What's your favourite era?

[Katman]

Mine's first half of the eighties.

Outside limits 1978 - 1989.

Nothing much else appeals on a personal level outside those years.

[BuzzardNZ]

I feel I missed out on the era when 2 strokes ruled :(

[Kickaha]

Outside limits 1978 - 1989.
Same, most modern road bike I have owned is 1985, although 1956 is my current ride

[AllanB]

Hmmmmmmm

Good question.

I like my 'nakeds' - shit they were just 'motorcycles' when I started riding - categories were: road bikes, scooters, dirt bikes.

Era - I do have a bent for the 80's muscle bikes. However - by todays standards they are dinosaurs - overweight, shit brakes, shit power for that matter, shit frames ........


So take one 80's muscle bike and 'upgrade' - love the Z's, GSXR's etc with modern forks, brakes etc.

[Motu]

'50's and '60's...and nothing Japanese.

[AllanB]

Jesus - tough crowd tonight!


I wonder what the next decade will bring .....

[Intruder VS]

Mid 80's 2 strokes for me, that powerband and sound of a screaming 2smoke twin never gets old.

[sidecar bob]

Would this favoured era coincidentally be when you were between the ages of 17 & 25? When I consider it, that era & things from it are my favourite.

[EJK]

You guys are old.

Mid to late 2000s was an interesting time. Bike manufacturers were pouring money into sports bike RnD and pumping out "new" revised models every 2/3 years. Yamaha R6s, R1s, whole lot of GSXRs and ZX6/10Rs. It was like the cold war of modern motorcycle history.

[Tazz]

None. Anything with wheels and an engine has merit :D

[Grumph]

You guys are old.

Mid to late 2000s was an interesting time. Bike manufacturers were pouring money into sports bike RnD and pumping out "new" revised models every 2/3 years. Yamaha R6s, R1s, whole lot of GSXRs and ZX6/10Rs. It was like the cold war of modern motorcycle history.

That was actually the second "cold war"....First was the WSB homologation war of the early 750/4 1000/twin era. Some of the most collectible bikes ever made in that lot. RC30's, OW01, 851, YB4.....Still look good by modern criteria.

Personally I don't have a favourite era - just favourite bikes. I've been involved or around bikes from the 50's up to date and there were good and bad in all eras.

[jellywrestler]

Would this favoured era coincidentally be when you were between the ages of 17 & 25? When I consider it, that era & things from it are my favourite.

when i look in my shed there's a lot of bikes from 79-83, the time when i started work, brought a couple of bikes and then brought a couple of new ones. most people go back to the bike they either had unfinished business on and had to sell to move on in life, or the ones they dreamed of having at the time and either couldn't afford them of they were out of their league in terms of rideability. I would have to pick two favourite times, the one i've just stated and american bikes that are no longer made from about 1915-1925, i've got four bikes from 15-25 and half a dozen or so from 79-83, plus a few over other years that i head hunted cause they appealed to me.

[ellipsis]

...from the advent of Doctor Who until I was silly enough to get married...

[Blackbird]

Yeah, I'm an old bastard :whistle: late 60's was my favourite era. Riding a 1955 Tiger 100 to and from varsity in the UK in all weathers and no-one to worry about but myself! Same era building a highly competitive supercharged short stroke Triumph drag bike engine in the engineering labs. Pretty cool formative years on bikes which still keeps the passion alive!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Late seventies through to late 80's. A fantastic time for me. The bikes, the music, the freedom. I was lucky to have had a free reign and good parenting. It's not their fault I'm a cunt! :headbang:

[onearmedbandit]

It's not their fault I'm a cunt! :headbang:

So, whose is it?

[Crasherfromwayback]

So, whose is it?

I take full responsibility mate!

[RGVforme]

I take full responsibility mate!

Makes a fucking change.....:facepalm:

[Katman]

Mid to late 2000s was an interesting time. Bike manufacturers were pouring money into sports bike RnD and pumping out "new" revised models every 2/3 years. Yamaha R6s, R1s, whole lot of GSXRs and ZX6/10Rs. It was like the cold war of modern motorcycle history.

