Optimistic sellers

[jasonu]

Ouch. I'm afraid to ask what your worst is ......

Hardley Shitterson of course.

[sidecar bob]

Worst engine design in the history of motorcycling! Well, nearly...

Natural balance factor, excellent cooling, great ground clearance, low centre of gravity, simple maintenance & overhaul of major components. What were the drawbacks again?

[Voltaire]

You know what should be collectible today - the original 1980 R80GS. Technically it invented the 'adventure touring bike' category.

They can't be as have not seen any being on Dave's Dreamer's and Tyre Kickers thread.

BMW invented the ADV bike about 1940 with the R75, Brits and Yanks had some old sidevalve things.....

[Crasherfromwayback]

�� whatever.

so how come they won so many world sidecar championships then?

How many flat track, drag racing and top speed titles have HD powered rigs one, and it's not like you're a fan of the brand eh?!

Natural balance factor, excellent cooling, great ground clearance, low centre of gravity, simple maintenance & overhaul of major components. What were the drawbacks again?

Man you Boxer Boys are easy to wind up. Natural balance factor is all good till you blip the throttle and the thing tips over. Excellent cooling? Power makes heat, and there's fuck all cooling needed. Great ground clearance you say? If you lift the motor up in the frame maybe. Then your low centre of gravity argument takes a hit too. Did I mention they sound like wet farts and are as ugly as all fuck? Where as you tilt the cyls up some a-la Guzzi, and they look and sound great.

[Dadpole]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Crasherfromwayback again."

[jellywrestler]

How many flat track, drag racing and top speed titles have HD powered rigs one, and it's not like you're a fan of the brand eh?!

hey, i never mentioned harleys here.... i've got the first of the R80GS's and it's a great dirt bike, went up the akatarawas with a bunch of trail bikes once, no-one could get up one bit so we all had to ride up with five or so on each side helping. They all looked at the beemer thinking it would be shit going up, with all the engine bars, saddle bag frmes to grab and assist it was the easiest of all. also great when it does go over, yip it's heavier but when you get it on it's wheels an a cylinder it's well over halfway upright and so much easier on a bad back to pick up.

[Voltaire]

I quite like this Harley.

http://www.classicmotorcycleconsignm...-davidson-xa-2

[pritch]

When the first GS came out I thought it would make the ideal bike for Australia. The Australians didn't seem to agree, they all buy sport bikes. Last time I was in Sydney I saw a big GS parked and thought that may have been evidence of an intelligent Australian but no. It was a Euro tourist on a hire bike.

[Dadpole]

When the first GS came out I thought it was the stupidest concept in history. I believed it would an embarrassing stain on BMW in no time.
My judgement is legendary. I am the idiot who turned down a $500 RE5 and sold a minter GT750 for the price of a new rear tyre...

[Voltaire]

When the first GS came out I thought it would make the ideal bike for Australia. The Australians didn't seem to agree, they all buy sport bikes. Last time I was in Sydney I saw a big GS parked and thought that may have been evidence of an intelligent Australian but no. It was a Euro tourist on a hire bike.

I toured as far as Eastern Turkey in the late 80's on a 1971 R75/5. For a few days we traveled the back and gravel roads with a couple on what would have been a brand new GS. He was surprised to see such a bike as he never takes his R100CS out of what was then Western Europe.

Can't say I saw the point of the G/S until I bought an R80 ST ( same but with different forks,dash/headlight and 19" front wheel) 4 years ago.
They are a lot of fun to ride on back roads and gravel. Down side is the tank is only 19 litres and gearing is a bit low, probably why the Aussies didn't go for them.

Note G/S is the early mono one, GS is the later paralever one.

[husaberg]

Natural balance factor, excellent cooling, great ground clearance, low centre of gravity, simple maintenance & overhaul of major components. What were the drawbacks again?

it doesn't make a potaoe potatoe sound plus the Germans never had a race series where they constantly modified the rules to exclude other marques from competing equal footing like the AMA did.

[Laava]

Germans never had a race series where they constantly modified the rules to exclude other marques from competing equal footing like the AMA did.

It's called american sportsmanship. Plenty more examples of it, how about the world series?

[Crasherfromwayback]

plus the Germans never had a race series where they constantly modified the rules to exclude other marques from competing equal footing like the AMA did.

Hardly explains the world land speed record and too many drag race titles to count though eh! Haters gonna always hate! But the very same ones, I'm willing to bet, have never ridden an angry Harley powered anything.

[husaberg]

Hardly explains the world land speed record and too many drag race titles to count though eh! Haters gonna always hate! But the very same ones, I'm willing to bet, have never ridden an angry Harley powered anything.

To be fair they did win a three world championships as well Pete with a Italian designed and made Aermacchi 2 stroke. they also won many races with the four stroke Macchis as well
That gave them some international credibility.
PS bonneville records are not always world landspeed records the AMA doesn't always meet the criteria of the FIM.
BMW have had a few actual world landspeed records as well as IOM multiple wins
Never ridden a fast Harley well you would lose that bet I have ridden a decent Harley, it wouldn't turn unless it was ridden around a corner under a rising throttle much like an old Triumph.
It was fast for what it was. but no where near as good as a RG500 or anything.
That isn't to say I wouldn't much rather have a XLCR than a R90s.

While on records Vescos Yamaha one was set with stock Std engines.

[Dadpole]

Crasher. What have you started? If you hear a lot of 'wet farts' approaching - Run. Run like the wind.