What notable 1983 models?

**MIXONE** · 4th August 2009, 18:32

I was riding a CBX.I still miss that howl.
Now I ride an old brick!

**Bren** · 4th August 2009, 18:46

Originally Posted by MIXONE

I was riding a CBX.I still miss that howl.
Now I ride an old brick!

Is that a K75 or K100?

**Rhubarb** · 4th August 2009, 18:58

In 83' I was on a YZ80 having just graduated from a XR75 but I longed for a water cooled YZ125. (I got one several years later but it was a bit old then)

The road bike I dreamed of was an XJ650 Turbo. Once again I eventually got one but it wasn't the turbo version and it was also 10 years old by the time I got it.

I currently have a mid 80's GSX750. Love it.

**Scouse** · 4th August 2009, 19:03

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Would you say that the K100 or the XJ650 was the more radical engineering for the day?

I think I'll still say the K100 because it was such a big departure from 60 years of boxers.

Id say the VF750F Because the V4 engine was a departure from the plethora of inline 4's also the first production motorcycle with a steel box section frame.

**hospitalfood** · 4th August 2009, 19:05

i probably started riding in 83 ( about 11 years old ) out on a farm on an RD50 of all things. great fun, somehow it would get up grassy hills, me and 2 other mates cained it for days before discovering if we changed gear it went even faster.

**BMWST?** · 4th August 2009, 19:08

hmmm 83 i would have had a z1000j,bought from Norjos in CHCH.Glenn Williams had just cleaned up a whole lot of Proddy races on a Z1000j.That was soon to be traded on a Ducati 900S2 which itself was traded on a K100 RS which at the time was 13500......The Duck was 10,000 or thereabouts....cant remember what the Z cost me.
the beemer was amazingly flexible AND economical
As i came out of Bike Clinic in Upper Taranaki street next door in the 2 nd hand car yard(wright stephensons or cable price) was a near new VL commodore for about the same coin...i did have brief WTF moment

**paturoa** · 4th August 2009, 19:13

and at the other end of the spectrum to the beemer was the RG250
http://www.suzukicycles.org/RG-series/RG250-Gamma.shtml

**RDjase** · 4th August 2009, 19:15

RZ350 YPVS was 1983,

1st unitrak GPZ750 , I had one 15 years ago, good fun, ive got a project one now,

I had a C200 honda, 1964 90cc pushrod OHC engine , never seen another one like it .i lent it to a mate a he went to work on it , run out of gas , left it on the side of the road and it got pinched,
Probably good , getting rid or hondas early in my riding career lol

And MVX250 was 1983, what a bike ...............NOT

**merv** · 4th August 2009, 19:16

Originally Posted by rogson

Suzuki GR650.
The bike faded into obscurity - competent lightweight, agile commuter but a bit mundane compared with the plethora of I-4s available at the time.

However, the variable mass flywheel technology (heavy at low revs - light at high revs) was unique, and has never been used again on any bike (Suzukis or any other make) as far as I'm aware.

GR650, you want to buy one, I have my brother's (RIP) which is in reasonable nick, and surplus to my requirements? Was going to give it the once over shortly and look to selling it but just been too busy.

As for other bikes, though not on riffer's list 1983 for me was the year of the Honda XR200RD (as opposed to the XL200R) which I reckon was the best XR200 model made and was an enduro weapon of choice at the time for small fellahs like me lol

**merv** · 4th August 2009, 19:18

Originally Posted by YellowDog

I thought I had an RD400, but looking at the list, it must have been an RD350 ?

Very good bike.

Probably was a 400 as they were around well before '83 in aircooled form. The RD350 on riffer's list is the LC "liquid cooled" forerunner to the mighty RZ350.

**Pedrostt500** · 4th August 2009, 19:24

That year I traded up the mighty TS 185 ER for a DR 250 S.

**geoffm** · 4th August 2009, 20:04

RZ350L - replacement for the mighty Elsie, with power valves, more power and dodgy stators and CDIs.
Ringadingaiding!

**MIXONE** · 4th August 2009, 20:41

Originally Posted by bren

is that a k75 or k100?

87 k75s...

**Mully** · 4th August 2009, 20:47

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Can anyone recall any other famous or infamous models released in that august year of 1983?

Miss Mully

**SARGE** · 4th August 2009, 21:53

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I'm doing a new K1300S BMW yarn and referencing the 1983 K100 series release in the set up.

Can anyone recall any other famous or infamous models released in that august year of 1983?

Also what were you riding then?

the REAL king of bikes ... the 1983 Yamaha FJ1100..

in 1983 i was riding a Honda CB650 Nighthawk, and a Huey