It gets worse with the age of the bike too. I owned the triumph below for a while. I bought it in a romantic moment, longing for the days of café racers. Whilst the engine was quite peppy (and surprisingly oil tight), the brakes left something to be desired. Riding along in modern traffic nearly killed me. I pulled the front brake and hardly anything happened at all. I squeezed it harder and still nothing but the ever-so mildest slowing down. I stomped on the back brake and it pulled the most monstrous skid ever. I probably didn't get much over 45 miles an hour, but it was one of the scariest rides I've had in a long while. I still like old bikes, but it does go to show how brave we were back in the day
This is my "oldie"...my '94 Suzuki RF600rr...which gets used occasionally for commuting to work. Although I have just bought one of these that might be taking over commuting duties and I'll sell the RF on. It's currently undergoing serious tinkering in the living room
Perhaps it's my age, but I don't consider 94 bikes as 'old'. I suppose my idea of old is pre Fireblade or 916, which I consider the beginning of the modern era of bikes. I still bomb around on this, and until I bought the blade last year was my main bike
I know what you all mean about them not being as you remember. The first ride I had on my road going Slabby was an eye opener to say the least. It went really well, quicker than I thought. Even the handling wasn't that bad. Until I tried to stop! Hell, the brakes were terrible! As a result, I treated the one I raced to USD forks, 17" wheels, a WP shock and some decent brakes. Turned it into a really good bike, another I wish I'd kept! I'll be doing the same with the FZ as well. I love the look of standard bikes from back in the day, but bringing the brakes and suspension up to date isn't a bad thing!
I think you should get some pics up. The FZ, being mid 80's, would fit my criteria of old. Underated bike I reckon. Mainly of course because of the GSXR slabby lol
I loved my slabby's but finding another decent one was near on impossible at a reasonable price. I dropped on the FZ by accident while talking to a lad I know. It's not pretty, but it was cheap! I'm hoping I'll like it as much as the Suzuki's. It's in quite a few bits at the moment, but I'll get some pics taken as it comes together.
mine would be a z 1000 c2 had one back in the day good ones are worth a mint now , sold it and got a gpz 550 but did not like it sold it for a fz 750 better bike all round
I would buy or like to own a Suzuki RE5 ( i think that was the model) with the rotary engine, very trick.
had a few lc,s in last 4-5 years and a tdr250 but would like to get my hands on a rgv/tzr250. seen a mint rd500 ypvs at a show few months ago which i,d have happily swapped my blade for. simply stunning!!
Here's another one just came to mind, the wife had a Yamaha FZR250RR which red lined at 18500rpm, what a noise. Absolutely superb, as a lot of you have already said should have kept that one. Hindsight is a wonderful tool to have in the toolbox.
