CBR900 Fireblade was definitely ground breaking at a time when 1100s were king. Power to weight again become a key performance measure. Arguably it built upon the GSXR750 legacy but this bike led to the current crop of 1000cc Superbikes and the decline on the large sport tourers.
I’m still astonished as to how quick my 97 Blade feels at times, I’ve got much newer bikes in my garage but the Blade goes out a lot!, in fact I’ll be out on it in the morning 👍
The 70's was a perfect time to get into motorcycles. The UJM was the foundation of many a modified bike. I got into RD yamaha with a 74 RD 350. Then a 75 Rd 350 that I transformed into a sweet handling cafe with an engine helped by Don Vesco to make around 55 HP. Out of the 16 or so bikes I had, including a Z1, original Kawasaki Ninja, and several Triumphs, that RD was the most fun!
Could not agree more. I had a RD400 and many other 70's models. The Z1 is still today a beautiful bike. From what you said I reckon you would enjoy many videos on the channel.
I've got a 94 900SS. Love that thing. I mean, sure, ABS would be nice, but smooth CV carb power delivery and the simplicity of the basic controls, two round clocks, and a few warning lights is just nice. There's also something to be said for the ceremony of bringing a carbed bike to life, it puts you in the right mindset for riding.
First time I became aware of the Z1300 was when I heard the nasal drone of a motorcycle going past. I turned to see this behemoth glide by with the most incredible sound. I knew then I had to have one....Wish I had never sold it...
Another groundbreaking bike was the Yamaha FZR600, the first truly powerful (91hp) 600 class sports bike. Also don't forget the Suzuki GT250 X7, first production 250 to do the ton.
The vmax was very practical. Under 6,000 RPMs it was a complete pussycat. With a comfortable riding position, decent suspension and an incredibly smooth engine the vmax was the easiest superbike to live with. I owned a yellow '95, and it was the love of my life
I remember the first 900 RR I rode. It belonged to a riding buddy. I was riding a 1995 Kawasaki ZX900 which I regretted buying. I didn't like the handling especially the numb front end. You get no feedback whatsoever no matter how you adjust the fully adjustable suspension. I was sales manager at the Kawasaki-Yamaha shop in our area and got a new bike maybe 2 every year depending on how quickly the bike I had sold. Anyway the Honda 900RR was a revelation! It was just as the bike mags described it. It felt like a 600 with almost open class power. I loved the thing, I could keep the front wheel in the air as long as I wanted, at the crest of a hill, coming out of fast corners just anywhere and everywhere! By then I had a new ZX11D and I loved it too but for different reasons.The Honda was more fun on tight curvy roads where the 11 was phenomenal everywhere! Power, power and more power! I loved it so much I bought it with my own money.And I wished we were a Honda dealer so I could get a 900RR of my own!
1st gen Ducati Monster - my dream bike. IMO, simply the best looking Ducati ever made and one of the most beautiful bikes in history. Perfect lines....flowing.
when the GSXR 750 first came out, one dude a week was getting killed on them on roads through the Adelaide Hills! Got a VMX 1200, Monster S4R and Cagiva 1000 V Raptor now, had an RD350LC (& a 250LC) and Monsters in 900, 800 and 620cc a few years ago.
The Ducati 916 was drop dead gorgeous. No argument. I saw quite a few of them around in their time, but few riders I ever rode with who owned one could ride well. IMPE riding in that era, it tended to attract the brand poseur buyer rather than the kind of fast rider you'd think would buy it. Possibly something to do with the price, as by then Ducati had become a more prestigious brand with commensurate elitist prestige marketing and pricing. Releasing in 1999 is a bike I probably most greatly lusted after but never bought. Like the Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk 1 of 1977, it was pitched at a pricepoint I would never have been prepared to pay. It was MV Augusta's F4 750 S. Drop dead gorgeous. Still one of if not THE most aesthetically beautiful production motorcycles ever built to my eyes.
1984 the ninja 900 started the spirt bike craze. I had 85 ninja 600 first 600 sport bike fully faired 16 valve dohc water cooler middle weight that handled as well as it ran. Tires and suspension caught up to hp. The golden age began. The ninja 900 in 84 was the first shot in a sportbike war that still rages on.😅
Borrowed brother’s RD350 for a couple of weeks after pranging my 750 Commando Combat in 1982. The thing was nuts once you got it in the power band. Also raced one of the new Katanas on the motorway on the said Combat when they’d just come out and both of us weaving traffic full-noise - a mindset that led to the aforementioned prang at another time. Whereupon I described a graceful arc right over an Austin Cambridge when a nurse popped a U-turn in front of me. I was going too fast and she didn’t look - no injuries apart from bruised ego and bent forks. Bike was fixed up a couple of weeks later. I slowed down a tad. The incident installed a permanent desire to watch for unexpected events in the course of riding which lasts until this day - 64 now. Have Sprint GT 1050, CB1300 Bol d’Or, and a T140V. You’ve got me thinking about those Yamaha XS 850s now but they’ve migrated to classic status and seem unobtainable in Aus now. Keep up the good work!👍🏻😁
I owned a first gen VMax and the handling issues were not that bad and were pretty easily fixed. Aftermarket front down tube stabilizer and side frame bars stiffened it up to handle anything 99 percent of riders would ever throw at it. I added the Tboost switch which would allow the power to come on at 3000 instead of 6000 rpms and with a set of SuperTrap exhausts it was to this day the best bike I have ever heard or owned many race bikes don't sound anywhere as good. The Tboost option came with a switch so you could go between the 6000 and 3000 rpm settings but that was a waste as everyone that installed one and made one acceleration run with it just left it on 3000. In any gear at any revs you just could feel the locomotive like power under you like no other bike and with it starting to pull so low in rpms and going until you got scared with sign of stopping it was the most fun you could have on two wheels.. Nothing has ever just left me hanging on for dear life like that thing did man I wish I still had it.
I love your reviews and going down motorcycle memory lane. Once upon a rime, I had a Fatboy and enjoyed very much, though it did have handling "issues" due to the Softail frame, it only acted up when you tried to ride it like a Super Sport, or Sport bike. Otherwise it could cruise at 80mph all day long and the low center of gravity made it an easy ride too. My friend also had a Hayabusa which I rode and it was sedate and easy at low speeds, but if you asked it to, it would go blisteringly, lose-your-license fast very quickly and easily! Keep up the good work Sir.
I had ‘73cb350, 76cb500, ‘76cb550ss back in the 90’s and they were all great, especially the 550. I have a ‘81 cb900c and a ‘15 Ninja 1000. The 900 is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. My dad bought it new and it didn’t go to the shop until I took it in 2000 to check the valves. They didn’t have to adjust any of them.
Loved my RD250LC, bought for £250 in 1988, and my RZ250LC purchased in 1992, and now have a 900LC (Velocity Moto rendition based on the XSR900) - proper tyres, brakes, power, handling - just no ring a ding ding unfortunately but looks amazing.
I now own an RD350LC for the 3rd time in my life, sold the first one back in the 80's and missed it so much, I bought another one a month later. I've owned large capacity sports bikes, tourers etc, still got a 1200cc Triumph but the LC takes me back to being 17 every time I look at it even. It's an iconic bike for a reason,.... I'm never selling this one.
