80 into 12 does go.

[septikangel]

From the 1980's to present day, another time another life, dunno if I can recreate a similar action shot though and looking at the lid, no wonder I'm deaf.

[gogs01]

I'm impressed with the lean angle of the first one, but I prefer the second one.
I've tried riding a couple of "classic" or "vintage" bikes over the years and have mostly been disappointed.  I lusted after some of these things in the 60s and 70s, but my rose tinted spectacles have too strong a prescription. 
I'll stick with the modern stuff, thanks ! 

[Sprintgull]

The RT is a cracking bike.  Took mine into CW for it's two year service yesterday at 12k miles and (touching every bit of wood in sight) it has been faultless.  Big difference from the two GTs I had previous to that.  They loaned me a GS for the day which was great and ideal for a nice trundle around coast and country.  Was glad to get back about the RT though.


That said, I'm thinking about getting something old and mechanical that I can tinker with and ride occasionally.  I miss a bit of fettling.

[gogs01]

.....
That said, I'm thinking about getting something old and mechanical that I can tinker with and ride occasionally.  I miss a bit of fettling.

Yes, I've had those thoughts many times over the years. Reasons why I haven't include purchase price, cost of refurbishment, lack of sufficient workshop space and lack of suitable tools (unless I stick with metric).
These could all be worked around, but I keep remembering that all the old bikes I've ridden (which were considered desirable in their day) have been awful to ride. Kickstart ? No thanks !  Drum brakes ? I remember them as perfectly adequate in the 60s, but not now. Lack of performance I could probably live with, lack of reliability I probably couldn't.
Maybe an old boxer would avoid some of these issues, but I rode a R100RS in around 1983, when it was just a few years old and it was truly awful. I had it for the weekend and couldn't wait to give it back on Monday morning.  I had a string of Kawasakis after that and loved the way they went, handled and stopped, with never a bit of bother.
Maybe an old(ish) Kawasaki then .....

[Maz12]

I bet more people moved out of your way in the 80s

[slparry]

Yes, I've had those thoughts many times over the years. Reasons why I haven't include purchase price, cost of refurbishment, lack of sufficient workshop space and lack of suitable tools (unless I stick with metric).
These could all be worked around, but I keep remembering that all the old bikes I've ridden (which were considered desirable in their day) have been awful to ride. Kickstart ? No thanks ! Drum brakes ? I remember them as perfectly adequate in the 60s, but not now. Lack of performance I could probably live with, lack of reliability I probably couldn't.
Maybe an old boxer would avoid some of these issues, but I rode a R100RS in around 1983, when it was just a few years old and it was truly awful. I had it for the weekend and couldn't wait to give it back on Monday morning. I had a string of Kawasakis after that and loved the way they went, handled and stopped, with never a bit of bother.
Maybe an old(ish) Kawasaki then .....

a friend let me use his old gpz900 for a couple of days a few months ago, I loved it and was surprised how fresh it felt :D

[gogs01]

a friend let me use his old gpz900 for a couple of days a few months ago, I loved it and was surprised how fresh it felt :D

They were fabulous bikes in their day - faster than most sports bikes (they cleaned up in the IOM TT Production class - when it was a class for bikes straight out of the showroom) and as comfortable as most tourers.


I tried the GPZ100RX but didn't like it (but it was fast !) and the ZX10, which felt soggy after the GPZ900R, so I bought another 900.


To me, the GPZ900R was as good in the early '80s as the RT is now.  Different times, different bikes, but they are both top bikes of their day IMHO ! 

[septikangel]

Enjoying the Picos mountains in May - with a grin.

[MikeS]

Enjoying the Picos mountains in May - with a grin.

Went to the Picos a couple of years ago on my GS, brilliant. Planning to go again next year.[attachimg=1]