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The Appeal of Older Gen Bikes?

Roger Rocket said:
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I am still enjoying my 84 Ninja 900 (original owner).

Runs as good as she did in the 80's
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Another bike I am on the lookout for regularly. Almost bought a GPZ750 turbo years ago, but the particular bike I test drove was falling apart and pretty much totally unsafe to ride when the turbo spooled up.
:laughing
I'd love to have that bike today!
 
For me it's the ergos, styling and raw simplicity of earlier bikes that make them attractive. Older sport bikes for instance made you feel like you're riding IN the bike versus on top of the bike.

If I could get my hands on a ZRX, 599, FZR600, Pre-1996 GSXR600 . .
 
Personally I think the only new tech that is worth it is things like wheelie control, slipper clutch, rev blipping, etc. Fuel gauge, gear indicator, ABS and EFI barely make any difference to my riding experience.
 
Put 20k miles on one of these recently, Great bike. Very nice seating position, smooth engine with just enough power to get in trouble with. This bike got 50mpg regularly :wtf. Even though I have better bikes, I miss that one.




J-Boat said:
Been out of the saddle for a little while. I was perusing Craigslist and found a pristine example of an older gen (04)ZZR600 that is just a renamed ZX6E. I owned the original 1990 ZX6D from 91-98 and really loved that bike. Lots of great riding memories from when I was first starting out...

The wave of nostalgia and emotional appeal took over and the bike is now in my garage. It's so comfortable and silky smooth and plenty fast to boot!

I love the look of the old school ninjas too. They are simplistic and slightly bulky, but still sexy to me. It has brand new Pilot Power 3's and I have new EBC HH pads and Goodridge lines on the way...

I've owned the latest and greatest bikes with all the bells and whistles, but this bike pushes just the right buttons for me...

She's a beaut...haven't named her yet...


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Carbs? No problem...:)

It ran a little rough when I first got it. The bike sat for a while so one of the first things I did was remove and clean them. A piece of guitar string worked perfectly for the pilots, then a nice soak in some carb cleaner. The bowls had a small bit of sediment in them so I'm sure the cleaning did some good. I found a new old stock Factory Pro jet kit on EBay for $40 so I installed that as well. I also installed new spark plugs while I was in there and lubed the cables.

I drained the tank, added new Chevron supreme with a few ounces of Techron. Now she starts instantly and runs and idles smooth as silk...

Also, this thread reminded me of this thread...

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=435617





 
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dirty birdy said:
. . . What is it about those older bikes that makes you keep them? Please enlighten me. Pics are always appreciated. :teeth
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I started riding in 1964, worked as a MC mechanic until 1980, then left the sport until 2014. So for me it's partly about nostalgia and what's familiar and appealing to me from the past. To my eyes my vintage bikes evoke the ones I drooled over in the sales brochures back in the day, rode to Baja, raced and won on at the last AFM events at the old Vacaville track, and wrenched on for 15 years back then.

Intellectually I can appreciate the vast improvement in handling, braking, and other refinements of modern bikes, but never having owned one I am ignorant of what I'm missing. But the thing is, I'm having too much fun restoring and riding vintage bikes to care! For me, the simplicity and familiarity of older bikes, warts and all, just add to the adventure of riding and the feeling of intimate connection to the machine. And the looks - is there not something classic and enduring about styling like this '75 CB125S2?
DSC00352_zpske3xfaok.jpg


or this '75 XL250:
DSC01124_zpsgitsp73i.jpg


And as I tell my wife, I can get a hard on just polishing the tank on the '89 GB:
IMG_8479_zps3c6b3603.jpg


The closest I've come to modern is this '89 NX250:
DSC03667_zpsirzt6fqu.jpg


Struck in the past, not knowing any better, but loving every mile. :ride

-Bill
 
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^^^ Damn man, total sweetness. I'm looking for a "barn find" KZ550, preferably '81-'83 vintage, because it was my first proper bike and it would be fun to ride, cheap to insure ($200 per year), and hangs with most cars properly set up.

There's so much fun to be had with these bikes, just as there's so much fun to had with mopeds, Harleys, and other non-sportbikes. You really have to dig deep and be willing to travel or ship. Not $$-wise, just time and effort.

