classic superbikes

HMP

HMP

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two cool videos

First is from an AMA race at Laguna Seca, 500cc machines

Some cool onboard footage...though I cant imagine how much that'd change the feeling of the machine having two large cameras strapped to the bike!





And a current racing series in Japan based on older bikes.
Some cool footage here too

 
Man,, that on bike footage seemed really close to the actual thing.i actually felt the sensation of wanting to brake
 
If I am not mistaken, the superbikes of that era were 4-stroke 750cc.
Thanks for posting, brings back memories. Saw many races at laguna through the years.
 
People wanna compare the old to the new. Saying that the new bikes are so much more powerful (they are) and require more skill to navigate.
What they fail to remember, is the old bikes were willing widow makers. The tire were not much more than narrow hard blocks of rubber, the frames were made of shopping carts, and the suspension was basically crappy springs inside of toothpick size tubes.

On board computer management, fuel injection, GPS readouts of issues at certain parts of the track, $100,000 Ohlins suspension kits, salaries in the millions...yeah right.
Back in the day, men were men and sheep were nervous. They partied hard on Saturday night and on race day they rode like hell. There were no cushy motor homes, and most of these guys had real jobs off-season. If you ever meet some of these old-timers, notice how contorted their bodies are and how they walk like Frankenstein. It was truly the days of hell-to-pay.
 
The bikes that I had in the 70's and 80's had plenty of motor but were seriously lacking in suspension, tires, and braking. But we didn't know it. That was what we had to ride. I'm lucky to have survived the good ol days.
 
Friday said:
People wanna compare the old to the new. Saying that the new bikes are so much more powerful (they are) and require more skill to navigate.
What they fail to remember, is the old bikes were willing widow makers. The tire were not much more than narrow hard blocks of rubber, the frames were made of shopping carts, and the suspension was basically crappy springs inside of toothpick size tubes.

On board computer management, fuel injection, GPS readouts of issues at certain parts of the track, $100,000 Ohlins suspension kits, salaries in the millions...yeah right.
Back in the day, men were men and sheep were nervous. They partied hard on Saturday night and on race day they rode like hell. There were no cushy motor homes, and most of these guys had real jobs off-season. If you ever meet some of these old-timers, notice how contorted their bodies are and how they walk like Frankenstein. It was truly the days of hell-to-pay.
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Im sure youve seen On Any Sunday before, but similar as far as seeing how much they are doing with so little.
As for motorhomes - youre seeing their rigs behind them. A lot of the guys are in cargo vans, some in box trucks (small ones).

Yep, today its million dollar machines with composite everything and titanium this and that etc.
Back then it really was taking a street bike and making it faster but deadlier.
 
1971 Kawasaki 750 H2 Mark IV ... aka Death on Two Wheels! That thing had a 750cc 2-cycle engine with ridiculous power band and 75hp that would jump up and bite you if you didn't know when it was going to kick in. The suspension was crap ... front travel was like a massive 8" and rear vertical shock setup was maybe 6" fully compressed and the thing went straight great but it wasn't the best frame for hard curve carving. It did have decent tires that Dunlop came up with for these new bikes but they were good for maybe a couple thousand average miles or maybe a weekend of craziness. That thing was a beast ... smoke belching ... gas guzzling ... ready the throw you ... noisy beast!
 
IMG_1529.JPG
Indeed, the bikes of yesteryear were difficult to ride. But they were very rewarding to ride.
There is a resurgence of popularity of old school superbikes. A lot of them being restored and done in the "resto mod" style. Like Sanctuary (ex above) in Japan. Do an image search for "sanctuary superbikes" of you want perma wood for the next three days!


With modern superbikes, with near 200hp, way lighter, and nearly 100mph in first gear, you can bet your sweet ass you need that modern rubber, modern brakes, and traction control! They are unbelievably fast. And that's off the showroom floor for 15 grand!
 
Some may recall the short lived Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo from the early 80's. That was, at the time, the fastest production bike on the road. Light weight too. Kaw killed it, it is said, because too many riders could not handle it.
Then there was the stupid mandated 85MPM max speedometer on a GPZ 11oo. Idiots were dying because they didn't know they were doing 150MPH. Speedo only said 85.
Way back then I had my first bike. A Kaw 440 LTD with big 34 hp. :D Put 23K miles on it in the first 18 months that I owned it. Put Dunlop Qualifiers on it when the stock tires wore out. The tech at the shop said it was like putting racing tires on a VW bug :D But they held the road great on twisted mountain roads in New Mexico.
 
That Kenny Roberts video was beautiful.

