02-20-2022, 04:09 AM
I guess I am just an old dinosaur purist fuddy duddy. Probably the lions share of us on The Forum have been riding for a long time, and consequently lived and rode through a big part of motorcycle evolution, probably spanning 40 years of more. I am into what I would consider the classic look. For me, part of that look is what I think is a more balanced exhaust appearance, with one or more cans ( depending on number of cylinders ) on each side of the bike.
I had a CB750 Four back in the day, and if it had not been that bike, it would have been a Kawasaki KZ900. Both were 4 into 4, and I liked the look as well as the sound. When the Z900RS was announced, I was hoping it would have the classic 4 into 4, or at least a 4 into 2, but no such luck as it is 4 into 1. Personal taste to be certain, but judging from how many of us have spent the dough to buy an aftermarket 4 into 4, I am guessing I am not alone in liking that look/sound. Could it be that the younger riders just dont know what they are missing? Personally, I think Kawasaki blew a golden opportunity with both the Z900RS and the Z650RS by not at least going to 4 into 2 for the 900, and 2 into 2 for the 650, but again that is just my personal taste different strokes for different folks.
Unfortunately water cooled seems to be the way of the future, and I suppose I could live with that, provided the radiator blends in well. Remember the Suzuki 750 Water Buffalo? IMHO, nothing beats the look of the cooling fins on the jugs of an air cooled motorcycle engine. By comparison the flat smooth housing around the jugs of a water cooled engine looks like an after thought.
Although I prefer classic spoke wheels regardless of the fact that they are a time consuming pain to keep clean, I can also accept the look and advantages of mag wheels. That is, provided the mag is not too radical, and somewhat in keeping with a classic look. Personally I think the gold wheels on the Z650RS look gaudy and do not compliment the look of the bike.
Whether we like it or not, the styling of modern motorcycles is gradually getting farther away from what we are accustomed to, and perhaps targeted to a younger demographic. I have no doubt though that classics will never go out of style.
I had a CB750 Four back in the day, and if it had not been that bike, it would have been a Kawasaki KZ900. Both were 4 into 4, and I liked the look as well as the sound. When the Z900RS was announced, I was hoping it would have the classic 4 into 4, or at least a 4 into 2, but no such luck as it is 4 into 1. Personal taste to be certain, but judging from how many of us have spent the dough to buy an aftermarket 4 into 4, I am guessing I am not alone in liking that look/sound. Could it be that the younger riders just dont know what they are missing? Personally, I think Kawasaki blew a golden opportunity with both the Z900RS and the Z650RS by not at least going to 4 into 2 for the 900, and 2 into 2 for the 650, but again that is just my personal taste different strokes for different folks.
Unfortunately water cooled seems to be the way of the future, and I suppose I could live with that, provided the radiator blends in well. Remember the Suzuki 750 Water Buffalo? IMHO, nothing beats the look of the cooling fins on the jugs of an air cooled motorcycle engine. By comparison the flat smooth housing around the jugs of a water cooled engine looks like an after thought.
Although I prefer classic spoke wheels regardless of the fact that they are a time consuming pain to keep clean, I can also accept the look and advantages of mag wheels. That is, provided the mag is not too radical, and somewhat in keeping with a classic look. Personally I think the gold wheels on the Z650RS look gaudy and do not compliment the look of the bike.
Whether we like it or not, the styling of modern motorcycles is gradually getting farther away from what we are accustomed to, and perhaps targeted to a younger demographic. I have no doubt though that classics will never go out of style.