Thread: Bike Porn - Regardless of the motor, Show off your "two wheeled" beasties

Originally Posted by mudgripz

Great bikes there.. Late 60s was when motorcycling changed dramatically - with the advent of all the new japper models. The Honda CB750K was one of those bikes that changed the course of motorcycling history with its in line four cylinder motor, 67hp, 5 speed box, great comfort, up to 125mph performance, disc on the front, quite good handling etc - and all at a reasonable price. Other important bikes there too - the Yamaha YDS3 and YDS5 250s, Suzuki T20 and T250R - little burners that would match many triumphs/beezers. Then of course the Kwakas - the Mach 111 500 triple - that was a bloody shock to ride for the first time with its wicked powerband back then. The Mach IV 750 triple, and of course the Z1 900. Amazing machines - quite revolutionary. Owned some of these and rode mate's models back in the day, and I remember that first Mach 111 was one hairy machine ... And terrible on fuel

The Brits could not compete with the power of the new 2 and 4 stroke Jap multis, but still produced some fine machines - the Bonnies etc maintained a roadbike styling which the Japs tried to copy with bikes like the Yamaha XS650, TX650 etc - not too successfully at times. I remember a lady friend had a BSA Lightning - nice to ride. So was she. And perhaps the quickest of the Brit 650s then was the BSA Spitfire. But that had reliability issues and never really caught on - don't hear of them much now. It was always interesting to hear a Triumph Trident or BSA Rocket 3 go down the road back then - usually with a bikie sitting on it! That's a bike I'd like to have ridden but never did so. After a time they didn't really compete with the Jap multis etc - esp the 70s Kwakas - Z1, Z1000, Z1100 etc. Kawasaki took motorcycling another real leap there.

What was the Trident like - about 58hp I see - so it would have pulled well. Here's example of 6 speed T250R Hustler I had back around 72 - quick little thing:

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The cb750 certainly was the beginning of the end for the British bike industry . My cb750 was quicker than my triumphs but never were as nimble ....
It's a shame it was bad management as much as anything else that finally rung the death knell .
I have done lots of research over the years and some of what was being developed behind closed doors would have given the Japs a good run for their money but were killed off by the beancounters and management .
I love modern bikes too but always had a classic trumpy parked right beside them . There's just something about a classic bike that just can't be engineered into the modern offerings , such as character or even a soul of sorts . They all seem to have their own personality , whereas modern offerings are just so good and clean and reliable - and soulless .

Well in my humble opinion anyway...