[motorcyclerider]

Well, I know that a lot you consider a "Classic Sportbike" to be last years model, LOL but Sportbikes do have a real and interesting history from the Cafe Racers to the first Sportbikes and Race Replica machines!!

I'm BJ Ondo, ("Old Fart"), being 45 year old, I've seen the beginnings of how production sportbikes have come to be. Basicly going to list how it all got stared and differnt models up to the late 80's race replicas. Will even bring up the "racers" who raced the specialized factory bikes that finally became a "fastbike" that the consumer could purchase. Check it out as it grows and please join in.

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BJ Ondo, "Old Fart"
Colorado
1980 GS1100E Suzuki
"The 1980's Hyabusa"

 

[Pete]

A great idea!!! Good job BJ!

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Pete
"Ultimately, most problems can be solved by applying a large brick to the correct skull. Difficulties arise when you don't have a brick or can't find the the right skull. The Devil is always in the details."

 

[madmax]

I'm a motorcycle lover - regardless of style. I've been around long enough to see the evolution from the old UJM, to today's styles that are influenced by wind-tunnel testing. What I find intriquing is the recent styling efforts to bring back the 'naked bike' styling of the '70s / '80s. Examples such as the Eddie Lawson replica and the Kawasaki 650 Triumph clone come to mind. Heck, I saw a Triumph the other day, and it took a couple of closer looks to see the radiator...that's what clued me in that it was a NEW bike! Cool! I guess this 'evolution' is similar to changes in cage styling - like the new Thunderbird or PT Cruiser. Gotta love it. Especially since I'm still riding a 21 year-old bike. Maybe it's still hip to ride this old beast after all. I'll refrain from making any comments about how I remember when the movie Easy Rider came out. Now THOSE were some COOL bikes. Frankly I don't see Honda / Kawasaki building any replicas like that - or Shoei coming out with a Peter Fonda model open-faced helmet. But you never know!

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[motorcyclerider]

Madmax, looks like Honda maybe bringing out a "modern retro" of the 1969 CB750KO model (4 into 4 exhaust), using the modern "NightHawk" motor for 2001! Now, if they do the same thing for the CB900F sporting Honda 4-cylinder, that would be cool!! Retro seems to be the wave of the future, LOL. What was old, is now new again!



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BJ Ondo, "Old Fart"
Colorado
1980 GS1100E Suzuki
"The 1980's Hyabusa"

 

[skier5150]

My first bike ...argh... 5 year old 1967 Honda 450 4-speed, chrome tank sides, and the worlds stiffest clutch springs, they were The Trick for slipping clutches on any bike. Buzz : 6,000 rpm @ 70mph in hi gear, 12,000 RPM @ 80mph in 2nd gear, quite a rush over my English Ford !
Then to a 500 Kawi triple, and a Suzuki 500 Titan. Just liked riding my ring-a-ding ! Havent't ridden since 1980, and power has doubled ! I still have the license endorsement and the hots, what should I get, besides a good helmet and insurance ?

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[CajunVFR]

Hey BJ, does a 76 Honda CB750 ss (the one with a tail like the harley Nitetrain)count?
Paid $50 from guy at work,needs some work and a title.Just curious about these things.
Keep up the good work.

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Steven G. Knecht
1991 VFR750F
1989 RX-7 GTU

 

[harryzx-12]

The first fast bike (at the time)i owned was a suzuki gt-380,i think it was a 1971 6 speed it did wheelies pretty good.I then got a 1974 kawa 900 z1-a(I still have it)It was great to race honda 750s they didn't stand a chance.I usually drag raced but top end was ok too.my bike had a yoshurmira header which i normally rode with the baffle out. It was scary riding around corners fast. I couldn't blow it up no matter how much i tried.I much prefer my zx-12 though.

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harryzx-12

 

[LeadDog]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by motorcyclerider:
Well, I know that a lot you consider a "Classic Sportbike" to be last years model, LOL but Sportbikes do have a real and interesting history from the Cafe Racers to the first Sportbikes and Race Replica machines!!

I'm BJ Ondo, ("Old Fart"), being 45 year old, I've seen the beginnings of how production sportbikes have come to be. Basicly going to list how it all got stared and differnt models up to the late 80's race replicas. Will even bring up the "racers" who raced the specialized factory bikes that finally became a "fastbike" that the consumer could purchase. Check it out as it grows and please join in.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Weeelll BJ, ya got me. One look at the Cafe topics, among others, and I decided one old fart wasn't enough, so I signed in in addition to the 4 other boards I read. Good deal!
Perhaps some of the users here could hit CrossRoads and flop back & forth?


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If You Ain't the Lead Dog, the Scenery never Changes!

 

[RCjohn]

I have taken over as the Moderator but hated to see BJ go. We will miss that source of knowledge. Good luck to the "Old Fart".

This is kind of interesting timing... my brother recently bought my twin nephews an old CB125 with dirt tires on it. They promptly destroyed the engine in it so it has been delivered to me for repairs. It's not a sportbike but I bet I could fit some trimmed down RC-51 bodywork on it.

Well I don't know alot about rebuilding motorcycle engines but I guess I can give it a shot. Wish me luck.

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John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"