The design gamechanger - what was it?

[Ari]

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?

[Ari]

Spanglepants said:

Superdream certainly made a change from the existing styling but the Katana made a bigger impact.
Talking of early race reps , RG250 from 1983

That was an awesome bike! The only thing that (for me) challenged the RD350LC as the 'dream machine'.