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Got vintage?

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CafeRay said:
Back then bikes were much quickr than street cars, a Ferrari 308 GTB was only 8 seconds 0-60, even the TR was 6.6 seconds.
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Even my little RZ was quick for the day. I remember that I could easily mop up the GS400. Now my RZ is just a legend in my own mind. Lol.




Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
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1978550 said:
Thanks Jeff ! Im a fan of yours too. Your RZ is most def. considered vintage in my books. The Vintage Racing League goes to 1989 and in some cases newer if the model didn't change much. Theres plenty of articles lately discussing this topic of bikes like yours and newer being considered 'vintage'.
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My bike is vintage for sure. I, like you, have done some cool mods. I think that the 'vintage purists' might not consider my bike vintage anymore. I've: widened the frame to fit a 180 rear tire, installed R1 USD forks, added an R6 shock, installed an aluminum '84 FJ1100 swinger, TZ250 front fairing, RS250 solo seat.

So, while technically it is vintage from a production date standpoint, it is in fact a newer bike.

Actually, it's more of a Heinz 57 than anything.

It does still have the original engine. :)


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
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One of these was my first sportbike....It was an '89, nd I had just turned 17 in 1991. It was a much too badass bike for a teenager...I rode it till I was 21, all year round. I put 87,000 kms on it. Never so much as a hiccup. Anvil reliable, and it was quicker than my buddy's 92 ZX7, (mind you 92 was a very bad yr for ZX7's) I would love another nice clean one, specifically these colours.
640px-1989-Honda-CBR600F-WhiteRedBlue-61-3.jpg
 
The good old Hurricane. Like you said, reliable beyond belief.

This is a nice looking one - in the HRC (Honda Racing) colours. Much better looking than the red/white combo. I remember seeing in a bike mag, where a guy did a Hurricane all in plastic chrome. That's just crazy.

Did you ride this bike around Btfd back in the day? I was here back in the day. I went away for a while, but came back with a girl - who is now my wife. Had to bring her back to refresh the gene pool around here. Lol.


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
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No- I grew up in Grand Bend...I was a bartender there at the time, and in the off season lived in Strathroy and bartended at Kelseys in London and worked at a cookie factory as well in My Brydges. I didn't move to Btfd till I was 22 or 23.

I wish I still had that bike- for me 80 hp is enough for a streetbike, and nostalgia runs strong. I had so many good times with that bike. And even when I was riding it, I recall lusting after bigger badder bikes of that era....92 Fireblades, 93 YZF's and ZX7's......I ended up with a 94 ZX7 a few yrs ago, and while it is such a pretty bike, I am physically too small to comfortably ride one. I sold it shortly after. Even racing, I wish to race bikes that I lusted after in my late teens.
 
omnivore said:
No- I grew up in Grand Bend...I was a bartender there at the time, and in the off season lived in Strathroy and bartended at Kelseys in London and worked at a cookie factory as well in My Brydges. I didn't move to Btfd till I was 22 or 23.

I wish I still had that bike- for me 80 hp is enough for a streetbike, and nostalgia runs strong. I had so many good times with that bike. And even when I was riding it, I recall lusting after bigger badder bikes of that era....92 Fireblades, 93 YZF's and ZX7's......I ended up with a 94 ZX7 a few yrs ago, and while it is such a pretty bike, I am physically too small to comfortably ride one. I sold it shortly after. Even racing, I wish to race bikes that I lusted after in my late teens.
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It's funny, everyone wishes that they had their 'old bike'. I was lucky enough to hang onto mine for all these years. No regrets for me, plus it's the exact same bike.

Problem is, I've needed to change every gasket and seal on the bike. This is extremely critical to do - especially for a 2T that will be turning 27 years old. It sucks, cause every time I go see Dan at Btfd Motorcycle, it costs me $150. It's a labour of love.

80 hp is really good. Who really NEEDS 180 rear wheel hp? I'm hoping to get a reliable, 70+ rwhp bike from my efforts.

I was never into the 'big bikes'. I've always been a 2T guy. The biggest street 2T Yamaha made (and that I'd want) was the RZ500. I don't have that kind of cash for one. I'd love one though.

I got p@ssed off with my bike at one point and almost bought a diesel (that's what us 2T guys call a 4T lol). I was soooo close to buying an R1. That's a big azz bike. I might just kill myself with it.


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
rzresurection said:
80 hp is really good. Who really NEEDS 180 rear wheel hp? I'm hoping to get a reliable, 70+ rwhp bike from my efforts.
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No one needs even 90hp. These manufacturers are irresponsible. They pushed the big horsepower numbers from the late 90s and all it did was kill their customers and get backlash from the insurance companies, so now sales are in the toilet.
In the automotive world, the big HP supercars also had a similar effect, except Porsche got sued millions for the GT and 911, and Dodge got sued many times over the Viper's lack of traction control or ABS.
Today, every new car has ABS and EST, down to the cheapest. You cannot buy a supercar without TC. However, ABS and TC is still not found on most bikes.

European bikes used to be distinctive because they would focus on frames, suspension and brakes, with mild HP engines. Now its 160, 180, 200 hp..There are a lot of old Japanese bikes with massive HP engines in sub-standard frames and suspensions, brakes. They still do this in 2013.

The industry is dying, both auto and bikes, because for 50 years all they sold was more power, more power. Now, it's easy to make big power, and they are selling us more power than we could ever use. Power numbers sell because bike buyers are 18-30 yr old posers who think they are racers, but will never , ever, take to a track.

The industry has turned a corner -they really aren't selling these $25K 160hp bikes in any numbers, the focus is now back to the sub-400 range, which is why the RD is back in 2015 (but not a 2 stroke).
 
