The big bikes were not the only fast bikes of the 70's. My 76 Yamaha RD400C was seriously fast and they raced them almost everywhere. It was a very popular race platform.
The BSA rocket 3, Norton 850 commando mk 3, land the Royal Enfield mk 3 interceptor were great and the later interceptor was a sorted, strong, reliable and fast parallel twin, well balanced crankshaft that handled. The suzuki GS750 and GS1000 was such a great bike. Bombproof motor that often were used on drag racers like at Santa Pod.
The fastest of the Commandos was the 1970 S model mid 12 second quarter miles, A Factory raider pulled 12.2 with a 1972 750 . A 1972 Combat had the right parts but needed some tweaking of cam timing.
No, Retro means todays Bike with old optic like the Z 900 RS or Royal Enfield, its a big difference to a bike builded in the 60s or 70s. So retro dont need work bec its a new and modern bike. A real old bike needs lots of work, knowledge and money.
In 1983 after passing my bike test I bought a Kawazaki z650b1, giving me 2 yrs of exhilarated fun, after that i purchased a Suzuki GS1000, followed by many more various bikes
1979 RD 400 Daytona Special here. The last year 2 strokes were allowed on the street. After market exhaust, a little cylinder porting and it was a Z1000 killer up till triple digit speeds. 4 out of the 6 gears would pull the front wheel off the ground. Bike so light you could throw it back and forth on the curves and leave the big heavy bikes way back.
I had a reed valve 350 in '78. Had no trouble beating anything of a standing start. Went like a shot out of gun. Brilliant engineering. Handled wonderfully!
@@UKsnapper-106 To be fair that probably says more about Cal Rayborn than the non-works Harley he was riding. Awesome rider taken from us FAR too soon!!!
WORSE he repeats the 🐂💩 line Fonda was so cool and deeply involved in developing the bikes on Easy Rider He wasn't He stole the glory of others ........... Its a sad & shameful story
One hundred miles standing still according to the brochure of the time, and a gorgeous motorcycle with it's four into one. But that was also it's top speed. I think the 750s / 1000s featured might have a slight power edge.....
My Kwaker H-2 ran the quarter in just over 12.05 Seconds at 112 MPH. It had a trap speed at Hockenheim over 125MPH/200 KPH and sold in the PX for under $800.00! My Z1 made over 140 MPH and cost under $2000.00 at the PX.
Believe it or not, the Kawasaki 750 H2 was faster in the quarter mile. You had to have BALLS to push it to its limit, as it was a BIG BORE 2 stroke, (AKA a "Ring Ding" because of the engine sound: Ringgggggg dinggggg dingggg dingggg RRRRIIINNGGGGGGG Dinggggggg dinnngggg dinggg).
*And much earlier than that* ... *We have the Brough Superior of the 1930s* No one could hold a torch to it until the Black Shadow arrived Reckon anyone willing to wring the Brough's neck very few of these early 70s bikes would stay with it [But no one with a soul & an ounce mechanical empathy would do that to it now]
THE V-Twin bike is Vincent. Not a HD. The Brits have always been good with engines. Even America's beloved P51 was meh UNTIL the Americans asked to borrow a Merlin.
The Z1R-TC you showed was the ultimate 70s superbike, a friend had one that after visiting Sandy Kosman went 141mph in the 1/4 mile in street trim, it was insane!
The Honda shown is the CB750F1. Two years later Honda brought out the CB750F2 with the black engine which was the best handling bike of that line and was capable of 125mph.
@@bimmjim *The Harley 'Nightrod'* - *Figured I was sat in the fastest BathChair on the Planet* Straight line acceleration impresses Chucking it into corners .... Is like doing the shimmy - You cannot hang off Fascinating experience I have no desire to repeat 😋
At 4:00 the "Widow Maker" was applied to the 500 H1. I have a H1F, the last of the H series. Once you know what it's doing it is a fine machine. I have a 76 (K)Z900 A4 too. But it is so different from the H1F. I also have a 96 ZZR100 D2. So different again.