And yet they all looked the same.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Makes a fucking change.....:facepalm:

Oh my! Another cutting and whitty remark from the gimp.

[jellywrestler]

And yet they all looked the same.

they hadn't heard of a wind tunnel when the bikes you and i like came out....

[MD]

Would this favoured era coincidentally be when you were between the ages of 17 & 25? When I consider it, that era & things from it are my favourite.

Yeah that's going to prove the popular era. Wont see many picking the era they were 75 y.o.+ stuck behind a walking frame.

So for me years 17-25 were awesome. Being 19 was the best (1979). Still a stupid teenager but close to an adult.

[Big Dog]

Today and tomorrow.
I miss bikes I had or lusted after in my youth... but in all reality I can't go back and ride in the past. I can go ride in the present or the future.

This current age of bikes that hark back to a nostalgic era but with better handling, brakes etc. floats my boat.

But the real thing I like about the now is there is so much choice.

Mind you, not so keen on the trend towards cheaper parts that don't do the bike in question justice, or the trend towards litre bikes that look like 600s.


Sent from Tapatalk. DYAC

[Voltaire]

50's Triumphs, 70's Nortons, 70's Ducatis , BMW's and Moto Guzzi's. No Japanese bikes.:eek:

[jellywrestler]

50's Triumphs, 70's Nortons, 70's Ducatis , BMW's and Moto Guzzi's. No Japanese bikes.:eek:

you been brainwashed or just a little ignorant?

[Voltaire]

you been brainwashed or just a little ignorant?

Your telling the story Spyda.....;), I just don't have any Japanese bikes in my shed. Only the ones I mentioned.:crazy:

[jellywrestler]

Your telling the story Spyda.....;), I just don't have any Japanese bikes in my shed. Only the ones I mentioned.:crazy:

not even a favourite that might have stuck in your mind? i'll admit to liking one model of harley.......
there's a lot of bikes i like that aren't in my shed, and the odd one in my shed i occasionally have a love hate relationship with

[pritch]

My favourite era is now. Sure there are bikes I have ridden in the past that were great but going back to the 60s is not appealing. I'd rather ride the bloody things than work on them. A short time ago I'd have said that the best bikes ever are the current years crop. Bearing in mind that we wouldn't even have dreamed of bikes like these just a few decades ago.

It is possible that with ever more restrictive emissions controls, possible future social pressures opposed to recreational use of a diminishing resource, the proliferation of 80KPH zones and double yellow lines, that this will turn out to be the golden age of motorcycling.

OK, not everybody can afford an RC213V-S, but back in their day very few could afford a Brough Superior or a Vincent Rapide. Even though those two latter are old now they aren't exactly affordable today either.

In a way I hope I'm wrong, but this could be the high point. Whatever, it's bloody great, we're spoiled for choice. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Madness]

I prefer the second half of the 80's myself.

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[Ocean1]

My favourite era is now.

Absolutely. Ignoring nostalgia value almost any bike today is better than any bike made a decade ago, and that's been true for as long as I've been riding.

Not ignoring nostalgia brings SCBob's rule into play, and for me that was mid to late 70's. Although thinking about it a bit further I was riding exclusively dirt bikes then, and maybe the above applies less there. Certainly there was a significant jump in performance improvements about then, in fact for dirt bikes there was arguably more advances in that decade than there's been since.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Absolutely. Ignoring nostalgia value almost any bike today is better than any bike made a decade ago, and that's been true for as long as I've been riding.
.

Only a total mongol wouldn't agree with ya. But despite that...is *better* really better? So many bikes now are so good, they're almost sterile. They're almost so similar, that take away the badge...and there's no difference. I find myself loving bikes of a bygone era. Where the rider made the difference. You ride around it's flaws. Embrace it's quirks. Love it's looks. Most modern bikes look the same. Same couldn't be said for the bikes of old.

[caspernz]

My favourite era is now.

Yep, like the song goes: "These are the good old days."

