Topic: 1970's alternative iconic bikes ??

[Wobbly]

I have always loved the original Katana. A local dealer has one on display in his showroom museum. I stop by now and then just to admire it. They are very rare these days.

I rode a mates bike, a stock 1100 Katana about 400 miles in the 1980's, my wrists nearly retired for good after that ride, worst stock riding position I've ever experienced, lots of guys changed out the stock handle bars here and I found out why the hard way...

That isn't a problem with the bike but with the driver--and his condition. I love the riding position, and I only go on long distance trips. But then, my wrists are used to heavy squats with a low bar, and so I don't have a problem here. It really is just a matter of getting used to the position, however. It's like getting sore when you try a new exercise for the first time.

[Retro Rocket]

I have always loved the original Katana. A local dealer has one on display in his showroom museum. I stop by now and then just to admire it. They are very rare these days.

I rode a mates bike, a stock 1100 Katana about 400 miles in the 1980's, my wrists nearly retired for good after that ride, worst stock riding position I've ever experienced, lots of guys changed out the stock handle bars here and I found out why the hard way...

That isn't a problem with the bike but with the driver--and his condition. I love the riding position, and I only go on long distance trips. But then, my wrists are used to heavy squats with a low bar, and so I don't have a problem here. It really is just a matter of getting used to the position, however. It's like getting sore when you try a new exercise for the first time.

Thats a strange assumption Wobbly , I was a full time rider  {since I was 16}, didn't have a car  and was a fighting fit 26 year old, I owned an XR250 an IT495 and a ex race GPX750 {ex Greg Avery bike} and worked in a bike shop, I rode every day and had ridden most of the bikes of the day.My GPX 750 was far more comfortable, heaps lighter and faster. I sold the GPX and bought a GSXR1100J which was also a much better bike comfort wise for me, i fitted it like a glove. There was nothing wrong with my fitness or strength mate, As far as I knew, it was well known the Katana's were uncomfortable, , I liked the looks and the torquey engine but not the lazy handling or bar position... ..

I'm wasn't the only one...

http://www.bikepoint.com.au/content/reviews/2004/road/suzuki/gsx1100/suzuki-gsx1100-katana-14019

Comfort isn't really the Kat's strong suit, the clip-on handlebars punish the wrists, although the footrests are well placed below the rider's spine, although tall/old riders feel they're too rear set. Anyway the low seat isn't too bad, but by the time you've covered the 250 or so kilometres to reserve you'll be glad that tank isn't any bigger.

[750cafe]

Here is an article on this very subject:

http://classicmotorcycles.about.com/od/historicaldevelopment/ss/Japanese-Motorcycles-Four-History-Changers.htm#step-heading


Eric

[simon#42]

Laverda made a V-6? Back in '78!???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LAVERDA-V6-1978-Motorcycle-BIG-card-PHOTO-MOTO-RACING-Classic-70s-vintage-bike-/370298215918?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56377e5dee&vxp=mtr

Who knew.

Eric

There is only one of them, built in 77.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJhn0rzfHJk

there was at least two , i went to the factory to collect a formula 500 in 1979 and they were parked next to each other .

to answer some of your other questions

there are two types of jota , the early ones had a 180 degree crank throw , the later ones were 120 degree . the latter ones are much smoother and are far more civilised ..... dont buy one of these
go for the early one these ore the iconic ones . they dont have fairings and dont come in green or yellow [ thankfully ]
the jota has a few differences to a 3cl  , although they look similar the jota has different cams and pistons and is quite alot faster

a 900ss would hold its own with a jota and z1 on the streets it would be the honda that couldn't live with any of them .

forget the beneli , in no way an iconic machine

over here mv's are making good money , i have looked at 3 recently and only one was any good but at £50,000 i will wait a little longer

a 750 sfc is very different to a standard 750 , big valves , big carbs , close ratio gearbox , some mag cases etc . great bike but £25,000 and climbing .

both will have to wait until i find a zundapp ks750 to take the dog out on !

[Stev-o]

Here is an article on this very subject:

http://classicmotorcycles.about.com/od/historicaldevelopment/ss/Japanese-Motorcycles-Four-History-Changers.htm#step-heading


Eric

There ya go!   That Yamaha looks sweet, I may put that on my list.

[ascanio1]

I admit at being Internet dumb! I can't work out how to create a poll which allows up to 4 votes per voter and obliges to chose a ranking for his choices (1st place gets more points than 2nd...).

