A picture a day....biker banter (Vol 4)
Discussion
3DP said:
I hate to be a pedant, but that model of ZXR750 (L/M) was not out until 1993. Enclosed headlight GSXR was from 1991 on I believe too. That's not 1989. Great photo all the same 
Hinkley Triumph there too, 1991 onwards. Suddenly I feel old. If it was 1989 the Rover in the bottom pic would have been brand new.3DP said:
I hate to be a pedant, but that model of ZXR750 (L/M) was not out until 1993. Enclosed headlight GSXR was from 1991 on I believe too. That's not 1989. Great photo all the same
89 was close enough, 
It was in at the end of an album from that year, my mistake, I only went to rallies from 1987 through to 1992. Thinking about it, it must have been early 92 as I didn't put the 5 gallon Katana tank on the GS650 until then as the original 3 gallon tank was too small for the late night commute from Wick to Paisley - it was touch and go getting from Inverness to Perth with the three gallon tank if I missed the services at Ballinluig which shut at 9pm.
The American spec GS650M I had was way different than the 650 Katana I had before and used a lot more fuel, I was shocked at how bad it was, I struggled to get more than 30mpg out of the GS650M and could easily get better than 50mpg out of the Katana.
Edit: I return home to Scotland next week, I'll haul my cutoffs out the cupboard and check the badges, as now I'm doubting about the rally too, I think it was the Northern Lights rally, memory is beginning to go here, feeling old now!
Edited by Alicatt1 on Wednesday 26th October 09:47
Alicatt1 said:
3DP said:
I hate to be a pedant, but that model of ZXR750 (L/M) was not out until 1993. Enclosed headlight GSXR was from 1991 on I believe too. That's not 1989. Great photo all the same
89 was close enough, It was in at the end of an album from that year, my mistake, I only went to rallies from 1987 through to 1992. Thinking about it, it must have been early 92 as I didn't put the 5 gallon Katana tank on the GS650 until then as the original 3 gallon tank was too small for the late night commute from Wick to Paisley - it was touch and go getting from Inverness to Perth with the three gallon tank if I missed the services at Ballinluig which shut at 9pm.
The American spec GS650M I had was way different than the 650 Katana I had before and used a lot more fuel, I was shocked at how bad it was, I struggled to get more than 30mpg out of the GS650M and could easily get better than 50mpg out of the Katana.
Edit: I return home to Scotland next week, I'll haul my cutoffs out the cupboard and check the badges, as now I'm doubting about the rally too, I think it was the Northern Lights rally, memory is beginning to go here, feeling old now!
Edited by Alicatt1 on Wednesday 26th October 09:47
I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new
I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
3DP said:
I love seeing these old pics. Keep them coming.
I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.
Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
I bow to your superior knowledge I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new
I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
93 it was! I didn't think I went to any rallies in 93 as in 92 I started work in Glasgow and was too busy then.
Even the Blizzard Bash was in November 93
must be this 60 year old memory
Alicatt1 said:
Stopping for petrol in Inverness on the way back from the rally
This is very sad, but the first thing I thought when I saw that picture was "Is that a Maestro Turbo...?"I have an illness that makes me desire crap old cars.
Anyway, great pics Alicatt1. As above, keep 'em coming!
bob1179 said:
This is very sad, but the first thing I thought when I saw that picture was "Is that a Maestro Turbo...?"
I have an illness that makes me desire crap old cars.
Anyway, great pics Alicatt1. As above, keep 'em coming!
I think it's a Rover 213 or 216 I have an illness that makes me desire crap old cars.
Anyway, great pics Alicatt1. As above, keep 'em coming!
God I'm fooking sad. LOL on nailing the year Alicatt1!
3DP said:
bob1179 said:
This is very sad, but the first thing I thought when I saw that picture was "Is that a Maestro Turbo...?"
I have an illness that makes me desire crap old cars.
Anyway, great pics Alicatt1. As above, keep 'em coming!
