Definition of a Classic please

[Stylo]

Good thread, been reading it for a while...

What's the cut-off year for a classic ? , seems most of the talk here is all good but, mainly about the older Road Bikes but, I've never seen anything too much about the older Trail / MX bikes hiding in the sheds around the country....

I'm the lucky owner of a last model '01 CR500 that's in a shed behind the house and it's a zero hour Bike...been there since new and gathering dust ...been started a couple of times but that's it, no ride time ....

Is it a Classic or ......maybe try and sell ..? Cheers

[Sensei]

1979 was the cut off for a Classic type bike I believe . Same year as my Original TT500G was made ..

[PeteJ]

Sad to say, this question has been done to death over the years since the late 1970s when the "classic" movement really took root.

The nearest to a consensus you'll get is: anything >25 years old as at the moment in time you're asking, without aesthetic or mechanical glory considerations. And individuals' opinions are not worth the hot air they're made of, either.

Kindly, all other posters, refrain from rehashing all the old ground (boring ad nauseam).

[98tls]

Sad to say, this question has been done to death over the years since the late 1970s when the "classic" movement really took root.

The nearest to a consensus you'll get is: anything >25 years old as at the moment in time you're asking, without aesthetic or mechanical glory considerations.

Kindly, all other psoters, refrain from rehashing all the old ground (boring ad nauseam).

Sorry for boring you,not really interested in "consensus" especially on an interweb motorcycle site more so who and why deems a classic a classic?just out of interest.

[Motu]

Still made in this decade is hardly a classic,even if it isn't competitive anymore.Water cooled,upside down forks ditto.When some old guy comes up to you and says ''I used to have one of those'' you know it's getting close to classic.

[98tls]

Still made in this decade is hardly a classic,even if it isn't competitive anymore.Water cooled,upside down forks ditto.When some old guy comes up to you and says ''I used to have one of those'' you know it's getting close to classic.

Err, yea cheers M would have thought that obvious then again this is the interweb.

[jonbuoy]

Still made in this decade is hardly a classic,even if it isn't competitive anymore.Water cooled,upside down forks ditto.When some old guy comes up to you and says ''I used to have one of those'' you know it's getting close to classic.

Not so sure about the upside down forks and water cooling Motu - Honda RC45 has both and already is a "classic"

[Voltaire]

Anythng that leaves the Ducati factory is a classic:innocent:, but you have to wait 30 years until the old farts in the Vintage Car Club and Pommy bike mags decide for you.
The only date that matters is the 40 year one so you can get cheap rego and ACC.

[RDjase]

Good thread, been reading it for a while...

What's the cut-off year for a classic ? , seems most of the talk here is all good but, mainly about the older Road Bikes but, I've never seen anything too much about the older Trail / MX bikes hiding in the sheds around the country....

I'm the lucky owner of a last model '01 CR500 that's in a shed behind the house and it's a zero hour Bike...been there since new and gathering dust ...been started a couple of times but that's it, no ride time ....

Is it a Classic or ......maybe try and sell ..? Cheers

Any new or near Harley is going by how many get put in the Vintage and Classic section on Trademe:shit:

Last of the big 2 strokes, Cool, :woohoo:

Much more fun than a dirty old diesel MX bike

[ellipsis]

....if its a classic or a post classic the official years are up on the MNZ site if you are into racing them...if there is an official date when a bike becomes a classic , then thats it...otherwise its just a lot of dribble coming from those wot dont know....you cant just decide when you think yer bike is a classic.... my bones hurt that much that I reckon I should be a classic....fact is I got twelve years to go....officially.....

[PeteJ]

Sorry for boring you,not really interested in "consensus" especially on an interweb motorcycle site more so who and why deems a classic a classic?just out of interest.

:facepalm: '98 TLS - the model of motorcycle that epitomises the whole problem...

[cs363]

This might help:

(From: Classic Motorcycling: A Guide for the 21st Century By Rex Bunn)

[scumdog]

I consider my XN85 a 'classic' - as much for its rarity as for its age (27yrs old)

[White trash]

I conside my XN85 a 'classic' - as much for its rarity as for its age (27yrs old)

Same as my GSX550 and MVX250. Fucken classics for the wrong reasons though, same as the XN85. :D

[Paul in NZ]

Simple - if you are selling it on trademe, its a classic, if you own it and want to buy a part so you can ride it its obselete or a $CLASSIC$, if you are a woman, its usually a pile of junk thats in the way...

[Motu]

I consider my XN85 a 'classic' - as much for its rarity as for its age (27yrs old)

When my brother had his XN85 in Canada it was officially a Classic - and he had to keep it that way,and restricted in how much he could use it.One of the reasons he sold it.

[Beeza]

Anythng that leaves the Ducati factory is a classic:innocent:, but you have to wait 30 years until the old farts in the Vintage Car Club and Pommy bike mags decide for you.
The only date that matters is the 40 year one so you can get cheap rego and ACC.

Those 500cc parallel-twins of the mid 70's were ... let's not say it out loud!:shit:

[Voltaire]

Those 500cc parallel-twins of the mid 70's were ... let's not say it out loud!:shit:

I went to the factory Museum a few years back and I don't recall seeing any on display....I did laugh when I saw Ducatis effort at a scooter by the toilets..... :shit:

[SPman]

Those 500cc parallel-twins of the mid 70's were ... let's not say it out loud!:shit:...and why not?
A pile of poo by any other name............:facepalm:

[Voltaire]

...and why not?
A pile of poo by any other name............:facepalm:

Probably quite rare now and highly sought after by matching number, factory air in tyre collectors:innocent:

[Dodgyiti]

2001 a classic? You gotta be sh*tting me?

That's a modern bike, this century even. Probably dosen't even leak any oil:tugger:

Guzzi had USD forks in 1953, not that they were any good or anything:blink:

They were racing the (dare we even mention them?) 500 twins quite well in Oz back in the 80's and they will probalby be a good investment for an original one because of the unique-ness

[Voltaire]

Guzzi had USD forks in 1953, not that they were any good or anything

I had a Puch moped with upside down forks.....:innocent:
that Audi decomposing in your drive way is probably a classic......

[ellipsis]

...does a six speed box in a manx preclude that manx from being a classic...

[PeteJ]

...does a six speed box in a manx preclude that manx from being a classic...

If you get a genuine Schaftleitner from back in the day, then not, certainly.

More to the point: if you put electronic ignition in its magneto casing, does that preclude the Manx from being a classic?