Both newly released in 1985, I recall being torn at the time between buying the GSX-R750 or the RG500 Gamma. Although the belly pan fairing colour is incorrect (from a Red and Black livery one), the machine pictured at 8:08 won, and today I still have mine bought new back then. The dilemma between whether I'd made the right choice was immediately resolved. The RG500 was the right choice for me.
@@motorcyclecafe 38 years ownership and riding mine, the RG500 doesn't oil up plugs nor prematurely carbon them either even with a mix of urban/idling and sport riding. He must have been running incorrect heat range plugs for his climate/primary use, or his oil pump been adjusted far too rich (they are factory set cautiously on the rich side but not so rich as to cause that), or his barrels worn/rings rooted -unlikely in any RG under 45,000km even run very hard vs literally abused (running with an empty oil tank). The RG500's oil pump was factory spec. set for its recommended non-synthetic oil, and typically used e.g. Castrol Super TT (non-synthetic) in its day vs the (current Castrol TTS) full synthetic recommended for the later RGV250 and oil pump was factory set. IMPE neither will foul plugs. Perhaps if running too cold a heat range plugs in a cold winter climate and spending a lot of time idling in stop and go urban traffic? But it's never been a characteristic I've experienced with either of those motorcycles personally in length period of ownership of both. I have genuin Suzuki workshop service manuals for both here which I use to service, maintain and tune them..
Good work mate, certainly was a trip down memory lane! I found all your comments spot one! 😎 I'm working on a 2023 Burt Munroe challenge video at the moment myself.
Always liked the airhead Dakar Beemer. Brothers mate had one. Single rear shock blew and was expensive to replace. Stupid new fangled ideas. The 350 LC was awesome. Katana was great though long and slow handling through twisty stuff.
There is a huge, and important, gap between the RD350LC and the GSXR, a period of almost five years that utterly transformed motorcycling. In 1983, Honda introduced the 750 Interceptor, a bike that was, really, the first modern sportbike. The following year, Kawasaki gave us the original fully-faired Ninja 900 and Yamaha the FJ1100 which, despite its air-cooled engine, had a space-frame and monster front forks to go along with its sportbike fairing. I went from a UJM (Yamaha Seca 650) to the FJ1100 i n 1984 and the difference in frame stiffness meant that I could, for the first time, confidently trail-brake at speeds and lean angles that would have caused a washout on my previous bikes. These three bikes ignited the sportbike movement and leaving them all out is an oversight.
Honda VFR! Pretty incredible unsung hero of their time. V4's make amazing power, sound incredible, and a single-sided swingarm on a bike priced for mortal men.
Great video! However, I can't believe you did not mention the Honda Interceptors of the early 80's and their span of several iterations of that machine. When I was in the Marine Corps back in the late 80's early 90's I had an 84' Honda VF750F Interceptor in red, white and blue. Freddie Spencer all the way. The machine was a beast. Stupidly sold it upon detaching from active duty. I had a Honda Nighthawk, a mid 80's Suzuki GS over those years but the Interceptor was king! If I could have had any other bike it would have been the GSXR 750. Fast forward to 2019...I wondered if any of those old Interceptors were still around. Wife's eyes rolling...here we go again. I found an 84' VF700F Interceptor in r, w and blue in central PA. Told the wife if it runs and moves I'm buying it. Today it is nicely restored and still a head turner and screamer. The old girl sits proudly next to my 2013 Honda VFR1200F.
Its hard to mention them all mate. If I did I wouldn't have any bikes left for other videos. I hope you understand, I have absolutely nothing against the VFR's they were a great bike although the early ones did have issues.
The comments are almost as good as the video everyone reminiscing about the great old bikes they’ve owned mine is a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre still got it and it still runs great.
I recall taking a trip on my CG125 (gotta start somewhere) as 17 year old to Motorcycle City (Shitty City) on Lynchford Road in Farnborough and somebody was monowheeling a brand new blue Z1300 up Lynchford Road coming the other way. Made an impression. First one I'd seen.
got a new 1975 RD 350 put on chrome chambers low bars rear set pegs had it dyno tuned at Yamaha every spring and it was so quick but around 100mph top end but the most fun motorcycle i had in my 43 years of riding
@Motorcycle Café Got my license at 16 in"85 and had already been obsessed for years. Worked at a Honda/BMW dealership in college. So many strange machines. Remember when EVERYONE had a v4?
My friend Larry lent me his RD400 for the weekend to woo a girl. It was missing 2nd gear. A friend of ours had a Honda SL350 which was mostly on the rear wheel! I spent an afternoon doing wheelies through Tulsa frantically shifting from 1st to 3rd keeping the front wheel up. Since I was a Trials rider I knew about balance and throttle control. What was her name?
I know its hard to fit all the bikes into one vid, but the Yamaha 1000 exup “genesis “ was the bike of the year from 89 for the next nine years becoming the bike of the decade. .. easy to forget, but not if you owned one. 😂
Yes it is hard you're always going miss bikes which people love. There are so many good bikes even in the old days before my time. Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment buddy!
We took a 1500 Gold Wing and I borrowed it for the weekend to ride from Tampa to the dragstrip in Gainesville.I swear i felt like i was riding a two wheeled Mazda Miata only it wasn't as near as much fun.I never rode that model Gold wing again.But that's JMHO after all.
I enjoyed all your videos, they very well made and presented, thanks and greetings from Costa Rica! I'm 68yrs, had bikers from 50cc to 1300cc, race once I own a VMAX, willing to tame it...
6:02 I recall the first time I saw the RD350LC. Pretty much immediately upon its release I made a special trip to the Yamaha dealer at Buranda (suburb of Brisbane in Qld) as once was to check one out. I was into bigger bore four stroke bikes by/at that time. Although Suzuki had introduced two stroke liquid cooling in their GT750 a few years earlier, I was blown away by the introduction of it in the much sportier RD. I was less impressed by its styling, although that was typical avant garde around that time (Katana). Fortunately that aesthetic period was shortlived. I think had it been more aesthetically pleasing, I may have been tempted to buy one although in fairness that desire might have been moderated by not being in any position to afford to own, maintain and garage two road bikes contemporaneously at that time.
The LC 350 and 250 were both fantastic bikes in every way. I cannot recall 1 thing about them that i did not like. A truly great motorcycle in every way.
@@motorcyclecafe A huge fan myself of their overall performance, I really disliked the LC's styling aesthetic. It wasn't until the RZ350 which was still a styling compromise, and in particular the RZ350F2 attempting to capitalise on the popularity of the RZ500L that I thought that Yamaha were finally dragged kicking and screaming into a pleasing aesthetic. Of course, the RD350LC and subsequent RZs were such good sellers because of their overall performance and price and had no effective challengers in the 350cc capacity, so Yamaha didn't have change anything about the styling at the time. It wasn't until Suzuki's RG250 (1983) and subsequently Kawasaki's KR250 (1984), that the RZ250 had any effective competition. After that marginal cosmetic upgrade with the RZ350F2, Yamaha responded leading the charge to the next gen with their drop dead gorgeous TZR250. But that lead was soon eclipsed by Kawasaki introducing the fantastic in KR-1 and Suzuki their RGV250K.