One or two of my friends had a '72 Sportster. Within a year or so they either sold them or traded them off for a BMW, Moto Guzzi, or a Honda. My first Highway bike was a '72 Moto Guzzi Ambassador. I put 72,000 miles on it before I parked it and went tp 1983 Honda Gold Wing. Sold my Guzzi in 2000 for $8,000. Almost 4 times what I paid for it.
In 1974 the fastest production MC's were the 750 and 1000 cc Kawasakis. However, at the time I was riding a 1968 Matchless 750 twin. Albeit not a '70's MC it would very easily beat those Kawasaki 750 or 1000 MCs from a standing stop, or at any speed. Top speed, unknown by me, but it would easily cruise at 100 mph with much more in reserve.
1000 cc Kawasaki came out in 1976. The Z1 came out in 1973. I had a 73 Z1 and was impressed with the English twins with them being able to keep up to a certain point. At 150 mph they were nowhere in sight. They did detune the Z1 and KZ1000 after 1973.
@@deeza3384 My comment was NOT to be in any way critical of the CBX as regards its performance or abilities it was simply pointing out that the videos error was claiming it as the worlds first mass produced six, when that accolade belongs firmly to Benelli, the previous poster highlighted the fact that sadly the Benelli's head stock was made of jelly, and I have to agree, it was a bit scary trying to hustle it along as tank slappers happened almost randomly with it. as far as I know that wasnt really a problem on the Honda, I say as far as I know because unfortunately I never got to ride one.
If you watch the supposedly Z1-B section, there's also a Z1 (12:37) and a Z1-A (13:19) displayed. At 12:41 they've even got an A4 being described as a Z1-B. As for the "exceptional handling", this bloke has obviously never scratched one.
Harley Davidson’s on this list? Were there only 20 fast bikes in 1970s cause that’s the only way I would conceive of a sportster being on a 20 fastest Bikes list unless you’re talking about race bikes a Harley race bike might be able to compare with the other manufacturers
Yes i dont think that Harley,or in fact any Harley, other than full race or highly moded could be described as fast.The vid is American however and they are very loyal to Harley.
In the 1970s, my mate had a Ducati SS which he wishes he still has! In those days the Ducati Darmah was known as the Ducati Drama cos of the problems that owners were often complaining about.
Mine was a 79 Ducati 900SS, it scooted right up to 143 when i chickened out due to curves ahead. It idled at 82 mph, that is the minimum speed you weren't lugging the engine in 5th, a truly beautiful engine. I had a darmah before it, limited by either frame or fork twist which got squirrelly at about 135. Some of the other SS guys did Hailwood tricks to mimic Isle on Man performance.
Do you think the prices paid in 2024 for these bikes are unrealistic? When you use the price paid when it was new, then adjust the amount with the inflation rate to 2024, the prices are close to the price when it was new!
I kept anticipating the Yamaha XS11..you finally got to it at 19 minutes into the video. It had everything - looks, power, reliability, performance, looks, - oh did I say looks two times...looks...
My 1980 XS 11 SPECIAL was way better than my 73 ZI. Shaft drive vs chain. Z1 had the edge in the looks dept. For a while I had both at the same time. I would switch out and the Z1 felt smaller than the XS11. Still have the XS11.
I always heard the H2 was nicknamed "Widowmaker" because the frame was made of a spaghetti facsimile. Yes, the powerband was pretty strong, but far from unmanageable. But a frame that warped and twisted like a wet noodle under acceleration, braking and cornering was its real problem.
I had a 350cc Honda CB 1969 model, I payed R400 ZAR(secondhand) for it and then a 1979 Suzuki GS750 the first air cold 750 Suzuki, I payed R3005 ZAR new.
I knew a guy who is no longer with us who drove a Kawasaki KZ 900. Whether riding alone or with someone on the back would fly along with only one wheel on the ground.
