Some Nice Motorcycles of Yestayear.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Remember these very well......where's the Triumph Daytona Twin 500.See if I can find one.....

Col...

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Mmmmmm....Nice. It's good to see bikes from yesteryear in such good condition.

The cafe-racer GoldWing would be a fun thing to ride.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I had a Honda 750/4 when I was 16 back before license restrictions came into place, never bought the Kwaka but rode plenty in group ride/swaps, always liked the Gold wing as a comfortable mile eater (before it became a sofa on wheels) BUT, while not the 750 shown the Norton 850 Commando (Interstate) was the most stunning bike in the showrooms back in the day.

The old Jawa looks in beautiful restored condition, seen many a smaller model (along with the old Bridgestone step through) but not seen that model.


Now all of the new bikes have so much electronics I don't know whether you ride them or grab the remote control and ........

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

I don't know whether you ride them or grab the remote control and ........

Well said ....most of them are ' space ships ' on 2 wheels.

Ducati 900 SS Desmo 45* degree Twin ....now that had a ' exhaust note ' like no other.

The other is the Triumph Daytona 500cc Twin .... lovely bike.

Col....

[anj026]

Reminds me of Jupiters Travels.

https://jupitalia.com/

Andy

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I rode a few Ducatis, always wanted one but the maintenance schedule turned me off, and the price of said maintenance. Rode an occasional Triumph and the poor excuse for a copy, Yamaha XS 650 twins owned by a Triumph loving work mate (but he liked my Honda 4 after riding it).
I believe certain factors of the electronics make riding much safer now, I raced as a teen, had a few minor incidents and honestly couldn't afford to continue. I learnt to control throttle and brakes and on the road, ride according to the conditions and spent many years without major incidents (got hit by a car in Sydney and did a fair whack of damage to the body though).
ABS brakes, never ridden a bike with them but never had problems without it and been half way around Australia with a passenger and load, some towing a heavy trailer, often above legal speed limits on a heavy rig (Honda CBX1000). Though I always spent more on tyres, brakes and basic maintenance than my friends and had fewer incidents.
Ride by wire and fuel injection, instant throttle, fun but not necessary though I did have a friends BMW K100LT full dress tourer for 3 years and liked the instant throttle response but I didn't do as much riding as I should have.
Some of the electronic aids I think they take away from the learning experience. I'm not saying they are a bad thing if they save people from themselves but the old bikes, you either knew how to ride or you didn't.
Many of us still wear the scars of not being as good as we thought we were (when young), or other road users who just didn't care.


I miss motorcycles, one day I'll have the money to have my dream bike, MV Agusta SuperVeloce (in my dreams):


https://external-content.duckduckgo....9ee&ipo=images


I did a lot of interstate riding on everything from a Honda 175 twin (Sydney to Canberra at 12, riding with my guardian on a similar Honda 175 twin) to Sydney to country Victoria on my then wife's Honda CBX250 single, complete with Gearsack panniers, tank bag and rack bag, two up. After the 3 day return trip I don't think I could stand or walk properly for at least a week. A trip to Philip Island (from Sydney) on my favourite Honda CX500 complete with BMW R series replica fairing, wife and a LOT of gear, one week at Philip Island and 10 days following in Tasmania (Gods own country for riding), same trip to Philip Island in 90 on Honda CBX1000 (prolink with full fairing, I miss that bike every day), the mighty 6 towing a 3'x4' steel box trailer with everything including gas cylinder and BBQ. The CBX had a big bore kit and and more HP than original.
It was an amazing week! Though you can say I was somewhat insane, I loved valve bouncing the 6 on corners in the wet with the rear end almost skimming the gutter on my daily ride from Bexley into Newtown for work. Ah, back when my b@lls were bigger than my brain, now I'm older.

I do have one question someone here may be able to answer:

I spent years riding bikes with up to 130HP odd (crank), where the heck now do you ride these new 200HP machines?

