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Post by w650 on Dec 14, 2016 16:15:26 GMT -5
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 14, 2016 19:14:38 GMT -5
Wow, that CB 1100 is sweet! Hope it finds a market here... May be a bit pricey but it is SHARP!
Ride safe...
Leo in Texas
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Sophomore Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 183
Likes: 4
Joined: Mar 4, 2013 19:49:04 GMT -5
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Post by 4950cycle on Dec 14, 2016 20:33:59 GMT -5
JCL MP250A Lihai 257cc powered / REMEMBER ! The reason we got away from them is they weighed like a 1,000000 Lbs. A 600 four these days makes more than enough hp. and is skads lighter . Now, If they would just put a motor like that in a human body friendly frame like the CB 1100s but still keep it on the light side.
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Post by wheelbender6 on Dec 14, 2016 22:19:55 GMT -5
I share your fondness for standard bikes from the 70s. I wish Kawasaki could make emissions legal two stroke triples again. I don't want my motorcycle to have "Star Wars" body panels.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 15, 2016 5:03:27 GMT -5
I share your fondness for standard bikes from the 70s. I wish Kawasaki could make emissions legal two stroke triples again. I don't want my motorcycle to have "Star Wars" body panels. You want them to bring back "The Widow Maker"? Definitely would have to put them in a better frame than the old ones. They made the Widows when the frames failed to contain the power of the three cylinder 2 stroke 750. They were quite wobbly and required a sharp rider to keep them on the road if you pushed them. The middle cylinder on those threes had a tendency to overheat. On a track they sounded more like an airplane taking off and were quite impressive as long as the rider could keep them on the track. Many would have a welding shop beef them up to overcome the issues with the frames. Harley race teams found the only way to compete was to wait for them to crash or designate one rider on their team to sacrifice himself and get into a crash with them to take them out of the race. Harley finally pushed for race reg changes to prevent the triples from being raced. |
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Post by w650 on Dec 15, 2016 7:17:13 GMT -5
Harley pushed for regs to have them banished on Dirt Track racing, turning the sport into a backwater class with no interest. Kawasaki finally came along with the 650 Ninja, reinvigorated the class and took the number 1 plate this year with a smaller engine smack filled with modern technology. Indian is about to add new luster with overhead cams, eight valves and fuel injection. Multi cylinder bikes have been road racing since the Honda in 1969.
Yamaha rules the class right now with the R-1. Harley became uncompetitive in Road Racing when the rules allowed all 750s to compete in 1969. The 750 Suzuki and Kawasaki two strokes, along with 350 Yamahas were beyond Milwaukee's reach. The later VR-1000 was such a debacle it's best forgotten.
I owned a 1974 H1 500e. It had received a new beefier frame that year and, with better shocks and tires, could run with anything. It never overheated, even in traffic on the Long Island Expressway, and I had 30,000 miles on it when I sold it for the 1000cc Kawasaki. The H1 was bone simple to keep up. Every year I de-coked the exhaust baffles and lubed the chain every 200 miles. With a good two stroke oil it was darn near bullet proof if ridden sensibly. No valve adjustments, no oil changes and 50 pounds lighter than a very slow 500 Honda. It took the 900cc Z-1 to overshadow the triples.
Every time I go into a dealer these days I shake my head. I can feel my back ache when I look at them. The Boy racer look might sell bikes but it does nothing for me. This Honda is my idea of a motorcycle.
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Post by w650 on Dec 15, 2016 7:33:51 GMT -5
These days this bike and the Honda in my avatar satisfy my "Normal" bike desires. I also have a pair of Honda Rebels but the feet forward ride of Cruisers leaves me flat.  |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Dec 15, 2016 23:58:39 GMT -5
Yes. The Kawi triples had major flaws. They really sounded good.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 16, 2016 5:08:29 GMT -5
Harley pushed for regs to have them banished on Dirt Track racing, turning the sport into a backwater class with no interest. Kawasaki finally came along with the 650 Ninja, reinvigorated the class and took the number 1 plate this year with a smaller engine smack filled with modern technology. Indian is about to add new luster with overhead cams, eight valves and fuel injection. Multi cylinder bikes have been road racing since the Honda in 1969. Yamaha rules the class right now with the R-1. Harley became uncompetitive in Road Racing when the rules allowed all 750s to compete in 1969. The 750 Suzuki and Kawasaki two strokes, along with 350 Yamahas were beyond Milwaukee's reach. The later VR-1000 was such a debacle it's best forgotten. I owned a 1974 H1 500e. It had received a new beefier frame that year and, with better shocks and tires, could run with anything. It never overheated, even in traffic on the Long Island Expressway, and I had 30,000 miles on it when I sold it for the 1000cc Kawasaki. The H1 was bone simple to keep up. Every year I de-coked the exhaust baffles and lubed the chain every 200 miles. With a good two stroke oil it was darn near bullet proof if ridden sensibly. No valve adjustments, no oil changes and 50 pounds lighter than a very slow 500 Honda. It took the 900cc Z-1 to overshadow the triples. Every time I go into a dealer these days I shake my head. I can feel my back ache when I look at them. The Boy racer look might sell bikes but it does nothing for me. This Honda is my idea of a motorcycle. The good old if you can't win fairly then cheat or have the rules changed in your favor game is what they were playing at back then. I worked with a former 1960's flat track racer who brought in his old racing gear from back in the day into work one day and it was little more than a leather jump suit with no armor. His wife promised him a new bike if could slip into it and zip it up. Its been 5 years and he still is riding his old powder blue Majesty. He has not missed the bike week races in Daytona for years. The new Scouts sometimes tempt me especially now that they have entry level models such as the 66 which are a bit more affordable however the crushed up left leg makes it too hard to work the shift when the riding gets interesting to drop the dime on one. If I did get one it would only be for an occasional short ride when I am not it that much pain and not for regular use so the practical side of me kicks in the brakes on doing it. |
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Post by w650 on Dec 23, 2016 8:53:51 GMT -5
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Post by wheelbender6 on Dec 26, 2016 12:51:51 GMT -5
Great article, w650. A friend of mine had one of the 2 stroke 500s when I was in high school. It's much easier to find parts for the Yamaha RD 2 strokes, but i'd rather have a KawI triple.
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