The 80s - reminisce away
Discussion
GTIR said:
They were not that popular in the UK and I doubt you'll find one even back then with a pop up headlight as they only went to Asia and Oz, where I was. (although that was in the early 90's!)
But yes. Very cool bike, but quite heavy for a 750. (I think they also made an 1100?)
The pop-up headlamp version was the Katana Mk2 which was Suzuki's facelift of the original bike (as shown above). The pop-up was never that popular (certainly not amongst Katophiles) although plenty have been imported to the UK and usually still have kph-reading speedos.But yes. Very cool bike, but quite heavy for a 750. (I think they also made an 1100?)
The original Kat style was so popular that Suzuki re-introduced it on 250 and 400cc models in the early 90s - they come up quite often on the 'Bay. One reviewer wrote of the 250 that it was 'the motorcycling equivalent of a Claudia Schiffer-shaped lollipop'
The 250 and 400 versions have better brakes and suspension than the original 1000/1100s.
GTIR said:
Only when it was ilegal though.
My favourite FM sleeper 'rig' was the JWR M2 which ran the same PLL IC as the infamous Cobra 148 which gave it the potential for hundreds of channels.
I know its traditional for PH'ers to enthuse about TISWAS, but I did prefer Swap Shop. Even Saturday Superstore was okay, but it felt derivative, whereas Swap Shop always felt original and more exciting.
Robin of Sherwood was so much better than the crappy Merlin they have now.
The Adventure Game!
Blakes 7
Grandstand where they actually had sport on, not someone watching the Sky feed and announcing the results.
Top Gear Rally Report.
BBC Rally Sprint Challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO2VX_tDmaU
Robin of Sherwood was so much better than the crappy Merlin they have now.
The Adventure Game!
Blakes 7
Grandstand where they actually had sport on, not someone watching the Sky feed and announcing the results.
Top Gear Rally Report.
BBC Rally Sprint Challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO2VX_tDmaU
New POD said:
Yes Indeed.
Absolutely. I had one of those hand-held console things, and used to paly with it under the duvet.....pac-man. I won that in a game of cards!Note: Remember kids, gambling isn't big or clever.....well, unless you're playing 21's with the deaf kid accross the road who couldn't add up.
GC8 said:
Having recently seen a photograph of you, you seem to have kept the sideburns and hairstyle...
When I saw it I thought: bet he still has an Harrington jacket.....
I don't have a Harrington any more (although I'd love to get another one), but I still have the green bomber jacket I wore to the Madness concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1986 when I waited outside the stage door to get it signed on the back by the band.When I saw it I thought: bet he still has an Harrington jacket.....
It doesn't fit me now.
post an 80s picture of themselves? 
You want some? Really? I can post *it* again if you like Wedg1e said:
GTIR said:
Only when it was ilegal though.
My favourite FM sleeper 'rig' was the JWR M2 which ran the same PLL IC as the infamous Cobra 148 which gave it the potential for hundreds of channels.
You lost me at half-duplex!
Also, thanks for the info on pop up Katana nutter shaggers as we called them.
I've still not seen one on eBay or anywhere else!
ehonda said:
We smoked Ronson cigarettes, although I can only remember buying JPS individually.
Astrowars - I played that until I had no feeling in my thumb from the dinky little metal cylindrical joystick.
How about Crossfire? Lost most of the skin of both index fingers playing that for hours on end.Astrowars - I played that until I had no feeling in my thumb from the dinky little metal cylindrical joystick.
The 6R4...wasn't that a child of the eighties?
I remember my PE teacher had the MG Metro Turbo....beautiful.
Then there was the Montego MG Turbo. Not to be confused with the normal MG model. To this day I still believe that we hit 90 in 2nd gear, and that it is in fact STILL, the fastest car ever produced.
Now, do we need to talk about browsing the lingerie sections in your mum's Littlewoods catelogue....for research purposes?
Wedg1e said:
I cut my electronics teeth on CB radios, starting in '80 before it was legalised. We used to run half-duplex so that people could only ever hear one side of the conversation
My favourite FM sleeper 'rig' was the JWR M2 which ran the same PLL IC as the infamous Cobra 148 which gave it the potential for hundreds of channels.
Half Duplex?My favourite FM sleeper 'rig' was the JWR M2 which ran the same PLL IC as the infamous Cobra 148 which gave it the potential for hundreds of channels.
Don't you mean SSB?
Bought my first new bike. For 1984 this was a total revelation:
Madame always called it the 'red rocket'. She's lucky to still be here as she should have been on this:
We just happened to move into a new flat that day so she'd taken the day off
Then there was the TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6ICOyOnEY
But having lived in the UK in the 80s I am specifically forbidden to donate blood in France.
Madame always called it the 'red rocket'. She's lucky to still be here as she should have been on this:
We just happened to move into a new flat that day so she'd taken the day off
Then there was the TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6ICOyOnEY
But having lived in the UK in the 80s I am specifically forbidden to donate blood in France.
V8mate said:
Radio just occured to me too.
Mike Read, Mike Smith and (very latterly) Simon Mayo were the Radio 1 breakfast show DJs in the 80s.
I have no recollection of listening to any of them though. I wonder what I did listen to?
I certainly tuned into the Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance.
To add:
Oh my f
king god - this just made my spine tingle so much - almost brought tears to my eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5SMCcKXhmM
Which reminds me of waiting for the school bus where the 'usual' bus driver would have radio 1 playing and we'd get to listen to confessions on the Simon Mayo show in the morning.Mike Read, Mike Smith and (very latterly) Simon Mayo were the Radio 1 breakfast show DJs in the 80s.
I have no recollection of listening to any of them though. I wonder what I did listen to?
I certainly tuned into the Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance.
To add:
Oh my f
king god - this just made my spine tingle so much - almost brought tears to my eyeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5SMCcKXhmM
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