip]

[Fisty]

[Itchy]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=206192&view=previous
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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.

[andi]

Got a 2001 Blade. More power than I am able or dare to use. Content.
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Before: Suzuki GT 185. Honda Superdream 250. Yamaha RD350LC. Suziki RG250. Yamaha FZS600. Honda CBR600F3
Now: Honda Fireblade 929

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

https://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/r751/trevor_machine/P1040248_zpswcyvnngb.jpg

https://oi1365.photobucket.com/albums/r751/trevor_machine/P1040239_zpsgqwcl9ka.jpg
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[ThatDippyTwat]

Pics?

This is my 113K, 22yr old...
https://i.imgur.com/yyKbz6Gl.jpg
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Kentol750]

It's quite funny to read about tft screens, traction control and the new gadgets that everyone 'needs', yet a 1980's xl600 had a chain tensioner that most bikes should now use. Do we really need a multi colour rev display? Tech for techs sake hase spoiled inherent riding skill.
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Some bikes.

[chickenstrip]

[Kentol750]

Chickenstrip, same hymn sheet. But, if abs has never saved you and a 1200gs adventure from a huge fail......you ..?..maybe haven't played fat bike lottery.
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Some bikes.

[ThatDippyTwat]

I don't think rider aids detract from skill, assuming you have learned that skill in the first place. If you have ABS, you are not going to learn cadence braking, if you have throttle limiting electronics, you won't learn to be as smooth on it, etc.. While I think these are all nice things to have, and in some cases, essential, maybe it's a good idea to learn on an older bike that doesn't have them?

By the same token, my experience with these aids is very limited. Would my instinct to cadence brake in certain situations cause issue with ABS?
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[chickenstrip]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I understood power modes were marketed as "rider aids" but were in fact different fuel maps necessitated by low emission engines - so, your bike can run well on A roads, or it can run well around town. But without switching maps, that's not possible. In other words, they're not gizmos and gadgets, but essential fuelling components sold as gizmos and gadgets.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[MarJay]

Speaking of VFR's...

It looks like I'm going to need to commute into London (not the ULEZ I believe) with a ride of approximately 1hr. I'm not going to take my Buell or my Street Triple, so I'm thinking of buying a bike specifically for this. My primary requirements are

Full fairing with decent weather protection
Comfortable - not too racy.
Decent torque, able to easily cruise on the motorway
Not tons of money, I can't afford it!

So I'm thinking VFR750 or the early VFR800FI... What are peoples thoughts on this?
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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.

[G]

[winz]

My early 2000's bikes..
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Current Bikes: BMW K1200S
Previous: Honda CBR929RR, Honda CBR1100XX, Honda CB600F