Author Topic: 1970's alternative iconic bikes ?? (Read 27105 times)

martin99 · « **Reply #150 on:** January 10, 2015, 02:10:01 PM »

Interesting thread. I remember my first ride on a Jap four, a Kawa Z650B1 around about 1978-79. It seemed a monster compared to the Bonnie I had been running. I remember a long run to the 1980 British GP at Silverstone with my mates - a couple of GS 750s, a Z1, GS1000, CB750 (K4 I think), CB400, a DOHC 750 and a Guzzi Le Mans. Without exception, we all thought the Guzzi was the most sexy bike out of the lot. We didn't hang about on that ride, all of us two-up and loaded with camping gear. We were stopped by the police going through a little village - he said 'Right, where shall I start - breaking the 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 mile limits?' I think he realised he would be there all day booking us, and he was on his own, so he let us off with a warning. Just as well, two of my mates didn't even have licences

By far the quickest bike on that ride, the one that left everyone else for dead, was the DOHC 750. Which I think says more about the rider than the bike.

ascanio1 · « **Reply #151 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:34:55 PM »

Quote from: Retro Rocket on January 09, 2015, 11:41:23 PM

Quote from: ascanio1 on January 09, 2015, 11:05:36 PM
Quote from: 754 on January 09, 2015, 10:42:31 PM
It wasn't the fastest..nothing came close to the TC For A Long Time
Retro Rockets says that the GS1000 was way faster than the Z1. I'm confused... which is it?
The Z1R TC was a turbo bike, stick a turbo on anything and it'll be faster, they handled like a pig and were quite rare, the GS was faster and the benchmark for handling, we've already gone over this.... The CBX was a 70's bike, 78/79...

I did not remember/realize that the TC was the turbo version. I read Z1 and got confused. As you correctly said: "I don't know what I'm talking about" and that's exactly why I keep asking here: to learn. If it irritates you that I don't know or forget what a "TC" is, I am very sorry, but forums exist also to allow for less knowledgeable members (me) to benefit from more expert ones (you or others). I have nothing against the GS1000 simply because I don't know anything about it! My aesthetic preferences are not related to my question [TC vs Z1 confusion]. Don't take comments personally because my OP's intention was to gather opinions and, by their very nature, opinions are personal: it's not a competition, just a discussion.

ascanio1 · « **Reply #152 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:38:58 PM »

Quote from: oldskoolnuts on January 10, 2015, 02:10:01 PM

Interesting thread. I remember my first ride on a Jap four, a Kawa Z650B1 around about 1978-79. It seemed a monster compared to the Bonnie I had been running. I remember a long run to the 1980 British GP at Silverstone with my mates - a couple of GS 750s, a Z1, GS1000, CB750 (K4 I think), CB400, a DOHC 750 and a Guzzi Le Mans. Without exception, we all thought the Guzzi was the most sexy bike out of the lot. We didn't hang about on that ride, all of us two-up and loaded with camping gear. We were stopped by the police going through a little village - he said 'Right, where shall I start - breaking the 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 mile limits?' I think he realised he would be there all day booking us, and he was on his own, so he let us off with a warning. Just as well, two of my mates didn't even have licences By far the quickest bike on that ride, the one that left everyone else for dead, was the DOHC 750. Which I think says more about the rider than the bike.

what bike was the policeman riding?

ascanio1 · « **Reply #153 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:40:15 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on January 10, 2015, 06:53:08 AM

Tom - I think we all agree that the Z1 is the iconic bike to buy....start shopping!http://m.freeclassifieds.com/details.aspx?adID=oGl1iH9NjlJu0O-GwJseTw==

This bike looks awesome. Unfortunately I have to add 3,000$ to ride it in Tokyo so I made him an offer.

754 · « **Reply #154 on:** January 10, 2015, 08:16:17 PM »

I don't mind teaching and enjoy discussing all this. Sorry about the brief TC answer, but the CBX won't run near it.
I did not vote.. What I did find odd though is how hard some fought for their favorites on the strength of only a single attribute.
The GS for example.. So apparently. It set the world on its ear... But seems like most respondents on here hardly even mention it.... Whatever.,
I still think that in the sea of UJM,s in the 70,s....... The R90 S, Laverdas and Guzzis with the low bars...made their mark..

ascanio1 · « **Reply #155 on:** January 10, 2015, 09:27:09 PM »

Quote from: 754 on January 10, 2015, 08:16:17 PM

I don't mind teaching and enjoy discussing all this. Sorry about the brief TC answer, but the CBX won't run near it.
I did not vote.. What I did find odd though is how hard some fought for their favorites on the strength of only a single attribute.
The GS for example.. So apparently. It set the world on its ear... But seems like most respondents on here hardly even mention it.... Whatever.,
I still think that in the sea of UJM,s in the 70,s....... The R90 S, Laverdas and Guzzis with the low bars...made their mark..

I'll add the Guzzis and the R90S to the list. You have direct experience and, if you sincerely think that the Guzzis/BMWs were a match on the road, not only I respect your opinion, I value it. So, please vote.

As for the GS1000, I really don't know what else or more to say! I repeated it 5 or 6 times and I will say it once more: besides aesthetics I have absolutely nothing against that bike. In fact, on the poll, voters obviously like it and think that it turned more heads than both the Ducati or the Laverda.

Please vote!

754 · « **Reply #156 on:** January 10, 2015, 09:42:24 PM »

Wait a second, I am not saying they were a match for the others per se, and in case I got the word iconic wrong, I am saying they were very memorable and large part of the 70,s scene.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #157 on:** January 10, 2015, 11:21:22 PM »

You do realize that the Kawasaki Z1Rtc wasn't a production bike at all, actually neither was the Laverda Jota, the Z1Rtc was a dealer special that had a turbo stuck on a completely standard Z1R and the Jota started life as a Laverda 3C, the Jota was built by Roger Slater, Britain's Laverda importer... Both should be left out of this list... Most people on here are Honda people so it doesn't surprise me that few know about the GS, I knew plenty of guys that had them as soon as they were released, one successfully raced one in its first year, he now owns a Suzuki dealership, Talk to member 750cafe, he has a shed full of GS's....

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #158 on:** January 10, 2015, 11:34:07 PM »

The GS is a fine motorcycle and does pretty much everything better than all these "head turning" motorcycles. That's the whole thing, by the time it came out it kind of snuck under the radar because it didn't really "turn heads". Ascanio, at some point you might realize that the points in your motorcycle career that are most enjoyable are when no one can see you and no one is looking anyway...because there is no one else there...just you and a motorcycle.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #159 on:** January 11, 2015, 04:20:31 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on January 10, 2015, 11:34:07 PM

Ascanio, at some point you might realize that the points in your motorcycle career that are most enjoyable are when no one can see you and no one is looking anyway...because there is no one else there...just you and a motorcycle.

Hallelujah brother.....

calj737 · « **Reply #160 on:** January 11, 2015, 05:27:28 AM »

I would like to order a large, buttered popcorn please?

ekpent · « **Reply #161 on:** January 11, 2015, 06:49:06 AM »

Chick magnet

750 or 850 take your pick, draw em' in like flies.

Stev-o · « **Reply #162 on:** January 11, 2015, 07:19:50 AM »

Quote from: calj737 on January 11, 2015, 05:27:28 AM

I would like to order a large, buttered popcorn please?

754 · « **Reply #163 on:** January 11, 2015, 09:37:30 AM »

Yeah, yeah the Suzuki is best if you say, around here they were not the buzz, and styling wise, they took hind tit. .
Even today..how many do you see? We actually have a lot of them in our local club, but even the owners of them are not missionaries for them like someone on here. They treat them as utility. Bikes, not race bikes.

Step back and look at which of these bikes are being reintroduced today.. I think that speaks volumes.

Steve_K · « **Reply #164 on:** January 11, 2015, 10:27:32 AM »

Gee, the Norton and the Ducati girls were the hottest in the ads. Does that count?
Steve

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #165 on:** January 11, 2015, 02:12:56 PM »

Quote from: 754 on January 11, 2015, 09:37:30 AM

Yeah, yeah the Suzuki is best if you say, around here they were not the buzz, and styling wise, they took hind tit. .
Even today..how many do you see? We actually have a lot of them in our local club, but even the owners of them are not missionaries for them like someone on here. They treat them as utility. Bikes, not race bikes.

Step back and look at which of these bikes are being reintroduced today.. I think that speaks volumes.

Pissy comment Frank, I'm quoting every motorcycle expert and magazine of the day, even the best racers of the day left Kawasaki to ride the Suzuki, its all in black and white, its NOT what i think, its what the EXPERTS said and still do, I have no idea why you need to comment like that, I've post facts relevant to the thread, not emotions, I'm also not just posting for your sake, get it through your thick head mate, when the GS was first introduced it completely blew away all opposition on all fronts, you won't find one article that says any different, I get it, you don't like it, so what.

Quote

Step back and look at which of these bikes are being reintroduced today.. I think that speaks volumes.

You obviously haven't seen the GSX1400 Suzuki then, besides, none of the current reproduction models engines, frames or suspension, have any thing in common with these old bikes so what exactly is your point, time to get over it I think......?

Stev-o · « **Reply #166 on:** January 11, 2015, 02:30:15 PM »

Ooooohh....that looks hot. 1400cc? Must be a rocket.......

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #167 on:** January 11, 2015, 03:14:17 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on January 11, 2015, 02:30:15 PM

Ooooohh....that looks hot. 1400cc? Must be a rocket.......

Yes, 1402cc's, they are pretty nice, I have a friend that has one, its had some work done, not that it needs it, and it flies...

Don't you guys get them in the US...?

754 · « **Reply #168 on:** January 11, 2015, 03:27:54 PM »

First , I have seen of it , looks nice.. And its the Retro Rocket model..
Hey you missed the line when you quoted me, where I agreed with you..

Stev-o · « **Reply #169 on:** January 11, 2015, 03:37:34 PM »

Quote from: Retro Rocket on January 11, 2015, 03:14:17 PM

Quote from: Stev-o on January 11, 2015, 02:30:15 PM
Ooooohh....that looks hot. 1400cc? Must be a rocket.......

Yes, 1402cc's, they are pretty nice, I have a friend that has one, its had some work done, not that it needs it, and it flies...
Don't you guys get them in the US...?

Apparently not.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GSX1400

750cafe · « **Reply #170 on:** January 11, 2015, 09:26:16 PM »

Eric

ascanio1 · « **Reply #171 on:** January 12, 2015, 07:26:32 AM »

Interesting thoughts from all sides...

You know what, RR? You really got my curiosity spiked! I'm going to look for a GS to ride as I'm really curious to see how it compares to my K3.

As for the Jota... You're 100% right. It should not be in the list. The 3 cylinder only fits there.

@ SeanBarney,
I hope that I will experience more vintage riding, of course. But the reason why there are 2 parameters (street speed & turning heads) it's not because these 2 factors are the most important but simply because I needed to reduce the number of candidates & those 2 cane to my mind.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

750cafe · « **Reply #172 on:** January 12, 2015, 10:36:09 AM »

Quote from: ascanio1 on December 26, 2014, 06:49:42 PM

I'm making a list of possible next bike purchase & looking for ideas and cues.

I just got a lovely K3 and I'm so in love with the looks and character of this bike that I can't stop riding it all day long! I now want to make a small collection of bikes of that same era/period which were the K series' nemesis or competitors: I'm only looking for those iconic bikes which represent a milestone and left a mark in the motorcycle industry or which were the era's big names as Laverda 750 SFC and Jota 1000 or Kawasaki Z1 900...

I know that this is the CB750 forum but, it's not OT as the K series changed the world of biking forever and it's interesting to see how the rest of the manufacturers negotiated the revolution.

I am trying to figure out how a CB750 fits as an answer to the original question, is included in this poll and has so many votes.

Eric

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #173 on:** January 12, 2015, 12:48:46 PM »

Quote from: ascanio1 on January 12, 2015, 07:26:32 AM

Interesting thoughts from all sides...

You know what, RR? You really got my curiosity spiked! I'm going to look for a GS to ride as I'm really curious to see how it compares to my K3.

Look for a well maintained example otherwise you'll only be judging it by its worn out suspension and not its actual potential, that should be the same for any prospective bike you wish to compare....

ascanio1 · « **Reply #174 on:** January 12, 2015, 04:43:48 PM »

@750cafe,
In other words you don't agree that when the CB750k came out it was the fastest and most desirable bike on the market?

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News:

Poll

Which 4 bikes were alternative to the CB750, aceesibly priced, '70 to '79, fastest on street & turned more heads? THIS POLL IS CLOSED PLEASE VOTE HERE: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144002.0

Author Topic: 1970's alternative iconic bikes ?? (Read 27105 times)