48 Years Evolution

[Mr. Dazzle]

The best looking bikes existed in the period 1997-2003 when I was an impressionable young rider, not the mid 80's when you lot were impressionable young riders.

Obvious really.

[Mr. Dazzle]

But regarding the OP.

I have a bike from 1969 (15 years old than me) which I really like riding - but, I never fucking get to ride it, because it never bloody works. It's also objectively terrible. Also a slight issue in that I can't actually start it at the moment, due to a bad back

Honestly if the bike didn't have some familial connection (I'm only the 3rd owner - well, my wife is - and my FiL was the second, starting in 1973) I'm not sure I'd bother with it.

I find it hard to articulate how I feel about it really. Bit like the OP, it's sometimes a relief to get off it but then when I walk back to it and see it in the carpark...

New bikes do very little for me, not least because they're so bloody expensive! It would probably surprise few to know the only ones which really interest me are electric.

[Ditchfinder]

So I was 18 in 1993 - I so wanted a Ducati Monster or a Speed Triple. 32 Years later and I own a 1994 Triumph 900 (but not a Speed Triple).

I don't know if it has fully sated my youthful cravings to be honest but as one gets older what one craves changes I suppose.

Does it do everthing I think it should well enough? Absolutely (Well the years have been kinder to it than they have to me!)

Would I want the modern version (I guess a Street Triple in my case?) over the older version? Well, see I don't think I would really.

I test rode a Ducati Scrambler and an xsr 700 a few years back and I don't think I would choose them over it either, despite similar power and being naked roadsters, they were better handling but a bit sterile. I'm not a fan of modern FI which is so lean when stock making on/off throttle always feel jerky after riding a carbed bike. (The Guzzi's FI was good but only after it was mapped.)

ABS - hmmm, probably something I'd want but weirdly only bike I've ever managed to make it kick in on is the Himalayan and that's beacuse the front brake is so poor you have to stand on the rear!

I think modern tyres are a bit of a game changer - they seem to cope with colder, damper conditions so much better. Oh and brake disc compounds seem to be good bit better.

[mangocrazy]

The best looking bikes existed in the period 1997-2003 when I was an impressionable young rider, not the mid 80's when you lot were impressionable young riders.

Obvious really.

Oi!

I'll have you know I was an impressionable young rider in the 60s but that doesn't mean I think they were the 'best looking bikes ever'. I still reckon late 80s all through the 90s and into the early noughties was the Golden Age.