My Honda CX500 had 50HP and that took my then wife and I with a big load a LONG way, never missed a beat, not the greatest mid range but open it up on a long ride and it was more than capable of putting me in "loose the license" speeds, comfortable, reliable and great handling with Marzocci rear shocks, upgraded front springs and better oil and a good fork brace (plus the full fairing). I still have an 81 model CX500, genuine 39,000 kilometres on the clock in a very ratty condition through poor storage. I really should get it back on the road, I miss motorbikes.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

My Honda CX500 had 50HP and that took my then wife and I with a big load a LONG way, never missed a beat, not the greatest mid range but open it up on a long ride and it was more than capable of putting me in "loose the license" speeds, .....

One evening in late 1978 or early 1979 two blokes (not me - certainly not me!) jumped on a CX500 in Haberfield Sydney, heading for Wollongong. They went out to Bankstown and took the (then) rat run through Padstow and so past Lucas Height to join the hwy at Heathcote. Then along the expressway, down Bulli Pass and off the bike and inside a house in Thirroul - within 30 minutes. The roads have changed but today that would be a 70km trip. Back then it was longer with more corners, though obviously less traffic.

Such riding was not unusual. Fortunately both survived long enough to mature into sensible adults. The only accident the rider ever had was when a parked car pulled out across his path to do an illegal U-turn, sending him over the roof. Lucky for once he was only doing the speed limit.

[AstroViking (Steve)]

The CX500 would have to be Honda's most indestructible bike. Courier riders in the UK would regularly clock up over 200,000km on them. I'd love to see a modern bike have that level of reliability.

I used to have a CBX750 and regularly took it to track days with the HRCA (when they were still around). I'd carve up the boy-racers through the corners and then get smoked on the straights... I do miss that bike.

Cheers,
V.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

I recall the Honda CX500 Water Cooled Twin ...another Legend in the Line Up.

[PCH (Paul)]

I had the CX500 in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and absolutely loved it!

Not overly powerful but certainly powerful enough and it would just plod on all day every day reliably.

I keep searching the ‘for sale’ ads now to see if there’s one I could get my hands on again, 40+ years later.

[Ramius (Bill)]

Suzuki GS850
Suzuki GSX750
Suzuki Katana 1100 Bathurst (my favourite)
Honda VF750 (pos)
Suzuki GSXR750 Slabbie
Kawasaki ZX-12R
Suzuki GSXR600 (track bike)
Kawasaki ZX14
Suzuki Katana 750 (restored by me)
Suzuki GSXR750 (track bike)
Kawasaki ZX14R (looking like it might be last hurrah)

So much fun and still here to talk about it. Zx14R is just unbelievable combination of old mans sport bike, sport tourer and all out hyper bike.

But opportunity missed and always regretted was almost buying Ducati 900SS...

[UniPol]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

I recall the Honda CX500 Water Cooled Twin ...another Legend in the Line Up.

I had the red CX500 shown in your pic Col, lovely bike. The only thing I found was that the rear shocks were a bit on the weak side and I had to adjust the timing chain tensioner every now and then when the timing chain rattled, the engine needed to come out to do the job. The chain tensioner was preloaded via a ball bearing located on a tapered track and would sometimes stick if that makes sense. I later replaced it with the CX650 which had the mono shock rear. The CX650 had more tow and was more refined than the CX500 but I still have a soft spot for the CX500. I always fancied the black model but couldn't find one in good enough condition back in the mid 80's.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

My apologies, I had no intention of hijacking the thread with mention of the mighty Honda CX500, my favourite all time motorcycle.



The CX I have is black but it looks so ratty, even with a genuine 39,000 on the clock. I have to get the engine out one day and get it slush blasted to take all of that horrid peeling lacquer off it. Plus I really need to get the forks hard chromed. It's been sitting so long but I do slip it in gear every now and then and turn the back wheel to make sure it hasn't seized.


When my son was born in 94 I only got to ride for a couple of years past then (full time) because his hearing impairment gave him an imbalance (middle ear never formed) and it was prudent I put money into having a car because I wasn't comfortable putting him on a motorbike and he was far from comfortable getting on one.