Shame the ZZR1100 (ZX11) with the first ram air flow and the fastest production motorcycle for 6 years running didn't get the cut here. The blackbird and hyabusa came because of the ZX11.
I had a GSX1100 in the 1980's when the Katana came out and thats the one I thought I would get next but you know the drill marriage kids etc dreams died off
Awesome trip down memory lane. Quite a few of them I had test rides on when they were new but found theme too expensive to buy. Now many of these are affordable on second hand market. Why no mention of Honda NT700V and the ST1100 sports tourers? Both practical everyday rides and very cheap second hand today.
Had a few RD and RZ's in my day. Best bikes ever made for the money. Still have an RZ35O but it's sick right now. I updated and bought a 91 FZR1000 last year. Actually better on fuel. Lol
Ditto on RD's, lusted after the LC, ran out and bought an RZ, which I still have and ride. Great bikes. Fun, fast, easy to work on, and good parts availability. 😊
Do like your style and broadly agree with your opinions, have RST 1k GT 750 and GPZ500s in the garage will be getting them on the road asap had a few issues this year but we are moving forward. Have subbed hope all goes well. Oj
I had two RD350LC’s (after passing my test on an RD250E), crashed the first and then got the second new, £1100 in 1983. Had a YPVS after that, while it was better in all aspects, it just had no soul. Went 4-stroke after with an FZ600 (original version with the XJ600 motor in the Japan-only FZR400 chassis). Far better bike TBH than any of the RD’s.
I agree the RD's had more personality than the YPVS. The YPVS, however, is easier to live with. Add some 'spannies, mill the head, yank the air box, and jet it. Then you have a YPVS that is still civilized, but it will snarl better than the old RD's ever could. I still ride both today. Fun City!
Missing out the cbr400rr is kinda criminal, one of the first road bikes to come out with a cast aluminium frame, including the fully braced swingarm, downdraft carbs and gear driven cams it laid the ground for the fireblade, which was also ground breaking in fitting that 900cc engine into a package as compact as 600s. Also missed out the bimota tesi and yamaha gts which were the first production bikes to feature hub centre steering.
Actually I did not overlook the K100, it was on my list but decided not to include it for video length reasons. The channels best & most interesting video "Amazing Motorcycle Feats" is performing poorly I can only assume it's too long so I try to keep videos shorter.
Nice video, fellas. I was hoping to see a glimpse of the Yamaha TRX850 (1996 to 1999) which I believe was meant to be competition for the Monster. Although it was not a big seller at all, I believe it is avery nice-handling, reasonably powerful motorcycle and vastly under-rated. Cheers. 👍 🏍
Hi mate, the TRX was a cheap substitute to the Ducati, it looked great and surprised a few bikes. Well it did when I owned mine, unfortunately with the one I had.I had nothing but bad luck with it and proved unreliable. Maybe I just had a bad one, who knows.. Still, great looking bike and I agree, handled well.. 👍
@@snakeman9902 - Sorry to hear you had a 'bad one'. I've been riding mine for around 8 years and, touch wood, never had any problems. Runs like a dream - 85 Nm and last dyno'd at 87 hp. It makes me happy. 😊😊🏍🏍
I had a Yamaha TRX 850 in the color blue, a year 1997. A two-cylinder 180 degree paralleltwin, - probably the best motorcycle I've ever had. It was rock solid, started every time and never broke down, it seemed inexhaustible, and pulled hard from the ground up, a moment strong motorcycle. With the sports exhaust on it had a fantastic sound, with the original exhaust it sounded a bit tame. It had good driving characteristics, loved corners and had great ground clearance, suspension and brakes could be upgraded. It's one of the most underrated motorcycles,' much better than the Ducati Monster, and cost only half the price of a Ducati.
It was pretty wild to have watched the evolution of motorcycles since the speed wobble prone ill handling inadequate brake bikes of the 70's and how manufacturers leapfrogged each other with something better faster in almost every class year after year. If you bought a 750, a couple years later the latest greatest 500cc class bike might just be quicker and faster. If I remember correctly the Honda CB750 was the first king of the hill superbike that was used for quite a few years as a benchmark for performance comparison.
Partner you forgot the most important and iconic cruiser ever built in the 80's " The Honda V65 Magna 1100 , in 1986 was the fastest production bike built at the time , although it was onlu made for 2 years , well 3 actually but the 1983 you could only get from Japan at the time , i own 3 V65 Magnas and ride them constantly , one of them has 86,000 miles on it and still runs like it did new .
I can't believe you didn't feature the Yamaha XS 1100 produced btw 1978 - 1983. It was the first superbike to do the quarter mile in 11seconds, hence it was konwn as the Eleven, beating everyone else at the time.. Although not the best handling for racing, it had 95 bhp and superb torque in all three ranges. Foir the early 80s, THIS was the best power, most comfortable sports tourer and reliable bike that needed very little maintenance with the shaft drive. I've had Hondas (smooth) including the 1982 CB900F Lemans winner, Kawis( sexy) and Yamies . And I agree that the Monster was amazing and the best handling , but ther XS Eleven deserves an honorable mention... And what about the FJ1100/1200 ? Great racers and handling....
Magna was the first stock bike to run into the ten's in the quarter mile. 1984 ninja fastest bike in the world at the time. R1, R6, yzf, FZR FIRST 5 valve per cylinder inline 4's.1993 ZX7r or ZXR 750 M1 first inline four to win World Superbike title. The blade was the first modern era Superbike that combined light weight, power and handling and 31 years later we still have a Fireblade.
I traded my 1983 Gpz 1100 in for a new Gsxr 750 back in 1988 a year later traded in the GSXR for a FZR 1000.The Exup was 60lbs heavier but handled better and was a lot faster. The first Gsxr is in the running for one of the most ionic bikes ever made but the title Superbike is debatable, @@motorcyclecafe
In 1985 I test rode a brand new RG500 and was totally underwhelmed by its performance. After half an hour I returned the bike and was coerced into having a ride on the RZ500. What a difference, the bikes were night and day apart in performance with the RZ matching all the expectations I had for a big two stroke road bike. I traded in my KR1S and to this day I still regard the RZ as the best bike I've owned for the thrill it gave me. I've owed a Monster for almost 10 years and it's a good bike, a ton of fun but I think I really did love the RZ more 👍😊
79 yamaha xs eleven special with stock exhaust etc consistently came within half a second times in the 1/4 of the z1300 and that was with shaft drive. And it had almost 40 less hp. It was the whole power to weight ratio. I owned both at different times and prefered the yamaha although I have mainly had Kawasakis since buyin a kz900 in 77
Those 6cyl bikes were all for showing off. The power gains were all cut short because of the weight. I did see a KZ1300 with an intercooled turbo on it once in the 90's. That one impressed me.
Fantastic video, yes it did bring back memories, I'm surprised the Blackbird wasn't put in there, as the Busa was a direct rival to it, I personally didn't like the look of the original Busa, prefer the new Busa, but dam the original kicked ass.
