Sportsbikes have had an interesting evolution in my opinion. Between early / mid 80s and about 2000 they just became insanely fast and quick in every sense. Remember the Vmax? Basically a dragbike / high topend gofast cruiser and the fastest bike out there. Now the "racing" bikes have caught up. I bought a 03 cbr954rr in 2004 and the dealer really didn't want to sell it to me. He was concerned about my safety--respected that. And he was right in that it was not for an average rider. I learned the bike before the bike learned me, and it was quite an experience. For me personally, the bike became old after about 12 months, it just wasn't meant for the streets. It was really IMO a track bike. Third gear wheelies at 80mph and a 175mph top end. It was fun running the corners, and having an 1/8inch chicken strip at the end of it all. But the performance of these bikes has really outstripped the threshold of any street rider's ability. And do you really want to drag your knee on anything but a swept and controlled track? It was funny when I pulled into the dealer to get service and the first thing he non-chalantly looked at were my tires. He smiled and started talking. I learned that most of the bikes they saw were treated like drag bikes and never cornered. But at the end of it all, the sportsbike bored me. If I had the time to race it, that would have been different. But just wheelies and knee dragging on county roads which sometimes had silt you couldn't even see got a little old. I did track it once and that was a blast, but it really did become apparent that this was a bike meant for racing and not something you or I would buy for fun on the street. Just my opinion--your thoughts?

 

I'm typing on my phone so my response wiki be short.

Personally I just like going fast. I've never been able to afford the newest and best stuff so I'm always looking for older stuff to ride or driver. My KZ will do about 130mph and them its done. Corners like a school bus. Really as long as its fun, ill ride or drive a vehicle for what its capable.

 

You can pick up some pretty cheap CBRs out there now. Part of my thing was that I wouldn't ride it without full leathers. So going for a ride required suiting up, not just jumping on a cruiser and running to the store. Like you said, I was going to take advantage of the bike's abilities. One time I brought the front up in 2nd, shifted to third, and at about 80mph a gust of wind took me from about 75degrees to 90degrees in an instant. Still don't know how I recovered from that. My helmet was over the bike's visor bringing it back down.

Anyway, I dig the old bikes. I'd only buy a newer sport bike if I had the time to take it to the track on a regular basis.

 

My dad's been into motorcycles since I can remember. He has a budy who hordes old Honda's. One day he called up my dad and said; "hey, come get a bike out of my garage...I don't have any more room.

long story short because that's not the point of this thread....

I took a very generic 1980 CX500:

and have been making a cafe racer out of it:



I've got a ways to go yet. but the bulk of it is done. Alas, it is time to put it away for the winter.

 

Wow! And that bike makes me smile. Had an 82 cx500 and it was over-engineered (IMO) and completely indestructible. Would love to find a pristine cx 650. Really under-rated design. The 500 had a little vibration at interstate speeds.

 

Is that a fact? I'll have to keep an eye on that. Any idea what it is that gets to vibrating?

CX650: isn't that the bike they called the Silverwing? Or was that a CB something or other.....

hold please....googling.....

OHHHHHHHH.....Ok, we're on the same page. Yeah that's a sharp bike! Especially the Timothy Dalton/James Bond looking edition with all the plastic fairings, lol! Bikes back then looked like they were multi purpose. Like, you wouldn't necessarily get a stern finger shaking for your buddies if you took on anyting other than asphalt or concrete.

good luck finding one!

 

'Riding motorbikes help you survive this world' if you know what I mean. But should not abuse them like some idiots do, that is another way of survival but only if you get lucky. Option 1 is nicer. I have a very old vintage classic 1100 Shadow in perfect cond and would keep it forever. Strong mf, nice ride, decent smooth shifts, very economical, low maintenance, retro style and strict looking. A head turner as well. Keep riding! Watch out for birds.

 

I'm glad the cafe racer scene is replacing the chopper "lunacy" that defined the 2000's, but I'm getting too old for the racer crouch. My next bike will be a sport tourer (Kawi Concours) or a respectable UJM (Bandit, ZRX, FZ1).

My first bike was an RD400, and many more bikes over the years including a Honda 750F, a GSXR750 when they first came out, Katana 750, CB600F3, Kawi ZX-9, and a few others....

 

I have a 1999 Yami Roadstar, lots of chrome. Looks just like a Harley but a lot cheaper. My friends that ride Harleys---I tell them "I could own 3 of these for what you paid for yours". They usually reply " you could own 4 or 5 for what I paid for my Harley" Love my Roadstar VROOM VROOM ride hard but safe.

 

riding last summer on the Roadstar. I started when I was about 10 with a 1972 Kawasaki G5 100cc. Had a kawi 450cc 4 cyl--individual everything, then got into cars---just got back into bikes about 4 years ago

 

Was the kawa G5 100 like the later ke 100?

 

Was the kawa G5 100cc like the later ke 100?

 

I don't know what the KE 100 looked like. I'll have to look for pics of the g5 100 this weekend. Hey here's one!!! same color and all!!!!(searched Google for "1972 Kawasaki G5 100") HAHA Was an on/off street bike. Headlight, tail light, no directionals, 12 HP, about 200 pounds I think. Great for a 90 pound 10 year old. Rode it until I was twenty something--by then it was street licensed.

 

Nice, and yup, same bike. The ke replaced pe in 76 per google.

 

That's how into bikes I am. I love my Volvo, but if I could afford the all-weather gear and/or lived somewhere warm year round, I'd be in the saddle every day.

 

Year round would be great! I just don't like riding on cold pavement. Bikes have little tire contact patch and very little margin for error. I found some old pics this weekend of my honda cx500 and honda xl185s. Good memories!

 

I do!! I am now 62 and have been riding bikes over 50 years. I currently run a little, (very little!), side business restoring vintage British bikes specializing in Norton Commando and Triumph to make a few extra bucks since retiring.
I've owned and built hot rods, muscle cars, etc and was a BMW and Mercedes-Benz dealer mechanic for years, but cars just take up too much space. If the weather is nice enough to drive a cool car, I would just as soon be on a bike. I've owned a handful of Harleys, have a real soft spot for cop bikes, but sold my fuelie Road King and now use my '73 Triumph T100R as my daily driver. Or I'll ride my MKIII Norton "resto mod" show bike. In the shop now are 4 Nortons, (just sold one to pay for much needed sewer work on the house), the Triumph and a "breathed on" Aprilia Rally 50 scooter; 125+mpg, perfect for trips to hardware store, beer runs, etc, will go 53mph+ with my fat *** on it!! Don't ask how I know 53mph!), no insurance required, license plate costs $15 and is good for 3 years. Ride it as much as motorcycles