Is this bike a classic Jap bike

[98tls]

its looks like its leaning towards that from others comments.

Wish i had kept my old black/chrome one.

[G-spot]

My two bobs worth.

I think a classic is a bike that represented a radical shift in thinking about what a bike could be. I'm biased of course. Think first year of manufacture. Kawasaki Mach III, Z1, CB750 K0, CBX, Norton Commando, RE5 Suzuki, Goldwing, Hayabusa, GSXR, Ducati Super Sport, Benelli 6 or whatever it was called, Honda VFR, and dare I say it, the early HD XLCH models.

The introduction of the model had to get people buzzing about it and wanting to see and or own the bike. Subsequent refinements of the model to me are a bit of a yawn. Think Kawasaki 400 triple. I just doesn't have the raw emotive in your face "here I am" that the Mach III had. The 400 is just cashing in on the triple theme, in my opinion.

A CB750 K6 Honda is just a 6th year model down the track refinement of the K0 and a bit of a bore. Like grandma. She got old, slower, dowdy, her pipes were all baffled up and she lost the hot cam and became just plain boring in the long run.

So think "what's this new model I have heard about" and "Bloody hell, I've got to have one!"

I think thats what happen back in 1976 and carried on through to 1981 and its still the same now so many guy's still want one.

[98tls]

I think thats what happen back in 1976 and carried on through to 1981 and its still the same now so many guy's still want one.

Yep, them and oh to find a XL250 Motorsport.

[G-spot]

Wish i had kept my old black/chrome one.

Thats my next challenge, I have a alloy/black one sitting out in the garage that needs rebuild.
Myself and some other guys have the same bikes our own dirt track and we race all day and we have lots of great fun, nothing is serious.

[G-spot]

Yeah it's a classic, TTs were always good bikes, but if you have an old bike that was crap when it was new, then now it's just 'old' (and still crap) .....not a classic.

Yes I understand where your comming from

[G-spot]

Classic to me means when something changed so radically that overnight stuff that went before was, if not obsolete, then outdated. EG the CB750 at a time when H-D had just discovered an alternative to side valves.
The Kawasaki Z1 raised the bar in terms of power. The GS750 Suzuki showed that Jap bikes could handle well.
There is a lot of older stuff that is termed classic just because it is old, but had no redeeming features then and doesn't now, apart from age.

I have the first Yamaha dirt bike, 1964 landscout/trailmaster not much to it couldn't do much with it besides just ride it in a straight line but it was the first dirt bike from yamaha. I know that its a peice of crap and therefore not a classic would that be correct.

[G-spot]

Not just a classic bike, but a classic chookie!

They are even more rare because people like me thrashed and trashed them and rusted them into little piles not even fit for the crusher, damn the dunes and their frame destroying salt

all these replies I can't keep up with it, shit I have to go and get tea for the kids, got to dash

[98tls]

Yeah it's a classic, TTs were always good bikes, but if you have an old bike that was crap when it was new, then now it's just 'old' (and still crap) .....not a classic.

There must be many disillusioned Triumph owners then.

[Voltaire]

There must be many disillusioned Triumph owners then.

I was disillusioned way before I got a Triumph...
I do like the pre unit ones....very stylish.

I remember at school the 7th former who turned up on brand new TT500...in 1976/7....stangely don't recall any of the other bikes.

[98tls]

I was disillusioned way before I got a Triumph...
I do like the pre unit ones....very stylish.

I remember at school the 7th former who turned up on brand new TT500...in 1976/7....stangely don't recall any of the other bikes.

Fair call mate,am just taking the piss.Myself i love pretty much anything old,i can still remember the joy when the old man moved the old lady out and an old 650SS Norton into the lounge to give it another chance at life.

[cs363]

I was disillusioned way before I got a Triumph...
I do like the pre unit ones....very stylish.

I remember at school the 7th former who turned up on brand new TT500...in 1976/7....stangely don't recall any of the other bikes.

Funny how those things stick with you - I can still picture the brand new Z1 Kawasaki that one of the 7th formers had at my school back then. Nice sunny day, light glinting off the chrome, polished alloy bits and that sparkly metallic brown paint.....
Had a profound effect on me I can tell ya!

[98tls]

Funny how those things stick with you - I can still picture the brand new Z1 Kawasaki that one of the 7th formers had at my school back then. Nice sunny day, light glinting off the chrome, polished alloy bits and that sparkly metallic brown paint.....
Had a profound effect on me I can tell ya!

Mate at least you fell for a real classic,many many years ago i called into Hollands Honda in CH-CH on my 500/4 and fell in love with XS Yamaha triple done stone style with 3/1 bikini fairing,hence the pile of shite in my garage awaiting time/$/energy.

[Voltaire]

Fair call mate,am just taking the piss.Myself i love pretty much anything old,i can still remember the joy when the old man moved the old lady out and an old 650SS Norton into the lounge to give it another chance at life.

...I bought a 58 T110 basket case on my OE, rebuilt in the conservatory over 18 months and took it to the TT races
Brought it home and it seized up twice
Sat in Mums garage since 1997

here's a pic just prior to completion in Clapham.

[98tls]

...I bought a 58 T110 basket case on my OE, rebuilt in the conservatory over 18 months and took it to the TT races
Brought it home and it seized up twice
Sat in Mums garage since 1997

here's a pic just prior to completion in Clapham.

Gorgeous.............

[G-spot]

I was disillusioned way before I got a Triumph...
I do like the pre unit ones....very stylish.

I remember at school the 7th former who turned up on brand new TT500...in 1976/7....stangely don't recall any of the other bikes.

Whoa that seventh former must of had a rich dad, or he saved all his news paper run money to buy it. I just didn't have the cash to buy anything like that back in those days I may have killed myself anyway proberly was a bit to much grunt for my riding ability at the time. I had to stick to my crappy old ER/TS 175.
Just like me I don't recall any other bikes from that period whilst I was at high school.