I would appreciate and thank any administrator/moderator willing to help me set it up.

Which 4 bikes were accessibly priced in the 1970's, were the fastest bike on the street when they went on sale, and turned (and still turn) most heads or were a "chick's drag net" at a cafe at the time (I can't translate that from Italian, but you get the meaning)...
-------------------------
A) You can only give 3 votes,
B) You must vote in order of preference (1st place gets more points than 2nd...),

- Laverda 1000 (jota)
- MV Agusta 750S America (accessible price?)
- Laverda 750 SF (SFC)
- Kawasaki Z1
- Kawasaki Z900
- Kawasaki Z1000
- Kawasaki H1
- Kawasaki H2
- Suzuki GS
- Ducati 900SS
- Benelli 900 sei


PS: Since it's a poll, it might be more "politically correct" to include also bikes which have no chance to make the list as:
BMW R90S
Guzzi 750 V7
Guzzi 850 LM Sport
any others?

[simon#42]

are you really going to buy a bike or bikes depending on what a bunch of random people think ?
the joy of motorcycles is everyone has there own opinion and there own favourite bikes

go on take a chance and be an individual ...... just buy the ones YOU like not the ones other people think are good .

[calj737]

Exactly! Your criteria is "street" performance, but racing is the pedigree by which performance is measured. Your preferences seem to be based upon popularity or chick magnetism. But what you like. Your list is far different from mine and likely others.

For instance, "iconic" to me is that it represents a defining period of motorcylce performance (again, race measured) for the time period coupled with styling for that era. I reference the R90s on "Daytona" colors as an example. Is the same true of a bike painted in stock yellow, red or blue? I think of Freddie Spencer's livery as an example of "iconic" schemes on a bike of the day (pick an era).

Or Duhamel, Doug Polen on the 888, etc...

Despite their terrible service reputation, Ducatis are still very iconic of the 70s era. And MV Augusta, plus every Japanese bike. How could you ever really decide by a poll?

[Stev-o]

Freddie....






Eddie....

[calj737]

Awfully iconic on my lists...
And this too...

[754]

Nice my R100RT. Did great wheelies.
Got an image burned in my brain from 75.. Group of us onbikes resting in a park..
  Silver smoke R90S comes toward us, sees us, hits second gear..bring up the front wheel and carrying it...very cool..left an impression..

[ascanio1]

@ valj737

Exactly! Your criteria is "street" performance, but racing is the pedigree by which performance is measured. Your preferences seem to be based upon popularity or chick magnetism. But what you like. Your list is far different from mine and likely others.

Exactly!

We all have different tastes and bias and a poll will give me the less biased answer to my question: which were the top 3 or 4 chick magnets of the era that were also reasonably priced and street top dog at the time (not necessarily race pedigree)?

Once before this forum helped me decide which K model was better suited for me: I set personal parameters (budget, ease of use, collector's value, restoration costs, looks, etc) and I received very good advice: I avoided buying a wonderful K1 (with aftermarket exhausts) which would have ended costing me more than my K3, and so forth...

For instance, "iconic" to me is that it represents a defining period of motorcylce performance (again, race measured) for the time period coupled with styling for that era.

It's a very good definition, perfect for you and probably closer to the dictionary definition of the word: you have a very good point! But I'm Italian and we buy bikes to drag chicks not to race them (or to do both but in that strict order) so, in my garage, I want the bikes which fit my definition of "iconic".

So I am asking forum members who owned these bikes (and a few lucky <beep> even raced them!) which turned their heads more at the time! I have a budget limit and hence the limitation to 3 or 4 bikes.

Despite their terrible service reputation, Ducatis are still very iconic of the 70s era. And MV Augusta, plus every Japanese bike. How could you ever really decide by a poll?

Now, this is an important piece of information. I did not want to be too biased towards Italian bikes and so I felt that my love for Ducati's and Guzzi's was probably not representative of that era's preference. Glad to see I'm wrong and that Ducati's were popular...

[ascanio1]

@ Moderators / Administrators,

Can anyone please help me modify the poll? I would like to allow for 4 selections and for these have to be in order of preference. Is it technically possible to do?

[754]

Don't forget, if it was not quick in the 1/4 mile..it might. Just be gearing.. Europe bike were sometimes geared for the Autobahn..
I would bet a Guzzi Sport would turn more heads even in Italy, than an early GS1000.....

[ascanio1]

are you really going to buy a bike or bikes depending on what a bunch of random people think ?

Yes! I did this once before and it helped me avoid mistakes. A dozen CB models fell inside my parameters (from K to F, from K0 to K8, etc) and I liked all equally, so I asked for advice to pick the right one for me. ... I listened, I learned and then I decided.

What I envy to guys like you, Simon, is that then the man/machine relationship required one to prove himself over his words (and wallet). Today all you need is cash and you can flash. Of course it's not all black and white and an a-hole with money today is like an a-hole with money then but, you understand what I mean... The 1970's are out of my league because from what I read and what I was told that was a period which required a different style of riding: the primary rider/machine contact point was not the buttock but a pair of balls! Today technique comes before instinct but riding my "new" CB I feel how it's more about instinct than technique. Again, nothing is black and white but, my point is that the accent has shifted.

the joy of motorcycles is everyone has there own opinion and there own favourite bikes. Go on take a chance and be an individual ...... just buy the ones YOU like not the ones other people think are good.

Heck! I did that! Way too often! I have other bikes which everyone recommended me against buying! Including a Benelli Tornado Tre, an F4 1000 and a few other "eccentric" ones...: simply because I "liked" them and that was enough.

But today is MY era and I am in my own league when I argue why I prefer a 998R over a 999R: I know what I'm talking about. But I'm out of my league if I try to argue why a Jota was better than a GS! RR will tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about (and he's right) and so would you, but for the opposite reason (and also you would be right). So I prefer to trust guys who experienced first hand those bikes rather than my - biased - perception which would lead me to make the wrong choice: I love a dozen 70's bikes without having too much of a preference and I would enjoy riding and owning any one of these equally: R90S, 900SS, Benelli 750 sei, LM Sport 850, V7, Z1... except for the CB K and Laverda 1000 which my father owned, which would sit better next to these 2? I have a budget limit and so I can only pick one or 2 more. You would chose by track pedigree, someone by technological advance, others... I chose by my own theme.

[scottly]

which were the top 3 or 4 chick magnets of the era

Just about any version of Harley-Davidson, AKA Milwaukee Vibrator.

[ascanio1]

I would bet a Guzzi Sport would turn more heads even in Italy, than an early GS1000.....

That's for sure: look at the prices...

[Retro Rocket]

I would bet a Guzzi Sport would turn more heads even in Italy, than an early GS1000.....

That's for sure: look at the prices...

It would be the GS thousand rider turning his  head , looking for the Guzzi....

It would take someone with pretty poor taste not to like the look of this Suzuki GS1000S, thats half the problem, Guzzi has some nice bikies but some are just butt ugly...

[scottly]

I rode one of those R90 BMWs once, after prepping it for sale for the owner's widow, and I wasn't really impressed with the power. I didn't care for the side-to-side rocking motion imparted by the longitudinal crank motor, either, but I didn't ride it long enough to get accustomed to it. I can see where it might make a great touring bike, but it was certainly not a crotch rocket.

[754]

I don't know if RR knows which Guzzi I mean, but the handlebars on the Sukinhe showed are way higher than on the Guzzi. By early GS1000 I meant the first ones, they did not have that fairing.. AFAIK..
 1/4. Is not everything to all people, and I suspect the Guzzi was not the worst handling bike..

[Retro Rocket]

I don't know if RR knows which Guzzi I mean, but the handlebars on the Sukinhe showed are way higher than on the Guzzi. By early GS1000 I meant the first ones, they did not have that fairing.. AFAIK..
 1/4. Is not everything to all people, and I suspect the Guzzi was not the worst handling bike..

I think I know which Guzzi you mean Frank, either the Lemans or the 750s, I really like the early 750S and the later 1990 and up 1000S.  Guzzi's were long and had slow geometry and weren't very fast, not canyon carving bikes, but very stable, I'm no fan of shaft drives either, more tourer than sport... I'm not sure what you mean with the handle bar comment but i can tell you, I've ridden a 850 lemans and a few GS's and the GS is a far more comfortable bike, actually, it does every thing better...?  I'm not arguing here , someone somewhere likes every bike but thats not what we're talking about , the OP picked the 70's and wanted to know about bikes that stood out, the GS stood out,  so did the 750/4, Z900, 2 stroke Kawasaki's, the CBX six cylinder Honda  and the first Boldor 900 Honda's, the GS1000 was arguably the best one-liter four-cylinder of its time, and as far as popularity and sales figures go, the Jap bikes smashed the Guzzi's and Ducati's out of the park for very good reason, the Dukes back then were like the Triumphs and Nortons, you had to know how to work on them constantly to get the best out of them, otherwise they were expensive pains in the butt, The Japanese bikes were like swiss watches comparatively, the Guzzi's were more of a niche bike, a bit like the BMW's.... ....

I'm not too sure what all the negativity about the old GS is for, all I can think is that you guys don't know much about them, they were a great innovative bike and deserve their spot in the list for sure, they were almost untouchable on the race track and  weren't that bad looking either, not by a long way... Another fact is that they were only a few pounds heavier than a 750/4 with 90+ horsepower 

[754]

My buddy had a dark blue  GS, like the one shown.. Cams, bore kit, header. . Went good wound up, but after we traded bikes he said, I wish mine pulled like yours down low and in the midrange... Mine was an 836 with 315 cam, pipes,  Webers.
 Don't ever recall talking about the handling much... One day near Seattle that gs, had a catastrophic failure.. Not sure why.. Will try to post a pic of the piston remnants.
 Not saying it was a bad bike,,just we did not see what you saw in them.

 I worked with a guy with a burgundy Guzzi,  in 74 I think, and it was new, pretty sure it had clipons from the factory. I don't know how it went, but it sure looked the business. But stuff like that was scarce where we lived.

[Retro Rocket]

Not saying it was a bad bike,,just we did not see what you saw in them.

I understand but thats just it Frank, it's not what I saw in them at all, I didn't ride the 1000 until well into the 1980's, its what the  world saw in them, I'm only adding the GS to the list due to its impact on the motorcycling world at the time, {thats what this thread is about} we all know who Pops Yoshimura is, but look at Wes Cooley, Graham Crosby, {many more} and the GS's racing history, it totally dominated, not to mention all the articles from bike magazines of the day that labelled the bike "revolutionary", and it was.  It was an awesome effort for Suzuki seeings though it was their first attempt at a big four stroke bike, it set the standards the rest had to match. Hey, if your 836 had more torque than your mates GS1000 then maybe the GS wasn't running well, that may account for the blow up, they had mountains of torque, 90+ hp and almost the same weight...

[ascanio1]

@ Scottly,

My best friend had a 15 years old R90S at the time (1990s) and, in Italy, that bike was known as: "il polmone" which means "lung", referring to a sic, old man with an oxygen mask/metal lung: no girl ever wanted to ride with him and our Japs (I owned a VF400F) got us tons more attention than his! But his father kept telling us that 15 years earlier that bike would have picked up way more than my Honda of the time and my father agreed. (*) This is why I'm asking this forum's opinion and help: I wasn't there, I don't know.


(*) To be fair, it's funny how bike and character matched: my best friend (the guy with the R90S) ended up dating and then marrying my cousin: she was considered the hottest and smartest girl in town. He steadily and relentlessly courted her for 2 years until when she capitulated and accepted to date him... she had turned down everyone else and he was the only one to ever get her (now they're married with a lovely daughter)! But, when we were 18 yo we were not interested in "good girls" like my cousin... we wanted the bad & easy ones... in a way the comparison "4 cyl Japs Vs R90S" is a bit the same story... the R90S will stay with you for a lifetime.

[ascanio1]

@ RR

We're not comparing the "impact" on motorcycling. We're comparing "desirability". Hillary Clinton certainly has a greater impact than Rihanna... but, which one would you prefer in bed?

I would bet a Guzzi Sport would turn more heads even in Italy, than an early GS1000.....

That's for sure: look at the prices...

It would be the GS thousand rider turning his  head , looking for the Guzzi....

It would take someone with pretty poor taste not to like the look of this Suzuki GS1000S, thats half the problem, Guzzi has some nice bikies but some are just butt ugly...

I'm not so sure that it would be the Guzzi to be left behind... again, I was not there, so that's for you, 754, calj, Steve-o, simon etc to dispute which would be faster on an open road.

As for looks... whaaaaaat?? LM 850 butt ugly? Really?!?!?!
C'mon... comparing a GS to a LM 850 it's like comparing Hillary Clinton's butt to Rihanna's butt!!!