What was the "next thing" on bikes when you bought one?
Discussion
So, some superbikes for 2019 are sprouting wings. Both Ducati and Aprilia have them on their latest models, and I'm sure that you'll feel the benefit doing 70(ish) on the way in to work.
Anyhow, my recollections of this sort of thing go back to the late 70's, early 80's, with the advent of the mono-shock, anti-dive forks, 16" front wheels, power valves, turbo-charging, full fairings, ABS, USD forks, radial tyres, etc. By no means an all inclusive list, but how many of these were but a flash in the pan, and how many are still with us today? I'm talking about mainstream models, not special one-off bikes like the Honda NR 750.
Anti-dive came and went, as did 16" wheels and (for the most part) turbo-charging, although turbo-charging is quietly making a comeback.
Anyone else remember such fads, and if they are still with us?
Anyhow, my recollections of this sort of thing go back to the late 70's, early 80's, with the advent of the mono-shock, anti-dive forks, 16" front wheels, power valves, turbo-charging, full fairings, ABS, USD forks, radial tyres, etc. By no means an all inclusive list, but how many of these were but a flash in the pan, and how many are still with us today? I'm talking about mainstream models, not special one-off bikes like the Honda NR 750.
Anti-dive came and went, as did 16" wheels and (for the most part) turbo-charging, although turbo-charging is quietly making a comeback.
Anyone else remember such fads, and if they are still with us?
In the late 70s, the "next thing" was petrol tanks that flowed into the side panels rather than being separate.
Still with us but some now also have separate side panels.
They also started incorporating the rear light into the tail bodywork rather than perched on the rear bumper.
Retro is bringing some of that back.
Finally electric start...yes, I am that old but the kickstart was still a backup, even on the Gold Wing which stored it in the dummy tank.
Honda sold millions bu the transverse V twin in the CX500 seems to have died the death as has shaft drive for middle market bikes.
Still with us but some now also have separate side panels.
They also started incorporating the rear light into the tail bodywork rather than perched on the rear bumper.
Retro is bringing some of that back.
Finally electric start...yes, I am that old but the kickstart was still a backup, even on the Gold Wing which stored it in the dummy tank.
Honda sold millions bu the transverse V twin in the CX500 seems to have died the death as has shaft drive for middle market bikes.
Biker's Nemesis said:
Underseat exhausts
Underseat storage also disappeared on most modern sports bikes 
Its a bit like mobile phones these days, there used to be massive leaps in technology years ago that left the previous gen phones defunct , there all much of a muchness now. I cant see top end bikes having any major must have technology from where there at now.
I purchased a mk2 1290 sdr to replace my mk1 just because it had all the latest tech that came out circa 2017 but I'm a tart so no prizes for me .
It was all about Exup's for me, I still refer to my first litre bike as an exup, rather than a FZR1000.
I think I've had most 'next things' on bikes over the years and all the letters like SRAD, Exup, KIPS, ABS, Vtec, TCS, CBS etc, it all seems to be about the electrics these days, and VVT which is making a comeback, I remember seeing it on a Bandit 400 a long time ago.
I think I've had most 'next things' on bikes over the years and all the letters like SRAD, Exup, KIPS, ABS, Vtec, TCS, CBS etc, it all seems to be about the electrics these days, and VVT which is making a comeback, I remember seeing it on a Bandit 400 a long time ago.
My first road bike in 1997 had 2 pot calipers, and the R1 style monoblock stuff was the stuff of dreams.Radial brakes were not even on all the GP bikes!
5 years on an radial brakes monoblocs are on a lot of superbikes and another 10 years on they are on commuters!
I recall seeing MIke Rutter's Ducati superbike on a dyno at a meeting making 150hp, pretty much a full works machine to get that.
Panigale with a warranty now making what, 180 hp odd!!
Gotta love progress
5 years on an radial brakes monoblocs are on a lot of superbikes and another 10 years on they are on commuters!
I recall seeing MIke Rutter's Ducati superbike on a dyno at a meeting making 150hp, pretty much a full works machine to get that.
Panigale with a warranty now making what, 180 hp odd!!
Gotta love progress
Alloy frames... a mate bought a slab sided GSXR750 and the alloy frame on that was huge compared to the tubes on the KH250 I was running at the time - he painted it pink and green then sold it to me and I had it stolen a couple of months later (he still hasn't forgiven me 30 odd years later)
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