Discontinued Bikes...

[wozza]

Suzuki GT550a
Suzuki GS750 ( first model with single disc and wire wheels).

Kawasaki Z1 900
Kawasaki KH500

Yamaha XS500
Yamaha XS750

Honda CX650Turbo
Honda GB500

Ducati 900 Darmah
Ducati 500 Sport Desmo
Ducati 750GT
Ducati 851 Tricolor

[JohnR93]

Richie & Wozza, your're just greedy!

[GTscootz]

Vespa Rally 200

But with uprated forks and a disc brake... oh and side panels that don't eject themselves at 50mph!

Not to mention, using metal that wasn't sourced on the cheap in the 70s and was a magnet for rust - floorboards in particular

[wozza]

Richie & Wozza, your're just greedy!

You know John, I think you could be right.....

[richie the 1st]

Richie & Wozza, your're just greedy!

3 Honda CBX 1000,S Thats being greedy

[wozza]

Retro Japanese bikes seem a good idea until you think about what the everyday realities of owning one in the 70's were. The stock Bridgestone tyres weren't that good and Avon Roadrunners and Dunlops TT 100's usually replaced them. Disc brakes were fairly new on bikes and a bit iffy when it rained. Swinging arms were made of small diameter tubing and flexed. The Big Four finish looked good in the showroom, but a winter on salted roads furred the alloy, the frame paint was thin, scratched easily, and rusted around the 'pigeon shit' welds. Chrome mudguards, indicators, headlights, and trim lasted weeks before starting to rust. The soft headed screws used on everything were difficult to remove without damaging them, and let's remember a lot of bikes didn't have halogen headlights back then. Bikes didn't have fairings and if you bought one it would be white fibreglass, and hopefully if you spent enough time, and spilt enough blood it would fit... sort of! Top boxes were fibreglass too and they used to smell of the resin for weeks.

Most of what you're saying is quite correct, but it still wouldn't bother me. I wouldn't ride those machines in Shite weather anyway and on a personal basis I'm not bothered whether my bike has a fairing or not. My present bike doesn't have a fairing and I love it to bits.

[phantom309]

honda vt250..loved that bike...an a 350 powervalve..nuff said..

[Deeping]

Mmmmmmmm - fibreglass resin smell - - - - - - - - - - nice, although not good for your packup

[visfix]

Can I have an original Raleigh Chopper, complete with nut-crushing gear stick on the crossbar, please?

[JohnR93]

Can I have an original Raleigh Chopper, complete with nut-crushing gear stick on the crossbar, please?

Of course you can... in your dreams!


What a heap of shite they were really.