Most influential bikes?

[David]

There was always a massive difference between the two stroke lads and the four stroke lads.

When I did my Part 1 test the instructor asked us all afterwards what bike we were going to get after passing our test, most people said some sort of big four stroke, but I said a 350LC. The instructor said he wasn't surprised, I'd turned up riding like a dickhead and I was leaving riding like a dickhead and a 350LC was a dickheads bike, he predicted that I'd be dead in six months

Well...go on then....are you?

[Mr Moofo]

TBH - the most influential bike every to me was the 916. I ended up with a 998s that I was going to keep forever. I regret selling it - but never really enjoyed riding it!
Oddly I went to the US and rented a Roadking. Hated the Harley - but love the lazy torque of a V twin. So most influential has to be the Buell Tuber

[Bigjawa]

For me it will always be the Honda Cub, they literally brought cheap reliable transport to the whole world. The fact that they remained basically unchanged for decades showed that they were right from the get go.

[Whysub]

For me it will always be the Honda Cub, they literally brought cheap reliable transport to the whole world. The fact that they remained basically unchanged for decades showed that they were right from the get go.

Had quite a few Cubs as field bikes when I was a teenager-as did lots of my mates too. We all cut out teeth on them before we could legally ride on the road.

The first Goldwing was quite an influencial bike, especially to the bike press. Bike magazine weren't particularly kind in their write up of the Honda Goldwing press bike. But they were being honest in what they wrote.

Honda did not like this, and withdrew their advertising from the magazine in retaliation. Back then, magazine road tests were the only way you could find out about how new bikes rode.

No one in the press critised bikes from the bike four in such a way again, fearful of losing the advertising revenue.

[Mr. Dazzle]

For me it will always be the Honda Cub, they literally brought cheap reliable transport to the whole world. The fact that they remained basically unchanged for decades showed that they were right from the get go.

In a similar vein...

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

Well...the brit iron ultimately went out of Business, so maybe they were less "influential" and more "supplanting".

[Druid]

In a similar vein...

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

Well...the brit iron ultimately went out of Business, so maybe they were less "influential" and more "supplanting".

I have a 78 Suzuki GS750. It has a kickstart(and an electric start), contact breakers and a pathetic single front disc as standard, as did most of its competitors. They were however fast, reliable and oil tight which was a game changer.

It wasn't until the 1980s that kickstarts were dispensed with, and electronic ignition and effective brakes became the norm.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Probably had carbs more sophisticated than those off a lawnmower* too?

*OK slight exaggeration

[Yorick]

In a similar vein...

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

Well...the brit iron ultimately went out of Business, so maybe they were less "influential" and more "supplanting".

I have a 78 Suzuki GS750. It has a kickstart(and an electric start), contact breakers and a pathetic single front disc as standard, as did most of its competitors. They were however fast, reliable and oil tight which was a game changer.

It wasn't until the 1980s that kickstarts were dispensed with, and electronic ignition and effective brakes became the norm.

No. Sorry. You aren't allowed to argue with MrGoogle . He is an expert in everything.

[Felix]

I have a 78 Suzuki GS750. It has a kickstart(and an electric start), contact breakers and a pathetic single front disc as standard, as did most of its competitors. They were however fast, reliable and oil tight which was a game changer.

It wasn't until the 1980s that kickstarts were dispensed with, and electronic ignition and effective brakes became the norm.

I had a 79 550 what also had kick and electric. Points but CV carbs and twin front disks. It was my first big bike after passing my test and cost me £1000 in 1987

[mangocrazy]

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

The RD350LC (announced in 1979, arrived in 1980) was one of, if not the first small to medium capacity bike to have CDI electronic ignition, cast wheels, twin discs and water cooling. It did still have a kickstart, cos if you couldn't kickstart a two stroke you really should hand in your man card. It wasn't until the mid 80s that kickstarts and contact breaker points disappeared entirely from mass market bikes and even then rear drum brakes were relatively common.

[Druid]

Probably had carbs more sophisticated than those off a lawnmower* too?

*OK slight exaggeration

They had a choke of sorts. the engine ran at 4k rpm until it warmed up a bit but at least you didn't have to tickle them

[Yorick]

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

The RD350LC (announced in 1979, arrived in 1980) was one of, if not the first small to medium capacity bike to have CDI electronic ignition, cast wheels, twin discs and water cooling. It did still have a kickstart, cos if you couldn't kickstart a two stroke you really should hand in your man card. It wasn't until the mid 80s that kickstarts and contact breaker points disappeared entirely from mass market bikes and even then rear drum brakes were relatively common.

No. Mr Google decreed that bikes in 60s didn't have points.

[mangocrazy]

Even in the car world, points hung on into the 80s. One of the main selling points (pardon the pun) of my 1980 Lancia Beta Spider was that it had electronic ignition, not the dreaded points. It also had disc brakes on all 4 wheels, but Lancia (in those days) were always ahead of the curve.

[Yorick]

Even in the car world, points hung on into the 80s. One of the main selling points (pardon the pun) of my 1980 Lancia Beta Spider was that it had electronic ignition, not the dreaded points. It also had disc brakes on all 4 wheels, but Lancia (in those days) were always ahead of the curve.

I worked for Lucas in the late 70s and they were right there.

It was amazing to be part of it

[mangocrazy]

Joseph Lucas is affectionately known as 'The Prince of Darkness' for his contribution to automotive electrics/electronics...

[JackyJoll]

The first Goldwing was quite an influencial bike, especially to the bike press. Bike magazine weren't particularly kind in their write up of the Honda Goldwing press bike. But they were being honest in what they wrote.

Honda did not like this, and withdrew their advertising from the magazine in retaliation. Back then, magazine road tests were the only way you could find out about how new bikes rode.

No one in the press critised bikes from the bike four in such a way again, fearful of losing the advertising revenue.

The Bike test of the Gold Wing was self-indulgent. They deserved to lose money over it. They were trying to criticise the “philosophy” of a practically faultless bike, which is not a good angle when you’re stupid.

[JackyJoll]

Joseph Lucas is affectionately known as 'The Prince of Darkness' for his contribution to automotive electrics/electronics...

The Lucas RITA electronic ignition was a robust system. There are thousands of them still in service, decades later, on Triumphs and Guzzis.

[mangocrazy]

Joseph Lucas is affectionately known as 'The Prince of Darkness' for his contribution to automotive electrics/electronics...

The Lucas RITA electronic ignition was a robust system. There are thousands of them still in service, decades later, on Triumphs and Guzzis.

Yeah, bit of a cheap shot. As you say the RITA system worked well and for a long time. But you couldn't say the same about all of Joe Lucas's products...

[JackyJoll]

For me it will always be the Honda Cub, they literally brought cheap reliable transport to the whole world. The fact that they remained basically unchanged for decades showed that they were right from the get go.

In a similar vein...

I dunno what model(s) it would have been, but the first medium/big capacity Japanese bikes to come to Europe and especially Britain in the late 60s surely influenced the whole industry. No kickstart, no contact breakers, brakes that actually work etc.

Well...the brit iron ultimately went out of Business, so maybe they were less "influential" and more "supplanting".

The Japs took over the market still with points ignition. The Honda CB750 had points.

I think the 1973 Suzuki TS250 trail bike had “Pointless Electronic Ignition,” but many other models soldiered on with points until the late 1970s.

[JackyJoll]

Joseph Lucas is affectionately known as 'The Prince of Darkness' for his contribution to automotive electrics/electronics...

The Lucas RITA electronic ignition was a robust system. There are thousands of them still in service, decades later, on Triumphs and Guzzis.

Yeah, bit of a cheap shot. As you say the RITA system worked well and for a long time. But you couldn't say the same about all of Joe Lucas's products...

I won’t give credit where it’s not due. 1970s nylon heeled Lucas points were a serious weakness on bikes and cars, commonly needing weekly adjustment. Their 6V alternators were shoddy and short lived. Their switches went through a terrible phase from late 1950s to around 1970. Like the shit people laugh at on the worst Chinese bikes of the last few years.