I tried a CBX once, , Dream bike extremely comfortable, so smooooth running engine , but flex chassis and com-star wheels. . .😐 It is the bike that demonstrated me what Neutral Handling is ☺ but select 3rd gear, rev up slowly at 6,000 rpm and twist the throttle. it would bind in the middle. . 😯
Kawasaki H2 750 sucked so much fuel so quickly, the joke about it in the 1970s was that the fuel emptied from the tank so fast, the incoming replacement air, whistled as it passed through the fuel cap air vent.
Enjoyed this video but the estimated values are too high. Have not seen a Guzzi Le Mans go for more than $20,000 on Bring a Trailer and it’s rare to see a Norton Commando go for more than that also.
motorbike design is alive and well as a technical art form .....but it's still good i think to throw in your two cents, but you have to figure leaving final decisions to a group of professionals is in the motorcyclist's, and the world's, best interest. ( there are a lot of things to consider, and the desighn process is extremely complex for it ) ....different companies have different design styles, and that makes for more options. beyond the showroom floor, there is a thriving aftermarket ready to meet riders customization whims.
I was a motorcycle mechanic for 35 years, and cut my teeth on 60s/70's bikes. To include an ironhead sportster in a list of 'fast bikes' is simply laughable. I stopped watching right there... Cheers.
You missed big time Does no one remember when Yamaha brought out the XS Eleven With the moniker XS. Eleven Cruise missile the first motorcycle to break the 10 second 1/4 at a smoking 9.65 second and almost 125 mph and it would hit over 140 mph top speed , It had the first motorcycle to use a vacuum advance ignition system which made it smooth and incredibly powerful , with the advance giving it a massive power band. He also did a disservice with the
If you list the fastest Bikes of the 70s you have to cut out the Harley... And its easy, just take only the bikes from 78 to 79, japanese and italian. You cant stand Harley in a row with Ducati, Kawasaki or Agusta.
The late '60's 883 Sportsters were faster than the 1972 1000 cc Sportster. You could run triple digits on these bikes but that was it. You got to remember the oil embargo and the detuning for fuel mileage that was going on at the time.
1975, when I was a Senior in High School, I had a 1975 Kawaski 750 triple 2 stroke. Man, that Som B was fast.
The 'Widow-maker'? Did your bike ever get away from you?
That was a scary bike, it deserved the name widow maker. My brother had one. He changed the exhausts for three expansion chamber pipes..
I had the 500 with straight pipes. The H-1. You’re very lucky you survived the 750. It has to be one of top 10 most dangerous bikes ever made.
The big bikes were not the only fast bikes of the 70's. My 76 Yamaha RD400C was seriously fast and they raced them almost everywhere. It was a very popular race platform.
They could give anything a hard time. Privileged to have had a '74 RD350 6-speed - Wow!
Did anyone else catch the video of the CBX when they were talkinga bout the GS1000 ??
The BSA rocket 3, Norton 850 commando mk 3, land the Royal Enfield mk 3 interceptor were great and the later interceptor was a sorted, strong, reliable and fast parallel twin, well balanced crankshaft that handled. The suzuki GS750 and GS1000 was such a great bike. Bombproof motor that often were used on drag racers like at Santa Pod.
The fastest of the Commandos was the 1970 S model mid 12 second quarter miles, A Factory raider pulled 12.2 with a 1972 750 . A 1972 Combat had the right parts but needed some tweaking of cam timing.
I got to 1:20 and knew this video wasn't worth my time
You are so right. Bye!
Agreed
That's a shame...once they got the shite out of the way...after 1:20..... It was pretty good...... Go back and see if you agree.....
Retro bikes needs to do a lot more homework
Even a little homework would be nice
No, Retro means todays Bike with old optic like the Z 900 RS or Royal Enfield, its a big difference to a bike builded in the 60s or 70s.
