| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| john feakes |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 08:09:52 AM
It would seem that our concept of historical bikes is largely determined by when we were born and which bikes we were exposed to.
I am interested to learn how you see your place in history so tell me please what your favourite bike is and which year you were born.
I will start it off.
Born 1937, favourite bikes 125cc MV and AJS 7R, both from around 1958.
Yours? |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| conker |
Posted - 02 Apr 2011 : 07:51:10 AM
Dave, it sounds like a gem motorcycle. I understand why you sold it, but the reason many of us still have the good old stuff, is we've kept it for years, and played with it continuously. The Duke would have be really lovely in a BEARS or Thunderbike class today? Waste of time, and too expensive for P5! It's a pity we don't see more of those types of bike out racing, but they need a special class. |
| Doghouse Dave |
Posted - 01 Apr 2011 : 6:53:25 PM
If it had a kickstarter I would have kept it.I reckon I'd still own it too. It had an imola racing cam in it as well which combined with the 888cc big bore contributed to the problems it had.Anyway she's gone down to Tassie years ago to a new owner. |
| conker |
Posted - 01 Apr 2011 : 04:08:21 AM
Dave, I sometimes wonder about the mentality of some people when they hot a bike up. The big bore hi-comp pistons would probably have given less benefit than a good race cam, and would be more expensive? I believe the problem is a lot of guys can't get their heads around valve timing, and don't know what the effect will be when they move it. |
| Doghouse Dave |
Posted - 31 Mar 2011 : 6:47:44 PM
My Ducati 900s2 was a great machine but some previous owner had put some hi comp big bore pistons in it so I got two pushes of the starter and that was it.Then start pushing or looking for jumper leads! Apart from that it was fantastic,but just too unreliable,ride to work then jump it after working to get home-no good. |
| conker |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 7:42:40 PM
I've only ever ridden one ducati 900. I didn't really get a chance to fang it. But I know it felt stable torquey and direct in its steering. It'd probably be really good at high speed around turn one at phillip island. |
| conker |
Posted - 30 Mar 2011 : 7:37:05 PM
I note you mentioned the ducati 900 amongst your favourites. I'd never own a duke, but I believe they are the only real motorbike still being made. I like bikes that when you ride them, you can feel the hair growing on your chest! It's never a matter of top speed , it's how they get there that counts. A good handling torquey nimble bike is the way to go. I never appreciated how good an original 500 Manx was, until I rode one. I now know why the A Graders, and Internationals loved them. |
| Doghouse Dave |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 1:26:16 PM
Born 1962 My fav's are:
Z900/1000: Loved the roadbikes I had, and they were great sidecar engines in their day
TZ750: had a sidecar powered by one what a beast,and very fast,scared me a few times,loved it!
Ducati 900 Bevels: Handled great but reliability wasnt good at all especially the electric start only 900S2 I had
GSX1100: heaps of power but a big wobble at 180kph+ that wouldnt go away no matter what I tried
Harley Davidson Wideglide: I know what everyone things but I just like it,getting the forks done,fork brace and Bitubo shocks made a big difference to it's handling.Then I got a flatslide carb cam etc goes great now.
FZ750: I remember the first race kitted ones at Winton they revved right out and sounded great. I ran one in at Winton once in the late 80's had a ball doing that.
NR750 Piston Oval piston racer: I saw it at the Swann series at Calder,still remember the noise and trying to work out how the rings went onto the pistons!
YZR500/NSR500: I was blown away ny the speed of these at the first GP at Phillip Island.
Thats my lot! |
| JasonL |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 8:39:38 PM
Improved Touring |
| conker |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 4:03:09 PM
What class can I run my Honda Gold Wing in? |
| conker |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 3:55:14 PM
Some people have ridden step thru suzukis in road races in Vic. Does that mean they should be involved in historic racing? It's like racing utes or trucks will be in car historic racing in 2020! A load of BULL! |
| john feakes |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 10:39:40 AM
Boys, we are getting further and further off the topic.
I suspect that the first race took place soon after the second bike was built.