My brother scored a 1976 KH100 when he was young and dumb. Wadded it. It was not low miles, it was NO miles, under 250. Oil injection, crisp fueling, cornered like a mofo. I'm not looking forward to kissing all these treasures goodbye, but soon enough, they will be gone.
 
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GB500guy said:
I started riding in 1964, worked as a MC mechanic until 1980, then left the sport until 2014. So for me it's partly about nostalgia and what's familiar and appealing to me from the past. To my eyes my vintage bikes evoke the ones I drooled over in the sales brochures back in the day, rode to Baja, raced and won on at the last AFM events at the old Vacaville track, and wrenched on for 15 years back then.

Intellectually I can appreciate the vast improvement in handling, braking, and other refinements of modern bikes, but never having owned one I am ignorant of what I'm missing. But the thing is, I'm having too much fun restoring and riding vintage bikes to care! For me, the simplicity and familiarity of older bikes, warts and all, just add to the adventure of riding and the feeling of intimate connection to the machine....

Struck in the past, not knowing any better, but loving every mile. :ride

-Bill
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Awesome!

đź‘Ź đź‘Ź
 
I'd really like to have an old XL250 like that.
I can work on carbs, F. I. is great but a whole different ballgame.
 
I have a Brock's set up 2006 zx14 and a 1993 (completely stock including pipes) burgundy zx11 in the wings that's almost built that I can't wait until it's done. I Rode a super clean 1991 honda cbr1000f (essentially an updated Hurricane 1000) recently and pulling the trigger on that as well. Not the best handling and heavy but, power everywhere, comfortable riding position and you don't see your bike going down the street every 5 seconds. Definitely brings back good memories and a great conversation piece with people from that era as well. Would I trade my zx14 for a zx11 ,,,,no but it's sure nice to ride bikes with such nostalgia:thumbup
 
nakedape said:
^^^ Damn man, total sweetness. I'm looking for a "barn find" KZ550, preferably '81-'83 vintage, because it was my first proper bike and it would be fun to ride, cheap to insure ($200 per year), and hangs with most cars properly set up.
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Occasional riding partner & BARF member "Cadman" (Hayward) might have what your looking for? I know he at one point had three 550's; 1 kz & 2 gpz's. He takes care of/restores them to pristine condition.

He had been riding them a lot, until he sold one or two recently (I can't recall exactly his 550's status.) Send him a PM? I think he's going to hang on to one GPz, as he just got a z1000 Ninja last year, & is mostly riding/ commuting/ trackdaying that bike these days.

=d
 
Just an FYI for those interested in older literbikes: Another riding partner/lifelong friend has a Suzuki 80' GS1000S "Cooley Replica" for sale. I think he wants ~$3-$4K (a deal/they appreciating/collectable.) It's been gathering dust in his garage last few years; he's retired & hasn't been riding it as it needs carbs/tank cleaned out of bad gas (let it sit too long.)

Was running fine when parked; a few extras: Yosh pipe & jet kit/Fox shocks/ a few other minor things= mostly stock/low miles. He's not a computer guy so pm me if you want more personal contact info. Located in /Brentwood:
Here's Pics:
 

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Been wanting to find a '93 CBR 900RR in original condition like mine. Here she was with my daughter 22 years ago...
 

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EastBayDave said:
Just an FYI for those interested in older literbikes: Another riding partner/lifelong friend has a Suzuki 80' GS1000S "Cooley Replica" for sale. I think he wants ~$3-$4K (a deal/they appreciating/collectable.) It's been gathering dust in his garage last few years; he's retired & hasn't been riding it as it needs carbs/tank cleaned out of bad gas (let it sit too long.)

Was running fine when parked; a few extras: Yosh pipe & jet kit/Fox shocks/ a few other minor things= mostly stock/low miles. He's not a computer guy so pm me if you want more personal contact info. Located in /Brentwood:
Here's Pics:
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always wanted one of those:thumbup
 
89fj said:
I'd really like to have an old XL250 like that.
I can work on carbs, F. I. is great but a whole different ballgame.
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I might be selling mine once I finish a light restoration.
 
Son-of-Ricardo said:
Been wanting to find a '93 CBR 900RR in original condition like mine. Here she was with my daughter 22 years ago...
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In 95 or 96 I rode one if those for the first time. I was astonished by the power an weight. Too bad the one I test drove had a bad second gear. I would have bought it in a second.
 
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