The blackbird was a direct rival for the ZZR and as you say the Busa took the crown from the bird.., but the Busa wasn't perfect as the video claimed , and I know because I've owned all three ... I still have love and ride the original ZZR ..
@@Claude1100 Hi Andy, I've never owned a Busa, I have rode one, I never liked the look of the original, I've owned 2 birds, I own the zzr1400 at the moment.. I always have a love for the bird..
I was expecting to see something from the Honda V4 range mentioned. I remember when the 1300 Kwaka was considered a huge bike. My how times have changed.
The v4's were on my list buddy for sure but on RUclips you have to keep things to a watchable length. The channels best and most interesting video only has 1,200 views 'Against All Odds' I consider it the most interesting motorcycle video out there, at least for me LOL.
@@mikeholland1031 I've still got an 82 VF 750 Magna and besides from the parts that have had to be replaced due to wear and tear and time I've had no problems with it.
@@mikeholland1031 83 was the first year of sale but like most vehicles they start producing the model the year before. I've been seeing a lot of post for motorcycles made this year but called the 2025 model. I only say it's the 82 because that's what the compliance plate has on it and for historic rego in Oz that what they use to be eligible to get it.
Forgot the Ninja900 or GPZ900 in Europe. The GSXR stole its' thunder but it was liquid cooled and at the beginning of fully faired sportbike cliche. Admittedly this was a sport touring bike but stressed handling (monoshock rear, 16" front). Had two myself. Great bike, but a bit revvy and the motor had a horrible power curve.
People were going around the world 🌎 with regular BMW's as well as Triumphs and BSA. I have a manual for a BSA C-12 and in the back of the manual are listings for all the BSA dealerships around the world. You could get parts and service for your motorcycle any where in the world. Adventure bikes are for a different kind of poser. Many would piss their pants at the thought of going off-road with a 600 lbs $30,000 motorcycle. I go off-road with a Triumph TR25 that cost me $500 and weighs next to nothing. Goes 60 mph down a fire road easy to ride pleasant deminor.
CBR900 Fireblade was definitely ground breaking at a time when 1100s were king. Power to weight again become a key performance measure. Arguably it built upon the GSXR750 legacy but this bike led to the current crop of 1000cc Superbikes and the decline on the large sport tourers.
A fantastic motorcycle no doubt about it. Thanks for watching
y
I’m still astonished as to how quick my 97 Blade feels at times, I’ve got much newer bikes in my garage but the Blade goes out a lot!, in fact I’ll be out on it in the morning 👍
ZZR1100 was an amazing machine. It was insane at the time. Also the ZX10 that preceded it. Owned both... The ZZR was my favourite
The 70's was a perfect time to get into motorcycles. The UJM was the foundation of many a modified bike. I got into RD yamaha with a 74 RD 350. Then a 75 Rd 350 that I transformed into a sweet handling cafe with an engine helped by Don Vesco to make around 55 HP. Out of the 16 or so bikes I had, including a Z1, original Kawasaki Ninja, and several Triumphs, that RD was the most fun!
Could not agree more. I had a RD400 and many other 70's models. The Z1 is still today a beautiful bike. From what you said I reckon you would enjoy many videos on the channel.
Me too
T
I've got a 94 900SS. Love that thing.
I mean, sure, ABS would be nice, but smooth CV carb power delivery and the simplicity of the basic controls, two round clocks, and a few warning lights is just nice.
There's also something to be said for the ceremony of bringing a carbed bike to life, it puts you in the right mindset for riding.
You just cannot beat 'Old School' with a kick start
@@motorcyclecafe No kickstart on a '94 Duc 900ss
The lack of a fuel gauge irked me.
I could never trust the low fuel warning light.
Ritually reset trip meter to zero every time I refuelled.
I had a 1979 KZ1300, a beauty with a sound like heaven.
First time I became aware of the Z1300 was when I heard the nasal drone of a motorcycle going past. I turned to see this behemoth glide by with the most incredible sound. I knew then I had to have one....Wish I had never sold it...
Another groundbreaking bike was the Yamaha FZR600, the first truly powerful (91hp) 600 class sports bike. Also don't forget the Suzuki GT250 X7, first production 250 to do the ton.
FJ 1100 and FJ 1200 were super quick ------- Had 1988 1200 in Canada
Best 80s I ever owned was the 81 cb 750 Bol ‘dor. The best 90s bike I ever owned was the 96 yzf 1000 Thunderace
The vmax was very practical. Under 6,000 RPMs it was a complete pussycat.
With a comfortable riding position, decent suspension and an incredibly smooth engine the vmax was the easiest superbike to live with.
I owned a yellow '95, and it was the love of my life
I’ve owned several of those bikes, and still have the Busa 😎
I remember the first 900 RR I rode. It belonged to a riding buddy. I was riding a 1995 Kawasaki ZX900 which I regretted buying. I didn't like the handling especially the numb front end. You get no feedback whatsoever no matter how you adjust the fully adjustable suspension. I was sales manager at the Kawasaki-Yamaha shop in our area and got a new bike maybe 2 every year depending on how quickly the bike I had sold. Anyway the Honda 900RR was a revelation! It was just as the bike mags described it. It felt like a 600 with almost open class power. I loved the thing, I could keep the front wheel in the air as long as I wanted, at the crest of a hill, coming out of fast corners just anywhere and everywhere! By then I had a new ZX11D and I loved it too but for different reasons.The Honda was more fun on tight curvy roads where the 11 was phenomenal everywhere! Power, power and more power! I loved it so much I bought it with my own money.And I wished we were a Honda dealer so I could get a 900RR of my own!
The 90's started with the ZZR1100 (ZX-11) which created the Hypersport class.
1st gen Ducati Monster - my dream bike. IMO, simply the best looking Ducati ever made and one of the most beautiful bikes in history. Perfect lines....flowing.
I agree. It is a shame that frame no longer exists.
Absolute desirable motorcycles. The most outstanding one is, and will ever be, the Hayabusa !!!
when the GSXR 750 first came out, one dude a week was getting killed on them on roads through the Adelaide Hills!
Got a VMX 1200, Monster S4R and Cagiva 1000 V Raptor now, had an RD350LC (& a 250LC) and Monsters in 900, 800 and 620cc a few years ago.
The Ducati 916 was drop dead gorgeous. No argument. I saw quite a few of them around in their time, but few riders I ever rode with who owned one could ride well. IMPE riding in that era, it tended to attract the brand poseur buyer rather than the kind of fast rider you'd think would buy it. Possibly something to do with the price, as by then Ducati had become a more prestigious brand with commensurate elitist prestige marketing and pricing. Releasing in 1999 is a bike I probably most greatly lusted after but never bought. Like the Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Mk 1 of 1977, it was pitched at a pricepoint I would never have been prepared to pay. It was MV Augusta's F4 750 S. Drop dead gorgeous. Still one of if not THE most aesthetically beautiful production motorcycles ever built to my eyes.
