Some bikes are classics while others are dated.

[twowheeladdict]

I've been looking at 25 year old or older motorcycles with thoughts of getting the one time only antique plate to keep my recurring costs down.

One of the requirements in my state is that the bike has to be in original form.  No restomods or highly customized vehicles allowed under the rules.

This of course is just my opinion, but looking at 1995 and older motorcycles I have determined that many just look dated while others stand the test of time. 

This is my list of "dated":
For me it is when the bike tries too hard to be modern for its time.
When they wanted to accentuate the fact that they are liquid cooled instead of hiding the radiator as much as possible. 
The square headlight craze is another one that doesn't stand the test of time for me.  Not necessarily the square shape on faired touring/sport bikes, but the square light bulb just set in an opening.
Fad colors like teal are a real turn off for me. 
Shapes that don't go with the flow of the machine.
Fat Rear ends on sport bikes.
3 spoke cast wheels.

What are some of the features that you believe didn't stand the test of time, or did.

[Groover]

I most agree with those points, some may become more classic as time goes on and what looks dated today may turn classic overnight later - my theory is also, the more removable parts they have, the less desirable they are. Simple is better when it comes to collectability I think, and that applies to a lot of other things too (not just motorcycles).

[Guzzistajohn]

keep my recurring costs down.

This reminds me of a dude I used to ride AHRMA trials with. He would drill holes in every possible part of his TY Yamaha to lighten the bike and have a large pizza and a picture of beer for dinner the night before the trial.

The rest is just personal taste. I actually had a guy tell me the Guzzi motor was UGLY one time 

[twowheeladdict]

keep my recurring costs down.

This reminds me of a dude I used to ride AHRMA trials with. He would drill holes in every possible part of his TY Yamaha to lighten the bike and have a large pizza and a picture of beer for dinner the night before the trial.

The rest is just personal taste. I actually had a guy tell me the Guzzi motor was UGLY one time 

Not sure what the first line has to do with the second.  Your last line just reiterated what I already stated that it is my personal opinion.  What have you contributed to this thread? Absolutly nothing.  LOL!

Regarding the first comment, I hate giving money to the government and especially hate paying that money when I shouldn't have to.  I should be allowed to buy one plate and move it from motorcycle to motorcycle.  I can only ride one at at time so I am not wearing out the roads 4 times as fast by having 4 motorcycles.   

[wirespokes]

I should be allowed to buy one plate and move it from motorcycle to motorcycle.

And we shouldn't have to insure the vehicles, only the drivers. Crooks!

As for what makes a classic, it's hard to say. It could be any combination of history, innovations or aesthetics - who knows? Looking for the bike that will turn into a classic...? Anyone have a favorite lottery number?

Me, I'd rather put the antique plate on the bike I want to ride. Just because it may be a desirable classic at some future date shouldn't be the criteria.

[Guzzistajohn]

Not sure what the first line has to do with the second.  Your last line just reiterated what I already stated that it is my personal opinion.  What have you contributed to this thread? Absolutly nothing.  LOL!

Regarding the first comment, I hate giving money to the government and especially hate paying that money when I shouldn't have to.  I should be allowed to buy one plate and move it from motorcycle to motorcycle.  I can only ride one at at time so I am not wearing out the roads 4 times as fast by having 4 motorcycles.   

Buying more bikes to save money is what I was referring to. I have more than I need too, so don't get your drawers in a wad    And, it's not the 1st wise crack that's ever been made here LOL! Absolutely 

[Dilliw]

The square headlight works on the GPz bikes and I thought it looked good on my GS 750e.  Both had cowl fairings to surround it.

16" front wheels didn't work like on the FJ 1100 (and again on my GS).

[antmanbee]

 

This is my list of "dated":
For me it is when the bike tries too hard to be modern for its time.
When they wanted to accentuate the fact that they are liquid cooled instead of hiding the radiator as much as possible. 
The square headlight craze is another one that doesn't stand the test of time for me.  Not necessarily the square shape on faired touring/sport bikes, but the square light bulb just set in an opening.
Fad colors like teal are a real turn off for me. 
Shapes that don't go with the flow of the machine.
Fat Rear ends on sport bikes.
3 spoke cast wheels.

What are some of the features that you believe didn't stand the test of time, or did.

