What Was The Most Influential Motorcycle To You?

[Mina]

Forum Sponsor

A close friend of mine had been riding one of these...

1993 GSX-R 1100

I was always fascinated by motorcycles and decided that I'd like to get my own...
My first bike of choice was a 600RR, preferably in the red/black color scheme.

Ended up going with a GSX-R 750 k6 and haven't looked back...

 

[rukus]

 

[Wasted]

^^^That's amazing
I had this one but in orange!

 

[Red_Liner740]

That exact colour scheme as well.

I wasnt young "per se". in my late teens early 20's and i bought a scale model of that gsxr at a car show...said to myself "one day i'll own one"

ironically i passed up a gsxr 600 trade for my VTR first year of owning the VTR.

and now i do own a Gsxr just a newer gen

 

[TwistedKestrel]

The original futuristic Katana.

 

[joeyjoejoe]

As a kid... Wreck-Gar (10 internet points for anyone who knows what I'm talking about without Googling it). That's the earliest memory I got about wanting a motorcycle.

 

[FemmeFatale]

The person who started it all for me

 

[IXFe]

You lusted for it as a child. Or you wanted one but, couldn't afford it. Or had a family or something. It was love at first sight and you couldn't get it out of your head.

It was THE MOTORBIKE that planted the seed.


Google a pic if you can find one and post it.

my neighbour had one back in the day ... I still like the naked sportbike look today.

1981 Suzuki GSX1100 Katana

1981 saw a bombshell dropped on the motorcycle market, with Suzuki releasing the radically styled Katana. While based on the 4 valve GSX models, it was a stunning departure from the normal '80s superbike in appearance. It quickly divided the motorcycling public into lovers and haters.

Styled in Germany by designer Hans Muth, it looked like no other Japanese bike before it. Also available in a 750 variant, the 1100 featured the indestructible 1074cc four valve, twin cam, TSCC motor, cranking out around 110 hp. The frame was essentially a carry over from the original GS design, with the addition of a dubious anti dive feature on the forks, and the worlds hardest rear shock absorbers.

However, the big Kat was a hit, selling from 1981, through two model updates till 1985. The styling of the bike has ensured it has become a collectors item.

Model Suzuki GSX1100 Katana
Capacity 1074cc
Engine Type 4-stroke, DOHC in-line four, 4 valves per cylinder
Power 110.00 HP (83 kW)) @ 8500 RPM
Torque 71.0 ft lbs @ 6600 rpm
Gearbox 5-speed
Weight 232.0 kg (dry, claimed)
Seat Height 770mm
Front Brakes Twin Disc with anti dive forks
Rear Brakes Disc
Power to Weight 0.47 hp per kg ..


Guess what bike I saw @ L&L the same evening I posted the above. Sweet! : :salute:

 

[nakkers]

The seed was definitely planted with the Kawi for me but, there was plenty that stirred my soul throughout time. Nice to see some of them here. Thanks for sharing.

RZ350 2 strokers, air cooled gixxers, first gen Katana, Genises 5 valve FZRs, Kawi's Eliminator, Honda Interceptors, CBX and cb series, Triumph's, Nortons, BSAs, and Harleys.

Cool stuff.

 

[spaceboy]

When I was a kid, the first-gen R1 did it for me.

[video=youtube;qsLOKxraP0I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsLOKxraP0I[/video]

 

[TwistedKestrel]

When I was a kid, the first-gen R1 did it for me.

Can you legally drink yet?

 

[spaceboy]

Can you legally drink yet?

Haha, barely.

 

[MarkC]

I guess I'm showing my age but I would say first norton commando, then the cB750, followed closely by the kz900 and finally the gsxr. I was always really impressed by the two stroke entrants as well Yamaha 350, h1, h2 and for the racing side, the tz750 was amazing!

 

[Psycho_Biker]

Had to be this one. Wish I could afford an HRC kitted RC30! Maybe if I win the lottery someday...haha

I'm on to my second mini-RC30 as a result.

 

[Psycho_Biker]

I have an Aunt and Uncle that travelled Europe in the 70s on RD350s. We visited them one day and my uncle brought me out to his garage and to show me this:

It had the baffles removed or a modified exhaust. He started it with a huge roar. I sat in the garage long after the show and tell session. I dreamed of that bike for the rest of the summer. I was maybe 7 or 8 years old.

Haha nakkers that bike is the *****! My dad is almost finished a complete nut and bolt restoration of a '74 Z1 in those exact colours. He just got the paint back and basically just needs to put the carbs, seat and exhaust on it.

 

[UberCLK]

my old RZ500. they don't make them like that anymore.. glad I had the chance to own one of these..

 

[Sabot03196]

Oh so true, I wore my hand raw turning that crank.

 

[adri]

The bike that planted a seed?
Definitely a 1988 Honda CBR-600 Hurricane on craigslist. I thought: "THAT is a cool bike" - fast forward 7
-8 years and I've still never owned a sportbike, but I still get a little giddy every time I see a hurricane up for sale. That's the one that started it all.

 

[kiwi]

The bike that planted a seed?
Definitely a 1988 Honda CBR-600 Hurricane on craigslist. I thought: "THAT is a cool bike" - fast forward 7
-8 years and I've still never owned a sportbike, but I still get a little giddy every time I see a hurricane up for sale. That's the one that started it all.

CBR Hurricane and Suzuki Katana

 

[rafiki911]

I've loved bikes for as long as I can remember. I would be walking on the side walk and hear a bike coming and stop and watch it go by and drool a bit then go on my way again.

Got to ride a 50cc Honda scooter in Greece when I was about 12 years old and thought that was the coolest thing ever. Then when I was about 14-16 years old my brother had a Katana 600 which was pretty cool.

It was never a specific bike, I love them all and still do. If I had the money I would have a collection of bikes

Forum Sponsor