Classic?

**Ixion** · 11th September 2009, 13:19

Originally Posted by Motu

4 valves aren't classic - we are going to make a new rule where only 2 valve heads are classic.4valves are ghey.

There's a bunch of Rudge owners looking for you. Ain't going to be pretty.

**ajturbo** · 11th September 2009, 16:25

i used to hoon around in a statesman....

burn-outs on the footpaths... only AFTER we got kicked out of the pub....(never before)

Ahhh the good old days

**popelli** · 11th September 2009, 17:33

Originally Posted by Gezza

Excuse my ignorance but when does a bike become a classic. How bout my 1984 Fj1100 Yami then???

a mass produced UJM (universal japanese motorcycle) becoming a classic??

isn't that the same year they started producing evolution harleys - and are they classic motorcycles yet ?

In both cases the answer has to be no

**sidecar bob** · 11th September 2009, 17:56

Originally Posted by popelli

a mass produced UJM (universal japanese motorcycle) becoming a classic??

isn't that the same year they started producing evolution harleys - and are they classic motorcycles yet ?

In both cases the answer has to be no

But a '73 Z900 was a mass produced UJM too. Anyone want to argue that they arent classic. (no, i dont own one)

**Motu** · 11th September 2009, 19:53

Originally Posted by Ixion

Oi ! What about the cammy Velos ?

The Yanks banned them from the dirt tracks,limited ohv engines capacity....all the give the sidevalves an advantage.I don't see a problem with that....

**popelli** · 12th September 2009, 05:45

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

But a '73 Z900 was a mass produced UJM too. Anyone want to argue that they arent classic. (no, i dont own one)

are they a classic - yes or no depending on which side of the fence you sit

did they change the face of motorcycling definitely a yes

did the yamaha change the face of motorcycling no it did not do anything appreciably different to what was before it - therefore in my book not a classic bike

did the evo harley change the face of motorcycling no - but it did change the fate of harley but again its not a classic bike - and that is reflected in prices for early evo's rock bottom prices with loads of good buys at present

ditto prices for the yamaha rock bottom, if it was a classic then prices would be rocketing and they are not

as for the kwaka prices are rocketing therefore it could be classified as classic

**Bonez** · 12th September 2009, 09:07

Originally Posted by popelli

are they a classic - yes or no depending on which side of the fence you sit

did they change the face of motorcycling definitely a yes

did the yamaha change the face of motorcycling no it did not do anything appreciably different to what was before it - therefore in my book not a classic bike

did the evo harley change the face of motorcycling no - but it did change the fate of harley but again its not a classic bike - and that is reflected in prices for early evo's rock bottom prices with loads of good buys at present

ditto prices for the yamaha rock bottom, if it was a classic then prices would be rocketing and they are not

as for the kwaka prices are rocketing therefore it could be classified as classic

Thing is in 10 years those prices will go through the roof. Around the 35-40 year mark what was once considered hohum items seem to rise subsentially. Just an observation over the years.

**Paul in NZ** · 12th September 2009, 09:39

Oh pish - if you like it and you are prepared to spend more on it than its worth while there are better cheaper modern stuff about then in your mind it's a classic - since when did motorcylists become such stuffed shirts?

Besides - the relevance of a certain motorcycle to its status is often relateds to a certain market. The excellent american magazine Motorcycle Classics feature one a while back and they feature a lot of these emerging classics we have ignored.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/Mo...aha-FJ100.aspx

**Bonez** · 12th September 2009, 10:34

Nice find Paul. City Honda is having it's 1st birthday today. Some nice classic UJMs on display.

**scumdog** · 12th September 2009, 10:45

Originally Posted by idb

Bring back the sidevalve!

Quite right - overhead-valves are a passing fad...

And as for overhead cams???? sheesh....

**scumdog** · 12th September 2009, 10:49

Originally Posted by idb

A club started up in Invercargill called the Classic Motorbike Club or something similar.
What it actually meant was No Japanese Club cos there were brand new Harleys and...well mostly brand new Harleys.
If you rode with them on a Jappa they made you ride behind them.

So my XN85 wouldn't be a classic in their eyes then??

Oh, wait, maybe the word Classic meant the OWNERS, not the bike!

Like Classic Snobs or something??

**Bonez** · 12th September 2009, 10:56

Originally Posted by scumdog

So my XN85 wouldn't be a classic in their eyes then??

Nah its got TWO ohcs and its a Suzuki......some just haven't gotten over the fact the the Japs won WW2

**popelli** · 12th September 2009, 11:00

Originally Posted by Bonez

Thing is in 10 years those prices will go through the roof. Around the 35-40 year mark what was once considered hohum items seem to rise subsentially. Just an observation over the years.

please clarify

prices thru the roof for FJ yamahas or evo harleys?

answer really needed as I am thinking about breaking my evo for parts, if its going to be worth something I'll wait a few years