I have them both. Been collecting these gems as they fade away. My favorite however, is my Yamaha Midnight Maxim XJ750. Absolutely love it and wish they'd bring it back
55mph speed limits and focus on 1/4 mile times allowed xs11, vmax, V65, and eliminator bikes to get away with high numerical ratio final drives. Those bikes would scream through the 1/4 but always have you looking for another gear with the current speed limits
I once had a roommate with a v65 saber, he let me ride it. I was a little underwhelmed, owning a Suzuki GS 1150 at the time. Of course my Suzi had a 4/1 header and dyna jet kit, which made a huge difference on its acceleration
I had a 1985 Honda V-65. It was back when I was single and had money! I bought it new, drove it 11 miles to a "performance shop" and told them to make it go fast! Awhile later got clocked on highway between Indian Springs and Las Vegas doing 146mph but still accelerating! Luckily the NHP officer was a friend of mine, lived behind me in Indian Springs. He wanted to see if his brand new fancy pursuit car could catch a big bike like that. It couldn't!
One of the most fastest and scariest bikes i ever rode. At 7000 rpm’s my arms would almost come out of their sockets trying to hold on!! I should never have sold it.
Totally violent! I bought an '85 Kawi ZL900 Eliminator brand new in high school. A couple of buddies and I went out at lunch, trading bikes off to each other for a little bit to see the power increases. One was a Honda CB400, my Eliminator, and finally a V-Max. The jump from the 400 to my 900 was incredible! Quite the difference in "arm pull". Then I jumped on the V-Max and it was a fair bit more. Crazy power! Still have the Kawi today!
I had the second one in town. I went to pick it up and the first one was over there in the corner of their shop in a ball, rider deceased. Then I got it home and they forgot to tighten the front axle bolts! One cap was gone the other hanging by one nut! I got excellent service the rest of the time. Loved that machine!
Agree with that. My last bike was the MAGNA VF 45. NEITHER IMPORTED INTO UK. MUCH BETTER THAN HARLEY CLONES/ LOOK A LIKES being produced then and now.😊
My dad owned GENES MOTORCYCLE SHOP and in the 80s , I BET IVE CLEANED 1000 CARBS ON THOSE.. I LOVED THAT BIKE .. EXCEPT IT LIKE TO STAND UP IN THE REAR UN EXCELLERATION DUE TO DRIVE SHAFT
Agreed. I bought a used (1100 mi) 84 V65 Magna in 1985, and got a really great deal at $1200. from a owner who thought it was more bike than he could handle and so never rode it. I kept it for 7 years, making several long-distance trips while putting about 21k miles on it. I had never owned a bike over 500cc before that, so it was quite a jump. Mine would do a indicated 147mph, and 135 mph with a windshield installed for the longer trips. I loved the maintenance-free shaft drive, even with the rear lift issue. BTW, magazine tests had the 1983 model rated the quickest production bike that year, managing 10.9 et @127mph.
Took me a long time to get my childhood dream bike . Finally bought it in 06 , The V-Max. Only 20,000 miles on it now. No where near as fast as today’s modern bikes , but it’ll never be a punk and it’s super comfy to ride.
I had a 1985 Nighthawk 650! That Bike was really comfortable to ride and had plenty of Power. I sure do wish i didn't get rid of it! Thanks for the post and the great memories of the 80's that it brought back!! +
Had the Pearl Siren blue 83CB650SC. best bike I ever owned. Inline 4, shaft drive, dual front disc brakes, TRAC antidote. If only it would charge at idle.
In 1984 the Honda V65 Sabre was the fastest production bike in the world with a top speed of 155mph 121hp and 92lbs. of torque it could do the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds and 0-60mph in 3 seconds ! At the time these were unheard of numbers for a bike.. FYI !!
The 1983 Honda CB1100F was a one year only model. Vance and Hines tuned one, rolled it off the trailer and set the record for stock bike. Honda refused to give V&H any support money so V&H never raced it again. I put one of those motors in a 1982 CB900F. It was a straight up stock bolt-in, intake through exhaust, and a CBX hunter.
Don’t overlook the Suzuki GS 1150e , 1986ish I believe . It quickly became the base model for many a pro dragrace team . You’ll still see them in action yet today !
I had a 83 Honda Magna V4 750 cruiser! I almost got a speeding ticket doing a 128 mph on radar! I flew by the cop on the Hwy and as soon as he turned on the lights I pulled over. After chatting with the Officer and showing him my licence & insurance he showed me the radar. And he said, because I pulled over immediately he let me go with a Stern warning!
I had and loved a Kawasaki Ninja GPZ750r from 1986 a fast water cooled 4 cylinder that handled well and sounded awesome at 12,000rpm , should have never sold it .
My buddy had the 750 Turbo and could wheelie it for a few hundred feet. Another buddy had a turbo but totalled it the day before I picked up my new 900 Eliminator. Was wearing shorts, a tshirt, sandals, no gloves etc. He lived, no broken bones, just hamburger on each limb, but I'd put a deposit on the Kawi the day before his accident. Had I seen him before the deposit, I don't think I'd have bought another bike!
I owned a 750 Katana for a few years and what a beautiful bike it was to ride. The seating position wasn't perfect and pillion passengers had trouble keeping their feet on the pegs due to vibration but it handled like a Ducati and revved like a wild animal. Another bike I wish I had kept.
Missed a lot of variations 1100 Yamaha maxim / cbrf 1100 factory drag bike / KZ 1100 ltd ...... The 1980's the peak of modern motorcycle popularity. Style performance and cost of operation home runs .. rode by a generation with the balls to ride them 😁😜💥💪
My Dad had the V65 Magna and ZX-10, damn they were fast! Another one he had that’s left off the list is the Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900, that thing was fast too!
I owned a 1984 Yamaha Maxim-X which was basically a Virago which had a FZR 750 5 valve Genesis motor bolted into it at the factory. Was a real sleeper and would do a 11 second 1/4 mile stock. I made a few bucks racing guys with 1200 BMW's - it wasn't even close - left them in the dirt :)
The Paso was the most beautiful bike when it came out. I had a foldout on my wall. My brother had a CBR1000R. The thing was huge, but he's like 6'4". I had a '79, CB 650, and an '82 CB 750F Super Sport. That was a beautiful bike.
When I say "my bike" I am always referring to 1985 v4 v65 sabre! Rode it for 30 years, and still own it, and a parts bike. Unfortunately 30 years of unpampered use does take its toll on wiring, plastic connectors etc, making restoration difficult due to parts availability. I wish I could buy it new again. I've had many bikes, hondas, harleys, customs, etc. but the sabre is my bike.
@@MM_in_Havasu Same here with my Kawi 900 Eliminator I bought new in high school. After seeing my first bike, a mint '80 RD400 crashed, then flipped over, by the next owner a month after I sold it, I swore I'd never sell the Kawi! Love those X's though and would have one in a collection if I was rich!
ZL900 should be on this list, yes. 134mph. Quick enough even with its shaft drive. Best looking muscle/cruiser bike. Had this bike been chain drive, I'm sure it would have lasted much longer. Long enough to get a ZX11 motor, and then it would have been King. I had a chain drive version, with nitrous, and it was a blast. Would love to get it back.....
Had a mint '80 400 I bought off my cousin in '84 with 2500 miles/4000kms on it for my first bike. Sold it and bought a new '85 Kawi Eliminator. Still have that one, but my heart will always belong to the two strokes! I dropped the old steel fender/taillight bracket along with putting chambers on it. Probably dropped 35lbs off it. Just one straight muffler w/o the head pipe was heavier than the whole box from California! Also put Boyessen reeds and K&N air filters on it. No idea of HP increase (betting 15 to 20 on a stock 45hp bike!) and with the weight decrease, it was a rocket! Stock, I had to clutch it to wheelie. After mods, I'd bury the throttle at 1500rpm, rolling, and when it hit the powerband around 5500/6000, it would lift the front wheel sky high! Never drag raced anyone after the mods, but I'll bet I could tie or beat any stock GS or KZ750 of the time!
The Yamaha FJ1100 of 84, 85 is a exceptional bike. I still have mine. I crossed Australia 7 times . A very good sport touring bike. Time for some TLC now, with, 150, 000 ks on the speedo.
I got into racing my '86 FZ600 on the track via a friend who was racing his FJ1100. That bike had so much torque he could hold the front brake and spin the rear wheel at about 10 MPH.
Man! How I miss the bikes and ATV's of the 1980's. I had several Honda dirt and street bikes and a couple of their ATV's including the 350X I used in racing. Even today, I still own a 1987 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade that has seen many multi-state tours including one summer of 7,500 miles and 40 states. The one bike I always wanted but never purchased was the Honda V65 Magna, as a friend owned one that I always loved. He won several drag racing events with that bike.
I remember many of these amazing bikes, either friends owned or seen on the street. The superbike era of the eighties was special. Starting in 79, they went on a tear thru the late 80s. I still remember seeing them at lights and Friday night cruise ins , mid those days.
