We've had the 70's thowbacks, are we about to see the 80's?

[BuzzBravado]

Some of you may have seen the Japan Legends kit to restyle the current Z900 into the vision of a modern day ZXR. These aftermarkets things come and go quickly however this particular kit has drawn quite a bit of attention. As we have seen Kawasaki were not shy trying to use its old Z heritage to punt the current Z900RS....so do we think the big 4 could give an 80's revival a go?

http://www.motoblog.it/post/920732/kawasaki-zxr-90...

http://japan.webike.net/moto_news/kawasaki-officia...

An '18 GSXR1000 under a GSXR1100M (twin headlight one) skin would be right up my street.

[SAS Tom]

I’d be well up for some 80’s throwback bikes but that thing looks crap. You can tell what he was going for but it looks like it didn’t turn out the way he wanted.

[Prof Prolapse]

SAS Tom said:

I’d be well up for some 80’s throwback bikes but that thing looks crap. You can tell what he was going for but it looks like it didn’t turn out the way he wanted.

Yeah I liked the original, my mum had one I think (weirdly).

But that kit looks like it's been in a rear end shunt and someone has just crudely stuck a belly pan on it, "because no fairings".

Front looks alright though.

[MotorsportTom]

Agree with SAS Tom, Good idea but the example shown is terrible.

Better example would be the re-purposing of the GSX-1000 into the new Katana surely? Some 80's styling cues and colours harking back to the original?

[Wildfire]

What about the new Katana? It's a bit of an 80's throwback.

[CousinDupree]

Wildfire said:

What about the new Katana? It's a bit of an 80's throwback.

It looks awful though. The did the impossible and made an uglier GSX-S1000.

[Moulder]

SAS Tom said:

You can tell what he was going for but it looks like it didn’t turn out the way he wanted.

Reverse street fighter concept, with the same output as a normal street fighter accurately described above.

[Prof Prolapse]

CousinDupree said:

It looks awful though. The did the impossible and made an uglier GSX-S1000.

...And fitted a 12 litre fuel tank to it.

[BuzzBravado]

CousinDupree said:

Wildfire said:

What about the new Katana? It's a bit of an 80's throwback.

It looks awful though. The did the impossible and made an uglier GSX-S1000.

Wasn't the original Katana considered ugly too? So it sort of meets the brief there.

I really like that ZXR900, although i can see why some don't like it squashed up the way it is but for me its just right. Another good contender would be the VF1000R. There was also talk of doing a GPZ900R but that was never to my liking in the first place.

Edited by BuzzBravado on Friday 11th January 11:46

[bogie]

I reckon so, with an aging (well off) biking population in the Western world, it makes sense to appeal to those brought up in 70s and 80s that a likely looking for a comfortable stylish bike these days ....the good thing is they can be pokey and handle well too, with brakes that work....unlike many of the originals

[CousinDupree]

BuzzBravado said:

Wasn't the original Katana considered ugly too? So it sort of meets the brief there.

I really like that ZXR900, although i can see why some don't like it squashed up the way it is but for me its just right. Another good contender would be the VF1000R. There was also talk of doing a GPZ900R but that was never to my liking in the first place.

Edited by BuzzBravado on Friday 11th January 11:46

I don't think so, it was a cult bike from the off. Still looks fantastic today, although not a great ride.

[Mr Dendrite]

Bring back the Honda “euro” look, CB900F look alike with the blade engine anyone?
Or a CB1100?

The new katana is a very poor effort, I think. Doesn’t have the length or grace of the original just looks dumpy!

[3200gt]

Don't care what they do, I've got all the bikes I've ever wanted. Don't see the point of Retro when the real deal is still readily available.









Shameless excuse to post pics!

Edited by 3200gt on Friday 11th January 14:46

[PTF]

[BuzzBravado]

3200gt said:

Don't care what they do, I've got all the bikes I've ever wanted. Don't see the point of Retro when the real deal is still readily available.

Some are readily available, others are now out of reach. Whilst the originals are lovely they don't ride anywhere near as nice as a modern bike. I would love a clean ZXR750 '91 but i'm under no illusion that it will ride anywhere as well as a new zx10r.

[LuS1fer]

I used to love this bike and a modern version would be cool



In the meantime, I'd just like to see a return to decent metallics and stripes/pinstripes and not these bloody awful flat and boring or garish colours.

Oh and FLAT seats, not these stupid passenger perches.

[Mr Dendrite]

[quote=3200gt


Shameless excuse to post pics!


[/quote]

I hate you, a lot

[dc2rr07]

CousinDupree said:

BuzzBravado said:

Wasn't the original Katana considered ugly too? So it sort of meets the brief there.

I really like that ZXR900, although i can see why some don't like it squashed up the way it is but for me its just right. Another good contender would be the VF1000R. There was also talk of doing a GPZ900R but that was never to my liking in the first place.

Edited by BuzzBravado on Friday 11th January 11:46

I don't think so, it was a cult bike from the off. Still looks fantastic today, although not a great ride.

Sorry but I always thought the original Katana was ugly, definitely a marmite bike

[Mr Tidy]

3200gt said:

Don't care what they do, I've got all the bikes I've ever wanted. Don't see the point of Retro when the real deal is still readily available.

Edited by 3200gt on Friday 11th January 14:46

Thanks for that - the real deal has to be the way to go!

And I've always loved 70s Kawasakis.

Inspired by your photos here is a terrible photo of a fantastic bike!



Somehow I doubt we'll ever see any throwbacks to 2-strokes - sadly.

[Benni]

3200gt said:

Don't care what they do, I've got all the bikes I've ever wanted. Don't see the point of Retro when the real deal is still readily available.



Shameless excuse to post pics!

Edited by 3200gt on Friday 11th January 14:46

Congrats to your collection, is that an original Marving Racing four-into-none exhaust ?