CafeRay said:
I remember them as fire traps due to a fuel pump leaking issue.
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Really? I personally never had one. I knew a few guys that had them. They never complained or mentioned that their pants kept catching on fire. Lol





Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
CafeRay said:
I remember them as fire traps due to a fuel pump leaking issue.
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i owned 2 (first one got stolen) put well over 100000 km on them ...ran like swiss watches.

my 2nd one was a 1990, looked like this:


Screen-Shot-2013-02-09-at-9.03.14-PM-600x409.jpg
 
CafeRay said:
No one needs even 90hp. These manufacturers are irresponsible. They pushed the big horsepower numbers from the late 90s and all it did was kill their customers and get backlash from the insurance companies, so now sales are in the toilet.
In the automotive world, the big HP supercars also had a similar effect, except Porsche got sued millions for the GT and 911, and Dodge got sued many times over the Viper's lack of traction control or ABS.
Today, every new car has ABS and EST, down to the cheapest. You cannot buy a supercar without TC. However, ABS and TC is still not found on most bikes.

European bikes used to be distinctive because they would focus on frames, suspension and brakes, with mild HP engines. Now its 160, 180, 200 hp..There are a lot of old Japanese bikes with massive HP engines in sub-standard frames and suspensions, brakes. They still do this in 2013.

The industry is dying, both auto and bikes, because for 50 years all they sold was more power, more power. Now, it's easy to make big power, and they are selling us more power than we could ever use. Power numbers sell because bike buyers are 18-30 yr old posers who think they are racers, but will never , ever, take to a track.

The industry has turned a corner -they really aren't selling these $25K 160hp bikes in any numbers, the focus is now back to the sub-400 range, which is why the RD is back in 2015 (but not a 2 stroke).
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The manufacturers produce street bikes that mimic their track efforts. The technology eventually trickles down to the street along with the power increases that comes with it. This also gives the average Joe, weekend warrior racer a chance to run with a decent machine right out of the showroom. It also gives the squids a chance to exercise some Darwinian evolution.

I could care less about the big power. My bike has enough power to kill me dead just fine. Plus, I couldn't afford a $25k bike.

The RD/RZ is making a comeback? Oh man I have to see this. Do you have any concept pics? Would love to see them. This will be interesting. We'll have to see if they can get sub 400cc engines to perform better this time around. The ones back in the 80's were pretty sub par.


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
I had an 05 GSXR 1000....and felt I rode the wheels off it when I was in the mountains......however, once I began racing old junk, way harder and faster than I ever rode the 160 hp GSXR, I decided it was dumb to have a bike like that for the street. WHile the GSXR was the best all around bike I ever owned, it was an exercise is futility and wastefulness. Sold it.
 
omnivore said:
I had an 05 GSXR 1000....and felt I rode the wheels off it when I was in the mountains......however, once I began racing old junk, way harder and faster than I ever rode the 160 hp GSXR, I decided it was dumb to have a bike like that for the street. WHile the GSXR was the best all around bike I ever owned, it was an exercise is futility and wastefulness. Sold it.
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It's amazing to hear people talk about the track and how much faster that they can go with lesser equipment. Maybe it has to do with not worrying about smashing a good bike.

I would like to do a track day, but I'm worried about smashing my bike. I have some vintage bodywork that I've done a lot of work to get it to fit. I don't see smashing it up. He'll, I've done a lot of work to the whole bike. I'm not ready to throw that away with one high-side.

Where does everyone race?


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
Check out www.vrra.ca for all things vintage racing. Next year's schedule is out. Shannonville, Mosport, Grand Bend (yay!), Saint-Eustache QC.

Also, www.soaracing.ca has a vintage class ... and we need more entries!

Here's mine, 1989 Yamaha FZR400. Newest a bike can be and still be considered vintage by VRRA ...

 
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Brian P said:
Check out www.vrra.ca for all things vintage racing. Next year's schedule is out. Shannonville, Mosport, Grand Bend (yay!), Saint-Eustache QC.

Also, www.soaracing.ca has a vintage class ... and we need more entries!

Here's mine, 1989 Yamaha FZR400. Newest a bike can be and still be considered vintage by VRRA ...

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Seriously Brian, this looks better than my RZ and I'll be riding my RZ on the road. I'd be scared to to put your FZ on the track - fearful of smashing it. It looks awesome. Does it handle well with that nice ridged Deltabox frame? My spaghetti steel frame pales in comparison. :(

The idea of racing in a vintage class sounds really cool. I'd have to find another vintage bike for the track.


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
I am hoping to find something to race in that class....my son plans to ride my 94 YZF 600 in that class as well.
If you love the RZ you have built Jeff, don't race that one. Get another one you can thrash. Complete racebikes are ready to go for way cheaper than you can ever build one.
And yeah, Brian's bike is a super cool FZR.....all the trick bits...larger brakes, breathed on motor, magnesium wheels.....it's seriously nice.
 
omnivore said:
I am hoping to find something to race in that class....my son plans to ride my 94 YZF 600 in that class as well.
If you love the RZ you have built Jeff, don't race that one. Get another one you can thrash. Complete racebikes are ready to go for way cheaper than you can ever build one.
And yeah, Brian's bike is a super cool FZR.....all the trick bits...larger brakes, breathed on motor, magnesium wheels.....it's seriously nice.
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure that my RZ will never see a track.

If I look at puting an RZ on the track, I'll still have to do some major mods. They were built with 18" rims. All the decent rubber is made for 17" rims. An RZ track bike would still require some decent cash outlay.

Something to think about. First I have to get my 2T finished.


Jeff
'87 RZ 350
 
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