1973 Superbike Showdown

[J.A.W.]

Classic early `70s "Superbike" performance comparo from Cycle mag Dec `72..

Ducati GT 750; Harley-Davidson Sportster 1000; Honda 750/4; Kawasaki 750 H2 & 900 Z1; Norton Commando 750; Triumph Trident 750.

http://www.kawtriple.com/mraxl/artic...uperbikes1.htm

[pete376403]

THey (Cycle) did an earlier Superbike test, 1969 IIRC. 883 Sportster (it was a cheater), Suzuki 500. Kawasaki 500, Trident, Rocket 3, Commando and CB750. The CB750 came out on top.

Finding the old Cycle mags online would be great. Jess Thomas, Gordon Jennings, and so on were really good writers.

[J.A.W.]

'Fraid not Pete, for that test they didn't actually pick a winner, & the Honda was beaten by the Brits & the Kawasaki, speed-wise..

[Voltaire]

The Americans love affair with the dragstrip..... yawn.

Last time I bothered with Meremere was in about 1984 on a Z1000....11-12 seconds from memory.

I don't know about the Jappers but a Ducati 900 and Norton Commando 750 Combat are a lot of fun on a twisty road, despite only having 50-60 odd HP.

[Motu]

The Americans love affair with the dragstrip..... yawn.

Had a BIL who would read these american mags, he'd look at the 1/4 mile times, top speed and HP and say ''shit, the XYZ1200 is faster than my ZYX1150 !'' Then go and trade up. There are some things that are very important in life to some people.

[J.A.W.]

The Americans love affair with the dragstrip..... yawn.

Last time I bothered with Meremere was in about 1984 on a Z1000....11-12 seconds from memory.

I don't know about the Jappers but a Ducati 900 and Norton Commando 750 Combat are a lot of fun on a twisty road, despite only having 50-60 odd HP.

Well, all you have to do is read the test.. they do take 'em around a track too, & put 'em on the dyno.. you must be too tired..or too bloody lazy..

[Voltaire]

Well, all you have to do is read the test.. they do take 'em around a track too, & put 'em on the dyno.. you must be too tired..or too bloody lazy..

Yep, tired and lazy, have you been talking to my Boss in Sydney?
He's been cutting into my Trade Me and ADV rider time.

[J.A.W.]

Fair enough.. but if you do find the time, the Commando beats the V-twins & the Honda..

[J.A.W.]

Here is an arty/high production values Nippon vid presenting the winning bike - of the topic showdown..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Wvn---mmc

[Voltaire]

had to turn the sound down as reminded me too much of gardening.
I didn't get to the end, did he catch the Commando?

[J.A.W.]

had to turn the sound down as reminded me too much of gardening.
I didn't get to the end, did he catch the Commando?

You

"...didn't get to the end..."

Is that what your missus tells you..
.. about the "gardening"? L.O.L...


Nah, Commando got a creditable 4th, but BMW didn't even make the cut, & Ducati was the only game non-Brit Euro..

[Voltaire]

If you would like to seriously discuss classic bikes I'll play.
I've picked up a few in the last 30 years.
My favourite is the BMW R90s.

Followed by the Ducati 900:

then The Norton

The BMW has probably stood the test of time the best as its a good everyday bike.
Never had a 2 stoke other than a dirt bike.
Then there is the bitsa Race Bike.

That one is the most fun
Currently playing with an Italian Tractor.

That's my 70's " Wish List" ticked off.

[J.A.W.]

If you would like to seriously discuss classic bikes I'll play.
I've picked up a few in the last 30 years.My favourite is the BMW R90s.

The '70s BMWs are a bit boring for my taste, funny how they were super-pricey when new, but are relatively cheaper now.. say compared to the Commando.

The BMWs did ok in long-distance events like the Castrol 6 hour race, if they weren't chucked out for cheating..

www.the6hour.com.au/content/history1972.html

[Voltaire]

The '70s BMWs are a bit boring for my taste, funny how they were super-pricey when new, but are relatively cheaper now.. say compared to the Commando.

The BMWs did ok in long-distance events like the Castrol 6 hour race, if they weren't chucked out for cheating..

www.the6hour.com.au/content/history1972.html

AC/DC were called boring and repetitive, now revised to consistent and reliable.

BMW's are about 30-50% less than a Commando here, the mag wheel ones are the least sought after.

Castol 6 Hour....wasn't that Kawasaki complaining about an R90/6 winning coz it had 'fork mods" ...some washers.

Most likely upheld as Kawasaki sold more bikes than BMW.

I got my R75/5 and Ducati in NSW, way cheaper than here in 1985.

I've seen off Commando's ,Triumph twins and BSA Goldstars on the BMW but only on a track with long straights , tight tracks its worrying about cylinder heads.

[J.A.W.]

AC/DC were called boring and repetitive, now revised to consistent and reliable.

BMW's are about 30-50% less than a Commando here, the mag wheel ones are the least sought after.

Castol 6 Hour....wasn't that Kawasaki complaining about an R90/6 winning coz it had 'fork mods" ...some washers.

Most likely upheld as Kawasaki sold more bikes than BMW.

I got my R75/5 and Ducati in NSW, way cheaper than here in 1985.

I've seen off Commando's ,Triumph twins and BSA Goldstars on the BMW but only on a track with long straights , tight tracks its worrying about cylinder heads.

AC/DC? IMO, they ought to've emulated The Doors, & called it a day when their decent singer drank himself to death..

Those Castrol 6 hour regs/officials were hilarious, as was the cheating..
No R90S allowed, the bikini fairing was deemed an unfair advantage or something..

The "fork mods" - spring stiffening spacers, added to try & help keep the rocker covers from wearing right through, & dumping oil out, were needed - due to those cylinders scraping on the road..

S'pose you have gearing limitation issues with the shaft-drive too, but sure, good for top end advantage, on track..

Although BMWs of this kind are very common in the local classic club scene, even when spiritedly ridden,
are fairly easily outpaced - by my crappy ride-to-work hack mid`80s era, RZ 350 Yamaha, guess that such was the pace of progress for bike performance, in those decades..