The design gamechanger - what was it?
Discussion
In the sixties and seventies all regular production bikes looked pretty much the same. Spoked wheels, airship shaped petrol tank above the engine, flat dual seat, exhausts down each side matching the number of cylinders.
At some point in the Eighties, bikes suddenly developed style. Sculptured tanks, seats merged into the tanks, alloy wheels, plastic panels beneath the seats, exhaust manifolds.
But what bike rung in the changes? What was the gamechanger?
I'm thinking Suzuki Katana of about 1980, but arguably the Honda Superdream got there first in 1978.
Any thoughts?
At some point in the Eighties, bikes suddenly developed style. Sculptured tanks, seats merged into the tanks, alloy wheels, plastic panels beneath the seats, exhaust manifolds.
But what bike rung in the changes? What was the gamechanger?
I'm thinking Suzuki Katana of about 1980, but arguably the Honda Superdream got there first in 1978.
Any thoughts?
Ari said:
In the sixties and seventies all regular production bikes looked pretty much the same. Spoked wheels, airship shaped petrol tank above the engine, flat dual seat, exhausts down each side matching the number of cylinders.
At some point in the Eighties, bikes suddenly developed style. Sculptured tanks, seats merged into the tanks, alloy wheels, plastic panels beneath the seats, exhaust manifolds.
But what bike rung in the changes? What was the gamechanger?
I'm thinking Suzuki Katana of about 1980, but arguably the Honda Superdream got there first in 1978.
Any thoughts?
CB900F with Eurostyle styling seemed pretty ahead of it's time.At some point in the Eighties, bikes suddenly developed style. Sculptured tanks, seats merged into the tanks, alloy wheels, plastic panels beneath the seats, exhaust manifolds.
But what bike rung in the changes? What was the gamechanger?
I'm thinking Suzuki Katana of about 1980, but arguably the Honda Superdream got there first in 1978.
Any thoughts?
Tango13 said:
GPZ900R, liquid cooled a couple of years before the RD500 and one of the first multi-cylinder four strokes to have its cam drive to the side of the engine.
The GPZ was a benchmark bike for sure but not for being liquid cooled, id love an original model in that red/graphite grey , but both RD and GPZ where both new to the market 1984. From memory, of the 80s 4 strokes, the Honda VF range had liquid cooling earlier than either in 1982.wildone63 said:
podman said:
The first, fully faired race rep was launched Nov 1983.
We'd seen half faired and cockpit fairings on bikes but the RD500 was the first of the 80s race reps.
The Honda CB1100R of 1980 might have a claim to that distinctionWe'd seen half faired and cockpit fairings on bikes but the RD500 was the first of the 80s race reps.
podman said:
Tango13 said:
GPZ900R, liquid cooled a couple of years before the RD500 and one of the first multi-cylinder four strokes to have its cam drive to the side of the engine.
The GPZ was a benchmark bike for sure but not for being liquid cooled, id love an original model in that red/graphite grey , but both RD and GPZ where both new to the market 1984. From memory, of the 80s 4 strokes, the Honda VF range had liquid cooling earlier than either in 1982.The original GSX-R750 was pretty radical for it's day, its' aluminium frame, light weight and 4 pot calipers were a departure from the usual spiral of weight gain.
The GSX-R was also the best advert ever for Carrillo con rods, at one point some racers in the US were calling for them to be banned from production racing until they could keep their engine internals inside their cases for an entire race
Having been a youngster during that era and being privileged to ride all the superbikes of the day. The game changers were:
1972 Oct. Z1 Kawasaki 903cc DOHC in line 4 with disc brakes and electric start. 130 MPH + out the crate.
1978 Honda CBX-Z 6 cylinder. Honda just showcasing what it could do. Big and fast as well as hugely complex.
1984 Kawasaki GPZ900 Ninja. Compared to the GPZ1100A2 they had short wheelbase, liquid cooled, handled, stopped and turned. They were also the first bike that you could steer just by pushing down on a footrest to get it heeled over.
1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. Changed Production racing worldwide. If you were not on a GSX-R you were just wasting fuel and tyres.
2001 BMW R1150 GS. The real start of Adventure bikes.
A
1972 Oct. Z1 Kawasaki 903cc DOHC in line 4 with disc brakes and electric start. 130 MPH + out the crate.
1978 Honda CBX-Z 6 cylinder. Honda just showcasing what it could do. Big and fast as well as hugely complex.
1984 Kawasaki GPZ900 Ninja. Compared to the GPZ1100A2 they had short wheelbase, liquid cooled, handled, stopped and turned. They were also the first bike that you could steer just by pushing down on a footrest to get it heeled over.
1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. Changed Production racing worldwide. If you were not on a GSX-R you were just wasting fuel and tyres.
2001 BMW R1150 GS. The real start of Adventure bikes.
A
Chipchap said:
Having been a youngster during that era and being privileged to ride all the superbikes of the day. The game changers were:
1972 Oct. Z1 Kawasaki 903cc DOHC in line 4 with disc brakes and electric start. 130 MPH + out the crate.
1978 Honda CBX-Z 6 cylinder. Honda just showcasing what it could do. Big and fast as well as hugely complex.
1984 Kawasaki GPZ900 Ninja. Compared to the GPZ1100A2 they had short wheelbase, liquid cooled, handled, stopped and turned. They were also the first bike that you could steer just by pushing down on a footrest to get it heeled over.
1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. Changed Carrillo's bottom lineProduction racing worldwide. If you were not on a GSX-R you were just wasting fuel and tyres.
2001 BMW R1150 GS. The real start of Adventure bikes.
A
EFA 1972 Oct. Z1 Kawasaki 903cc DOHC in line 4 with disc brakes and electric start. 130 MPH + out the crate.
1978 Honda CBX-Z 6 cylinder. Honda just showcasing what it could do. Big and fast as well as hugely complex.
1984 Kawasaki GPZ900 Ninja. Compared to the GPZ1100A2 they had short wheelbase, liquid cooled, handled, stopped and turned. They were also the first bike that you could steer just by pushing down on a footrest to get it heeled over.
1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. Changed Carrillo's bottom line
2001 BMW R1150 GS. The real start of Adventure bikes.
A
Rubin215 said:
You can't steer any bike ever just by pushing down on the footrests.
I suppose what I meant was influence. On a 62" wheelbase GPZ1100/Jota/900SS you needed to be Popeye to get the things to do anything but on the GPZ it just got on its side really easily with little effort and input from pushing on the inside peg.Edited by Rubin215 on Sunday 24th July 00:48
A
Tango13 said:
podman said:
Tango13 said:
GPZ900R, liquid cooled a couple of years before the RD500 and one of the first multi-cylinder four strokes to have its cam drive to the side of the engine.
The GPZ was a benchmark bike for sure but not for being liquid cooled, id love an original model in that red/graphite grey , but both RD and GPZ where both new to the market 1984. From memory, of the 80s 4 strokes, the Honda VF range had liquid cooling earlier than either in 1982.Probably quite a few other liquid cooled bikes made earlier, but maybe not mass produced.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff