Returning to ones motorcycling roots

[ohiorider]

Thinking back, most of the available motorcycles when I started riding in the mid-1960s had little more than 40 hp.  I doubt that my 650cc BSA Spitfire put out much more than 38-42hp, or thereabouts.  Same goes for the Triumph 500 and 650cc bikes, that weighed in at somewhat less than 400 pounds.  Fun machines, and we were totally impressed with their quarter mile speed and the fact that they actually had 40 hp.

I think we're fortunate to have the opportunity once again to own some very sophisticated lightweight bikes of similar horsepower and performance.   Actually a bit more power and torque.  I would suppose that we would have been overjoyed in 1966 to have been able to purchase a BSA or Triumph (or Norton) with a 6 speed transmission and slightly more than 50hp, disc brakes, electronic ignition, on and on ............

Today, whether that bike is a Street Twin orV7 or V9, there is some really nice lightweight stuff out there calling to us.

[oldbike54]

 Yep , spent a bunch of money and time on a '70 Triumph TR6R to make it produce 50 HP . Lumpy cams , big carb , port work , Sportster valve guides , Carillo rods , all of the hot stuff from that era. Then , after all of that work , missed a gear , broke the small end of one of those beautiful Carillo rods , engine goes boom , hot oil everywhere 

 Dusty

[Cam3512]

All my bikes are 750's.  Two "BIG block" vintage - '71 Ambo and '74 V7 Sport.  My new '14 V7 Special spanks them both in HP and torque.  Same displacement, very different result.

[Sheepdog]

The first bike I ever rode was a 4hp Motobecane moped. It was enough to hook me for life. To this day, I think of a 750 as a "big bike"...

[JJ]

I am thinking along the same lines... :1:   This was my first "new" motorcycle at age 17:

1971 Yamaha RT1-B 360cc Enduro, 2-stroke, big bore single.  Back in 2010, I bought one off of eBay, had it at my cousin's house in Fishkill, NY, rode it a few times, and sold it when I was in between jobs.  I want something similar now for Vortex Land (Red Rock Country) - maybe in the spring.

[Rotten Ralph]

First ride was a Harley WL 45ci. at 20-25 HP. Traded that for a 125cc Harley (pre Hummer) at 3 HP. Both were 3 speeds but the 45 took about two days to finally get third to engaged.

Never had to worry much about speeding tickets - except maybe in a school zone.

Sure don't want to go back to those roots!

[jas67]

All my bikes are 750's.  Two "BIG block" vintage - '71 Ambo and '74 V7 Sport.  My new '14 V7 Special spanks them both in HP and torque.  Same displacement, very different result.

My bikes are much the same, but, I'll open the CC range to 750-850.   I guess 750-850cc twins are my sweet spot.

Vintage:
1973 BMW R75/5  749cc
1974 Eldorado  844cc

Modern:
2014 V7 Special 744cc
2013 V7 Racer 744cc
2013 Ducati Monster 796, 803cc
2013 BMW F800GT, 798cc

Of course, the displacement is similar, though a wide range of HP, 49 to 90.

[Guzzistajohn]

My 1st "real" mc was one of these, I was hooked for life.


photo

hosting

Still have her too

[Adk.IBO]

My first street bike was a 1971 Triumph 650 Tiger 1975-76. I have had plastic fairings/bodywork on my bikes since 1980 and have a real hankering for a mostly steel naked bike to get back to my street bike roots. Especially since acquiring my used Aerostitch for fending off the elements.

[twowings]

I wish more manufacturers would take the classic designs of the past and upgrade powertrain internals while keeping things like analog instruments, wide comfortable bars, and relaxed seating positions...but I'm probably in the minority 

[Scud]

My first motorcycle was a 1972 Honda CB350-Four. I bought another one a few years ago. Enjoyed it for a few weeks, but then found that it was tool slow - and that I couldn't really go back. I sold it to a collector who is just going to park it.

[Adk.IBO]

I don't want to step back in time. I want FI, ABS, mag wheels, double disc front, single disc rear, shaft or belt drive, tubeless tires, HO alternator (adequate for heated gear ect.), decent handling, adequate power (not race like, torque is good!) all the norm for me. Less plastic (no plastic tank please), less weight, modern basics I guess...

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I would love to have my old R-26 BMW.  At my age, lack of speed is not a concern.

[Ncdan]

My first bike was a 1965 Honda 65cc scrambler. Great little bike and bullet proof. I had a electrician to bend me a 1" pipe for a straight pipe. Dang I was a bad dude.:)

[Motu]

I spent the first 15 years riding 650cc 2 valve pushrod twins, then had a Yamaha XS1 for 15 years... a 650 2 valve twin, with no pushrods.  The last 8 years I've been riding a BMW R65...a 650cc 2 valve pushrod twin. I've had other bikes off course, but this just seems to be a happy spot for me.

[oldbike54]

 I recently retired a very worn out /5 R60 due to a broken valve that did extensive damage . It served as my primary motorcycle for about 8 years and 60,000 miles . It is true that the suspension was not great , the brakes , well , Flintstonish , and the 4 speed transmission's wide spreads could be awkward in the mountains , but it was still fun . Everything is relative , the Jackal is old tech , but feels very modern in comparison .

 Dusty

[Nic in Western NYS]

I don't want to step back in time. I want FI, ABS, mag wheels, double disc front, single disc rear, shaft or belt drive, tubeless tires, HO alternator (adequate for heated gear ect.), decent handling, adequate power (not race like, torque is good!) all the norm for me. Less plastic (no plastic tank please), less weight, modern basics I guess...

Agreed. No good reason to have a fancy electronic dash when analog instruments will do and will be easier to replace long term.

[Fuzzy]

Mostly I miss a kickstarter. It's nowhere near as dramatic to push a button and roar away after a fight with your wife/girlfriend. Kicking it to life with anger adds a Marlon Brando element to the scene. Also provides hyperextension occasionally.

[fubar guzzi]

My first reAL BIKR WAS A Whizzer,it didnt run but I could go to school and tell everyone I had a motocycle.Now years gone by I have six bikes that dont run,is that what they mean by goin full circle

[JJ]

Actually, at age 14, THIS was my very first motorcycle and what started a 49+ year love affair with anything on two wheels.  1965 Yamaha YG1-K, 80cc Rotary Jet.   :1:  

Back in the day, I rode this around the dirt roads, corn fields, and meadows in my neighborhood of upstate New York, (Mid-Hudson Valley)

This "nut & bolt" restored example I looked at in 2007 in SOCAL, and the guy was asking $6,000 for it...which really meant.....it was NOT for sale.    Mine was identical to this one...

[pat80flh]

My first bike was a brand new 1972 KZ-400, I had been saving my paper route money, as soon as I turned 16 I got a loan, the old man finally caved and co-signed. $900 out the door if I remember. Stripped model , one mirror, kick only. It was an okay bike in retrospect, but I don't need one today.
   I recently mostly finished the V65c project for wife, it's been a long while since I rode a bike that small, but it sure is fun. Reminds me of that old Kawi, in a way.  Simple, competent, agile,

[jim_W]

My first motor bike was a 1947  Hiawatha Doodle Bug made in Webster City, Iowa. I got it used in 1955 when I was 10 years old.  Rode around the farm and back roads of northern Iowa.   Saw one of these at Harpers when I was there last fall.

[Rotten Ralph]

Mostly I miss a kickstarter. It's nowhere near as dramatic to push a button and roar away after a fight with your wife/girlfriend. Kicking it to life with anger adds a Marlon Brando element to the scene. Also provides hyperextension occasionally.

Doubt that you'd miss it on a high compression 600cc single (AJS Typhoon).

[Lannis]

I've had so many bikes that it's hard to think of "roots", but if I have any, it would be among the 200 - 400cc Yamaha two-stroke twins of the 70s.

First big road rides, first real feelings of freedom, and when I see a bronze/black R5 or a red/white RD400C, the memories really come rolling back ....

I don't think that the goodness or roadability of those bikes is all rose-colored - they really were good motorcycles and would be eminently usable on the road today ..

Lannis

[Triple Jim]

I like the wave of new inexpensive small, light, high performance motorcycles, like:

KTM 390 Duke
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Honda CBR300R
Yamaha YZF-R3
BMW G 310 R

They're all modern bikes, some barely over 300 lbs, with excellent handling and horsepower in the mid 30s or more (crankshaft).  In a sense, they return to motorcycling's roots, being inexpensive and without many frills, but including great performance.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Not sure I want to return to any of my earliest bikes (Benelli Fireball 50, Yamaha JT1, Honda CL100, Jawa 90 Trail) or even the first ones I had after I got my license (Yamaha YDS7 250, RD400, XS2 650).

But I have fired up the "way back machine" and returned to 1988 when I bought my '86 Morini 350 K2. Bought that one as a new leftover with 15 miles on it, put Krauser Starlet saddlebags on it (wish I could find another set) and proceeded to go touring. It made a great lightweight sport-tourer and I racked up 17k miles in a fairly short period of time, even though I had a Le Mans 1000 as well.

The '85 K2 I have now seems even better in some respects and every ride transports me back to those "care-free" days when I was 25, had a cool car (Bertone X1/9), good job at National Geographic and plenty of time to ride.

[creaky99]

I started out in 1952 with a Whizzer/Schwinn motorbike, turned out to be a lifelong addiction.

[Lannis]

The '85 K2 I have now seems even better in some respects and every ride transports me back to those "care-free" days when I was 25, had a cool car (Bertone X1/9), good job at National Geographic and plenty of time to ride.

Yebbut, now you still have a cool car (a Mercedes), lots of cool motorcycles including Loops and a Morini, a good job working on motorcycles, and YOU decide when you ride!

Only thing you can't have any more is being 25, but that's as much a state of mind as anything ....

Lannis

[jas67]

I like the wave of new inexpensive small, light, high performance motorcycles, like:

KTM 390 Duke
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Honda CBR300R
Yamaha YZF-R3
BMW G 310 R

They're all modern bikes, some barely over 300 lbs, with excellent handling and horsepower in the mid 30s or more (crankshaft).  In a sense, they return to motorcycling's roots, being inexpensive and without many frills, but including great performance.

This market segment is growing a log:

Honda CB300F (naked, more upright than the CBR300R, new last year)

Announced at EICMA:
BMW G310GS
Kawsaki Versys 300
Suzuki GSX250R
Suzuki DL250


The two Suzuki models, sadly have the under performing (for the 250-300 class) GW250 engine and weight (~410#, so, as heavy as a the Honda 500cc twins).

[Huzo]

Mostly I miss a kickstarter. It's nowhere near as dramatic to push a button and roar away after a fight with your wife/girlfriend. Kicking it to life with anger adds a Marlon Brando element to the scene. Also provides hyperextension occasionally.

A fight with your wife/girlfriend is nothing to get steamed up about, just don't fight with both at the same time, experience says they'll form an unholy alliance long enough to secure your ultimate demise !!! A Norge tank is no match for a claw hammer.