What late Classic bike to use for long distances?

[cheb]

Pedantic note: Those pistons aren't oval, they are stadium shaped, ovals have curved sides, stadiums have straight.

Any Moto Morinis fit the bill? Or Benellis?

 

[oldbikedavey]

Pedantic note: Those pistons aren't oval, they are stadium shaped, ovals have curved sides, stadiums have straight.

Any Moto Morinis fit the bill? Or Benellis?

Morini's are very well made indeed, and although the 500's are good, the 350's are deeply anaemic, whizzy, and not in any way a real long distance machine, whereas the Guzzi very certainly is.

 

[Cato]

I know the Japanese make great bikes, just never felt a great desire for one since the CB450 Black Bomber, perhaps a GB500 TT would be a sensible Jap for me: possibly too new.

@chunkolini the W Kawaskis are great bikes, never really been drawn to them, though do tick a lot of boxes.

As @roofman suggests, my heart leans towards something Italian, Jap 4's have never held much attraction to me.

Have always fancied a Guzzi or Laverda, though and early lemans or a Jota - now being more sensible.

Staying in the Italian camp, and going from your starting list of wants/needs I'd go with Guzzi as they win out on purchase cost, parts availability and weight. Personally I reckon the V50 is the sweet spot for living with and using regularly, great looking bike in that metallic mid-blue too.

As a side (and probably not very popular) note, Laverda, particularly the Jota are one of the most overrated bikes you hear about. The Kwak Z, or Suzuki GSX were a much better bike in every respect both on paper and also in actual use.

 

[daleyd]

I’ve always liked the looks of mk1 Guzzi Lemon. I’d have a Jota in a flash too, there may be better bikes from the same era but they definitely have “something” about them.

GPZ 900R, or even an early 1000RX would come in at 40 year old, but it’s a jap 4 so probably out of contention - but they’d munch the miles no problem!

 

[Popcorn]

Just a quick note the NR500 came first years before the 750, actually remember watching 500 race with Ron Haslam riding it.
Total waste of time and money, it still couldn't compete with the 2 strokes despite spending probably 10 times as much money on it.
All because Mr Honda didn't like 2 strokes.........

 

[dobbslc]

Then came the NSR500 and Mick Doohan...

 

[daleyd]

Just a quick note the NR500 came first years before the 750, actually remember watching 500 race with Ron Haslam riding it.
Total waste of time and money, it still couldn't compete with the 2 strokes despite spending probably 10 times as much money on it.
All because Mr Honda didn't like 2 strokes.........

750 road bike was 92, same year as the first fireblade. Think the racer was late 70’s when they first tried it? A good description I read about the piston shape was like a “spam tin”

Haslam had a go on all sorts of weird and wonderful bikes, he had a few years on the ELF thing with the weird front end!!

 

[Popcorn]

Your forgetting Freddie Spencer @dobbslc, he was there at the start of the NSR development and even that was a crock of crap to start of with.
Exhaust over the top of the engine, petrol tank below. Still think riding that knackered his career.

 

[daleyd]

Your forgetting Freddie Spencer @dobbslc, he was there at the start of the NSR development and even that was a crock of crap to start of with.
Exhaust over the top of the engine, petrol tank below. Still think riding that knackered his career.

Gardener and Lawson also managed a championship each on the NSR

 

[dobbslc]

Your forgetting Freddie Spencer @dobbslc, he was there at the start of the NSR development and even that was a crock of crap to start of with.
Exhaust over the top of the engine, petrol tank below. Still think riding that knackered his career.

Yes you're right.

 

[Popcorn]

Yep was a much more normal bike by then, tank and exhausts in the right place.
Can remember watching and talking to Wayne Gardener at Carnaby, he was rinding the RS500 triple for Honda Britain at the time along side Haslam.

 

[daleyd]

Yep was a much more normal bike by then, tank and exhausts in the right place.
Can remember watching and talking to Wayne Gardener at Carnaby, he was rinding the RS500 triple for Honda Britain at the time along side Haslam.

Wasn’t there something about it being single crank engine which was different to the Yamaha and Suzuki twin crank from the same era? I think it made more power but was a real handful to get it to turn, Gardener wrestled it like a croc - typical Aussie!!

 

[Popcorn]

Yeah the single crank made the power delivery more vicious compared to the twin cranks.

 

[Rannsachair]

Staying in the Italian camp, and going from your starting list of wants/needs I'd go with Guzzi as they win out on purchase cost, parts availability and weight. Personally I reckon the V50 is the sweet spot for living with and using regularly, great looking bike in that metallic mid-blue too.

As a side (and probably not very popular) note, Laverda, particularly the Jota are one of the most overrated bikes you hear about. The Kwak Z, or Suzuki GSX were a much better bike in every respect both on paper and also in actual use.

I am thinking Guzzi is the best compromise for me me, never thought of one of the wee ones, will have a look, the V65 possibly too. I am too used to 1000cc bikes that I really never use properly and thought the 850 was a good size.

I was looking at the 750 Laverda's though an Alpina 500 twin was the other option, though they are all pricey.

@oldbikedavey a Morini 500 would be nice, though seem pretty rare - parts availability ok?

 

[octo0072000]

Yamaha XV1100 we know it's jap

 

[Cato]

I am thinking Guzzi is the best compromise for me me, never thought of one of the wee ones, will have a look, the V65 possibly too. I am too used to 1000cc bikes that I really never use properly and thought the 850 was a good size.

I was looking at the 750 Laverda's though an Alpina 500 twin was the other option, though they are all pricey.

@oldbikedavey a Morini 500 would be nice, though seem pretty rare - parts availability ok?

It's often overlooked, but power to weight ratio is the important factor, and I'm sure the racers on here will agree, for the sort of roads you'll be riding on it's especially relevant.

A V50 is 55 - 60 hp and weighs 160 Kg so 0.38 hp per Kg.

A Jota 1000 is 92 - 97 hp and weighs 250 Kg so 0.39 hp per Kg.

The obvious advantage that the V50 will have is that when you're pushing it around the drive/garage you'll have to move 90Kg less than for the same activity with a Jota (or a GS1000 as a Japanese equivalent).

 

[Cato]

Not my favourite colour, but for less than three grand this V50 looks like a good buy to me.

 

[Morris]

A full dress Harley......

He wants to go touring not ploughing.

 

[Gragson]

or even an early 1000RX would come in at 40 year old

I had one, not a particularly relaxing ride for me on anything off straight roads, loads of grunt but those 16" wheels...
As someone put it, like a very very fast lorry

What about this Italian into the mix, a good mate had a 250 back in the day and always lusted after one

 

[Jezguz]

Benelli 6's are a bit on the pricey side due to rarity, I've seen adverts asking anything from 9k up to 17k, Honda bits won't fit either. V50 is a little small but can do large mileage trips, the 650 and 750 small blocks would be a better choice and not too pricey, 2.5k to 6k for something newer.