I can fondly recall some bikes from my younger years, but in practical terms newer is better to me. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate old stuff, but for day to day use nothing old beats up to date gear.

[Blackbird]

Only a total mongol wouldn't agree with ya. But despite that...is *better* really better? So many bikes now are so good, they're almost sterile. They're almost so similar, that take away the badge...and there's no difference. I find myself loving bikes of a bygone era. Where the rider made the difference. You ride around it's flaws. Embrace it's quirks. Love it's looks. Most modern bikes look the same. Same couldn't be said for the bikes of old.

That's hit the nail squarely on the head!

No-one would deny that modern bikes are better in every respect than my favourite era of the late 60’s and I certainly wouldn't want to swap now for then. However, those were the formative years that got me into bikes and naturally had a lasting impact. Racing in particular as it wasn't just a case of buying performance gear off the shelves - you had to be innovative.

As for modern bikes maybe being a bit sterile, have to agree with you. My current Suzuki has got all the fruit, goes like hell yet is maybe too perfect as it doesn't do as much for me as the old Street Triple. Hard to define "character", innit?

[Voltaire]

not even a favourite that might have stuck in your mind? i'll admit to liking one model of harley.......
there's a lot of bikes i like that aren't in my shed, and the odd one in my shed i occasionally have a love hate relationship with

First bike I had was an SL125, then a Honda 500/4, Z1000j, briefly had a CB125 for riding to work in London, then a Kawasaki 550 work bike...til it was stripped for parts outside my house one night.
Had a GPZ 900 for a while in 2007, but no longer keen on car engined bikes :laugh:
I do like the new Triumph Thruxton.

[Voltaire]

Only a total mongol wouldn't agree with ya. But despite that...is *better* really better? So many bikes now are so good, they're almost sterile. They're almost so similar, that take away the badge...and there's no difference. I find myself loving bikes of a bygone era. Where the rider made the difference. You ride around it's flaws. Embrace it's quirks. Love it's looks. Most modern bikes look the same. Same couldn't be said for the bikes of old.

Hi from Mongolia:banana:
The bikes I like are as SCB observed from my early 20's, I have no interest in modern ones.
My fav engines are the air cooled BMW twin, the Bevel Ducati Twin, Guzzi V twin and the Norton/Triumph Parallel twin.
I like riding them,working on them, listening to the engine and exhaust sounds and just looking at them in my shed.
Been racing an early 70's BMW for a bit, the people you meet along the way sure are interesting.

[jim.cox]

I find most modern bikes just do not appeal to me at all

They are A: overly complicated and B: bloody ugly ( BMW's especially so )

I can think of only one or two that would actually want to spend money on

Guess I really am an old fashioned Luddite

[Ocean1]

Only a total mongol wouldn't agree with ya. But despite that...is *better* really better? So many bikes now are so good, they're almost sterile. They're almost so similar, that take away the badge...and there's no difference. I find myself loving bikes of a bygone era. Where the rider made the difference. You ride around it's flaws. Embrace it's quirks. Love it's looks. Most modern bikes look the same. Same couldn't be said for the bikes of old.

The bike I lusted after waybackthen was something like a Cheney B50 MX.

I could probably organise to own one now, but here's the thing: Every bike I liked then and have subsequently owned or ridden has never lived up to my expectations.

I know damn well that I'd be spending more time fixing a B50 than riding it. And I know damn well that it's not half the bike my 525 is.

Bit like old girlfriends, better off with the memories than the replay.

[Grumph]

Only a total mongol wouldn't agree with ya. But despite that...is *better* really better? So many bikes now are so good, they're almost sterile. They're almost so similar, that take away the badge...and there's no difference. I find myself loving bikes of a bygone era. Where the rider made the difference. You ride around it's flaws. Embrace it's quirks. Love it's looks. Most modern bikes look the same. Same couldn't be said for the bikes of old.

To my way of thinking, a lot of modern bikes are appliances...characterless.