I've got 3 ugly bikes I need to get rid of with cast 3 spoke wheels and two of those have fat rear ends.
Centauro
V11 Sport Naked
Breva 750
I sure hope I can find something aesthetically pleasing

But thankfully my flaccid whale penis tanked Guzzi's are good to go  

[Travman]

16 inch tires, high and fat rear ends, and overly angular body work. Also, every Japanese motorcycle that morphed from a standard into a “special” when they were trying to cash in on the cruiser craze in the late 70’s and 80’s

[huub]

what we now consider dated , can be highly collectable in a couple of years,
i can remember when you couldnt give a kawa triple away. same with the original katana's
they fetch serious money now.
when my girlfriend was looking for a first bike, we ended up with a V7sport,
we actually wanted a V50 , but they were too expensive,
on the other hand the V7sport was cheap, nobody wanted a bike with drum brakes and wire spokes :-)
 

[twowheeladdict]

And we shouldn't have to insure the vehicles, only the drivers. Crooks!

As for what makes a classic, it's hard to say. It could be any combination of history, innovations or aesthetics - who knows? Looking for the bike that will turn into a classic...? Anyone have a favorite lottery number?

Me, I'd rather put the antique plate on the bike I want to ride. Just because it may be a desirable classic at some future date shouldn't be the criteria.

There are rules associated with using an antique plate in my state.  If you used the bike to commute and a state trooper was having a slow day you could get ticketed and then that defeats the purpose of buying the plate one time. 

[twowheeladdict]

Buying more bikes to save money is what I was referring to. I have more than I need too, so don't get your drawers in a wad    And, it's not the 1st wise crack that's ever been made here LOL! Absolutely

Your thought process is interesting.  I want to buy more bikes without having to spend "extra" money, not to save money.   Believe me, you would know if my drawers were in a wad.   

[twowheeladdict]

what we now consider dated , can be highly collectable in a couple of years,
i can remember when you couldnt give a kawa triple away. same with the original katana's
they fetch serious money now.
when my girlfriend was looking for a first bike, we ended up with a V7sport,
we actually wanted a V50 , but they were too expensive,
on the other hand the V7sport was cheap, nobody wanted a bike with drum brakes and wire spokes :-)

In some cases that may be true and you can never guess what will appeal to future generations.

I do remember when a certain model year truck came along that everyone went, what were they thinking.  This same trucks today on the used market are selling cheap because everyone is saying, what were they thinking. 

[T4halo]

The Loop frame look is classic to me. I like the chrome and pin-striping on the tank. I actually like the look of the drum brake rims. The metal side covers and tool boxes.

The V7 sport and Lemans tanks are also a great look. If you add the Sport tank to a 850T you change the entire look of the bike. For the better in my opinion.

Guzzi really had it figured out back then.

I think the new V7 is a great looking bike and obviously their best seller. 

T4

[Rusnak_322]

"One of the requirements in my state is that the bike has to be in original form.  No restomods or highly customized vehicles allowed under the rules."

How is that enforced? if you never need to get another plate, I assume you don't need to get an annual inspection. is a traffic cop going to know enough to enforce that? Can you put a aftermarket pipe on it? Some stock exhausts are NLA and NOS is BIG$$

My bikes with vintage plates fall into the "highly customized vehicle" category. One issue I see is that the best looking classics are going to be $$. The best looking classics most people can afford to ride on a regular basis will probably not be the best riding bikes without at least some mods.

[twowheeladdict]

"One of the requirements in my state is that the bike has to be in original form.  No restomods or highly customized vehicles allowed under the rules."

How is that enforced? if you never need to get another plate, I assume you don't need to get an annual inspection. is a traffic cop going to know enough to enforce that? Can you put a aftermarket pipe on it? Some stock exhausts are NLA and NOS is BIG$$

My bikes with vintage plates fall into the "highly customized vehicle" category. One issue I see is that the best looking classics are going to be $$. The best looking classics most people can afford to ride on a regular basis will probably not be the best riding bikes without at least some mods.

I don't know how they will enforce it.  Should a call the police department and ask?  I'm just stating what I read. 

[MarkMk]

"stock" with "those" plates 


Well, the crank & gearbox cases are stock, as is the swing arm & hydraulic rear drum brake, along with the capacity of 1200 cc, although I lied, it's now listed as  998cc, to match the "stock" panhead heads era

[dustybarn]

Why can't we have both? When I look at a bike (or any other manufactured item, for that matter)  I try to set my mental Wayback Machine to the prevalent aesthetic standards of the time when it was produced. For example, the 1984 Honda V45 Interceptor was a fabulously good-looking bike in its time, and I think it has held up well. Sure, it's dated by today's standards, but it was a tremendous effort then. Same for the C4 Corvette. It has an oddly poor reputation now, but in 1984 it was mind-blowingly advanced.

[JJ]

I have owned and ridden a lot of bikes in my time, (34 bikes in 52 years of riding), and here are just three examples of classics that I owned and rode in the past 5 years that are worthy of mention. All were 95% stock and had vintage plates (Arizona).

