Author Topic: What Vintage Motorcycle Brand(s) Would You Have If It COULDN'T Be A Honda??? (Read 50585 times)

HondaMan · « **Reply #75 on:** January 01, 2009, 09:13:26 am »

Four-stroke non-Hondas:
The shaft-driven Suzy 750-4 of the early 1980s (was it a GS750?) that resembled the CB750, but with a chain. Although it had more HP than the CB, it was slower, due to drive train losses and weights. Nice scooter, though.

Another, briefly, but not anymore desire: the BMW 750-3 inline of the later 1980s. The water cooling finally made me change my mind. I'm a snob: bikes should be air-cooled... (no fights, please, I'm just an opinionated old snot about this point.

).

Two-strokes:
The Suzy 380cc triple of the 1972-1974 genre. It had a 5-speed tranny then, was as nimble as the 350F but slightly bigger for comfort, would hit 80 MPH in seconds, smooth, quiet, low maintenance, cheap ($700 out the door!) and got 60 MPG. It would also run to redline in top gear at 95 MPH and hold that all day without breaking a sweat. The top end could be completely rebuilt in less than 3 hours, in the frame. A sweet, well thought-out design that was just too small for most folks, so it never did well in the U.S., better in Japan. It didn't smoke, either, due to Suzy's unique crankcase,cleaning checkvalve system and oil injection. Most non-riders never realized it was a stroker.

But, none of the above changed motorcycling forever, nor did they gather a 3rd-party support system, nor did they sell even a small fraction of the CB750 numbers....so, they are all gone!

crazypj · « **Reply #76 on:** January 01, 2009, 11:04:08 am »

GT380, not smoke?

?
you gotta be joking.
It will lay a smoke screen like something from a Bond movie first time its opened up after pottering around town, half mile long, 50 ft high 300 ft wide (I was following that one until it 'disappeared'

) Really did sound good though
I had forgotten about the Barton engineering 500cc water cooled conversion for them though in a Spondon frame.
I think you may be thinking of GS850 as I don't remember the inline 4 ever being a 750 shaft? ( and the Madura V-4 was a few years later)
Flying brick BMW was an awesome reliable motor, we had one guy with the 4 cyl 'brick' do 212,000 miles on his, smoked a bit
(I was working in a Suzuki /BMW dealer when they came out)
PJ

HondaMan · « **Reply #77 on:** January 01, 2009, 04:58:11 pm »

Quote from: crazypj on January 01, 2009, 11:04:08 am

GT380, not smoke??
you gotta be joking.
It will lay a smoke screen like something from a Bond movie first time its opened up after pottering around town, half mile long, 50 ft high 300 ft wide (I was following that one until it 'disappeared' ) Really did sound good though
I had forgotten about the Barton engineering 500cc water cooled conversion for them though in a Spondon frame.
I think you may be thinking of GS850 as I don't remember the inline 4 ever being a 750 shaft?
(I was working in a Suzuki /BMW dealer when they came out)
PJ

You could be right about the 750 being an 850: I only saw them in passing, and they looked just like the previous 750 with a chain, just had a shaft. Nice-looking bikes, and Suzy usually made a reliable motor. They didn't seem to make them long, or else here in Colorado, they just didn't sell well. They seemed to come and disappear before the '80s were over.

There's a fix for the smoke, if your 380 is doing that: pull out the drain check valves at the bottom of the crankcase(s), clean them and the hoses, and/or replace the hoses, to restore the vacuum. Also, if the crankshaft seals are going, that will make it smoke because the positive inflow from the adjacent cylinders will fill the center one.

I was thinking about the gearbox: I think I'm confusing the 5-speed bit with the 550's of the same period. The 380 got a (short-lived) digital indicator in the late 1974 model (along with Buck Rogers styling that kinda ruined it) because Suzy reps were hearing that customers were forgetting what gear they were in...I think all 380s were 6-speeders. They always felt like a little track racer, no matter where you were riding!

I never knew there was a waterbike 500 kit for them: what a boost that must have been!

crazypj · « **Reply #78 on:** January 01, 2009, 08:13:53 pm »

About 115 bhp

.
Barton Engineering started in an old chapel in North Wales.
I saw some old race pictures recently labeled as a square four but no details (I didn't know they did a four)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamheronsuzuki/page4/

The page numbers keep moving as they are constantly adding stuff, the link is at present a vintage Bentley record car

The 380's weren't mine, couple of friends had them.
The smoke only lasted about a mile or three, then all the collected oil was burned. (took a few miles of flat out running before silencers got hot enough to start burning the oil, they would go all sort's of funny colours)
PJ

rhos1355 · « **Reply #79 on:** January 02, 2009, 01:18:08 am »

I live in cloud cuckoo land, so my choice is:

Brough Superior SS100

(£120,000 at a recent auction at Bonhams)

ev0lve · « **Reply #80 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:17:02 am »

Hmmm, while I wait for the temp to get above 40. I think the only other bike I'm interested in at this point is the 81 - 83 gs1100s

It seems they kept on making them in Japan until 2002?. Oy. Preeety.

okie · « **Reply #81 on:** January 03, 2009, 07:07:13 am »

Well, maybe I would take a '68 Bridgestone 350GTR. 13.6 second quarter mile and takes a corner pretty well.

bill440cars · « **Reply #82 on:** January 04, 2009, 01:33:18 pm »

Quote from: Wheelhorse77 on July 19, 2007, 10:40:12 am

82 Suzi GS1100GL

My dad's bike... I've grown up with the thing. Plus I've seen a vintage bike report where the bike ran 11.20 at 122 mph... I was thinking, yup, she's a little faster than the SOHC.