Couple of years back i had a mates latish Triumph Sprint out here for a bit of work. Sorted it and rode it, like a big electric motor, dead straight power curve...
I told him what i thought of it and said I'd let him have a ride on a good GS1000 road bike next time it was here...
I did. He now owns a restomod GS1000S which is absolutely gorgeous - and thanks to some tweaking, has a very nice step in the power curve, above which it is mental....below which it is as nice as you'd wish for a road bike in modern traffic.

And Ocean - raced a Cheney B50, you'd have liked it at the time - I did.

[Crasherfromwayback]

That's hit the nail squarely on the head!

No-one would deny that modern bikes are better in every respect than my favourite era of the late 60’s and I certainly wouldn't want to swap now for then. However, those were the formative years that got me into bikes and naturally had a lasting impact. Racing in particular as it wasn't just a case of buying performance gear off the shelves - you had to be innovative.

As for modern bikes maybe being a bit sterile, have to agree with you. My current Suzuki has got all the fruit, goes like hell yet is maybe too perfect as it doesn't do as much for me as the old Street Triple. Hard to define "character", innit?

Aye. Hey, I get to ride all manor of modern stuff, and don't get me wrong, I do like them. But yeah...this shit is me. About to build a Katana similar to this, my Slabbie is as fast as I need to go now. And big air cooled MX bikes are fun as fuck to ride, and easy/cheap to maintain compared to a modern four stroke (I do love modern 450's though. Beastly!) Way sexier too I feel.

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[pritch]

The bike I lusted after waybackthen was something like a Cheney B50 MX.


I wish I knew you when I had one for sale. :whistle:

[onearmedbandit]

And yet they all looked the same.

Interesting isn't it. While I love the old muscle bikes from the late 70's early 80's, they all had a 'common' look, black tubular frame, big tank, side covers, single round headlight etc etc. For those that grew up in the era they can no doubt immediately spot the individual models but to others they can end up looking the same. Whereas someone who grew up with 90's to 00's bikes can immediately spot the individual models with ease.

[Crasherfromwayback]

. Whereas someone who grew up with 90's to 00's bikes can immediately spot the individual models with ease.

So if a GSXR 600/750/1000 K7 rode past you at a semi good speed...you'd know which one it was?

[Crasherfromwayback]

The first bike I lusted after was the Ducati Darmah, front cover of a 1979 Two Wheels mag.
323007
Picked this one up in Sydney in 1986.

The others on the list were the Norton Commando Interstate, BMW R90s and the Mk 1 Lemans.....
The 90's passed me by with getting married, kids, DIY :weep:....but I still had the same wish list :wacko:

323011
Favourite is a parts bin racer built in 2011.

Very cool mate.

[onearmedbandit]

So if a GSXR 600/750/1000 K7 rode past you at a semi good speed...you'd know which one it was?

Quite possibly not, but not really my favourite or most influential era. Regardless, Suzuki are not a great example, they've been producing identical looking models for decades now, I remember when my two elder brothers had at the same time early 80's GSX250 and GS450 models. So identical you could interchange the side covers, tail unit, seat and tank.

Equally so if an early 80's Katana went by me at a semi good speed I'd struggle to know whether it was a 750 or 1100. And to confirm that I google imaged the two, and to the casual observer there ain't much difference. Yes I know those who know the models well will scream there is obvious differences, but they know what they're looking for. Kind of like I could tell the difference between a K2 GSXR600/750/1000 with ease.

[Ocean1]

And Ocean - raced a Cheney B50, you'd have liked it at the time - I did.

Aye, no doubt.

I'd have probably liked a 525 more, with gear 30 years better than the rest of the field I might have even won some races.





Nah, probably not...

[Ocean1]

I wish I knew you when I had one for sale. :whistle:

I reckon the whole life thing is arse backwards. I mean, who the fuck organised teenagers to be asleep until noon? Why is it that kids get to play all fucking day and sponge of their parents?

And how does it come that I can't afford shit I wanted when I was 20 until 40 years later when I'm too fucking broken to enjoy it?