1970 Triumph T100 Trophy 500

1978 BMW R100RS "Motorsport Edition"

1978 Honda GL1000 - "The naked Gold Wing"


<br /

[dustybarn]

Oh MAN. That Gold Wing has caused me to overflow my drool-catcher.

[JJ]

Oh MAN. That Gold Wing has caused me to overflow my drool-catcher.

Yes, it was a cool bike...and could still run a 12-second quarter mile, as one stunned Corvette owner learned the hard way on a sunny Sunday morning on north Cave Creek Road near Carefree, Arizona!!

[MarkMk]

Yes, it was a cool bike...and could still run a 12-second quarter mile, as one stunned Corvette owner learned the hard way on a sunny Sunday morning on north Cave Creek Road near Carefree, Arizona!!

Memories,,lol, I once owned a leadwing, also naked, but the 1st year, & green,,,on a trip to sunny Queensland thru some really twistie mountian roads, the wife & me arrived on a freeway,,zoom zoomin' along I notices a car trying to overtake, I sped up, again the passee got close,,again I sped up, this continued until the passee gave up,,,we stopped for fuel,,only then did I notice most of my gear had fallen off (tent, pump & bags were gone),,I guess the pasee had picked it all up, and was trying to give it back,,,bloody leadwings,,,

[twowheeladdict]

Why can't we have both? When I look at a bike (or any other manufactured item, for that matter)  I try to set my mental Wayback Machine to the prevalent aesthetic standards of the time when it was produced. For example, the 1984 Honda V45 Interceptor was a fabulously good-looking bike in its time, and I think it has held up well. Sure, it's dated by today's standards, but it was a tremendous effort then. Same for the C4 Corvette. It has an oddly poor reputation now, but in 1984 it was mind-blowingly advanced.

When I say Dated, I'm not talking about technology.  I am talking about looks.  Lets face it, the 80s and 90s weren't the best decades for cars or bikes with a few exceptions. 

The Interceptor is a good looking bike and with a few upgrades fits right in with today.  I friend of mine bought a pearl white one and still has it.  He changed the wheels, the bars, and modified the rear end and it holds up well today. 

Who created the aesthetic standards at the time?  The developers trying to entice us away from what we currently owned.  Trying to incorporate new materials which also allowed them to experiment with new shapes.  Some were hits, some were misses.  Some have faded into the junk yards, while others of lovingly restored and kept going. 

[Penderic]

Serious Collectors ....... Get the complete set! Impress your friends! Commence your life long quest for that missing piece!




Even stale candy....


 

[rocker59]

  I hate giving money to the government and especially hate paying that money when I shouldn't have to.  I should be allowed to buy one plate and move it from motorcycle to motorcycle.  I can only ride one at at time so I am not wearing out the roads 4 times as fast by having 4 motorcycles.   

I hate giving my money to the insurance company.  Why we have to have separate policies for every auto and moto doesn't make sense.  We should just be able to take out one umbrella "auto/moto" policy, then add and subtract vehicles as they come and go. 

[JJ]

Serious Collectors ....... Get the complete set! Impress your friends! Commence your life long quest for that missing piece!




Even stale candy....


 

Very cool!   Britain's, Matchbox, Corgi, Hot Wheels and MORE!!  Had most of these at one time...maybe 200+...sold them all on eBay years ago!

[Rough Edge racing]

 In my opinion, any bike that has square styling is dated.. Not that it's bad but at a glance you know the era it was made...Some bikes have timeless styling like a vintage Triumph ...

[Joliet Jim]

I've got 3 ugly bikes I need to get rid of with cast 3 spoke wheels and two of those have fat rear ends.
Centauro
V11 Sport Naked
Breva 750
I sure hope I can find something aesthetically pleasing

But thankfully my flaccid whale penis tanked Guzzi's are good to go

yep his taste is in his mouth. 3 spoke wheels are cool. love my whale penis too

[s1120]

When I say Dated, I'm not talking about technology.  I am talking about looks.  Lets face it, the 80s and 90s weren't the best decades for cars or bikes with a few exceptions. 

The Interceptor is a good looking bike and with a few upgrades fits right in with today.  I friend of mine bought a pearl white one and still has it.  He changed the wheels, the bars, and modified the rear end and it holds up well today. 

 

The interceptors held up vary well style wise..  Still a stunner.  I would have to say some good came out of the late 80's early 90's though..  the 900SS of that era is a GREAT looking bike...  one that still quickens the heart rate!

[twowheeladdict]

The interceptors held up vary well style wise..  Still a stunner.  I would have to say some good came out of the late 80's early 90's though..  the 900SS of that era is a GREAT looking bike...  one that still quickens the heart rate!

Which is why I said with few exceptions.