Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
-
- Posts: 4881
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:51 am
- Been thanked: 2602 times
Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
One of those vague dubious opinionated threads. The sort of bike that comes up for sale and you think no way, but wouldn't mind riding.
I'll suggest the Honda MVX250F. Good build quality, good looking in an 80's way, but inboard discs and a very ropey engine. The V3 adds a bit of interest IMO.
What you got?
I'll suggest the Honda MVX250F. Good build quality, good looking in an 80's way, but inboard discs and a very ropey engine. The V3 adds a bit of interest IMO.
What you got?
-
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:41 am
- Location: Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 705 times
- Been thanked: 701 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
Suzuki GSX750EF- like a lot of the 80s bikes they occupied the hinterland between the 70s naked superbikes and the emerging race reps of the late 80s. I had one identical to the one below and it was a very capable bike which never let me down
-
- Posts: 11220
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4115 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
Suzuki 600 and 750 Teapots, really good all round bikes, reliable but about as popular as a pork chop in a synagogue
Yamaha Diversions same as above
Yamaha Diversions same as above
Honda Owner
-
- Posts: 11220
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4115 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I shagged a crank in a GSX750ET at Santa Pod.
Honda Owner
- weeksy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23300
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
- Has thanked: 5434 times
- Been thanked: 13022 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
For me it's the Suzuki Bandit, both the 600 and the 1200, they're way better than they ought to be.
- Horse
- Posts: 11476
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
- Location: Always sunny southern England
- Has thanked: 6127 times
- Been thanked: 5037 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
Honda Deauville.
One of my instructors had one. Against all expectations, it went like the clappers. Might have had something to do with him being a traffic cop ... He eventually got bored and bought some sporty Honda 600 thing.
One of my instructors had one. Against all expectations, it went like the clappers. Might have had something to do with him being a traffic cop ... He eventually got bored and bought some sporty Honda 600 thing.
Even bland can be a type of character
-
- Posts: 11220
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4115 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
The original Bandits (6 and 12) sold well, indicating someone found them desirable, I think they lost a load of sales when the frame changed shape.
Honda Owner
- weeksy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23300
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
- Has thanked: 5434 times
- Been thanked: 13022 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I think they sold well mostly for the same reason SV650s sell well, because they're a decent budget bike that works out the crate.Julian_Boolean wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 4:16 pmThe original Bandits (6 and 12) sold well, indicating someone found them desirable, I think they lost a load of sales when the frame changed shape.
But to me they're a bit more than that, i liked a bit of the old Streetfighter magazine and some of the crazy builds and looks they had there a lot.
Then i rode both the 600 and 1200 and was really impressed with both of them.
- Skub
- Posts: 12123
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
- Location: Norn Iron
- Has thanked: 9777 times
- Been thanked: 10080 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
The ZX9R consistently came last in all the sportsbike group tests of the day,but it had a fine engine and once a few quid was spent on the suspension,it was a bloody good bike. Mine was tracked and toured,yet never missed a beat.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
-
- Posts: 13870
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
- Location: Milton Keynes
- Has thanked: 2545 times
- Been thanked: 6200 times
- Rockburner
- Posts: 4324
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
- Location: Hiding in your blind spot
- Has thanked: 7722 times
- Been thanked: 2488 times
-
- Posts: 11220
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4115 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I thought the 98 ZX9R was a fantastic bike, but I bought an R1 because it was a lot more desirable, I think if it weren't for the R1 the ZX9R would have been the best bike of 98, but no on wants second best
Honda Owner
- Skub
- Posts: 12123
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
- Location: Norn Iron
- Has thanked: 9777 times
- Been thanked: 10080 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
And that sums up the bike just nicely!Julian_Boolean wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 4:50 pm I thought the 98 ZX9R was a fantastic bike, but I bought an R1 because it was a lot more desirable, I think if it weren't for the R1 the ZX9R would have been the best bike of 98, but no on wants second best
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
- KungFooBob
- Posts: 14084
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
- Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
- Has thanked: 537 times
- Been thanked: 7475 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I always liked the look of the VX800, but I don't think anyone in their right mind actually bought one.
I also liked the Yamaha Bulldog, see above.
I also liked the Yamaha Bulldog, see above.
- KungFooBob
- Posts: 14084
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
- Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
- Has thanked: 537 times
- Been thanked: 7475 times
-
- Posts: 877
- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:53 pm
- Has thanked: 1044 times
- Been thanked: 854 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
The company that did semi organised tours of Nwe Zealand back in 1995 did. They had about 10 of themKungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 5:13 pm I always liked the look of the VX800, but I don't think anyone in their right mind actually bought one.
I did about 8000 miles on the one they rented to me. Back tyre was knackered and the rear shaft hub had a bit of oil misting when I dropped it back to them, but it did its job comfortably, and was fun on some twisty roads.
But even with my rose coloured specs on, I wouldn't buy one now.
- Yorick
- Posts: 16665
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
- Location: Paradise
- Has thanked: 10208 times
- Been thanked: 6860 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I bought one in late 90s. Loved it. A few grand cheaper than a Blade.Julian_Boolean wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 4:50 pm I thought the 98 ZX9R was a fantastic bike, but I bought an R1 because it was a lot more desirable, I think if it weren't for the R1 the ZX9R would have been the best bike of 98, but no on wants second best
My pal's Blade was no better.
Then him and rich London mates invited me to a trackday at Cadwell.
Despite being over 10 years since I last won there, I had great fun and was asked to slow down a bit
-
- Posts: 4093
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
- Has thanked: 2632 times
- Been thanked: 1523 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
I borrowed one for a couple of days and really liked it. It was one of those dog's dinner designs that should have been horrible to ride, but actually worked better than it should have.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 5:13 pm I always liked the look of the VX800, but I don't think anyone in their right mind actually bought one.
I also liked the Yamaha Bulldog, see above.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
-
- Posts: 4093
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
- Has thanked: 2632 times
- Been thanked: 1523 times
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
Maybe I just like the oddballs... but if that had been a bit more affordable, I'd have had one. The engine was a corker.
If you look at it in a certain light, along with the BMW R80G/S it's the granddaddy of the adventure bike style.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
Re: Undesirable but reasonable motorcycles
What's needed is the engine taking out and put into some sort of trellis frame with assorted bits from the Yamaha parts bin. I'd go for that.