Piss poor planning there by somebody.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Equally so if an early 80's Katana went by me at a semi good speed I'd struggle to know whether it was a 750 or 1100.

I've got ya there mate. That wouldn't be possible! I hear ya though. Especially regarding the GSX250/450. Both were butt ugly too.

[Paul in NZ]

Every decade has a bike that's inspirational and aspirational... 1920's for super bikes 1930's for light sporty singles, 1950's iconic racer and the development of the motorcycle as a sporting tool, 1960's for style and the 1970's for the superbike. 1980 - superbikes that worked better... 1990 - sports bike... I've been super lucky to ride a few but - sadly I have too many hobbies and limited means so ownership has been beyond me.... However - the 1970 TR6C I've been messing about with the last 3 decades is and is likely to always be my dream bike... I just love the bloody thing... I love looking at it, working on it and riding it.... I may be ill....

[Katman]

Equally so if an early 80's Katana went by me at a semi good speed I'd struggle to know whether it was a 750 or 1100. And to confirm that I google imaged the two, and to the casual observer there ain't much difference. Yes I know those who know the models well will scream there is obvious differences, but they know what they're looking for.

At a quick glance, there's only three.

[IronPawz]

For me my only true love bike was the original 1100cc Katana so I guess that makes it pretty tight (unless you where in Japan). Still I am in massive anticipation of decent electric and affordable electric bikes I can actually buy in NZ so I am going to guess it is 2020-2030. I'd say by then they might have the price, weight and the range to make them work someone will surely start building them with some style (sorry Zero but you ugly or is that you butt ugly).

So I will go early 80's for style, 2010's for performance and 2020's for hopeful dream area. A bit of a cop out I guess but works for me. To pick just one I'll stick to the Kat years.

[george formby]

My favourite era is now. Sure there are bikes I have ridden in the past that were great but going back to the 60s is not appealing. I'd rather ride the bloody things than work on them. A short time ago I'd have said that the best bikes ever are the current years crop. Bearing in mind that we wouldn't even have dreamed of bikes like these just a few decades ago.

It is possible that with ever more restrictive emissions controls, possible future social pressures opposed to recreational use of a diminishing resource, the proliferation of 80KPH zones and double yellow lines, that this will turn out to be the golden age of motorcycling.

OK, not everybody can afford an RC213V-S, but back in their day very few could afford a Brough Superior or a Vincent Rapide. Even though those two latter are old now they aren't exactly affordable today either.

In a way I hope I'm wrong, but this could be the high point. Whatever, it's bloody great, we're spoiled for choice. Enjoy it while it lasts.


Concur. Now is an amazing time for bikes, the choice is as eye popping as the performance.

Emissions and "making roads safer" are an issue but I think technology will still keep us happy. The development of electric vehicles has me fascinated and we have a shit load of roads to "make safe", so it's not gonna happen quickly.

Having said all that, I have 2 90's 2t's in the shed which give me a chubby.

[Voltaire]

Concur. Now is an amazing time for bikes, the choice is as eye popping as the performance.

Emissions and "making roads safer" are an issue but I think technology will still keep us happy. The development of electric vehicles has me fascinated and we have a shit load of roads to "make safe", so it's not gonna happen quickly.

Having said all that, I have 2 90's 2t's in the shed which give me a chubby.

I agree its an amazing time for bikes, the Triumph Thruxton....I'm sure other lesser companies make some some adequate machines.

But really 1977 was the best year, you could get BMW R100RS's, Ducati 900's, Moto Guzzi Lemans, Triumph Bonnies, maybe a leftover

Commando, Laverda Jotas, Moto Morini 350's and some nice shiny Japanese things too.

[roogazza]

I loved the olden days, starting with 60's Jap stuff,5 and 6 speed gearboxes in 250s wow !

But what do you do with old stuff, look at it in the shed or go down the shops on one ?

Nah, 50 odd years of all sorts of great new things at the time,but give me the latest anytime.So powerful,so fast and so safe as well.Pity the body didn't improve with time like the bikes huh ?:mellow: