Updated Honda motorcycles

[Jfro5687_imp]

Take your point Tev, but I’m thinking proper milestones, the GPZ900 should be in there too maybe (oops) but GS type bikes are worthy and all that, big sellers maybe but not sure any schoolboy would have a picture of one on their bedroom wall. Don’t think Top gun would have been quite the same with Tom Cruise on a lumpy old GS.

[peterbaron]

Great read and pics, Tev!

[GoldOxide_imp]

Agreed. Glory days (motorcycling) are behind us. My picks for bench markers are......

1970’s CB750/ Z1
1980’s GSXR1100
1990’s Fireblade
2000’s Hayabusa/ ZZR1400
2010’s H2
2020’s ?

Everything has been done really- unless a racer none of us can exploit a fraction of what a modern bike can deliver (safely and legally on a road anyway). Performance wise the ceiling has long been reached and we are on the downward curve. It’s unnecessary tech that’s pushed nowadays (IMO), which is fine when it works but electrical gremlins seem to cause the most difficulty on this forum (even on our basic CB’s), let alone a modern fairing clad, awkward access whizz bang techno fest so let’s see in 10 years time eh.....

For 2020's and 2010's really you should have the meteoric rise of the Adventure Bike, from a slew of manufacturers but mostly embodied by the sales figure conquering BMW GS & GSA. Those BMW models alone have probably outsold all of these bikes you mentioned.

I think the mid capacity Japanese Turbo deserve a little mention too, quite a unique time in motorcycling history which didn't really work out. I really loved the look of the Honda CX650 Turbo at the time.

https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/turbo...les-1980s/

Definitely have not forgotten the short period of the Turbo Japanese motorcycle (e.g. Yamaha Turbo 650 Seca).

The article you quoted looks glorious.

[the Ferret]

Back in the 70s and 80s the manufacturers were still trying to prove they were worthy of your hard earned dollars., and that their products were superior to their competition ( the other Japanese manufacturers) hence the hard fought competition for the latest, the greatest, the fastest, the sharpest handling, the best looking.

This is no longer the case. Everyone knows the ingenuity, the quality and the durability of Japanese products, but the market has changed. The average age of rider has gone from 32 in 1990 to 47 by 2018. As a general rule 47 year olds dont want the same things as 32 year olds. Blame testosterone that naturally decreases with age. 47 is only 3 years from AARP age lol. Add in the economic collapse in the early 2000s, the escalating worry about climate change and the restrictions that are going along with that and I think it's safe to say the golden age of motorcycling is distant in our rear view mirrors.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Can't disagree with that assessment Ferret.

Just like the Golden Age of online video streaming arguably started circa 2007 with shows like "Mad Men" and hasn't stopped since. The Covid-19 times has only accelerated that.

So back to motorcycles, I believe there is a more subtle trend emerging - likely led by manufacturers listening to "somebody" and coming out with economically friendly offerings, with techie conveniences, and in many cases, ample torque on hand for urban applications. It is to be determined if one day electric motorcycles will have its "golden age". It is certainly trying to get there and will likely appeal to a broader range of would-be riders who will never know what a clutch is.

[Tev62]

Take your point Tev, but I’m thinking proper milestones, the GPZ900 should be in there too maybe (oops) but GS type bikes are worthy and all that, big sellers maybe but not sure any schoolboy would have a picture of one on their bedroom wall. Don’t think Top gun would have been quite the same with Tom Cruise on a lumpy old GS.

You are dead right there!

[GoldOxide_imp]

Take your point Tev, but I’m thinking proper milestones, the GPZ900 should be in there too maybe (oops) but GS type bikes are worthy and all that, big sellers maybe but not sure any schoolboy would have a picture of one on their bedroom wall. Don’t think Top gun would have been quite the same with Tom Cruise on a lumpy old GS.

I didn't have GS type bikes on the wall, but parts of a room were adorned with images of the Honda Magna V65 and the Yamaha V-Max.

[Roper_imp]

I had a Magna V65 when I was in the military. I carried too much speed into a decreasing radius turn on the way to base one morning. I leaned as far as I could, scraped metal, lost the front end, went over the embankment, and slid down the other side. I wasn't hurt. The bike suffered a bent handlebar, a broken mirror, and broken front turn indicator. After that, I looked for a bike which could corner better.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I had a Magna V65 when I was in the military. I carried too much speed into a decreasing radius turn on the way to base one morning. I leaned as far as I could, scraped metal, lost the front end, went over the embankment, and slid down the other side. I wasn't hurt. The bike suffered a bent handlebar, a broken mirror, and broken front turn indicator. After that, I looked for a bike which could corner better.

Yeah, I always reckoned the beasts of that era demanded extra respect, otherwise be bucked off.

Glad you are here to write about it.

[the Ferret]

I had the roadster Version V65 Sabre. Bought it and gave the GS110E to my son.