Australia is not noted for race bike manufacturing hence the need to convert what was available.
How about the BSA Bantam? A little runabout that was used by the telegram boys in England. 125cc with forks like match sticks, a front brake as big as half a crown and 3 gears. A race bike? It sure was after people like Bert Flood and Eric Walsh had got their hands on them.
But, I digress.
I am interested to learn which bike you first fell in love with and got infected by. |
| Allan |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 10:20:46 AM
M20 498CC,,M21 598CC.. |
| Allan |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 10:12:04 AM
I remeber seeing 2 M20 side valve BSA's racing at Bathurst in th late 50's in b grade!! were they race bikes or not? |
| conker |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 09:09:02 AM
Jason a racing machine, is a production racer which has been manufactured in a factory of one of the large motorcycle companies. It can also be something which has been developed under the rules to fit a particular class (NOT a modern historic class). Or it can be a replica of such a machine. For example a Seeley Matchless G50 IS a racing machine, as is a standard Manx, TZ,RS. An M21 BSA fitted with number plates IS NOT! There seems to be a mindset that just any old bike can be prepared, and raced in historic events. It's the wrong approach. Some bikes were never raced in open road races, and have no historical merit whatsoever, except as objects for restoration. |
| john feakes |
Posted - 26 Mar 2011 : 08:47:20 AM
Jason, my response to your question would be that any bike that complies with the requirements of racing, and therefore does not comply with the requirements for road registration, is a race bike.
It has been "factory" converted to a race bike.
The fact that the "factory" is someone's shed and not the Norton or Honda factory is irrelevant.
I think the main difference is between a "race" bike and a GP bike and then even further reduced to the difference between a GP replica, as in Manx, TZ, RS etc. and bikes that actually took part in GP races and have provenance.
Such bikes are rare and expensive.
If it races it is a race bike! |
| JasonL |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 10:39:30 AM
Depends what you call modern!! I hope you will be pleased to know I have a Honda RS250. But I also have a converted road bike, which raises a question - at what point can a road bike be developed into a racer before its considered a bona fide racer and not a road bike? |
| conker |
Posted - 25 Mar 2011 : 09:06:14 AM
Jason, I like any of the later bikes that is a genuine racer rather than a converted road bike. Yamaha OWO1, TZ250, Honda RS250, RS125, and once I even saw an RS500. All good things. But I can't understand the attraction of much else that's modern? |
| Bummers |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 6:39:25 PM
Born in 1951. No favourites. REVS' TZ250J, the last then "current" model racer I rode was great; better with "H" bits (maybe it is my favourite  ). TZ750 was good; TZ350 with fat up & down pipe was a blast at Daytona, unfortunately we couldn't change the barrels & pipes etc from 250 to 350 in time to make the 200 miler.
My current P5 KX125 is great - to be better soon, I hope.
My favourite road bike? RZ500 or XJ550 both ex-production racers.
Bummers
I can't make up my mind |
| john feakes |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 5:05:33 PM
Bloody kids! |
| JasonL |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 1:35:30 PM
This is one thing I like about the classic scene, I'm still a youngster! 1967. I too sneaked my dad's bike out, I was 15, a Can-AM MX250 frightened the life out of me. Other favourites...his T200 with square expansion chambers, RC30, RG500, CBX1000, Aprilia RSV, TY80 (first bike), NR750, 1983 KX500, KTM200, RS250, VFR750 the list goes on. |
| jvdairlie |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 1:05:11 PM
Born 1945
AJS 7R My dad had one when I was about 13. Waited till he went out one day and 'stole' it for a ride round the block! Rolled it down the hill and it started - scared the **** outa me but I have never forgotten that bike and it remains my all time favourite. |
| conker |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 09:40:55 AM
Forgot to mention TZ750, and McIntosh Suzuki. Also watercooled T500 Suzuki. |
| conker |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 09:37:53 AM
born1941 - favourite bikes - 30M Manx, G50 Matchless, Paton 500, Ducati 750SS, Buell S21. Scotty Websters Moto Martin, Darryl Baileys Ducati 250. |