Wouldn't mind having 3 of the bikes MY Dad had:

Indian 841 (civlianized)

Indian Warrior (Van Pelt Modified & Fast)

Jawa 250 (again, Van Pelt Modified and surprised many a larger bike, with it's speed and quick response, considering that it was a 2 stroke made before reed valves and expansion chambers were introduced)

Yeah, those would be just the ticket for me and not a Honda among them.

okie · « **Reply #83 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:18:14 pm »

Maybe this '66 Bonneville I bought today. The seller bought it new April 16, 1966. It had been driven an average of 141 miles per year. This is the 4th non-Honda I have owned. The other non-Hondas weres my 1959 Cushman Super Eagle and a couple of 98cc Parillas.

By the way, that Bridgestone in the post above isn't mine. It is just visiting my house until its owner picks it up next week.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #84 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:00:47 pm »

Wow Oakie..........thats a pretty Trump!!!!! What would that set a guy back??

justjosh · « **Reply #85 on:** May 14, 2009, 02:52:03 pm »

already got it. Mostly 55 triumph T5A. Restored 18 yeas ago by my uncle. Sorry for the crap pic. I will take some better ones this weekend.

toycollector10 · « **Reply #86 on:** May 15, 2009, 01:38:05 am »

I didn't sit around wanting a BIG ZED, I went out and found one.

JS550 · « **Reply #87 on:** May 20, 2009, 05:53:42 pm »

Gotta say a Brough Superior. The one in the Davida ad! Come on lotto!

myhondas · « **Reply #88 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:03:55 pm »

I want either a 73 or 74 kz 900. It was the first bike that beat my 750 K4 when we used to race on Friday nites in the flats. Only other bike that beat mine was another Honda 750 which had the big bore kit and was built as a chopper. Much lighter and powerful than mine.

fuzzybutt · « **Reply #89 on:** May 20, 2009, 10:06:57 pm »

sorry, i have to change what i said earlier in this thread. i would LOVE to have a vincent BUT, one of the ones being built today, you could still call it vintage i suppose. not technically but...........................................................

jumpjg · « **Reply #90 on:** May 21, 2009, 06:58:05 am »

Pretty happy with today's ride

jumpjg · « **Reply #91 on:** May 21, 2009, 07:00:31 am »

Also satisfied with yesterday's ride

jaknight · « **Reply #92 on:** June 06, 2009, 01:53:01 am »

OK, Let's Play Pretend,

This will do me.......Vincent Black Prince (somewhere beyond $100,000 smackers) or an ordinary Vincent HRD..... it'll do.

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

BLUE71TURBO · « **Reply #93 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:26:32 pm »

My choice is the VINCENT BLACK SHADOW !! 150 MPH STOCK !!

MoTo-BunnY · « **Reply #94 on:** August 15, 2009, 11:54:47 pm »

OH yeah. . . it I could have anything else, with price not a factor, it would be a Vincent (any but especially the Black Shadow or Rapide) or a Brough Superior. The possibility of me ever having either is not in touch with reality, but hey, a gal can dream. .. . lol

demon78 · « **Reply #95 on:** September 14, 2009, 10:54:09 am »

60-62 Triumph Bonneville, Matchless g50, always loved the way the Bonny handled and had a fair turn of speed, the Matchbox because it was quick and are still being built today.
Bill the demon.

le_sterls · « **Reply #96 on:** October 05, 2009, 05:11:59 pm »

If I couldn't have a Honda, it'd be 1st a Norton, then a Triumph, the 3rd a Ducatti. Simply my opinion though, I've always loved british bikes, and had a particular soft spot for ducatti's

tool14 · « **Reply #97 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:36:35 am »

old indian scout

Ecosse · « **Reply #98 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:54:37 pm »

i can't believe royal enfield only gets 8%. wankers.

j/k... i was just looking for an excuse to say "wankers".

below is a bike i almost got...and if that's not vintage enough how about this below it?

jbrick28 · « **Reply #99 on:** December 14, 2009, 06:40:15 pm »

norton 850 commando, my dad had one when i was young and i still remember the way it sounds. then a pre unit triumph and a new bonniville

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If It Couldn't Be A Honda *shudder* What Brand(s) of VINTAGE Motorcycle Would You Be Into?

Author Topic: What Vintage Motorcycle Brand(s) Would You Have If It COULDN'T Be A Honda??? (Read 50585 times)

rhos1355

okie

okie

justjosh

fuzzybutt

jumpjg

jumpjg

If It Couldn't Be A Honda shudder What Brand(s) of VINTAGE Motorcycle Would You Be Into?