1984 the ninja 900 started the spirt bike craze. I had 85 ninja 600 first 600 sport bike fully faired 16 valve dohc water cooler middle weight that handled as well as it ran. Tires and suspension caught up to hp. The golden age began. The ninja 900 in 84 was the first shot in a sportbike war that still rages on.😅
Triumph inline 3....simply a great engine
Borrowed brother’s RD350 for a couple of weeks after pranging my 750 Commando Combat in 1982. The thing was nuts once you got it in the power band. Also raced one of the new Katanas on the motorway on the said Combat when they’d just come out and both of us weaving traffic full-noise - a mindset that led to the aforementioned prang at another time. Whereupon I described a graceful arc right over an Austin Cambridge when a nurse popped a U-turn in front of me. I was going too fast and she didn’t look - no injuries apart from bruised ego and bent forks. Bike was fixed up a couple of weeks later. I slowed down a tad. The incident installed a permanent desire to watch for unexpected events in the course of riding which lasts until this day - 64 now. Have Sprint GT 1050, CB1300 Bol d’Or, and a T140V. You’ve got me thinking about those Yamaha XS 850s now but they’ve migrated to classic status and seem unobtainable in Aus now. Keep up the good work!👍🏻😁
Thanks mate, I do remember my 850 being pretty top heavy it was a really good bike except for that, it just wasn't well balanced.
I owned a first gen VMax and the handling issues were not that bad and were pretty easily fixed. Aftermarket front down tube stabilizer and side frame bars stiffened it up to handle anything 99 percent of riders would ever throw at it. I added the Tboost switch which would allow the power to come on at 3000 instead of 6000 rpms and with a set of SuperTrap exhausts it was to this day the best bike I have ever heard or owned many race bikes don't sound anywhere as good. The Tboost option came with a switch so you could go between the 6000 and 3000 rpm settings but that was a waste as everyone that installed one and made one acceleration run with it just left it on 3000. In any gear at any revs you just could feel the locomotive like power under you like no other bike and with it starting to pull so low in rpms and going until you got scared with sign of stopping it was the most fun you could have on two wheels.. Nothing has ever just left me hanging on for dear life like that thing did man I wish I still had it.
We have all sold bikes that we wish we didn't buddy. Thanks for watching!
I love your reviews and going down motorcycle memory lane. Once upon a rime, I had a Fatboy and enjoyed very much, though it did have handling "issues" due to the Softail frame, it only acted up when you tried to ride it like a Super Sport, or Sport bike. Otherwise it could cruise at 80mph all day long and the low center of gravity made it an easy ride too. My friend also had a Hayabusa which I rode and it was sedate and easy at low speeds, but if you asked it to, it would go blisteringly, lose-your-license fast very quickly and easily!
Keep up the good work Sir.
Thank you buddy. I will try my best to continue to make interesting and unbiased videos.
So many memories! Thanks!
You're most welcome buddy!
Great video thanks from the UK 🇬🇧 👍
Excellent work here on these bikes..
Thank you!
Super video again Mate !👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@@chrispulham4779 thank you
Keep up the GREAT VIDEOS MATE !!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Mate , you have a great style and im really enjoying the well chosen content . Top job . Thankyou
@@Barry-tp2vd and thank you for taking the time to leave some great feedback !
I had ‘73cb350, 76cb500, ‘76cb550ss back in the 90’s and they were all great, especially the 550. I have a ‘81 cb900c and a ‘15 Ninja 1000. The 900 is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. My dad bought it new and it didn’t go to the shop until I took it in 2000 to check the valves. They didn’t have to adjust any of them.
Sweet bike. My dad had one as well. Do you ever use the Hi-lo range?
Loved my RD250LC, bought for £250 in 1988, and my RZ250LC purchased in 1992, and now have a 900LC (Velocity Moto rendition based on the XSR900) - proper tyres, brakes, power, handling - just no ring a ding ding unfortunately but looks amazing.
I had to google a 900LC (never heard of them) what a cool looking bike very much in the 2 stroke style. Very nice machine!
I now own an RD350LC for the 3rd time in my life, sold the first one back in the 80's and missed it so much, I bought another one a month later.
I've owned large capacity sports bikes, tourers etc, still got a 1200cc Triumph but the LC takes me back to being 17 every time I look at it even. It's an iconic bike for a reason,.... I'm never selling this one.
Both newly released in 1985, I recall being torn at the time between buying the GSX-R750 or the RG500 Gamma. Although the belly pan fairing colour is incorrect (from a Red and Black livery one), the machine pictured at 8:08 won, and today I still have mine bought new back then. The dilemma between whether I'd made the right choice was immediately resolved. The RG500 was the right choice for me.
My mate had a RG500 it was a good bike but oiled the plugs up a bit although he probably didn't ride it as hard as he needed too.
@@motorcyclecafe 38 years ownership and riding mine, the RG500 doesn't oil up plugs nor prematurely carbon them either even with a mix of urban/idling and sport riding. He must have been running incorrect heat range plugs for his climate/primary use, or his oil pump been adjusted far too rich (they are factory set cautiously on the rich side but not so rich as to cause that), or his barrels worn/rings rooted -unlikely in any RG under 45,000km even run very hard vs literally abused (running with an empty oil tank).
The RG500's oil pump was factory spec. set for its recommended non-synthetic oil, and typically used e.g. Castrol Super TT (non-synthetic) in its day vs the (current Castrol TTS) full synthetic recommended for the later RGV250 and oil pump was factory set. IMPE neither will foul plugs. Perhaps if running too cold a heat range plugs in a cold winter climate and spending a lot of time idling in stop and go urban traffic? But it's never been a characteristic I've experienced with either of those motorcycles personally in length period of ownership of both. I have genuin Suzuki workshop service manuals for both here which I use to service, maintain and tune them..
I went to Le Mans for the 24hr that year, blown GSX-R's and their oil slicks littered the track - wish I'd bought one though, instead of a YPVS.
Good work mate, certainly was a trip down memory lane! I found all your comments spot one! 😎 I'm working on a 2023 Burt Munroe challenge video at the moment myself.
Thanks buddy appreciate your positive comment. Your video should be a good watch!
Always liked the airhead Dakar Beemer. Brothers mate had one. Single rear shock blew and was expensive to replace. Stupid new fangled ideas. The 350 LC was awesome. Katana was great though long and slow handling through twisty stuff.
Memory lane indeed, 1985 V-Max check, 30 years in the Ducati saddle, now I'm loafing to the coffee shop on an all American V-Twin sooooo good
Great input mate. Just bought a ZRX1200, love it, 2001, just under 11ns in the quarter stock.
Yes all those Japanese inline four cylinders are great bikes really. Bullet proof engines!
There is a huge, and important, gap between the RD350LC and the GSXR, a period of almost five years that utterly transformed motorcycling. In 1983, Honda introduced the 750 Interceptor, a bike that was, really, the first modern sportbike. The following year, Kawasaki gave us the original fully-faired Ninja 900 and Yamaha the FJ1100 which, despite its air-cooled engine, had a space-frame and monster front forks to go along with its sportbike fairing. I went from a UJM (Yamaha Seca 650) to the FJ1100 i n 1984 and the difference in frame stiffness meant that I could, for the first time, confidently trail-brake at speeds and lean angles that would have caused a washout on my previous bikes. These three bikes ignited the sportbike movement and leaving them all out is an oversight.
