Is it a sport bike?

[NightRider_imp]

I think we can all agree that the bike is a sport bike by 1972 standards when the Z1 came out. But is it a sport bike by 2016 standards when the question is being asked? and there is an obvious answer to that.

The issue at hand is purely pyschological and has at its core identity politics. Those, like me, who insist the bike is in fact a sport bike and present a video of Fast Freddie scorching asphalt to prove it like to think of themselves as youthful, dashing, and devil-may-care in world view and actions, arrant to the end. The Honda is a temptress, inciting bad boy behaviour and suggesting perhaps a James Dean denouement.

Those who staunchly maintain the bike is a standard and eminently suited to the role of stately transport -- a mechanical equivalent of "Old Dobbin" -- see it as reliable, amicable, non-threatening, and staid, an icon of longevity and social responsibility, emblematic of a wise and responsible choice.

We see the bike as we see ourselves.

Well...since I am an old guy and also own a couple of late model "sport bikes" (a 2015 ZX-10R and 2012 GSX-R 750) I hope I can comment on this, once again, with some insight.

As I've said, I track the Gixxer and it lives in a cargo trailer otherwise, sans mirrors and passenger pegs. The Ninja is only ridden on the street. In no way do find the Ninja or the GSX-R any less exhilarating to ride than the CB1100.

The issue at hand is purely pyschological and has at its core identity politics. Those, like me, who insist the bike is in fact a sport bike and present a video of Fast Freddie scorching asphalt to prove it like to think of themselves as youthful, dashing, and devil-may-care in world view and actions, arrant to the end. The Honda is a temptress, inciting bad boy behaviour and suggesting perhaps a James Dean denouement.

Those who staunchly maintain the bike is a standard and eminently suited to the role of stately transport -- a mechanical equivalent of "Old Dobbin" -- see it as reliable, amicable, non-threatening, and staid, an icon of longevity and social responsibility, emblematic of a wise and responsible choice.

We see the bike as we see ourselves.
These are mostly your words and lots of them does not make it true. This is not a touchy feely issue. It is one of design and purpose differences. The sport bike developed from manufacturers taking last year's winning track racing bikes and marketing them to the public during the downturn in the market late 70s and early 80s.

Unfortunately this meant that since the new buyers were not professional riders they ended up on the side of a tree and you know the tree I am talking about. This activity is post CB750 and since these bikes were actual race competition bikes you then add a new category of bike developed, the "sport bike".