So retro dont need work bec its a new and modern bike.
A real old bike needs lots of work, knowledge and money.
@@drhkleinert8241 What has this got to do with my statement?
IKR? They seem to think that a Harley Davidson is a motorcycle. 😂
@@tagomago2178 Looks like he's having problems with google translate.
Harley Davidson: lead sled.
😂😂😂😂
The only place a Harley did well was the flat track... other than that it was not competitive.
I,ll say ,once owned a 1962 Harley 1200 ,that I pushed farther than I rode it ,but it did turn me onto Japanese bikes ,thanks for that , harley
@@cecilsabourin9462 😂
So now we need another video: The 20 fastest Boat Anchors
In 1983 after passing my bike test I bought a Kawazaki z650b1, giving me 2 yrs of exhilarated fun, after that i purchased a Suzuki GS1000, followed by many more various bikes
They left out the RD 350 which was faster than most of the bikes on the list. I had one and raced most of them and blew them away
Yes, the two stroke 250 and 350 was the fear of the big bikes then...
Had a '72 RD 250. A lot faster than what the owners manual quoted. Loved that bike!
@@drhkleinert8241 No Kawi triple feared the RDs...
1979 RD 400 Daytona Special here. The last year 2 strokes were allowed on the street. After market exhaust, a little cylinder porting and it was a Z1000 killer up till triple digit speeds. 4 out of the 6 gears would pull the front wheel off the ground. Bike so light you could throw it back and forth on the curves and leave the big heavy bikes way back.
I had a reed valve 350 in '78. Had no trouble beating anything of a standing start. Went like a shot out of gun.
Brilliant engineering.
Handled wonderfully!
I was trying hard to find anything he got correct LOL
Harleys and fastest should not be mentioned unless drag races
Cal Rayborn would have disagreed with you as he showed the Brits his rear tyre while racing round Mallory Park in the Transatlantic races in the 70s
@@UKsnapper-106 To be fair that probably says more about Cal Rayborn than the non-works Harley he was riding. Awesome rider taken from us FAR too soon!!!
I want the cbx 6 cylinder Honda back. Love the sound and performance.
it is, a 1300cc version,
He says fonda rode a bike like this in easy rider .... erm PANHEAD Springs 2 mind ..
WORSE he repeats the 🐂💩 line Fonda was so cool and deeply involved in developing the bikes on Easy Rider
He wasn't
He stole the glory of others ........... Its a sad & shameful story
His bike sure as hell was no sportster
correct sir . . .
The Honda 400 was a great bike! Everyone in my neighborhood owned one! And dirt bikes
One hundred miles standing still according to the brochure of the time, and a gorgeous motorcycle with it's four into one. But that was also it's top speed. I think the 750s / 1000s featured might have a slight power edge.....
great ladies bike
I still want a '86 GS1100 for myself. Love that big bike!
I bought one of the honda 750s (not new) when my z nine was off the road, can't say i was impressed.
The Commando was my favorite from back then, great motorcycle
Norton Commando 750 Fastback! Lol! Bought one in 72! Great bike!
The 850 interstate was the British polices chosen weapon back then.
Still my fav!
The Norton Commando did NOT have a featherbed frame.
The x75 75k?this guy s dreaming
correct . .
My Kwaker H-2 ran the quarter in just over 12.05 Seconds at 112 MPH. It had a trap speed at Hockenheim over 125MPH/200 KPH and sold in the PX for under $800.00! My Z1 made over 140 MPH and cost under $2000.00 at the PX.
I loved my 750 Moto Guzzi Ambassador. Had so much fun on that bike.
HD - a device for converting gasoline into noise.
'79 KZ1300. No more needs to be said
Big, impressive but not that fast like a sportsbike.
Believe it or not, the Kawasaki 750 H2 was faster in the quarter mile. You had to have BALLS to push it to its limit, as it was a BIG BORE 2 stroke, (AKA a "Ring Ding" because of the engine sound: Ringgggggg dinggggg dingggg dingggg RRRRIIINNGGGGGGG Dinggggggg dinnngggg dinggg).
@@davelevy4394 and a frame with the rididity of toffee
@@davelevy4394 Beaten by the Vincent Black Shadow from the 1950s, bottom end and top end.
According to Jay Leno, if you had the money in the early 50s, you could buy a Vincent Black Shadow that could go 150 MPH.
Search it. .. Search it.
Black shadow held speed records thru the 70s ahd,early 80s
Yes, a beautiful bike, but not from the 70s. I always wanted a Norvin (Vincent V twin engine in a Norton Featherbed frame).
@buckygoldstein9256
I always wanted a triton.
Same deal, trident motor on an atlas feathered frame..with that cool manx type tank and the clip ons...
*And much earlier than that* ... *We have the Brough Superior of the 1930s*
No one could hold a torch to it until the Black Shadow arrived
Reckon anyone willing to wring the Brough's neck very few of these early 70s bikes would stay with it
[But no one with a soul & an ounce mechanical empathy would do that to it now]
THE V-Twin bike is Vincent. Not a HD. The Brits have always been good with engines.
Even America's beloved P51 was meh UNTIL the Americans asked to borrow a Merlin.
The Z1R-TC you showed was the ultimate 70s superbike, a friend had one that after visiting Sandy Kosman went 141mph in the 1/4 mile in street trim, it was insane!
American TurboPak dealer option
I'm 76 and still yearning for authenticity.
Fonda didn’t ride a Sportser. They were considered girly bikes.
His bike had a 1952 panhead motor.
I had a '77 Z1-R with Kerker header and exhaust. It was super fast, sounded awesome, and I looked dam good on it. Uncomfortable as hell though.
The Honda shown is the CB750F1. Two years later Honda brought out the CB750F2 with the black engine which was the best handling bike of that line and was capable of 125mph.
the yamaha xs11 wasnt a monoshock as you stated.there are clearly 2 rear shocks on the screenshots.
I had the 750 Kaw in 72. Had to lay on the tank to keep the front tire on the road if you goosed it.
Buddy of mine had a 72 kawasaki 750. I rode it one time, got to third gear and chickened out. Mean machine!
Had a Mach 3 500 and a Mach 3 900 both hang on for dear life
LOVED my 850 Commando!
eat chains and sprockets
@@Headwind-1 Nope, headgasket at 10K, Barnet clutch swap very easy fix. Never a sprocket change
Love the two "mono shocks" on the XS1100 lol.
The fastest bikes from the 70’s then starts with a coal burner Hardly Worth It Son that couldn’t beat a Schwinn 10 spd bicycle in the quarter. 😂
In high school 1975 I had a 1975 Kawasaki 750 triple 2 stroke. Fast as hell.
Yep 😅
Harley should stick to fairground rides 😂
The actual design brief they marginally departed from was 'boat anchor'.
Ya but, but they sound like a drum solo.
@@bimmjim *The Harley 'Nightrod'* - *Figured I was sat in the fastest BathChair on the Planet*
Straight line acceleration impresses
Chucking it into corners .... Is like doing the shimmy - You cannot hang off
Fascinating experience I have no desire to repeat 😋
Yup. Toys.
And you should stick to crack and leave the meth alone. ;)
A mono shock on the XS1100 you say???
Each side lol
Yeah, NO NO NO
I once rode a Honda 750 F1 and in comparison to my Z 1000A1 I had the impression to ride on a garden door.
I had an original year 1972 H2. I paid $1056 for it. It is possibly the most dangerous bike ever made. It had mind boggling acceleration.
The Sportster was difficult to get in the UK at the time, which hurt its sales. Bikes were often hopped up with faster cams to compete better.
Not a good start. The Easy Rider bike was a 1950s panhead. I'll not bother with the rest.
...and outlaws riding sportsters?🤣 That's exactly where I stopped viewing this shyte.
At 4:00 the "Widow Maker" was applied to the 500 H1. I have a H1F, the last of the H series. Once you know what it's doing it is a fine machine.
I have a 76 (K)Z900 A4 too. But it is so different from the H1F.
I also have a 96 ZZR100 D2. So different again.
wasn't the 350 the widowmaker??
@@Headwind-1 The 350 was the S2 and came out in 72 to replace the A7 Avenger. The H1 was the first of the triples and hit the markets in 69.
1971 CBK 750 Yoshimura kit to 1082cc back in the day that was really the fastest
The Kawasaki H2 Mach iv 750 wasn't just known as the widowmaker because of its power but the dodgy handling too.
The h1 500 was the widowmaker,I had an h2 750
i always remember the Munch Mammoth from Germany and the Van Veen from holland, ahhh, they were the days
The "widowmaker",Kawasaki H2.Every motorcycle could be a widowmaker,depending on the driver.
Try riding the original Widowmaker, the H1. If you weren't expecting it, and many weren't, that was almost uncontrollable when you hit the powerband.
@@stevet7695 I know, the Kawasakis are aggressive.I have tried one,but another model.
One or two of my friends had a '72 Sportster. Within a year or so they either sold them or traded them off for a BMW, Moto Guzzi, or a Honda.
My first Highway bike was a '72 Moto Guzzi Ambassador. I put 72,000 miles on it before I parked it and went tp 1983 Honda Gold Wing. Sold my Guzzi in 2000 for $8,000. Almost 4 times what I paid for it.
I miss the Münch 1200 tts Mammut
In 1974 the fastest production MC's were the 750 and 1000 cc Kawasakis. However, at the time I was riding a 1968 Matchless 750 twin. Albeit not a '70's MC it would very easily beat those Kawasaki 750 or 1000 MCs from a standing stop, or at any speed. Top speed, unknown by me, but it would easily cruise at 100 mph with much more in reserve.
My KZ 900 rode me home at145 MPH in 1974. I was 160 lbs at the time.
1000 cc Kawasaki came out in 1976. The Z1 came out in 1973. I had a 73 Z1 and was impressed with the English twins with them being able to keep up to a certain point. At 150 mph they were nowhere in sight. They did detune the Z1 and KZ1000 after 1973.
You slipped a CBX 1000 6cyl.picture and short video sequence at the begenning of the GS 1000 review ! ! !Not the same looks nor sound. .
@22:02 try telling THAT to a (straight six) Benelli sei ! from 1974 onwards
You ever ridden one? I had a weekend on the 900sei a million years ago. Fuggin' hinge in the middle handling. Lovely smooth engine though.
@@deeza3384 My comment was NOT to be in any way critical of the CBX as regards its performance or abilities it was simply pointing out that the videos error was claiming it as the worlds first mass produced six, when that accolade belongs firmly to Benelli, the previous poster highlighted the fact that sadly the Benelli's head stock was made of jelly, and I have to agree, it was a bit scary trying to hustle it along as tank slappers happened almost randomly with it. as far as I know that wasnt really a problem on the Honda, I say as far as I know because unfortunately I never got to ride one.
@@grahamhill6616 Engine based on the CB 500 Hond 4. Just two extra cylinders of the same dimensions. Allegedly some parts interchange!
I had the Honda 750four K7. It was a pig in corners, but smooth-as on the Hwy. The kicker was easy and never once bit me either.
Ya forgot the Kawasaki 750 triple😮
No ..They Just left it till the end Before My KZ 1000 !!
The Kawi H2 would do 140, in its sleep, if you could keep both wheels on the road. The H1 500 was no slouch, either.
Yes the H2 750 at 118mph - 190 km/hr - the front wheel would skip along the road -
too dangerous to go faster.
It was the H1 that was nicknamed "Widowmaker". First time mentioned in an ad in january 1970.
You're right
Not even a mention of my bike the 1974 Kawasaki 900 Z1A It would do 140 mph and so would the Kawasaki H2 that my friend owned
If you watch the supposedly Z1-B section, there's also a Z1 (12:37) and a Z1-A (13:19) displayed. At 12:41 they've even got an A4 being described as a Z1-B. As for the "exceptional handling", this bloke has obviously never scratched one.
@@stevet7695 I scratched mine a couple of times. It had a nasty habit when in a hard panic stop it wnated to swap ends
Harley Davidson’s on this list? Were there only 20 fast bikes in 1970s cause that’s the only way I would conceive of a sportster being on a 20 fastest Bikes list unless you’re talking about race bikes a Harley race bike might be able to compare with the other manufacturers
Yes i dont think that Harley,or in fact any Harley, other than full race or highly moded could be described as fast.The vid is American however and they are very loyal to Harley.
easy rider was pan heads wasn't it . . .
We had good results with the Yam two stroke of which we ported A real 120 mph was good for those days
In the 1970s, my mate had a Ducati SS which he wishes he still has! In those days the Ducati Darmah was known as the Ducati Drama cos of the problems that owners were often complaining about.
Mine was a 79 Ducati 900SS, it scooted right up to 143 when i chickened out due to curves ahead. It idled at 82 mph, that is the minimum speed you weren't lugging the engine in 5th, a truly beautiful engine. I had a darmah before it, limited by either frame or fork twist which got squirrelly at about 135. Some of the other SS guys did Hailwood tricks to mimic Isle on Man performance.
The XS Eleven , Mono-shock rear ? ? ? Like his smaller brothet XS 850 and 750 were double rear shocks. .
Peter Fonda drove a Panhead in Easy Rider.
Rode You don`t drive a motorcyle
The 70s bikes I want back is the MV Agusta 750 SS or America.
Laverta 1000 jota, Ducati ss900 desmo.
Dream bikes of mine in the 70s
I have a near mint Yamaha 1985 RZ500. I bought it new in 85.
Do you think the prices paid in 2024 for these bikes are unrealistic? When you use the price paid when it was new, then adjust the amount with the inflation rate to 2024, the prices are close to the price when it was new!
I kept anticipating the Yamaha XS11..you finally got to it at 19 minutes into the video. It had everything - looks, power, reliability, performance, looks, - oh did I say looks two times...looks...
Iffy gearbox on them though
My 1980 XS 11 SPECIAL was way better than my 73 ZI. Shaft drive vs chain. Z1 had the edge in the looks dept. For a while I had both at the same time. I would switch out and the Z1 felt smaller than the XS11. Still have the XS11.
Harley Davidson in the list of the fastest motorcycles?
The bot had a sense of humor, maybe??? lol!
Z1R-TC was the American TurboPak turbocharged dealer option
My first big bike was a red 77 BMW R100S. Traded a new ak47 for bike plus 5,000. AK in L.A. were going for 10,000!
The problem with the british bikes of the 70's and earlier was vibration and bits kept falling off. Exactly like harleys (Still do)
I always heard the H2 was nicknamed "Widowmaker" because the frame was made of a spaghetti facsimile. Yes, the powerband was pretty strong, but far from unmanageable. But a frame that warped and twisted like a wet noodle under acceleration, braking and cornering was its real problem.
XS1100 was not monoshock!!
Loved my Norton
I had a 350cc Honda CB 1969 model, I payed R400 ZAR(secondhand) for it and then a 1979 Suzuki GS750 the first air cold 750 Suzuki, I payed R3005 ZAR new.
Suzuki GT 750 "Kettle" Was an 70s icon ?
I knew a guy who is no longer with us who drove a Kawasaki KZ 900. Whether riding alone or with someone on the back would fly along with only one wheel on the ground.
You missed the Honda 900F ltd. I had a '79 model not much could keep up with it.