Please appreciate it is impossible to include them all. Some are covered in other videos on the channel.
@bunkie2100, very well said.
Honda VFR! Pretty incredible unsung hero of their time. V4's make amazing power, sound incredible, and a single-sided swingarm on a bike priced for mortal men.
Yes. I AGREE
Enjoyable thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for putting kmph notifications, that is really helpful and appreciated.
You are welcome. I grew up with both imperial & metric so it isn't too much of a problem.
Great video! However, I can't believe you did not mention the Honda Interceptors of the early 80's and their span of several iterations of that machine. When I was in the Marine Corps back in the late 80's early 90's I had an 84' Honda VF750F Interceptor in red, white and blue. Freddie Spencer all the way. The machine was a beast. Stupidly sold it upon detaching from active duty. I had a Honda Nighthawk, a mid 80's Suzuki GS over those years but the Interceptor was king! If I could have had any other bike it would have been the GSXR 750. Fast forward to 2019...I wondered if any of those old Interceptors were still around. Wife's eyes rolling...here we go again. I found an 84' VF700F Interceptor in r, w and blue in central PA. Told the wife if it runs and moves I'm buying it. Today it is nicely restored and still a head turner and screamer. The old girl sits proudly next to my 2013 Honda VFR1200F.
Its hard to mention them all mate. If I did I wouldn't have any bikes left for other videos. I hope you understand, I have absolutely nothing against the VFR's they were a great bike although the early ones did have issues.
Agreed! Not trying to bust your balls! They were iconic. I don't think I'll ever part with mine.
@@chestypuller4591 not to mention they sound fantastic!
Yes sir! I have period correct Yoshimura exhaust on the VF700F and a DAM exhaust on the VFR1200F. Those engines do sing a song!
Fantastic overview - sticking with the time frame, you could easily have a part 2 and 3 to cover quite a few more.
Thanks mate and you are right i could do that. There were many great bikes in that period. Even ones which didnt sell well
I still own a 1984 Honda VF500 Interceptor and a 1986 Yamaha FZX750 Fazer.
Great video as always... I've had a few on this list. 👍
Awesome! Thank you!
Great videos! I had an 83’ gs 1100e. Impressive.
GS 1100E's were a very impressive motorcycle buddy!!! thanks for the great feedback
Cbr 600f 1992 , what a bike ! John 3 :16 guys .
16:16 "In noineenoineenoin"! PMSL!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The comments are almost as good as the video everyone reminiscing about the great old bikes they’ve owned mine is a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre still got it and it still runs great.
Crikey nearly 40 yrs of ownership, well done!
I recall taking a trip on my CG125 (gotta start somewhere) as 17 year old to Motorcycle City (Shitty City) on Lynchford Road in Farnborough and somebody was monowheeling a brand new blue Z1300 up Lynchford Road coming the other way. Made an impression. First one I'd seen.
I owned a Z1300..... 'The Beast'. Never owned any bike with as much character as my old big Zed.....
Don’t really see how you could do this without the most groundbreaking bike of the 80’s the Kawasaki Gpz900R
Agreed, I'm totally stunned by it's omission
You're probably right it was an awesome machine for sure it's just a video length thing.
Absolute rocketship but a real pita to service. Z1000J was a better bike imo.
great videos, well reserched and imformative keep em coming.
Thank you buddy for that nice feedback. Very much appreciated indeed!
He somehow makes every engine sound like a box of rocks lol.
got a new 1975 RD 350 put on chrome chambers low bars rear set pegs had it dyno tuned at Yamaha every spring and it was so quick but around 100mph top end but the most fun motorcycle i had in my 43 years of riding
Yes I too owned a RD350 and would also rank it as one of my favourite motorcycles ever!
My top 3 bikes of the time all within first 2 minutes, CBX, Z1300 and top of the three Katana. They just don't make them like that anyway.
CBX? Did I miss it?
I always wanted the z1300 , you need a lotto win to get one now . Thought the GPZ900r would have been in there . Good video mate
Thanks mate, the GPZ is featured in the channels video 'Motorcycles that made a marque' pretty sure I did it justice.
@@motorcyclecafe I know mate but you can't help your own bias from creeping in lol
i started on 81 SD 900 then kwaka Z1 . 750/4 GPZ 9 Harley Sturgis still ride my 89 GSXR Slingshot and XJ 9
Excellent video mate.
And nice to see Australian contents on you tube
Thank you mate I appreciate that comment a lot!!!
It certainly WAS an interesting Era of bikes.
it was, two strokes, four strokes, racers, cruisers the works
@Motorcycle Café Got my license at 16 in"85 and had already been obsessed for years. Worked at a Honda/BMW dealership in college. So many strange machines. Remember when EVERYONE had a v4?
My friend Larry lent me his RD400 for the weekend to woo a girl. It was missing 2nd gear. A friend of ours had a Honda SL350 which was mostly on the rear wheel! I spent an afternoon doing wheelies through Tulsa frantically shifting from 1st to 3rd keeping the front wheel up. Since I was a Trials rider I knew about balance and throttle control. What was her name?
Send
The hi-speed runs through. Mohawk Park at night was a bonus!
Excellent video takes me back to early 80s when i started riding. On gsxr didnt the RG 250 gamma have the first alloy frame and top handling ? First .
I'm not sure what bike had the 1st alloy frame buddy. I didnt say the gsxr had the first alloy frame i just said it had one.
I know its hard to fit all the bikes into one vid, but the Yamaha 1000 exup “genesis “ was the bike of the year from 89 for the next nine years becoming the bike of the decade. .. easy to forget, but not if you owned one. 😂
Yes it is hard you're always going miss bikes which people love. There are so many good bikes even in the old days before my time. Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment buddy!
I just got a 91 last year. Love it
I still own and ride my Yamaha 1985 FZ750 , the grandaddy of the R1.
@@manuelmontiel5418 1st 5 valve.
You forgot the VFR750 the perfect road bike :)
It was buddy. I cant include them all, the video would be too long but maybe for another one!
The Beast !
We took a 1500 Gold Wing and I borrowed it for the weekend to ride from Tampa to the dragstrip in Gainesville.I swear i felt like i was riding a two wheeled Mazda Miata only it wasn't as near as much fun.I never rode that model Gold wing again.But that's JMHO after all.
The GL1500 was a literal pig compared to the GL1800 Goldwing. No comparison at all IMHO.
I enjoyed all your videos, they very well made and presented, thanks and greetings from Costa Rica!
I'm 68yrs, had bikers from 50cc to 1300cc, race once I own a VMAX, willing to tame it...