I don't have a superbike. But I do have a Suzuki Boulevard 1500. It goes so much faster than it should. I'm gonna go ride like a jackass and piss off some cagers now, thanks guys... Happy Labor Day, lol.
 
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NCFubar said:
1971 Kawasaki 750 H2 Mark IV ... aka Death on Two Wheels! That thing had a 750cc 2-cycle engine with ridiculous power band and 75hp that would jump up and bite you if you didn't know when it was going to kick in. The suspension was crap ... front travel was like a massive 8" and rear vertical shock setup was maybe 6" fully compressed and the thing went straight great but it wasn't the best frame for hard curve carving. It did have decent tires that Dunlop came up with for these new bikes but they were good for maybe a couple thousand average miles or maybe a weekend of craziness. That thing was a beast ... smoke belching ... gas guzzling ... ready the throw you ... noisy beast!
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Had one back in the days. Love an old 2 smoke.
 
Plenty of love for old two strokes, just not a superbikes !

I owned an Rz350 and for a short time an Rz500, both fun 2smokers. Wish, of course, that I had kept Rz500. Worth a fair bit now.
 
NKD said:
Plenty of love for old two strokes, just not a superbikes !

I owned an Rz350 and for a short time an Rz500, both fun 2smokers. Wish, of course, that I had kept Rz500. Worth a fair bit now.
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This is a YPVS so that power valve made a bit of difference. Wasn't sold in the US. The marketing was "as close to a road race bike as you can get" at the time, much like today's hyper bikes

Guess my ZRX1200r wouldn't be considered a 'super bike' either :D
 
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Ikarus1 said:
This is a YPVS so that power valve made a bit of difference. Wasn't sold in the US. The marketing was "as close to a road race bike as you can get" at the time, much like today's hyper bikes
Click to expand...

The RD350 YPVS is an Rz350 in USA.

The RZ500 also have YPVS, and was much, much faster than the 350. It had an 500cc V4 with about twice as much power.
The 350's came stock with about 35-40 horsepower. We remember them being much faster than they actually were, imo.

There's something about the way a 2stroke rips through its powerband, and its super fun. But the powerband was very thin. They just aren't as fast as we remember them.

A modern 4stroke 450cc dirtbike will outperform them in every way, imo.
 
NKD said:
The RD350 YPVS is an Rz350 in USA.

The RZ500 also have YPVS, and was much, much faster than the 350. It had an 500cc V4 with about twice as much power.
The 350's came stock with about 35-40 horsepower. We remember them being much faster than they actually were, imo.

There's something about the way a 2stroke rips through its powerband, and its super fun. But the powerband was very thin. They just aren't as fast as we remember them.

A modern 4stroke 450cc dirtbike will outperform them in every way, imo.
Click to expand...


All true except the RZ350 had cats and the YPVS sold internationally did not. Made quite a bit of difference evidently. With the aftermarket of the banshee, all of those bikes can easily have power to weight ratio of modern bikes. For not alot of money either.

As far as stock power
"Considering that the 1980 350LC made 47hp and had a powerband step that was very noticeable, Yamaha’s boffins used this technology to not only tame the power delivery but also coax a further 16 horses, some 34% more power, from the same engine size within only a 6 year timeframe."

http://2smoked.com/Yamaha_1985_RZ250_YPVS_F1_Why_the_1985_F1_RZ350.html
 
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Ikarus1 said:
All true except the RZ350 had cats and the YPVS sold internationally did not. Made quite a bit of difference evidently. With the aftermarket of the banshee, all of those bikes can easily have power to weight ratio of modern bikes. For not alot of money either.

As far as stock power
"Considering that the 1980 350LC made 47hp and had a powerband step that was very noticeable, Yamaha’s boffins used this technology to not only tame the power delivery but also coax a further 16 horses, some 34% more power, from the same engine size within only a 6 year timeframe."

http://2smoked.com/Yamaha_1985_RZ250_YPVS_F1_Why_the_1985_F1_RZ350.html
Click to expand...

It did make a difference, but with aftermarket parts it was kinda moot. The 500 I had was a canadian model as there were no imports to US.

Still, think of a 47hp bike (seems really high, maybe crank power) with 33% more power, and a 3000rpm power band, is still not all that much is not going to be a match for modern bikes I am afraid. The 450cc 4stroke dirtbike make 50HP, but more torque and everywhere in the rev range. Put that motor in the same bike and it will smoke that 2 stroke.

And, most importantly, it won't grenade on you while WOT and launch you quickly into the coroners van, lol. Motor seizure is literally the only thing on my mind on a 2 stoke going anywhere beyond 45 mph!
 
Love the classic UJM style of it
 
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