I tried a CBX once, , Dream bike extremely comfortable, so smooooth running engine , but flex chassis and com-star wheels. . .😐 It is the bike that demonstrated me what Neutral Handling is ☺ but select 3rd gear, rev up slowly at 6,000 rpm and twist the throttle. it would bind in the middle. . 😯
Peter Fonds didn't ride a Sportster on Easy Rider! Trucky.
Velhos e bons tempos
well new bikes now hit 190 to 205 MPH so the old bikes can't come close to that but I still like some of the old bikes
The Norton Commando did NOT have the famous Featherbed frame, like the Dominator or, finally, the 750cc Atlas.
You commented on Peter Fonder riding one of these (while talking about Sportster's) in the movie Easy Rider he rode a early 1960's Panhead.?
Kawasaki H2 750 sucked so much fuel so quickly, the joke about it in the 1970s was that the fuel emptied from the tank so fast, the incoming replacement air, whistled as it passed through the fuel cap air vent.
yes - on full throttle only 12 miles to the gallon.
Just like a ' friggin old muscle heap Still burn rubber and bury it on 7 cylinders.
Yeah, with that 4 gallon tank it could pass anything except a gas station...
Benelli 6, not even mentioned. First 6 cylinder bike.
Enjoyed this video but the estimated values are too high. Have not seen a Guzzi Le Mans go for more than $20,000 on Bring a Trailer and it’s rare to see a Norton Commando go for more than that also.
Yamaha XS 1100 Came out in 1978
I had a 76 CB 750, and I also had a 900 Z1B Cafe racer.
motorbike design is alive and well as a technical art form .....but it's still good i think to throw in your two cents,
but you have to figure leaving final decisions to a group of professionals is in the motorcyclist's, and the world's, best interest. ( there are a lot of things to consider, and the desighn process is extremely complex for it ) ....different companies have different design styles, and that makes for more options.
beyond the showroom floor, there is a thriving aftermarket ready to meet riders customization whims.
Peter Fonda rode a panhead chopper in: Easy Rider.
I was a motorcycle mechanic for 35 years, and cut my teeth on 60s/70's bikes. To include an ironhead sportster in a list of 'fast bikes' is simply laughable. I stopped watching right there... Cheers.
You missed big time Does no one remember when Yamaha brought out the XS Eleven
With the moniker XS. Eleven Cruise missile the first motorcycle to break the 10 second 1/4 at a smoking 9.65 second and almost 125 mph and it would hit over 140 mph top speed , It had the first motorcycle to use a vacuum advance ignition system which made it smooth and incredibly powerful , with the advance giving it a massive power band. He also did a disservice with the
BMW was smooth as silk!
A mate of mine thirty old years ago could punt his R90S very well indeed. No wonder the thing won the inaugural AMA superbike championship.
i can not remember the specific model 2 stroke kawa, but here it was nicknamed "the death machine"
I've never seen a used Sportster sell for 20K.😂
The Confederate in mint condition maybe
The Ducati shown at 23 minutes is not a 750 SS. It is a 750 Sport with a standard valve spring head.
Yamaha XS11 with monoshock ?
If you list the fastest Bikes of the 70s you have to cut out the Harley...
And its easy, just take only the bikes from 78 to 79, japanese and italian.
You cant stand Harley in a row with Ducati, Kawasaki or Agusta.
No mention of about MV Agusta's ...
Well, the error count on this one video puts the channel on a par with AMF Harley-Davidson for quality control.
110 mph for the Sportster?……mmmmm not sure about that?
Been there, done that. 2006 1200 Custom Stage 1.
The late '60's 883 Sportsters were faster than the 1972 1000 cc Sportster. You could run triple digits on these bikes but that was it. You got to remember the oil embargo and the detuning for fuel mileage that was going on at the time.
I had a mint CBX1000 and it wouldn't come close to 135mph. It's much slower than that!