I too love and ride all bikes no matter the size or brand. Thanks for watching
6:02 I recall the first time I saw the RD350LC. Pretty much immediately upon its release I made a special trip to the Yamaha dealer at Buranda (suburb of Brisbane in Qld) as once was to check one out. I was into bigger bore four stroke bikes by/at that time. Although Suzuki had introduced two stroke liquid cooling in their GT750 a few years earlier, I was blown away by the introduction of it in the much sportier RD. I was less impressed by its styling, although that was typical avant garde around that time (Katana). Fortunately that aesthetic period was shortlived. I think had it been more aesthetically pleasing, I may have been tempted to buy one although in fairness that desire might have been moderated by not being in any position to afford to own, maintain and garage two road bikes contemporaneously at that time.
The LC 350 and 250 were both fantastic bikes in every way. I cannot recall 1 thing about them that i did not like. A truly great motorcycle in every way.
@@motorcyclecafe A huge fan myself of their overall performance, I really disliked the LC's styling aesthetic. It wasn't until the RZ350 which was still a styling compromise, and in particular the RZ350F2 attempting to capitalise on the popularity of the RZ500L that I thought that Yamaha were finally dragged kicking and screaming into a pleasing aesthetic.
Of course, the RD350LC and subsequent RZs were such good sellers because of their overall performance and price and had no effective challengers in the 350cc capacity, so Yamaha didn't have change anything about the styling at the time.
It wasn't until Suzuki's RG250 (1983) and subsequently Kawasaki's KR250 (1984), that the RZ250 had any effective competition.
After that marginal cosmetic upgrade with the RZ350F2, Yamaha responded leading the charge to the next gen with their drop dead gorgeous TZR250. But that lead was soon eclipsed by Kawasaki introducing the fantastic in KR-1 and Suzuki their RGV250K.
Shame the ZZR1100 (ZX11) with the first ram air flow and the fastest production motorcycle for 6 years running didn't get the cut here. The blackbird and hyabusa came because of the ZX11.
True, I can't include them all though most had something special or different but the GSXR started it all really.
I had a GSX1100 in the 1980's when the Katana came out and thats the one I thought I would get next but you know the drill marriage kids etc dreams died off
Great list. I enjoyed the vid.
I'd add the 1984 Kawasaki Ninja GPz 900 to that list...for the obvious reasons.
Yes I agree, I have covered that bike in a seperate video namely 'Motorcycles that made a marque'
Awesome trip down memory lane. Quite a few of them I had test rides on when they were new but found theme too expensive to buy. Now many of these are affordable on second hand market. Why no mention of Honda NT700V and the ST1100 sports tourers? Both practical everyday rides and very cheap second hand today.
Just a time thing buddy I can't mention every bike.
Had a few RD and RZ's in my day. Best bikes ever made for the money. Still have an RZ35O but it's sick right now. I updated and bought a 91 FZR1000 last year. Actually better on fuel. Lol
Ditto on RD's, lusted after the LC, ran out and bought an RZ, which I still have and ride. Great bikes. Fun, fast, easy to work on, and good parts availability. 😊
Do like your style and broadly agree with your opinions, have RST 1k GT 750 and GPZ500s in the garage will be getting them on the road asap had a few issues this year but we are moving forward. Have subbed hope all goes well. Oj
Thanks OJ much appreciated. The GPZ 500 does feature in the channels recent video "Old Japanese Bikes Worth Buying"
Loved my CBX, didn’t feel the love for my Z1300
you like a lot of cylinders then? I prefer just two myself but we are all different.
The Z1300 was a rolling armchair. It was heavy.
No mention of the iconic ground breaking Kawasaki GPZ900r or GPZ600r or Honda CBR600f, this range starting something massive in motorcycling.
sorry buddy but I cant cover every bike however the GPZ is featured in another video on the channel
I had two RD350LC’s (after passing my test on an RD250E), crashed the first and then got the second new, £1100 in 1983. Had a YPVS after that, while it was better in all aspects, it just had no soul. Went 4-stroke after with an FZ600 (original version with the XJ600 motor in the Japan-only FZR400 chassis). Far better bike TBH than any of the RD’s.
I loved my RD400 it as great back then, not sure about now 😉
@@motorcyclecafe yep, I remember riding a pal’s 350LC when I had the FZ and it felt very flexi and not particularly quick.
I agree the RD's had more personality than the YPVS. The YPVS, however, is easier to live with. Add some 'spannies, mill the head, yank the air box, and jet it. Then you have a YPVS that is still civilized, but it will snarl better than the old RD's ever could. I still ride both today. Fun City!
Missing out the cbr400rr is kinda criminal, one of the first road bikes to come out with a cast aluminium frame, including the fully braced swingarm, downdraft carbs and gear driven cams it laid the ground for the fireblade, which was also ground breaking in fitting that 900cc engine into a package as compact as 600s. Also missed out the bimota tesi and yamaha gts which were the first production bikes to feature hub centre steering.
Hub centre steering could hardly be classed as ground breaking seeing as nobody uses it. It was a flop.
I think, you may have overlooked the first bike with an ABS, which was appearing in that time: the BMW K100 RS
Actually I did not overlook the K100, it was on my list but decided not to include it for video length reasons. The channels best & most interesting video "Amazing Motorcycle Feats" is performing poorly I can only assume it's too long so I try to keep videos shorter.
@@motorcyclecafe Thank you for your detailed answer, I fully understand your thoughts!
13:13 "In noiny noiny throee"! The most Australian accent ever! Only having a laugh, mate...great video! 😁😁👍
It could be worse, I could be Irish 😉 thanks for watching buddy!
@@motorcyclecafe That's true (so it is!) Lol!
👍
I owned a GS80 with 1000ccm Cylinders. The closeup video sequence shows a different engine.
Nice video, fellas. I was hoping to see a glimpse of the Yamaha TRX850 (1996 to 1999) which I believe was meant to be competition for the Monster. Although it was not a big seller at all, I believe it is avery nice-handling, reasonably powerful motorcycle and vastly under-rated. Cheers. 👍 🏍
There's been plenty of great bikes over the years which didnt sell well, matter fact i might do a doco about it. Thanks for watching buddy
Hi mate, the TRX was a cheap substitute to the Ducati, it looked great and surprised a few bikes. Well it did when I owned mine, unfortunately with the one I had.I had nothing but bad luck with it and proved unreliable. Maybe I just had a bad one, who knows..
Still, great looking bike and I agree, handled well.. 👍
@@snakeman9902 - Sorry to hear you had a 'bad one'. I've been riding mine for around 8 years and, touch wood, never had any problems. Runs like a dream - 85 Nm and last dyno'd at 87 hp. It makes me happy. 😊😊🏍🏍
@@martybartfast That's great to hear, I hope you have many more years with the fabulous TRX, Happy riding 👍
I had a Yamaha TRX 850 in the color blue, a year 1997. A two-cylinder 180 degree paralleltwin, - probably the best motorcycle I've ever had. It was rock solid, started every time and never broke down, it seemed inexhaustible, and pulled hard from the ground up, a moment strong motorcycle. With the sports exhaust on it had a fantastic sound, with the original exhaust it sounded a bit tame. It had good driving characteristics, loved corners and had great ground clearance, suspension and brakes could be upgraded. It's one of the most underrated motorcycles,' much better than the Ducati Monster, and cost only half the price of a Ducati.
