Mid-80's Bike Icons

Hey guys,

The 750FG is my second mid-80's motorcycle and so far, I've had the opportunity to own two great gems from that era, the Yamaha Virago 750 and this one. Searching around in that era, I find the Kawi Z1100R, Honda CB1100, GSX1100/750, VMAXXXXX!!!, Ducati 900SS and so on. Truly great bikes, each of them veritable icons that laid the foundation for those companies to make the bikes of today.

Again, I've only owned an 84 Virago 750 and this 750FG and even if they're from totally different genres, I see some similarities: Build quality, Ride quality, great engines, excellent handling. I stopped riding for a while prior to getting an old used Virago. Before that, I had a Ducati Monster 750. But, after I got on the Yamaha, I swear, the handling was so good that I could take corners faster than on my Ducati. It's a cruiser but the comfort, coupled with the great engine and neutral steering, all added up to one confidence inspiring ride! To think, it was my first cruiser as well. I've recently replaced it with a Vstar 1100 but I believe the 750 could take the 1100, which is more of a slow, low rig made for going slowly and posing. The Virago seems more of a true rider's-ride.

Same with the VFR. This is also my first time on a bike that's on the sportier end of the bike spectrum and again, the mix of comfort, great ride quality plus top handling reminds me of the Virago in it's essence. Where the Virago is a comfortable cruiser that rides more like a standard, the VFR is a sportsbike that rides more like a tourer. You can go both ways with both. That's why you've got strong followings with both bikes, although I do think the Virago, by far has better aftermarket support. But, again, that's cause cruisers in general are usually customized from the get go by their owners.

In the same era, I'm getting the same feedback from owners of those Jap 1100's, 750 sports and of course, the Vmax crew is probably the most hard core of followers (fitting for a hardcore bike like that).

Does anyone else here see a difference with this era of bikes? Personally, it almost seems like a kind of turning point for the industry that only comes every 20 years or so.

Just thought I'd share. What do you guys think?

lorsban

 

For years I rode an '83 Yamaha Seca 550. This in-line 4 was a great 'little' bike. Little by today's standards, I guess, but it was a mid-size bike at the time and in any case perfect for booting around in urban traffic, or trips of 2 hours or so. I used to take my wife (girlfriend at the time) for rides on it all the time. It performed very well and gave us hours & days of fun.
It was easy to access the oil filter and do regular oil changes myself with just a wrench or ratchet. That's the big difference I find with my '06 VFR - I don't have the ability or tools to do that stuff on my current bike, and in a way that's a shame as it was all part of the bike experience.

 

Magandang gabi sayo, panyero !


The Ninja ZX series were also well-engineered, reliable 80s sportbikes.

Better than the Virago, the FZ and FZR 600 Yamahas were affordable and reliable and good handling. And the FZ 750 with the 5-valve Genesis engine, a real superbike !

 

Billygoat, I've heard a lot of things about the seca, all of them good by the way.

squirrelman,

Kumusta sir! I thought I was the only Pinoy here! Glad to know I have a kababayan who shares my enjoyment for Honda's VFR!

I had the chance to ride an 03 ninja and if that's any indication, I'm sure the original ancestor was pretty much how the VFR was to honda.

 

Since many of us here are somewhat long in the tooth by sportbike standards, you will find most of us cut our bike teeth on those models

Heres a fun photo site of old school racers.........enjoy

Motorcycle Racing Heroes of the Past