Historic bikes

For all you cognoscenti out there:

As someone with a better knowledge of guitars than motorcycles, I've been
quite a student of what are the "historic" guitars. Now I'm curious as to
what are the "historic" motorcycles. I had a think about it and could only
come up with the BMW R32 and the CB750, and maybe HD's Knucklehead. That's a
sad reflection of my own ignorance.

I guess the criteria is a motorcycle that in some way redefines the
standards for it's era, or else was the right bike for its time. Or as an
alternative, a bike that was so fundamentally wrong that it achieved a
similar level of impact, except negatively (ie. has there been a Leyland P76
in the moto world? BSA Rocket 3 maybe?)

Anyway, while I don't think there can ever be a definitive answer, I'd be
more than keen to see what my learned colleagues of aus.moto come up with.
I'm also keen to see what opinions there are for dirt bikes.

Manning

 

It's a very subjective thing..

Some of the Brit singles - Manx Norton, Gold Star, G50 etc
Triumph Speed Twin
Norton Commando's appeal to some
maybe the Ariel Arrow?
some of the 20's performance bikes like the Rudge 4 valves etc
certainly the rocket 3/triumph trident (I wouldn't equate them to P-76's)
Laverda 750, particularly the SF, the Alpina and also the bigger Jota
Moto Guzzi Falcone and other variants
Honda 305, CB 750
Suzuki Speed 6/250 GT, 750GT
Yamaha R5/DS7 250/350 two strokes, RD series
Kawasaki 500/750 triples and the first 900
Ducati singles and early V twins
the Munch Mammoth could even sneak in there..

Not sure about the HD's though it must be said they seem to do it for a lot
of people.

There are countless other examples of 'landmark' bikes and designs. There
are so many good examples for the timesWhat appeals to some won't rate with
everyone, but that is the best part of being individuals.

 

Forgot the Bridgestone disc valve twins

and also the Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki enduros of the late 60's and early 70's
that changed the off road scene so much..

 

GPz900. Classic.

-----sharks

 

Yeah Paulh, I actually knew that, but I thought I'd see what he came up with
anyway

Cheers Manning

 

Norton Commander.

-----sharks

 

I am, of course, mortified that I spelled Moto Guzzi wrongly in my
previous post. The content of the post might have been dog vomit but
respect must always be shown to honourable motorcycle makers.

Contrite Bumblebeeman

Clem, you going to Mapleton?

 

Isn't that a piece of software?

Al

 

Thanks for such a thorough and informative reply. I'm off to my books to
learn more about these bikes, because with the exception of the CB750 and
the R32 (totally with you on that one) I don't know much about any of them.

Regards
Manning
98 R1100GS

 

Manning
My appreciation of all things on two wheels I put to you this way..
Go buy a book with classics or historic bikes on the cover
The term historic meaning anything that has past into history could mean
all motorcycles that are not current ie 2003 models...and that would
make it a big job to list on here...

Cheers mark.

 

with.

1899 Holden

They're crap.

Theo

 

"kiwipete" wrote

The Ariel Leader was not only popular but economically successful.

Theo

 

For all it's historical significance the CB750 doesn't do it for me... I've just seen too friggin' many of
them when I was growing up!
~

Was the Rocket 3 bad? I know tha CB750 [there it is again] kinda' overwhelmed it but I thought it was a good
bike.. (it certainly SOUNDED good!! Not as good as it's brother the Hurricane though!).
~

I guess this is pretty subjective so I'll add my biased, born-in-the-sixties choices;
Kawasaki's first H1 (and maybe H2 as well; if we have the room). Suzuki Hustler 250, Yamaha RD350, BMW R90S,
Ducati 750 Sport, Guzzi Le Mans, Laverda Jota (before they got fat) & Norton Commando (Win95 version).
None of these are the bread-and-butter versions (except the Hustler and the RD) but all were significant leaps
above the average for the time/class.....
....in my opinion.
Clem

 

They were a smidge before my time.
Where did they fit in, timeline-wise?
Did they predate Kwakka's disc-valve (Avenger and Samurai) parallel twins (and Suzuki's [piston port?] twins
(Hustler and whatever the 315 was called)) or were they around at the same time?
Clem

 

In my opinion the GPZ900R ushered in the modern era of sports-bikes.
Sure the VF750 preceded them but they went bang pretty often and people weren't really sure if this was gonna'
catch on...
The GPZR came along and showed everyone that it works and it is GOOD!!
(...a year late the FZR1000 said "**** 'good'! We can make it GREAT!!!")
Clem

 

Dammit; I just tried the Norton joke too... I should've read all the thread first!!
TardyDoodle

 

Soft? ...where?
Clem (yeah I know it's your joke Al!)

 

I'd add the Honda CR250M Elsinore, very significant as Hondas first 2 stoke
MXer, it shook things up a bit. Plus I had one.

The Edsel award(I've got nothing against P76s) would go to either the Yamaha
TX500(Two Wheels first Bike of the Year) or TX750

Al

"Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. "

Remove *ME* before replying

 

~
Were they significantly better (or earlier) than the Yammie MX250? (They did predate the RM250 though...)

The 500 ended up working OK (and was renamed the XS500) but the 750 never survived it's ignominious debut (and
demise) at the Castrol 6 hour.

That's certainly the most spectacular and public failure but there's been others of note.
The MVX250 and XZ550 are the ones that immediately spring to mind but even the VF750S and VF750F were failures
(the VF750F especially so; it's just that they sold so friggin' many of them that enough survived to make them
appear successful!).
Also add the GSX1100FJ (and the much-maligned EFE) and that Yamaha 1000 hub-centre-steered thingy.....
Clem

 

Then I agree with you.
Whatever started the amazing family of high-performance, lightweight Japanese two-stroke road twins deserves
to be recognised! (It's a pity Honda never joined in.... but they probably would've found a way to kill it
off!)
Clem