I would rather have Stephen Hawkins old wheel chair than a Harley
It was pretty wild to have watched the evolution of motorcycles since the speed wobble prone ill handling inadequate brake bikes of the 70's and how manufacturers leapfrogged each other with something better faster in almost every class year after year. If you bought a 750, a couple years later the latest greatest 500cc class bike might just be quicker and faster. If I remember correctly the Honda CB750 was the first king of the hill superbike that was used for quite a few years as a benchmark for performance comparison.
Yes it was a great era of motorcycling for sure.
One word watchers " Character!"
The BMW R80 GS has an awful lot in common with it's grandaddy the R75, just say'n.
Partner you forgot the most important and iconic cruiser ever built in the 80's " The Honda V65 Magna 1100 , in 1986 was the fastest production bike built at the time , although it was onlu made for 2 years , well 3 actually but the 1983 you could only get from Japan at the time , i own 3 V65 Magnas and ride them constantly , one of them has 86,000 miles on it and still runs like it did new .
@@josephwilliams273 hi buddy, I covered that bike in a previous video. Great bike!
I can't believe you didn't feature the Yamaha XS 1100 produced btw 1978 - 1983. It was the first superbike to do the quarter mile in 11seconds, hence it was konwn as the Eleven, beating everyone else at the time.. Although not the best handling for racing, it had 95 bhp and superb torque in all three ranges. Foir the early 80s, THIS was the best power, most comfortable sports tourer and reliable bike that needed very little maintenance with the shaft drive. I've had Hondas (smooth) including the 1982 CB900F Lemans winner, Kawis( sexy) and Yamies . And I agree that the Monster was amazing and the best handling , but ther XS Eleven deserves an honorable mention... And what about the FJ1100/1200 ? Great racers and handling....
Its impossible to include every bike buddy. I was going to buy an xs1100 myself many years ago.
Magna was the first stock bike to run into the ten's in the quarter mile. 1984 ninja fastest bike in the world at the time. R1, R6, yzf, FZR FIRST 5 valve per cylinder inline 4's.1993 ZX7r or ZXR 750 M1 first inline four to win World Superbike title. The blade was the first modern era Superbike that combined light weight, power and handling and 31 years later we still have a Fireblade.
The gsxr 750 was the very first light weight superbike
I traded my 1983 Gpz 1100 in for a new Gsxr 750 back in 1988 a year later traded in the GSXR for a FZR 1000.The Exup was 60lbs heavier but handled better and was a lot faster. The first Gsxr is in the running for one of the most ionic bikes ever made but the title Superbike is debatable, @@motorcyclecafe
In 1985 I test rode a brand new RG500 and was totally underwhelmed by its performance. After half an hour I returned the bike and was coerced into having a ride on the RZ500. What a difference, the bikes were night and day apart in performance with the RZ matching all the expectations I had for a big two stroke road bike. I traded in my KR1S and to this day I still regard the RZ as the best bike I've owned for the thrill it gave me. I've owed a Monster for almost 10 years and it's a good bike, a ton of fun but I think I really did love the RZ more 👍😊
Mid 80s and 90s is the golden age of sportsbike.
What about the Honda Blackbird? Claimed to be the 1st 200mph production bike
The 1984 Honda XR500R was the king of them all Y'all.
79 yamaha xs eleven special with stock exhaust etc consistently came within half a second times in the 1/4 of the z1300 and that was with shaft drive. And it had almost 40 less hp. It was the whole power to weight ratio. I owned both at different times and prefered the yamaha although I have mainly had Kawasakis since buyin a kz900 in 77
Those 6cyl bikes were all for showing off. The power gains were all cut short because of the weight. I did see a KZ1300 with an intercooled turbo on it once in the 90's. That one impressed me.
Nice!
Fantastic video, yes it did bring back memories, I'm surprised the Blackbird wasn't put in there, as the Busa was a direct rival to it, I personally didn't like the look of the original Busa, prefer the new Busa, but dam the original kicked ass.
Yeah the busa isnt for everyone another interesting fact the pergrine falcons which is what hayabusa means. Its main prey is blackbirds, true!
@@motorcyclecafe Yep, I know 😂, it was a direct dig at the blackbird.. Quite clever really..
@@snakeman9902 yes it was and yeah clever.
The blackbird was a direct rival for the ZZR and as you say the Busa took the crown from the bird.., but the Busa wasn't perfect as the video claimed , and I know because I've owned all three ... I still have love and ride the original ZZR ..
@@Claude1100 Hi Andy, I've never owned a Busa, I have rode one, I never liked the look of the original, I've owned 2 birds, I own the zzr1400 at the moment.. I always have a love for the bird..
I was expecting to see something from the Honda V4 range mentioned. I remember when the 1300 Kwaka was considered a huge bike. My how times have changed.
The v4's were on my list buddy for sure but on RUclips you have to keep things to a watchable length. The channels best and most interesting video only has 1,200 views 'Against All Odds' I consider it the most interesting motorcycle video out there, at least for me LOL.
They weren't really that good. Had major issues on the early ones. Didn't get good till the VFR with the gear driven cams.
@@mikeholland1031 I've still got an 82 VF 750 Magna and besides from the parts that have had to be replaced due to wear and tear and time I've had no problems with it.
@@davidrochow9382 wasn't 83 the 1st year?
@@mikeholland1031 83 was the first year of sale but like most vehicles they start producing the model the year before. I've been seeing a lot of post for motorcycles made this year but called the 2025 model. I only say it's the 82 because that's what the compliance plate has on it and for historic rego in Oz that what they use to be eligible to get it.
No Fireblade or Blackbird?
Can't include them all mate the video would be two hours long, sorry.
Forgot the Ninja900 or GPZ900 in Europe. The GSXR stole its' thunder but it was liquid cooled and at the beginning of fully faired sportbike cliche. Admittedly this was a sport touring bike but stressed handling (monoshock rear, 16" front).
Had two myself. Great bike, but a bit revvy and the motor had a horrible power curve.
I didn't forget it buddy. How could anyone forget the first Ninja, it was just a video length thing. I just can't include them all.
People were going around the world 🌎 with regular BMW's as well as Triumphs and BSA. I have a manual for a BSA C-12 and in the back of the manual are listings for all the BSA dealerships around the world. You could get parts and service for your motorcycle any where in the world. Adventure bikes are for a different kind of poser. Many would piss their pants at the thought of going off-road with a 600 lbs $30,000 motorcycle. I go off-road with a Triumph TR25 that cost me $500 and weighs next to nothing. Goes 60 mph down a fire road easy to ride pleasant deminor.
The big Z1300 was very different to the majority. For a start they went with liquid cooling and shaft drive....
Different and for those days massive too. Thanks for watching buddy.
Left out the Honda Magnas
Covered those in a separate video "Muscle Bikes"
How did you miss the Honda vf750f interceptor 1983……
It is impossible to include every bike, the video would be too long and nobody would watch it. It's just a time thing.
No ZX/ZZR? 😢
I cant include everything mate, the doco was long enough as it is.
Did I miss the GPZ 900 R.......?
In this video yes, that bike is featured in the video 'motorcycles that made a marque' on the channel