80 Suzuki GS750E, 81 Suzuki GS 650E, 82 Honda VF750 Sabre, 84 VF500 Interceptor, 89 Suzuki 750 Katana were my 1980's bikes. The 81 650E was my favorite of this group and even though I only kept it a year I managed to put 20,000 miles (including an 1100 mile day) on it. It (+ my later 99 Suzuki SV650) also made me realize that a nice torquey engine was a lot more fun to ride on a daily basis!
Bought mine new in high school and, after seeing my first bike ('80 RD400) after it had been dumped by the next owner, then flipped over backwards by her brother doing wheelies, I could never part with it and still have it to this day!
1982 V45 750 (749cc), bought it new lower, crash bars with highway pegs, adjusted handle bars inward, only short coming was the speedo only went to 95 it could do that on a light cruse like it was nothing. With needle bouncing off the stop. The best bike I ever owned still miss it. Ex wife was pregnant with my daughter.
I wouldn't say teabagged... I've owned both. Where the V-Maxx edged the Magna in power my Honda was such a better riding bike. A lot more nimble. 0-60 times are VERY close.
I also had a BMW K1100RS, a rebodied K1. Yeah, that was a '93 but still little removed from the original K1000s. A little buzzy below 75mph, but quick, fun and solid.
Way back in 1983, i had one week to get a bike and go too my posting. I wanted a magna V65 but none available and had to choose a honda CB1100F. I took that bike up to 150mph and scared myself enough to change it when I could. One bike you overlooked was the Kawasaki Kerker that was a bomb.
My Kawasaki Z1000 was fantastic,for it's time,but,motorcycle technology has advanced by an incredible amount since then,and whilst I really enjoyed the Z1000 at the time,my current bike,a Suzuki gsxr 1000 K2 is superior in every way there's no need to live in the past!.
I had the pleasure of test driving a Yamaha Seca 900 turbo. It was quite fast but after doing a little Google I can't find any mention of the model but I'm 100% certain it was indeed a turbo because when the turbo spooled up you had to have lightning fast reflexes to keep it from hitting the rev-limiter and cutting the ignition. It felt quick and if you ever have the opportunity to ride one I think your be impressed.
I had the Suzuki GS 750 Road it home from the Army. Oklahoma to Ohio. I had it over 135mph. and it had a little more. Excellent Bike. I now have a BMW K1200RS. RIDE ON!!!
The GP ZED 900R for me. I'm lucky enough to own an original 84 A1 version. Brings a smile every time I ride her. Amazed to learn it's the second fastest accelerating bike in this list, and only beaten by the F ZED R 1000.
I witnessed the speed of the 900R when they first came out, at production bike races, on the straights they would come past the Honda VF1000s carrying about 10kph faster speed.
Still have mine I bought new in high school! I've got other bikes, but this will always hold a special place i my heart and I'll never part with it! Did my first couple of long and solo trips (about1500 miles/2500kms) on it to Laconia Bike week in '99 and '00 that created my wunderlust for travelling. Had it cleaned up and checked over and did another 2200 mile (3500km)run on The Long Road group ride I run to The Smoke Out in Rockingham NC. Still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it!
the yamaha R1 didnt replace the yamaha fzr 1000 it was the allways forgotten yamaha R1000 thunderace, in my mind one of the best looking sportmotorcycles
my MAGNA 1100 V65 could reach 248 klm/hr ,( 153,8 mil/hr ) the SABRE with the same engine but higher lift cams was able to reach 256 klm/hr( 158 mil/hr ), ( the MAGNA as a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TOP SPEED AT 160 MIL/HR,), I was able to achive these top speed by having my chest stuck to the fuel tank and having my head in bettwen the handllebar as low asI could, the same with my friend HONDA SABRE,,,🙂😉
I don’t want the Ducati Paso back, to be honest. Ducati eventually sold them at a big discount, which almost had enabled even myself to afford a new ducati. Thank goodness I didn’t do it.
HONDA V 65 MAGNA AND YAMAHA V MAX THE ABSOLUTE TWO OF THE BEST
I have them both. Been collecting these gems as they fade away. My favorite however, is my Yamaha Midnight Maxim XJ750. Absolutely love it and wish they'd bring it back
I have an 89 vmax. An update on the 85 model. A bucket list bike since I was in grade school. It is fun and pretty quick.
I have both of them! 👍🏼👍🏼
Bought a V65 in 84 for $2400 something. Had 2000 miles on it, mint... . Wish I could find one new in crate today.
55mph speed limits and focus on 1/4 mile times allowed xs11, vmax, V65, and eliminator bikes to get away with high numerical ratio final drives. Those bikes would scream through the 1/4 but always have you looking for another gear with the current speed limits
Including Harley Davidson in fast bikes is hilarious!
Had a V65 Saber. This bike was ahead of it's time with liquid cooling, six gears, shaft drive, and very impressive power. Wish I still had it.
I admired that bike and anyone that had the balls to ride it. Beautiful huge bike.
I once had a roommate with a v65 saber, he let me ride it. I was a little underwhelmed, owning a Suzuki GS 1150 at the time. Of course my Suzi had a 4/1 header and dyna jet kit, which made a huge difference on its acceleration
I had a 1985 Honda V-65. It was back when I was single and had money! I bought it new, drove it 11 miles to a "performance shop" and told them to make it go fast!
Awhile later got clocked on highway between Indian Springs and Las Vegas doing 146mph but still accelerating! Luckily the NHP officer was a friend of mine, lived behind me in Indian Springs. He wanted to see if his brand new fancy pursuit car could catch a big bike like that. It couldn't!
I still have mine :)
V-MAX THE BEAST
Knew someone who put a ''re-calibrated'' V-boost top end on a 1300 Venture Royale. Only touring bike that did power wheelies in 3rd gear!
One of the most fastest and scariest bikes i ever rode. At 7000 rpm’s my arms would almost come out of their sockets trying to hold on!! I should never have sold it.
Totally violent! I bought an '85 Kawi ZL900 Eliminator brand new in high school. A couple of buddies and I went out at lunch, trading bikes off to each other for a little bit to see the power increases. One was a Honda CB400, my Eliminator, and finally a V-Max. The jump from the 400 to my 900 was incredible! Quite the difference in "arm pull". Then I jumped on the V-Max and it was a fair bit more. Crazy power! Still have the Kawi today!
I had 1983 Honda V45 750 v4 . Loved that bike .
me too
I had the second one in town. I went to pick it up and the first one was over there in the corner of their shop in a ball, rider deceased. Then I got it home and they forgot to tighten the front axle bolts! One cap was gone the other hanging by one nut! I got excellent service the rest of the time. Loved that machine!
Best 80s power cruiser I think was the V65 MAGNA. Had an 83 model and loved it
Agree with that. My last bike was the MAGNA VF 45. NEITHER IMPORTED INTO UK. MUCH BETTER THAN HARLEY CLONES/ LOOK A LIKES being produced then and now.😊
I had an 84 magna 700cc. Loved that bike, then some asshat pulled out in front of me. The bike stopped but I didn't.
My dad owned GENES MOTORCYCLE SHOP and in the 80s , I BET IVE CLEANED 1000 CARBS ON THOSE.. I LOVED THAT BIKE .. EXCEPT IT LIKE TO STAND UP IN THE REAR UN EXCELLERATION DUE TO DRIVE SHAFT
And the Sabre earlier version as well.
Agreed. I bought a used (1100 mi) 84 V65 Magna in 1985, and got a really great deal at $1200. from a owner who thought it was more bike than he could handle and so never rode it. I kept it for 7 years, making several long-distance trips while putting about 21k miles on it. I had never owned a bike over 500cc before that, so it was quite a jump. Mine would do a indicated 147mph, and 135 mph with a windshield installed for the longer trips. I loved the maintenance-free shaft drive, even with the rear lift issue. BTW, magazine tests had the 1983 model rated the quickest production bike that year, managing 10.9 et @127mph.
OMG I had a GPZ 1100 nothing could beat it .The best Superbike of its time....1984 Awesome.
Idk. I had an 83 and it would have been better off with some CV carbs
I agree. I got an 83 with an 1170.
I had a 1982 GPZ 1100! Awesome is the word for it.
Maverick rode a GPZ in the first movie
@ProtoType99468 little known fact that Kawasaki had a GPz and a GPZ. Maverick rode the GPz.
Took me a long time to get my childhood dream bike . Finally bought it in 06 , The V-Max. Only 20,000 miles on it now. No where near as fast as today’s modern bikes , but it’ll never be a punk and it’s super comfy to ride.
I had a 1985 Nighthawk 650! That Bike was really comfortable to ride and had plenty of Power. I sure do wish i didn't get rid of it! Thanks for the post and the great memories of the 80's that it brought back!!
+
Classy looking bikes. I also liked the CB700 Or Nighthawk 700sc..really wanted the red on black model. For a smaller fun bike the GPZ 550 ...
Had the Pearl Siren blue 83CB650SC. best bike I ever owned. Inline 4, shaft drive, dual front disc brakes, TRAC antidote. If only it would charge at idle.
I still have my 1984 candy apple red Nighthawk. Looks as good as the day I bought it. Fastest production 650 at the time. Great, great bike!
I had one too! Blew my brothers Harley off the road! 😂
I had an '83 NH650 burg in color. Shaftie. 6- speed with 6st gearOD....bought it brand new for under $3000.... sure do miss it..
VMax was the king of the street fighters and the second gen 1700 is off the charts.❤❤❤
In 1984 the Honda V65 Sabre was the fastest production bike in the world with a top speed of 155mph 121hp and 92lbs. of torque it could do the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds and 0-60mph in 3 seconds ! At the time these were unheard of numbers for a bike.. FYI !!
That bike was clocked at 177 by PC magazine in 1984
I want to own a 1100 Honda Magna again!!!!
I loved it and should never have sold it!!
The 1983 Honda CB1100F was a one year only model. Vance and Hines tuned one, rolled it off the trailer and set the record for stock bike. Honda refused to give V&H any support money so V&H never raced it again. I put one of those motors in a 1982 CB900F. It was a straight up stock bolt-in, intake through exhaust, and a CBX hunter.
My very first motorcycle was a Harley Davidson, biggest piece of trash then still trash now.
2 wheeled agricultural vehicle. I have NEVER ridden a bike that handled as badly or was as uncomfortable to ride.
Hahahahardly Ableson's should be on the list for the biggest piles of sheeit! 😂😂😂😂
Lead sled.
Kawasaki z1000r
Briggs and Davidson on 2 wheels
#1 theme on these vintage bike videos is "I never should have got rid of it" 😂
I rode a beautiful Glory Red 1986 V65 Magna from 1989 until 2022. I sure miss that old bike...
I see a lot of Ken sr Kaplan and his bikes he rescues!!👍👍🛎️🛎️ he is that man 🇺🇸
I had a Honda "5" 65 Magna. Loved it.
I like to think most of this was started be the mighty _XS Eleven_ back in 1978. 😉
Don’t overlook the Suzuki GS 1150e , 1986ish I believe .
It quickly became the base model for many a pro dragrace team .
You’ll still see them in action yet today !
Big time
Came out in 1984. I had a 1983 GS-1100-ES.
I had an 84. Was a great bike. Ex wife bugged me til I sold it. Should have got rid of her then and kept the bike!!!
I had a 85, you had to anti-EPA those bikes, ditch the air box, put a header on it, and a dyna jet kit. Super quick then, night and day difference
@@scottmcburney8938
Did my Mr. Turbo 1340 kit count!
I had a 83 Honda Magna V4 750 cruiser! I almost got a speeding ticket doing a 128 mph on radar! I flew by the cop on the Hwy and as soon as he turned on the lights I pulled over.
After chatting with the Officer and showing him my licence & insurance he showed me the radar. And he said, because I pulled over immediately he let me go with a Stern warning!
Same exact story happened to me in my 87 GTA Trans Am.
So third gear
@@magna116i passed a cop at 160 mph one time. I didn't get a ticket either.
start video for FASTEST bike from the 80s. First up HD. Stop video and move on to a different video
Yea right, but I like the Honda 565 aka V65.
Y'all seem to forget about the Yamaha XS1100
Exactly. Harley was never in any running for fastest anything.
I had and loved a Kawasaki Ninja GPZ750r from 1986 a fast water cooled 4 cylinder that handled well and sounded awesome at 12,000rpm , should have never sold it .
I had a gpz 550 and it was awesome too
My buddy had the 750 Turbo and could wheelie it for a few hundred feet. Another buddy had a turbo but totalled it the day before I picked up my new 900 Eliminator. Was wearing shorts, a tshirt, sandals, no gloves etc. He lived, no broken bones, just hamburger on each limb, but I'd put a deposit on the Kawi the day before his accident. Had I seen him before the deposit, I don't think I'd have bought another bike!
@@briansauer6695 OUCH !
An honorable mention here for the Yamaha 700 Maxim X. Worthy of consideration. One I wish I had back.
I was looking to see if anybody would mention it. I had an 85, pretty blue color and that engine was so smooth and fast. I rode it a lot.
@@lesran I had a blue one as well. Smooth, incredibly quick.
had a pair of the Fazer`s -same motor but chain drive --call the baby "max" my buddy and brother had the x so smooth
I owned a 750 Katana for a few years and what a beautiful bike it was to ride. The seating position wasn't perfect and pillion passengers had trouble keeping their feet on the pegs due to vibration but it handled like a Ducati and revved like a wild animal. Another bike I wish I had kept.
I miss my two V65 Magnas.
Had a CBX 1000 and a GSX-R 1100
Great performance and SOUND 🙌🏻
Had the V65 Magna, bought it in 83, super fast bike for that time
Missed a lot of variations 1100 Yamaha maxim / cbrf 1100 factory drag bike / KZ 1100 ltd ...... The 1980's the peak of modern motorcycle popularity. Style performance and cost of operation home runs .. rode by a generation with the balls to ride them 😁😜💥💪
The nighthawk line held its own too. The 550 nighthawk was impressive for such a small bike
My Dad had the V65 Magna and ZX-10, damn they were fast! Another one he had that’s left off the list is the Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900, that thing was fast too!
The Vmax before Ronald Reagan upped the embargo tax
CBX sound awesome!
I have a 1988 CBR1000F, it is still a very fast and comfortable bike!
Happy to say that I owned 2 of these, the 1100 Katana and the Vmax, both awesome machines.
I owned a 1984 Yamaha Maxim-X which was basically a Virago which had a FZR 750 5 valve Genesis motor bolted into it at the factory. Was a real sleeper and would do a 11 second 1/4 mile stock. I made a few bucks racing guys with 1200 BMW's - it wasn't even close - left them in the dirt :)
They are seriously underrated. I had an 85. Scary fast acceleration. Pretty civilized too.
Had the 85 model, wicked fast
Harley Davidson = Tractor
The coolest Tractor ever made.
Nah.
Funny, they are both simple to work on but i just wanted to point out that honda literally makes tractors and mowers so...yeah...theres that
The Paso was the most beautiful bike when it came out. I had a foldout on my wall. My brother had a CBR1000R. The thing was huge, but he's like 6'4". I had a '79, CB 650, and an '82 CB 750F Super Sport. That was a beautiful bike.
Miss my 1979 CB 750F Super Sport wished I hadn't sold it....
When I say "my bike" I am always referring to 1985 v4 v65 sabre! Rode it for 30 years, and still own it, and a parts bike. Unfortunately 30 years of unpampered use does take its toll on wiring, plastic connectors etc, making restoration difficult due to parts availability. I wish I could buy it new again. I've had many bikes, hondas, harleys, customs, etc. but the sabre is my bike.
Hi. I just sold an 84 v65magna and still own an 84 v65 Sabre . My friend liked it so much that he bought an 84 V65 Sabre.. we ride together !!
I miss my /Honda CBX ....wish I'd never sold it....
Still got mine since new! 1979 silver CBX. Still have the PDI sheet and dealer paperwork from Honda as well.
I have a 1981 CBX for sale if interested? I haven't advertised it.
@@MM_in_Havasu Same here with my Kawi 900 Eliminator I bought new in high school. After seeing my first bike, a mint '80 RD400 crashed, then flipped over, by the next owner a month after I sold it, I swore I'd never sell the Kawi! Love those X's though and would have one in a collection if I was rich!
1986 ZL900 908cc o-60 mph in 2.9
shaft drive.
The Yamaha FJ1100 should have been in this company, would have stayed with most of them and out performed some of these as well.
Zl's were the best. I had a 87 zl1000. I was always in front up to 100. Then the vmax would catch up
@@claydand2420 Then I have my ZRX1200.
ZL900 should be on this list, yes. 134mph. Quick enough even with its shaft drive. Best looking muscle/cruiser bike. Had this bike been chain drive, I'm sure it would have lasted much longer. Long enough to get a ZX11 motor, and then it would have been King. I had a chain drive version, with nitrous, and it was a blast. Would love to get it back.....
Is that the Eliminator? If so, it also came in a 1000.
I want a VMax 1200.......love the styling
My Dad Kawasaki KZ 900 was a very Fast & Reliable Motorcycle & lasted 72,000 miles on it.
I owned the '86 VF750R , sold it to my brother after I got married.
Missing The RD range my heart will always belong to the RD350 YPVS
Had a mint '80 400 I bought off my cousin in '84 with 2500 miles/4000kms on it for my first bike. Sold it and bought a new '85 Kawi Eliminator. Still have that one, but my heart will always belong to the two strokes! I dropped the old steel fender/taillight bracket along with putting chambers on it. Probably dropped 35lbs off it. Just one straight muffler w/o the head pipe was heavier than the whole box from California! Also put Boyessen reeds and K&N air filters on it. No idea of HP increase (betting 15 to 20 on a stock 45hp bike!) and with the weight decrease, it was a rocket! Stock, I had to clutch it to wheelie. After mods, I'd bury the throttle at 1500rpm, rolling, and when it hit the powerband around 5500/6000, it would lift the front wheel sky high! Never drag raced anyone after the mods, but I'll bet I could tie or beat any stock GS or KZ750 of the time!
The Yamaha FJ1100 of 84, 85 is a exceptional bike. I still have mine. I crossed Australia 7 times . A very good sport touring bike. Time for some TLC now, with, 150, 000 ks on the speedo.
I got into racing my '86 FZ600 on the track via a friend who was racing his FJ1100. That bike had so much torque he could hold the front brake and spin the rear wheel at about 10 MPH.
Fj for the win mine still hauls
Great bikes, I prefer the looks of the 1100 to the 1200, and that grunty bulletproof engine lived on in the XJR1200 & 1300.
Yes I cant believe the FJ and the GSXR 1150 didn't make the list.
Man! How I miss the bikes and ATV's of the 1980's. I had several Honda dirt and street bikes and a couple of their ATV's including the 350X I used in racing. Even today, I still own a 1987 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade that has seen many multi-state tours including one summer of 7,500 miles and 40 states.
The one bike I always wanted but never purchased was the Honda V65 Magna, as a friend owned one that I always loved. He won several drag racing events with that bike.
I remember many of these amazing bikes, either friends owned or seen on the street. The superbike era of the eighties was special. Starting in 79, they went on a tear thru the late 80s. I still remember seeing them at lights and Friday night cruise ins , mid those days.
If i could, i would go back to the 70s to buy my next bike.
80 Suzuki GS750E, 81 Suzuki GS 650E, 82 Honda VF750 Sabre, 84 VF500 Interceptor, 89 Suzuki 750 Katana were my 1980's bikes. The 81 650E was my favorite of this group and even though I only kept it a year I managed to put 20,000 miles (including an 1100 mile day) on it. It (+ my later 99 Suzuki SV650) also made me realize that a nice torquey engine was a lot more fun to ride on a daily basis!
Great list of bikes! I had a 1990 GSX 600f - - 15 bikes later, I still miss it!
I miss my blue/black 84 Honda Nighthawk S. Good looking, was light and handled great!
I loved those and that exact colour combo. Have a buddy in Florida that still has his.
For me, I always thought Kawasaki’s GPZ line of bikes were some of the most beautiful. The fact that they could haul ass was a bonus…….
They were and still are.GPZ is Kz1000's unruly child. Ninja is GPZ's child.
Kawasaki Eliminator! 🤟😎🤟
Bought mine new in high school and, after seeing my first bike ('80 RD400) after it had been dumped by the next owner, then flipped over backwards by her brother doing wheelies, I could never part with it and still have it to this day!
I was interested until you started with a tractor called harley. The slowest bikes out there
1982 V45 750 (749cc), bought it new lower, crash bars with highway pegs, adjusted handle bars inward, only short coming was the speedo only went to 95 it could do that on a light cruse like it was nothing. With needle bouncing off the stop. The best bike I ever owned still miss it. Ex wife was pregnant with my daughter.
Saber
Dam. Now I want to ride the Max today
1983 Honda CB1100F, 108 bhp.
With the VMAX, Yamaha teabagged Honda and put Fartley Davidson on suicide watch.
I wouldn't say teabagged... I've owned both. Where the V-Maxx edged the Magna in power my Honda was such a better riding bike. A lot more nimble. 0-60 times are VERY close.
I also had a BMW K1100RS, a rebodied K1. Yeah, that was a '93 but still little removed from the original K1000s. A little buzzy below 75mph, but quick, fun and solid.
I had a 1985 VF1000R. A 600 pound pig/rhino that I miss very much.
You missed one of the best ones....Kawasaki 1000 Eliminator.
1983 Suzuki GS750ES was my first street bike, still have it today but don’t ride if much.
Video compliments of Kaplan Cycles
One to add would be the 86 yamaha maximx canadian model 750cc. Think it was the first 5 valve sport cruiser with 92 hp
28 seconds in he calls the gs1100e a gsxr1000..lol..that was enough for me.
I had an 83' Maxim 750 that was quick.
Way back in 1983, i had one week to get a bike and go too my posting. I wanted a magna V65 but none available and had to choose a honda CB1100F. I took that bike up to 150mph and scared myself enough to change it when I could. One bike you overlooked was the Kawasaki Kerker that was a bomb.
My Kawasaki Z1000 was fantastic,for it's time,but,motorcycle technology has advanced by an incredible amount since then,and whilst I really enjoyed the Z1000 at the time,my current bike,a Suzuki gsxr 1000 K2 is superior in every way there's no need to live in the past!.
Yes there is!😮, that was when I still had hair!😢😊😂❤
Ya forgot the Kawasaki 750 turbo 😮
I owned one, I think it was a 1986 model. Awesome bike that I rode cross country several times.
It's in the intro, being called a ZX10 lol. At 0:20. And also a whole segment at 10:00
I had the pleasure of test driving a Yamaha Seca 900 turbo. It was quite fast but after doing a little Google I can't find any mention of the model but I'm 100% certain it was indeed a turbo because when the turbo spooled up you had to have lightning fast reflexes to keep it from hitting the rev-limiter and cutting the ignition. It felt quick and if you ever have the opportunity to ride one I think your be impressed.
Seca turbo was a 650, and wasn't great
I will say you forget the Yamaha xj 900 83
97 hp 128 mph and a enjoyable bike to ride
XJ900 was fun...cool looking too
I wish I had held onto my 1986 Yamaha Fazer 700.
Me too.
Raced one for a friend of mine who was to big to see the full potential of it I was 150lbs went 11.50s in the qtr.
Had one of those 20 valves too,very smooth fast and beautiful
That 1985 V-max had a distinct rear wheel they only made that 1st year then changed it.
Strange there is no 2 stroke here although they mastered this era
Gamma5 and RD 5. Awesome
I don't believe 2 stroke street bikes were built in the 80's!!😂
@@TimothyAustfjord
The RZ500 was made from 1984-86, and the RG500 was made from 1985-87.
Kawasaki Eliminator 900 please!!
And it had a 0-60 time of 3.0 seconds.
Exactly! It was faster than a lot of the junk listed here!
I love the V MAX!
I had the Suzuki GS 750 Road it home from the Army. Oklahoma to Ohio. I had it over 135mph. and it had a little more. Excellent Bike. I now have a BMW K1200RS. RIDE ON!!!
The GP ZED 900R for me. I'm lucky enough to own an original 84 A1 version. Brings a smile every time I ride her. Amazed to learn it's the second fastest accelerating bike in this list, and only beaten by the F ZED R 1000.
I witnessed the speed of the 900R when they first came out, at production bike races, on the straights they would come past the Honda VF1000s carrying about 10kph faster speed.
The Honda‘s and Yamaha’s back then were superior just like today! Currently riding a 2023 Yamaha MT 10 and it is phenomenal.
You forgot an honorable mention of the Yamaha FJ 1200
I remember having posters of both the VFR750 and VF1000 on my bedroom walls as a kid.
I had a Suzuki 1200 Madura,a fast machine,with a six speed.
V65 Sabre, VMax first gen, any Kawi 1000. That’s the list.
Kawasaki Eliminater was awesome and so was the Yamaha V Max !
Rg500,rd500 both 2t and fast for size of engine
The mid 80's Fxrp and Rz500 would be 2 of my picks.
I always wanted a Z-! or Z-900. I did get a KZ-1000TD. Miss it.
I want my 84’ V65 back!
How about the '83 Suzuki GS1100E that beat a race prepped Harley V-Rod on Pinks TV show!
had 2 gpz's back in the day , always my favorite
Ive just picked up a GPX750R to add to my small collection of 80s bikes, I'm really impressed with it, you don't see many around these days.
They didn't mention the Suzuki GS1150E
Yes they did
My first street legal motorcycle was a 1984 Kawasaki 1100 LTD shaft driven beast lol
Yet, they didn’t show the 85-86 Kawasaki eliminator 900. I had one. It was a phenomenal bike!!!
Still have mine I bought new in high school! I've got other bikes, but this will always hold a special place i my heart and I'll never part with it! Did my first couple of long and solo trips (about1500 miles/2500kms) on it to Laconia Bike week in '99 and '00 that created my wunderlust for travelling. Had it cleaned up and checked over and did another 2200 mile (3500km)run on The Long Road group ride I run to The Smoke Out in Rockingham NC. Still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it!
bought 1985 v65magna 5 years ago , I'll be keeping it until I can . the Honda C30vfr750 and the GPZ900R would be nice to collect
I want my '83 Honda VF750C!!!
the yamaha R1 didnt replace the yamaha fzr 1000 it was the allways forgotten yamaha R1000 thunderace, in my mind one of the best looking sportmotorcycles
my MAGNA 1100 V65 could reach 248 klm/hr ,( 153,8 mil/hr ) the SABRE with the same engine but higher lift cams was able to reach 256 klm/hr( 158 mil/hr ), ( the MAGNA as a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TOP SPEED AT 160 MIL/HR,), I was able to achive these top speed by having my chest stuck to the fuel tank and having my head in bettwen the handllebar as low asI could, the same with my friend HONDA SABRE,,,🙂😉
My honda vf500f2f put out 72bhp and 135mph 1986
My brother had a 85 gs 1150 E A fast nice handling bike.
I don’t want the Ducati Paso back, to be honest. Ducati eventually sold them at a big discount, which almost had enabled even myself to afford a new ducati. Thank goodness I didn’t do it.