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

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Wow what a young looking lad you were - and nice looking bride you have

Its been a while and none of the three look the same....but both are still with me...

Had a bunch of Jap 750/4s in years past - some quick ones in their day amongst them eg FZ750, GSX 750 etc. But the one I'd have again tomorrow was a 1976 Honda CB750F. Nothing like the speed of the others - nor the handling - but like the old Yammies above it was a marvellous open road cruiser. Real delight to climb on for a 200-300 mile ride - and get off at the end still feeling pretty comfortable. An example:



Some great old cruisers around - the old Yamaha 1000 V twins and CX650 above included. Would like to try that Indian... what is reliability like on them? I know they have more hp than Harley equivalent models.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

Had a bunch of Jap 750/4s in years past - some quick ones in their day amongst them eg FZ750, GSX 750 etc. But the one I'd have again tomorrow was a 1976 Honda CB750F. Nothing like the speed of the others - nor the handling - but like the old Yammies above it was a marvellous open road cruiser. Real delight to climb on for a 200-300 mile ride - and get off at the end still feeling pretty comfortable. An example:

Attachment 190176

Some great old cruisers around - the old Yamaha 1000 V twins and CX650 above included. Would like to try that Indian... what is reliability like on them? I know they have more hp than Harley equivalent models.

The 1976 F1 750 motor went back to the 1969 KO cams and carbs and thus produced the original 67hp again. A mate of mine had one, bought new in 1976 and we rode a lot together. My Z1000 never got far away ahead ever, top speed, handling or acceleration.

'98 KX250. Had a few of these in my younger years -'96 & '97. Tidy bike imported from the US. Need to get the correct lime green rear mudguard, otherwise I'm pretty happy with it. Nice to have Renthal bars and the original pipe. I made the carbon fibre frame & rear caliper guards.

This is the quickest of the 750/4s I had from 30 years back. A race bred Yamaha FZ750 - made 1986. Beautiful machine, superb handling, and revved freely with its 5 valve per cylinder motor. About 106hp which was alot then. Alot in just 200kgs.. Only problem was 1.5 hours was all your arse could handle on it - very firm uncompromising ride. Not a tourer. Awesome machine but:



And this shows just how fast these road bikes were in the day. Here the 86 FZ750 with Italian legend Giacomo Agostini on board races against the top Ferrari Testarossa of the day. Also on the track is the reigning 500cc champion Yzr500 Yamaha. Little FZ750 blows the Ferrari..

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x563wqe

For the non-computer savvy people like me - put cursor over the link above, then click on sound and expand. Mmmm.. But ... would still rather have the Honda CB750F. I've no doubt today's sports tourers have much smoother, more powerful motors, better boxes, brakes and suspension, but many of those old late 60s/70s/80s machines gave a great ride.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

This is the quickest of the 750/4s I had from 30 years back. A race bred Yamaha FZ750 - made 1986. Beautiful machine, superb handling, and revved freely with its 5 valve per cylinder motor. About 106hp which was alot then. Alot in just 200kgs.. Only problem was 1.5 hours was all your arse could handle on it - very firm uncompromising ride. Not a tourer. Awesome machine but:

Attachment 190216

And this shows just how fast these road bikes were in the day. Here the 86 FZ750 with Italian legend Giacomo Agostini on board races against the top Ferrari Testarossa of the day. Also on the track is the reigning 500cc champion Yzr500 Yamaha. Little FZ750 blows the Ferrari..

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x563wqe

For the non-computer savvy people like me - put cursor over the link above, then click on sound and expand. Mmmm.. But ... would still rather have the Honda CB750F. I've no doubt today's sports tourers have much smoother, more powerful motors, better boxes, brakes and suspension, but many of those old late 60s/70s/80s machines gave a great ride.

The FZ750 really was a bike to be reckoned with in the 80's. My 1985 RZ500 only produced 87hp, so was a far cry from the GP version. I remember having a Kawasaki GPZ1100 show me the way home once. Disappointing...

Originally Posted by mudgripz

This is the quickest of the 750/4s I had from 30 years back. A race bred Yamaha FZ750 - made 1986. Beautiful machine, superb handling, and revved freely with its 5 valve per cylinder motor. About 106hp which was alot then. Alot in just 200kgs.. Only problem was 1.5 hours was all your arse could handle on it - very firm uncompromising ride. Not a tourer. Awesome machine but:

Attachment 190216

And this shows just how fast these road bikes were in the day. Here the 86 FZ750 with Italian legend Giacomo Agostini on board races against the top Ferrari Testarossa of the day. Also on the track is the reigning 500cc champion Yzr500 Yamaha. Little FZ750 blows the Ferrari..