I keep saying I'll do a ground up restoration one day, just like my 64 Austin Healey Sprite sitting rusting away in my back yard, a project I acquired a lot of years ago already stripped for restoration ( a friend paid a debt with the car). With my migraines I don't get to stuff all I should be doing.


Unipol as I mentioned there were a few tricks with the CX500 (though I would have loved a 650, could never get my hands on one).
I put good Marzocci shocks on the rear, better springs and fork oil in the front forks and slid the front forks up through the triple clamps by around 10mm. This made the steering so much more responsive. Add a good quality fork brace and I used to embarrass sports bike riders on a daily basis. Plus I put the best Pirelli tyres and best brake pads (on the front, drum rear) money could buy. Plus braided brake lines up front.


Timing chain issues were addressed by the 81 model I owned. I can't remember if the 80 model had the upgrade too. I know it was only the original which got the single front disc. Funny, going back 25 odd years ago I was given the EC model and an original 78 model but didn't get to collecting them because I was moving to Young from Sydney and already had a lot of stuff to move. Though now people are doing the cafe conversions and they are very popular for the purpose. Personally I think they all look like crap but each to their own.




I did 200,000 kilometres on my original one two up and carrying a lot of gear (passed it onto my ex brother in law (sans fairing). Everyone says they were ugly but once you realised the reliability and performance of the bikes they were a keeper and they soon grew on you.
I got my first CX by chance, my house mates ( a best friend and his older brother) bought me the CX because the older brother wanted company on a ride to Philip Island in 85 to the 100th anniversary of motorcycling rally and knew I rode. I'd just started a new job and didn't have the cash to buy a bike so they bought it for me and I paid them back a few weeks later. At first I thought "old man's putt putt machine", took it for a test ride, put the thing straight up on the back wheel, got the shock of my life and turned up at the sellers house with the biggest grin. I was sold, instantly.


I miss riding, just waiting for the lotto gods to make it possible.
Oh, I want the impossible in a bike, something I can carry a young lady on, a young lady that may not be a contortionist or gymnast (younger than me, I haven't met her yet). New bikes pillion carrying capacity, seats and pillion pegs are BEYOND STUPID!


Here's a question, I religiously read Australian road rider and constantly see mention by the editor of a 90HP motorcycle being fine for solo riding and occasional pillion work with minimal gear. I could sit my original CX on 180 (indicated) all day, tank bag, Gearsack panniers and Gearsack rack bag and my the wife was NO lightweight (though I was wringing wet at 60Kg). That 50HP carried us and our gear tens of thousands of kilometres without ever missing a beat. The bike never felt sluggish with the load, didn't have the best mid range but was a 500. What's with needing 150HP to carry a pillion and gear or the constant implication without that power it's just not feasible?
Plus the mention they just aren't designed to carry the extra weight?


I had a Honda CB 250 with a Westcar (steel sidecar) and my ex still has (possibly) a Suzuki GT250A with matching Westcar (in very ratty condition, she may not still have it, she never learnt to ride the outfit). Both bikes were capable of hitting 80kph with a passenger (downhill in the slip stream of a semi-trailer with a good tail wind) but the GT250 2 stroke I had to wring it's neck and NEVER put it in 6th.
The CB250 I had I learnt to ride at a young age (with sidecar). It was Richard West's own personal machine to advertise the light weight of the steel sidecar. My CB250 featured in a Two wheels Christmas edition in 75 from memory, photos and story done before I took possession of the rig.


I had an interesting job some years back, I used to ride for East Coast Harley tours. Rhe first mob in Aus doing it. I got to thump around on a new Harley Fat boy with mostly pretty, young ladies on the back and I got $30 per hour for riding. I did some nice rides doing that but must confess, the highlight of my day was always parking the Harley in the owners shed and jumping on my Honda CBX1000 and go for a better ruin through the national park down Sutherland way.