I think it's a Rover 213 or 216 I have an illness that makes me desire crap old cars.
Anyway, great pics Alicatt1. As above, keep 'em coming!
God I'm fooking sad. LOL on nailing the year Alicatt1!
3DP said:
Alicatt1 said:
Blizzard Rally 1989, Somewhere west of Aberdeen, can't remember the name of the place now, but it was so cold that the thunderbird wine in the waterbottle of the pillion on the Yam Vigaro froze solid 
Stopping for petrol in Inverness on the way back from the rally
I hate to be a pedant, but that model of ZXR750 (L/M) was not out until 1993. Enclosed headlight GSXR was from 1991 on I believe too. That's not 1989. Great photo all the same Stopping for petrol in Inverness on the way back from the rally
Shadow R1 said:
Great stuff with the classic pic's, if you happen to find some more please post them up.
Yes please keep posting, that's my Era, I was 25 in 1990 so I still love 1990's sportsbikes, sadly I lost loads of photos when I got divorced (had to make a speedy exit!) so please keep posting these wonderful nostalgic pictures. Brings back happy memories. F'kn around with the RD500 this afternoon, had the carbs cleaned/rebuilt and now I have more problems than I started with.
My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
3DP said:
I love seeing these old pics. Keep them coming.
I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.
Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
Top geekery! I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new
I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
Eta: I was 14
Edited by 308mate on Wednesday 26th October 20:35
308mate said:
3DP said:
I love seeing these old pics. Keep them coming.
I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.
Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
Top geekery! I would counter still, that this is later than early 92. The single ram air intake ZXR750L came out in 1993. In early 92, the J2 model would just have come out that still had the hoover pipes and twin high level intakes. Those are 1993 ZXR750L specific colours though, so earliest that picture could be is Jan 93 if the bike is spanking new
I'm a bit of a ZXR/ZX7R geek I'm afraid.Hopefully it'll help you date the picture!
Eta: I was 14
Edited by 308mate on Wednesday 26th October 20:35
podman said:
F'kn around with the RD500 this afternoon, had the carbs cleaned/rebuilt and now I have more problems than I started with.
My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
When new they were prone to doing that when decelerating. Mine did it frequently.My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
podman said:
F'kn around with the RD500 this afternoon, had the carbs cleaned/rebuilt and now I have more problems than I started with.
My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
I ended up fitting a Kawasaki type steering damper on mine after a tank slapper left bruises in both palms of my hands. My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
Went to the Tartan and Thistle rallies a few times. Last time was in 1975 though! Not been to a raly since.
Memories of being cold as hell, wet as an otter's pocket and pissed as a fart. I guess thats what it was all about though.
Sadly no pix, but I've a few pins somewhere. Have to dig them out again.
Memories of being cold as hell, wet as an otter's pocket and pissed as a fart. I guess thats what it was all about though.
Sadly no pix, but I've a few pins somewhere. Have to dig them out again.
podman said:
F'kn around with the RD500 this afternoon, had the carbs cleaned/rebuilt and now I have more problems than I started with.
My near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
How cool that you have a neighbour into bikes and 2t in particular!! Mine is a miserable old bMy near neighbour came round on his so I could make a comparison with fuel/cable line routing etc and whilst it did help me correct one thing, the problem is largely still there, he casually mentioned his bike shakes the front wheel sometimes and asked me to take it out and see what I thought, first thing I noticed was how low it was on the back and that it steered like a chopper, damping was also non existent..It also "white lined" over every rut and furrow in the road.
On the way back, coming back down past 90MPH I just slackened my grip from the bars and it went into a brief but very violent tankslapper, it got my full attention anyway.
I know from some of the old roadtests the stability on some bikes was reported as marginal but somethings up here..Rear shock first suspect and then maybe the tyres...Metzeler ME33s, I couldnt find a date stamp but they must have been discontinued a long time ago?!
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