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x563wqe

For the non-computer savvy people like me - put cursor over the link above, then click on sound and expand. Mmmm.. But ... would still rather have the Honda CB750F. I've no doubt today's sports tourers have much smoother, more powerful motors, better boxes, brakes and suspension, but many of those old late 60s/70s/80s machines gave a great ride.

Agreed re the Honda....and this is the 'But'....You should almost never meet your hero as they can almost never live up to expectations....Nice ride, yup, drums front and rear to slow you down (notice I did not use the term stop....?)

All kidding aside, there are some fantastic bikes out there. I always lusted after a Bimota Tuatara but after seeing one in the flesh here in chch I know I could not 'live' with one. IA bit like a supermodel.... And on a side note- that Tuatara was powered by the 90s FZR 1000 exup motor albeit with the carbs and exup removed and EFI fitted....

rode over on my 2008 Triumph (top left) to see this 1972 bonneville 650 . . I am now the proud owner, can't wait to get it home and put some miles on this classic machine.

Originally Posted by outlander

The FZ750 really was a bike to be reckoned with in the 80's. My 1985 RZ500 only produced 87hp, so was a far cry from the GP version. I remember having a Kawasaki GPZ1100 show me the way home once. Disappointing...

Had an 87 fzr 1000 myself . 5 valve head but before exup, which was a good thing which meant I could modify carbs and pipes, ign etc to my hearts content..... and also swapped out wheels for 17 inchers both ends for fitment of race rubber and all the suspension mods...
And I don't think there would have been to much shame in the kwaka gpz thing... They were after all considered the king of the heap at the time.

Originally Posted by rossi.45

rode over on my 2008 Triumph (top left) to see this 1972 bonneville 650 . . I am now the proud owner, can't wait to get it home and put some miles on this classic machine.

Attachment 190789

Oh I do miss my Bonnies....
Nice machine that 72 . They are a bit of an oddball if I remember correctly as that version of the frame is only used in the first year or so of production and was changed for all the remaining versions , because it made some jobs on the engine virtually impossible to do without removing the engine which could be easily done on pre oil in frame models and the subsequent 2nd version of the oil in frame frame (if I remember correctly...it may only be the 750's)

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Oh I do miss my Bonnies....
Nice machine that 72 . They are a bit of an oddball if I remember correctly as that version of the frame is only used in the first year or so of production and was changed for all the remaining versions , because it made some jobs on the engine virtually impossible to do without removing the engine which could be easily done on pre oil in frame models and the subsequent 2nd version of the oil in frame frame (if I remember correctly...it may only be the 750's)

I bought my Royal Enfield 650 because it had a (vague) Bonneville look about it.
But the Bonnie looks more sleek and nimble.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Oh I do miss my Bonnies....
Nice machine that 72 . They are a bit of an oddball if I remember correctly as that version of the frame is only used in the first year or so of production and was changed for all the remaining versions , because it made some jobs on the engine virtually impossible to do without removing the engine which could be easily done on pre oil in frame models and the subsequent 2nd version of the oil in frame frame (if I remember correctly...it may only be the 750's)

its a funny one when your trying to research a bike like the oil in frame Triumphs on the forums . . people have their favourites and likes and dislikes, i gave up thinking i would get the truth, its all opinion . . time will tell.

here is the main reason i started looking at 650 Triumphs with a 4 speed box . . i just love this machine, your going to understand or not.

Originally Posted by rossi.45

its a funny one when your trying to research a bike like the oil in frame Triumphs on the forums . . people have their favourites and likes and dislikes, i gave up thinking i would get the truth, its all opinion . . time will tell.
Attachment 190857

well I am a fan of pretty much all of the classic trumpys and have owned many over the years of varying capacities and models , from the 500's through to a couple of tridents .
The only thing I would think twice about if I were to buy another is I wouldn't get one unless it has a splayed head (carbs pointing out rather than directly rear and parallel to each other ) for the simple reason you cannot change carbs for different versions such as mikuni as there is not enough room between carbs for them to fit . That is generally only an issue with the later model classics though . Had exactly this issue with my harris bonny which ran Amal 1.5 carbs in parallel but the carbs were buggered and no longer available . Could not fit any other carb model due to head not being splayed .
So I phoned the amal company twice a week for six months and finally convinced them to make me a brand new set of carbs !! I think they were sick of the calls and just wanted me out of their lives....lol . But they turned up as promised .....

Originally Posted by Ftx325

So I phoned the amal company twice a week for six months and finally convinced them to make me a brand new set of carbs !! I think they were sick of the calls and just wanted me out of their lives....lol . But they turned up as promised .....

classic mate

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: