The KZ750 twin was sublime, possibly one of the nicest bikes I've ever ridden. A bit tall, a bit long but the engine was a peach, smooth, easy handling and bags of grunt. Compared to the z650 and z900 it was a different beast, easy going gentle power.
I had one too. Mine was a neglected orphan that was pretty far from running when i got it. I was poor so the price was right. A little sweat equity and it was a pretty Jim Dandy bike. Road it to work and really enjoyed it. I liked the looks and the sound.
The modest horsepower was mentioned, but this machine was a grunter. It won the NZ 750 hillclimb championship in 1978. And from 30 mph you didn't need to change down to pass anything. 60mpg at 60 mph open road commuting. Over 100, 000 km before it 1st went to the shop - did my own regular maintenance including valve shims.
My first brand new vehicle was a 1979 Kawasaki KZ750 I loved that little bike ! It was fast maneuverable and I had zero problems with it. I bought it to ride to work 40 miles one way. Smooth on the Highways great in the Twisties all around great bike
I learned to ride in collage on my friends Rickmen Royal Enfield. After RE closed they sold 200 sets of 750 engine|trans combo to the Rickmen bros. They put this into a nickel plated chrome moly frame with triple disc brakes, 45 mm forks and fiber glass body work. The bike was very light, fast and handled incredible!
I remember as a lad the Rickman Interceptor being advertised as the cheapest 750 on the market, really wanted one at the time and it's still on the list for when the lotto comes in!
My cousin worked at royal enfield near bradford upon avon near Bath. He was very much into motocross Maico 490 two strokes then the two stroke yz490 which were so fast in those times.
Had a few different bikes over the years but my Z750 was my total favorite. 2 into 1 exhaust. Sound, power, comfort. Unfortunately written off in a car on bike accident. would love another one.
Good review right in my era of motorcycling. I worked at a Kawasaki shop and used the Z750 as a demo bike. We sold quite a few and that was down to having a demo bike. Very impressive low end torque and would really accelerate very well at low revs. Very impressive at 2000 rpm with no screaming needed to make progress swiftly. Although tall it was very comfortable and balanced very well. I once drove it two up across Edinburgh and never had to put a foot down even at lights. Just kept it trickling forward and feet up. I toured Scotland on it and it was the perfect choice for the North of Scotland roads. Good memories,
@@bikerdood1100 most impressive pulling uphill on the test circuit, the party piece if demoing with a pillion who didn't want to drive it was to use low rpm from 1500 to 2500 then upshift uphill the low end torque was really impressive especially uphill with a surge of power which impressed many people on the demo run. It was especially favoured by older riders used to british twins who wanted the reliability without the oil leaks and constant maintenance of a British twin.
Ah, another person, like my mate Gordon (from Glasgow) who must love riding in the wet 🤭 Gordon reckoned that, if it wasn’t raining at that moment, it almost certainly would, later the same day!
@@GT380man actually the first week was in sunshine and the most beautiful scenery rode up the east coast and down the west coast in good weather. A trip to Sky ended in a day of rain then sunshine from Sky down through glorious Glencoe across Rannoch moor into Perthshire and back to Aberdeenshire. Just one day of rain in a 10 day trip and some of the best riding and scenery.
@@GT380man on a trip to Edinburgh castle the guide quipped "over there is fife if you can't see it it's raining - if you can it means it's going to rain "
I restored a Z750 twin about 15 year’s ago. Lovely bike, looked great and rode well. I ended up selling it a few years ago and still regret that decision to this day 😢
These series of bike vids is fascinating watching and beautifully educational. The more I learn about the searingly tantalising world of motorbikes, the more I realise just how much I don't know! Thanks for the terrific production of your vids! 👍
Great list! I had a Kawasaki Z750 Twin for many years (sor, thawt i saw one in thumbnail, nevertheless...) - great bike; Mad Max style, torque master, unbreakable engine; flexy 70's frame, tyres like bakelite - bloody brilliant! CYA277S, where are you?
I've been riding since 1978 and of all the bikes I've owned my favourite by a country mile was the Z750 twin I had for ten years. I think I did more miles on her than all my other bikes put together. It was my first 'big' bike and what they say about your first love being your greatest absolutely holds true for me with regards to the Zed. I've owned bigger and far better bikes since but I'd swap any of them for a mint Z750 in a heartbeat.
My bro-in-law had one of the '68 Interceptor II models, it was wicked cool and left staccato burnouts. Man, that thing was quick and dirty. I just loved it. He traded it for an R69S hack rig with under 100 miles which, I suppose was a good deal. In 1981, Lynnwood (WA) Cycle Barn was selling new KZ750 twins (all years) for $1395 while the Fours were selling for $2 Grand minimum. The twins had a rep for vibrating badly and they mostly ended up commuters with Windjammer fairings with lunch boxes strapped to the accessory luggage racks. At the time, I chose to buy a Virago 750 instead and was happier for it.
I rode a KZ750 from Washington DC to Fort Bragg, NC, by way of Skyline Drive. I am 191 CM tall and weigh about 100 KG. The bike was comfortable, never lacking in power. Had good handling in the winding mountain road. Smooth and reliable, a nice tourer, yet no top-heavy feeling. Quick enough. The guy to whom I delivered it turned it into a bagger and rode many happy years.
@@bikerdood1100 For me, the limiting factor is insufficient opportunities to ride the bikes I’ve already got! Used to be four, now down to two. I’m very tempted to add one machine to my miniature “fleet”, but don’t know what to get. I’ve restored many 1970s Suzukis, owning two examples of their triples at each capacity. Last bike sold was my bought-new GSX1400K6. Complete idiot selling it for buttons, it was essentially like new despite age and mileage, because it shared accommodation with the trailer queens, the GT380B & GT750A. But we were emigrating for at least three years (that was the plan, anyway) and there was a possibility we’d never return, so I sold everything including our home, keeping with a good friend only the two bikes where every washer had been selected by me & one of which I’ve owned the actual example, not just the model, since 1978. I know many would say buying the best example of a ‘14 would be an unambitious choice, but I would allow me to use some of the many parts I have for the model (exhausts, huggers etc). But the recent Kawasaki and Triumph twin cylinder models look astonishingly beautiful to my eyes in a way that the bruiser Suzuki GSX1400 is not. Occasionally, I’m tempted buy an E-bike like a Zero with the extended range pack. However I recall my jaw dropping when I realised I was looking at £20,000 & God knows what they’ll be now. The current rationale is if petrol becomes difficult to come by, because of the climate change fraud, I’d still be able to ride, provided mains power remained on! Decisions, decisions. Nice problem to have when alls said & done 😊 Ps: thank you for making such excellent mini documentaries. You do these so well. Mike
Nice collection, again. I had a Z750 Kawasaki for way to short a time (you know, cirkumstances..), and of all the bikes i have ridden, noone made me feel emidiatly at home, first time I sat on it. It was of cause not the power, but something I can´t define, it just felt so right to me.
The Interceptor should have been a better bike than it was. On paper it was head a shoulders above Triumph and Norotn and except for the crank failures it would have been.
The ‘power band’ is what makes a nice 250 2T attractive…for me at least. I had a Kawasaki KR-1 back in 1992, followed by buying a brand new Suzuki RGV250P in 1993. Both incredible bikes.. the RGV was better in quality (well, it was new), the engine was less frantic.. but, the KR-1 was excitement dialled up to 10!! Incredible little bike.. On a certain ‘private ‘long driveway, I saw 136mph flat on the tank! Loved that bike 😎
For me it’s often the opposite a fun power band is only fun for so long For me bags of immediate torque is way more fun Coming out a corner in an6 Gear and bam Now that’s entertaining
In the mid 70s Yamaha put out a 650 vertical twin that was a ripper ! The flat track guys loved it , the chopper guys that liked the British looks and Japanese reliably loved them .The full on dirt guys couldn't wait to pop it into a Rickman frame , suspension kit to the tune of near 10 k at that time...
Another top vid. Unlike most people my favourite thing in the world is a two stroke power band. If that beautiful NSR had a wallop as it went up through the revs it would be perfect. Sadly, making a two stroke behave like a 4 stroke with a linear power band removes what makes 2 strokes so much fun.
@@bikerdood1100Absolutely. The few 4 strokes I've owned have all been torquey. (TL1000s, GS 450s and GSXR 1000 K5) Revvy 4 strokes seem the worst of both worlds. My favourite bike is easily my Honda RS125 GP bike. 71 kilos ready to race, 44 HP. I can regularly beat 1000 4 strokes at the track and I'm far from a great rider. It's great to see their reaction when they find I'm on a 125!
Nice work mate and thanks for that. Some lovely classics ther. Almost bought the new iteration of the Interceptor a short while ago, but went in another direction. Didn't want a repeat of the troubles I had with the Lightning I had.
I was the head shop mechanic for our Kawasaki/Suzuki dealership in the '70s and recall the era's machines well. We only sold two of the KZ750 twins as I recall; the 650 was more sought after and we sold many of those. The KZ400 has emerged over time to my mind as a super workhorse for its class but it had a very trying time shortly after we sold a few; top end oil leaking was wreaking havoc! Turned out that oil was being pumped up two studs at the center rear of the cylinders and spilling profusely over the externals of the top end. Kawasaki very quickly came up with their "product improvement kit" which required a teardown to the base gasket with new studs, some sealers, and gaskets. They got on top of the problem at the factory and by 1978, the KZ400 was a very desirable machine. I'd like to own one today.
I had a KZ 750 Twin and I loved it ,I did many miles on it and enjoyed every one of them, I traded it in for A Z1000 which was another fantastic bike even if it was a little scary at times. 😃😃😃
I used to buy Z750s when they were cheap. Apart from the starter clutch I thought they were ace. I put a sidecar on one, kept it on solo gearing and the engine didn’t seem to notice. The forks sulked a bit though.
Clicked because of the KZ750. I bought one last year for peanuts in "mostly running" condition. I am planning on tearing it down this winter and converting to EFI. Had a KZ400 prior, was a really good bike, the KZ750 is kinda just a scaled up version. Really handsome bikes though, of all the UJM's I felt like Kawasaki's were the best looking. (I also really appreciate how Kawasaki seems to over-engineer everything, almost like the Germans)
Yep, I had a '92 750 Trident and loved it to bits, literally. I was not told it had an unmolested starter, and so it broke, just at a time when I had no money to fix it. Mabe when I retire I'll get another.
I have a buddy who has one of these Interceptors and I can say, having ridden Triumph's older Speed Twins, that it's a hot rod not to be underestimated.
They are beasts, unfortunately the company was a bit too small. Legend has it Royal Enfield had their factory closed by the owners even though their order book was full
Nice to learn of bikes I have never seen. I was a 2 stroke nut but in the US the RZ350 was the last streetbike. Tried to buy one once. For me the 84-85 Kawasaki 750 turbo has been my favorite machine. Just got her running again last week. Needs tires and have rust repair on the tank but should be rideable in a few weeks. 140+ hp.
@@bikerdood1100 I have had mine since the mid 90's. Took 7 years to get the parts to get it rebuilt the 1st time. This time mainly the turbo was the problem. It is a real hoot to ride and sounds wild!
Great to see the Ariel Arrow in there. Unusual styling, but the first model (Airfix) motorcycle I built. 😊. Oh and the much forgotten original RE interceptor.
👍the eighties 250 two stokes were definitely under rated. I bought a mk1 tzr 250 to replace a tz 350 race bike. It wasn't as fast in a straight line but could go round the inside of gsxr 750s in the corners, the poor old Kawasaki Z750 got a proper roasting in the bike magazines at the the time. As you say everyone wanted 4 cylinders. If they bought it out today it would sell by the shed load if royal Enfield sales of 650 twins are anything to go by. Ps. I could be wrong but I dont believe the original royal Enfield interceptor was wet sump. Like the 350 bullet the oil tank was cast into the back of the crankcase..
Loved my kz750 twin, was very nice to look at and ride was long heavy and a torque monster that would burn the dunlop 752 for twenty feet without dumping the clutch.
A friend had a Z750 hardtail chop in the early 90s, with no electric start. It vibrated worse than my T140. I remember trying to kickstart it, when it kicked back and clouted me on the shin. Painful, but probably not as painful as his wife's backside after a 500 mile round trip to Devon on the virtually non-existent pillion seat. I thought of getting an early 90s Trident a couple of years ago, but when I sat on one, the riding position just didn't work for me, too cramped compared to my T140, so I had a rethink and bought a GS550L instead.
Interesting the Kawasaki is really best known for its smoothness, putting an engine in a different chassis can make surprising difference, resonant vibes can result, some Tritons can buz like a SOB
@@bikerdood1100 To be fair, it wasn't in the best mechanical condition. I helped sort out the wiring on it, in his front room - it was that kind of build.
Remember well my uncle's "Cherokee Red" Arrow,he said that it was the only bike he would ride in the snow and ice,as it was close to the ground and very stable...and I loved the yowl as it pulled away.
I am a pretty big guy but I can see where a sporting 250 two-stroke sport bike would have been the absolute nuts! Too bad we didn't get many of these bikes in the states.
Last gasp here was the Yamaha Rz 350. Twin pot Banchee motor. Great looking. Finicky. With pipe and carb work, capable of embarrassing an unknowing rider abroad just about anything. Wish I had one.
@@bikerdood1100 I got to ride a Suzuki RG500 Gamma once and for me that was the pinnacle of sport bike tech. It was very light, very small and when you hit the revves at anything over 7K RPM it was like getting hit in the back with a shovel. I have always thought that a clean burn two-stroke would go a long way in reviving sport bikes both in cost and performance. I really like your content by the way.
Years ago I stripped a kawasaki 750 to repaint the frame . I remember the engine being very heavy. All the components were well made . With the repaint done it was a nice bike to ride. Rode it down to Cornwall for a holiday with the Mrs on the back. One bike I would like to see is the Honda xlv 750 r. First big traily from Honda. The only service free bike I know of. Just oil and filters and they are easy to get at.
Well I assume they use hydraulic valves if they don’t need servicing There common in cars Ford pan head I believe but some bike companies have used them Harley on late model sportsters and Guzzi for a time too. Great while they work but not without the occasional hiccup, Expensive and heavy so not often used if only on grounds of cost
@@bikerdood1100 they were bucket and shim similar to z900/1000 but easy to service as the shim was between the cam and bucket. A simple tool held the valve down rotate the cam and flip the shim out. The z650 was different shim between bucket and valve.
I did have a 1995 900 Trident. It was a good bike at everything over the slowest speeds where the high centre of gravity made it a bit unwieldly. That one fault would be enough to put me off ever wanting another of those bikes.
I’ve just bought myself a very nice VX 800 Suzuki, a real unsung hero. Full of character and comfortable, she really ticks off my mates on their regular classics when they know how much I paid for her.........😊
Thanks for another interesting selection. In the early 1980s, I owned a Yamaha XJ550 for a time. It was an amazingly good bike, with a decent turn of speed and great high speed handling. Size wise, it was as compact as a Honda CB400F, but was much faster and better handling, relative to the CB400F that I later owned.
@@bikerdood1100 My ex loved our CB400F for posing on but she preferred our CB250RS single when she want easy fast motorcycling. Later on we have a V50 which was great fun but terribly high maintenance and then a Katana 650 which was brilliant (once we'd replaced the regulator). By then we'd also acquired a Honda CD200 for use when the Guzzi was out of action. We loved that a lot, because of its ever willing unbreakable motor and in spite of its very bouncy suspension.
@@derekp2674 250rs was the first bike bigger than a 125 I’d ever ridden on the road, a friend owned one. I remember it felt so fast. I was on a GS125 at the time
Ariel handling: I remember reading that, at the launch, to allay any fears about a pressed steel frame and leading link forks, works riders rode them on and off the kerb at 30 m.p.h!
I have seen that too Not very clever of them Imagine doing that on a litre sport bike I have a book with an original road test in that recounts that story . As part of promoting the thing a factory rider rode one up mount Snowdon
250s were out of favour in the late 80s. They were still regarded by many as "learner bikes" even though newbies had been restricted to 125s since 83. The Honda is a beautiful machine. The Trident was a well built robust machine, I know people who still own 900s. When I was at infant's school I used to see a bloke on his way to work on his way to work every morning, his name was Terry Stephenson. They did have a reputation for poor brakes. BSA Group management had a lot to answer for in those days. The Z750 never captured the customer's imagination. A batch of those Interceptor engines were sold by the receiver to Rickman who built a batch of Rickman Interceptors. Light, handsome and fast.
And don’t forget the interceptor engines in the prototype Indians pulled together by Floyd Clymer Cover all that in an earlier video, left out this time though. Remember the 250 Honda was never intended for the British market anyway so what we were up to didn’t register with the team at Honda. Had quite a few 250s over the years myself. I do quite like the capacity, still have a 250 from the 1930s incidentally
I don’t know if you only focus on classic bikes, but a video on modern forgotten bikes would be interesting. For example, I bought the discontinued Honda CTX 700 with dual clutch transmission in a 2015 model with only 3960 miles on it for a price of $4800. It’s a great way to get into a terrific machine for not much money. I am sure there are many more that would make a great video.
No exclusively I did touch on the CTX. I think because rather like the PC 800 it was a good idea that can’t seem to catch an audience. Possibly style o just that many people , not me , see bikes as a play thing rather than a practical means on transport. To succeed such bikes will need to tempt American for example away from their cars. This unfortunately seems unlikely
As of the last few years, that size class of machines has become very sought after among the older enthusiasts (like me) of the period. CB350s and the like from the mid '70s are getting lots of interest. They were so bulletproof and useable, economical and not too complicated. I also see this as an overlooked size with very affordable attributes and generally user friendly.
Oh yes, good one. Few recall the early Yamaha 350 two stroke twins, though it was almost nothing more that a bored out 250 with one size bigger carbs. The GT380 is actually 371cc (I think, there’s a number cast into the right hand cylinder), so it’s a better fit to a 350 class listing than to a 400, which might be the more obvious closest relatives. The classic Kawa triplets I believe included a 350, in the earliest range, being replaced by the KH400 in due course. Didn’t Honda make a stylistically challenged member of this class, though as a nominal 360, rather than a 350. I’m sure there a many more than is needed to make a very interesting mini documentary!
@@GT380man Honda did the CB350 k series K0 to K4 plus CL ,the 360 was the follow on model i know the 250was designated G5 , and later the CJ , Honda ,Yamaha , Triumph ,Moto guzzi Moto Morini Benneli and Harley Davidson ( later Cagiva ) all did 350s Suzuki the 380 as you said Kawasaki i think had a 350 twin 2 stroke , a lot of the Britishbike companies had 350s Royal Enfield being the only survivor today ,
My Leader handled really well, the only problem was the huge step between 3rd and 4th making it frustrating to ride, give it a five speed box and it would have been fine.
@@bikerdood1100 I think that, with a total of 22,000 Leaders sold and having put a lot of money into the tooling for the frame and panels, BSA essentially lost interest in the Leader/Arrow range.
In 1975 I couldn't quite afford a Honda 750 or KZ 900 but I could afford a Honda CB550 Four. It was a very capable, versatile motorcycle. I would buy another if I could find one.
I have to admit I was one of the spectators who went 'meh' (or whatever the term then was) on seeing the Z750 in the late 70s. Tho slightly later I had the same reaction to z1000s when the other Japanese bikes seemed newer and more exciting - even the cb900 which I did get in 81
I grew up riding most of these bikes . The kz750 was dependable but compared to the 4cly 650 and Kz900 , not mention the fast dependable Suzuki motorcycles . Even today the Gs750 , Gs1000,Gs1100 ect all Super Bikes ! If you find one today it probably is still being ridden. Most people were not good enough riders to hurt such powerful motorcycles. I myself am riding a 1980 Honda cb900c . We found it last fall sitting in a body shop and my Son restored it to being fixed and put back into riding shape. He went through everything especially that air-ride ! It’s like being in a boat going thru waves instead of bouncing hard thru the bumps ect. I believe it out rides most everything I’ve ever ridden ! Smooth is a under statement. There are lots of jewels to fall in love with. With just alittle work you can find a dream bike to ride as long as your willing to ride and older bike . It takes alittle more time to find a match. There are all kind of nice used motorcycles.
Triples never like the middle cylinders Friend of mine had a GT 380 If a plug was dodgy it was the middle I wonder if they ran the middle cylinders rich to aid cooling
Hi Alan . I had one as well . My first bike . I will never forget putting in second gear and the adrenaline e rush you got . Some vibration problems though as I recall
Two small bikes I've always liked in terms of style was the BSA C15 SS80 Sportsman with it chrome headlight and humped seat. I had one of these in the early 70s . It was reliable and handled very well. My other favourite was the Kawasaki 250 Ltd model. A little cruiser that handled well a was very capable of going distances in comfort and not running out of puff. I wish I could have them both again. I now own a Harley 1450 softail and a 1200 sportster.
I always liked the Z750 (never rode it). But one technical detail: the balancer shaft was chain driven. With wear of this chain, vibration could become very bad. So everyone should keep this in mind. The Yamaha TX 750 seemed to have issues. So the changed to the XS 650, which became kinda legendary. My brother had one and rode it for many years. Still thinking of buying one again, after all these years. When he sold his one, a major problem was to find good quality exhaust pipes. Did you know about the "reverse gear" of the XS 650? Tell me (anyone, reading this)! Back then, I had my BMW R75/5 with the short rear swingarm. Dry weight (both 50hp in Germany) was 190kg for my 750, but 230kg for his 650. I don't recall the dry weight of the Kawasaki, though.
I have never ridden any of those bikes but had a pint in the Royal Enfield pub in Redditch a few years ago. There was a small bike on the wall. It's an interesting video as usual. The Honda NSR 250 looks like a good bike. Unfortunately, 2 stroke bikes are getting so expensive. I'm glad I've got my DT3 at least. I would suggest that you do a video on the FZR600, they are fun and economical bikes too.
I had one of those as my first proper bike, in 1971. Best thing I can say about it is it taught me a lot about taking engines apart and putting them back together again (and again)
The original royal enfield interceptor was in my opinion one of the best british unit parallel twins the interceptor 2 was superb, far better than the indian made, modern 650 interceptor of today and far quicker. Theyre rare now and are fetching big money but they are amongst the very best, most reliable, strong parallel twin engines and the cranks were better balanced too. The Norton commando and BSA A65 twins had crankshaft weaknesses especially when tuned and the triumph handling was not good until the later T140 bikes. The matchless 650 twins and ariel huntsmaster were good too but based on the A10 BSA but my favourites are the 1949 rigid A7, the 1939 tiger 100 with bronze head that was extremely rare, my dad had one and the 1969 interceptor 2.
Interceptor 2 is definitely an underrated classic. The A65 is rather tougher than it’s reputation suggests Engine make good torque even when tuned which made a very popular choice for sidecar racing in the UK and it was also successful on the dirt in the US
I think at the end you asked what bikes we would like you to do. I love the old Royals 60's Continental GT250 also a matchless, if you already did these bikes, sorry I just found your channel.
Matchless made some great bikes Especially their singles which unfortunately they sold for just too long The Conti was my uncles first bike And he confirmed that the gearbox was a troublesome beast
I always resented the Ariel Arrow because I don't like two-strokes and the Leader/Arrow bikes brought an end to the Red Hunter and Square Four but, from all I've read about them recently, it seems they were much better bikes than I gave them credit for. I don't like the styling but will reluctantly admit that they had their positives.
I do find their designs technically interesting I enjoy both two and four strokes with strokers definitely better at 250 and under but the scale flips over that
The Leader and Arrow were an attempt to be relevant in a motorcycle market where scooters were gaining popularity. People were abandoning large capacity sidecar hauling bikes like Square Four and Panther for cars, and manufacturers had to second guess the way forward.
@@borderlands6606 Yes, that trend (which I never understood) was clear. Even though I was a toddler when these machines were new, I've never liked enclosed motorbikes or two strokes, so the Leader was never going to appeal to me.
@@williamnethercott4364 Motorcycling meant transport for many people, not just leisure. If they could get to work without tickling carbs, negotiating advance-retard levers and wearing full leathers, so much the better. Enclosed bikes were nearer to the two-wheeled cars of non-enthusiast aspiration.
I had a test ride on the 750 Kawasaki, it had the weirdest power delivery. Massive torque at really, really low revs that disappeared almost immediately and then power at the very top of the rev range. Trying to ride between these two extremes was not easy.
I have that exact problem with my 1976 kz750 twin. I know it's not normal for it as it always pulled all the way up to redline in the before the restoration. Spent months trying to sort out the stock carburetors, probably should have just upgraded to something new. Or it could be the exhaust, as the crossover pipe was removed and smaller more restrictive 750e mufflers were installed. It's not the ignition, been through that thoroughly. Runs super rich at mid range, but ok at low rpm and after about 4500rpm according to the wideband.
the z750 in the garden looked different from the out set.......didnt have the large original side panels , nice custom job , changed the look completely .of a Z200 maybe ?
I always liked the kz750 but there weren't many in nz. I opted for the tx750 brought 4 in the 80s cheap. Once sorted these were awesome. Love parallel twins. When 4s start singing your in hyperspace. Not for me. I ride a tdm now still prefer a tx750.
I learn so much about British nomenclature here . I would be curious to see a collection of 5 insane motorcycles as well as 5 most docile motorcycles . I do believe that driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow applies to motorcycles as well , yet that's just my anecdotal experience and I did not coin the phrase .
@@GTMarmot The XJ600 was known as a Diversion in the majority of markets but in Nth America and Australia it was the Seca II as in Seca 2 can't get the symbols on my keyboard lol
GS400. Cheap, plentiful in the day, would run forever with an all-bearing motor - just change the oil and it would go around the clock. Reasonable performance, goes better with Superdream carbs. Fit narrower handlebars to de-vague the handling and make it sharp and predictable and stable. CB 250K. Change the oil and clean out the oil filter and do high mileages. Better handling and rideability package than later 250s. The 350 versions were banned from classic racing in the 1980s as they would run with (and beat) exotica like Aermacchis and you could get them out of people's gardens: 'Take it away mate, I'm sick of the sight of it'. CD175. Cheap, plentiful, easy and swap parts with CB175s CD175 slopers and even CB200s. Change the oil and it would run and run and you could get a CD to run like a CB175. CG125. Cheap, not at all cool but would sip fuel and just keep on going. Mine did had 72K on the clock when I sold it, still running like a slightly rattly clock. GPz550. Great reviews for the early unitrak, but didn't last long before a facelift, so cheap to buy. Good handling and performance and very comfy long distance. Make a bigger 'spat' to keep crap off the single rear shock and stick ventilated gaiters on the front forks and they will last for years and years. Go well on Motad 4:1s, especially when the silencer is de-restricted with a spike or big drill. C50. Cheap, snore along forever on hardly any fuel. Getting bored? Then try an SS50 bottom end with 4-speed manual gearbox. C70 top end maybe? No problem, just swap the bits in. Shhh, don't tell.
Kawasaki W650 - Could you please review this largely forgotten 360 degree crank parallel twin? It has been overshadowed completely by it's watered-down later W800 less 'authentic' model. By that I mean you could actually 'kick-over' the W650 if you wanted the 'British parallel twin experience' with Japanese troublefree electrics and top engineering quality! The W800 consigns one to electric start only! ..euww! :) :)
This is rich seam you're mining. People are (or can be) hugely binary about bikes. Or "sheeplike" as you say. When I was a courier, common opinion was essentially a distilling of the two-sentence bike-by-bike buyer's guide in What Bike. A motorbike is almost always a lovely thing. I detest Harley's, but I had a lovely ride on a very early (mid-1980s) 4-speed 883. A gorgeous thing. I wouldn't want to own one, but it was a lovely ride and full of character. Apparently the WORST Harley, but it was lovely. Similarly, 850 T4.... Nice bike. GSX400... Nice bike. Honda H100 (don't ask).... Nice bike. There are very few bikes that aren't nice. But there is prejudice and judgement everywhere. Who now remembers the XS1100? If you open the throttle as you exit a large roundabout onto a fast, open, sweeping A-Road and you find a smile growing across your face, then it is a nice bike.
Parallel twins were seen as boring by the 1970s and 80s. Bikers could just about tolerate them on British bikes, but Japanese twins were seen as staid and workmanlike.
@@bikerdood1100 I used to work in a bike shop as a mechanic. I ran mine with and without a sidecar. Toured all over Europe with the chair on. I also sprinted and hill climbed it for 2 seasons. It had been rattling for some time from the primary chain when I took it to Santa Pod for a sprint meeting. Did 12 runs over 2 days - deliberately tried to blow it up but failed and had to ride it home again. It was running consistent high 13 second 1/4 miles at around 102 mph. I then sold it to a mate who put a sidecar back on it and ran it for another 2 years before he sold it. As I said - bulletproof!
I disagree with you about the Kawasaki, 750 I rode one when they were fairly new. They were priced, well secondhand, but handled terribly vibrated horrendously once you had a few revs and the performance was very mediocre.
I refer to as both The bike sold in greater numbers in the US and many viewers on the channel are American I also sometimes refer to kilometres or litres Is that ok ? You may notice however that I don’t say Zee There are limits It’s the same bike so why does it mater ?
Well no bike is for everyone and how the previous owner maintained the thing makes a massive difference. Hard to judge from a non specific statement though
The KZ750 twin was sublime, possibly one of the nicest bikes I've ever ridden.
A bit tall, a bit long but the engine was a peach, smooth, easy handling and bags of grunt.
Compared to the z650 and z900 it was a different beast, easy going gentle power.
A bike almost of a bygone age in some ways
I had one too. Mine was a neglected orphan that was pretty far from running when i got it. I was poor so the price was right. A little sweat equity and it was a pretty Jim Dandy bike. Road it to work and really enjoyed it. I liked the looks and the sound.
Owned a 1976 KZ750, great bike road it from Michigan to Wyoming and back one summer didn't miss a beat.
Lot to be said for a good under stressed motor
I always had a real soft spot for the Z750, very handsome machine 👌🏻😎
Has a look that’s just a little different to the fours, very much it’s own man
The modest horsepower was mentioned, but this machine was a grunter.
It won the NZ 750 hillclimb championship in 1978.
And from 30 mph you didn't need to change down to pass anything.
60mpg at 60 mph open road commuting.
Over 100, 000 km before it 1st went to the shop - did my own regular maintenance including valve shims.
My first brand new vehicle was a 1979 Kawasaki KZ750 I loved that little bike ! It was fast maneuverable and I had zero problems with it. I bought it to ride to work 40 miles one way. Smooth on the Highways great in the Twisties all around great bike
Nothing like you first new bike
I learned to ride in collage on my friends Rickmen Royal Enfield. After RE closed they sold 200 sets of 750 engine|trans combo to the Rickmen bros. They put this into a nickel plated chrome moly frame with triple disc brakes, 45 mm forks and fiber glass body work. The bike was very light, fast and handled incredible!
They are indeed well known
They put some square four Ariel motors in there chasis too
I remember as a lad the Rickman Interceptor being advertised as the cheapest 750 on the market, really wanted one at the time and it's still on the list for when the lotto comes in!
My cousin worked at royal enfield near bradford upon avon near Bath. He was very much into motocross Maico 490 two strokes then the two stroke yz490 which were so fast in those times.
Had a few different bikes over the years but my Z750 was my total favorite. 2 into 1 exhaust. Sound, power, comfort. Unfortunately written off in a car on bike accident. would love another one.
Not exactly a lot out there these days
That Ariel is Gorgeous! I am also curious about the Sears Allstate line,
It is an interesting story
Good review right in my era of motorcycling. I worked at a Kawasaki shop and used the Z750 as a demo bike. We sold quite a few and that was down to having a demo bike. Very impressive low end torque and would really accelerate very well at low revs. Very impressive at 2000 rpm with no screaming needed to make progress swiftly. Although tall it was very comfortable and balanced very well. I once drove it two up across Edinburgh and never had to put a foot down even at lights. Just kept it trickling forward and feet up. I toured Scotland on it and it was the perfect choice for the North of Scotland roads. Good memories,
Sales were only modest but as you indicated getting people to try a demo model coul£ have helped a lot
@@bikerdood1100 most impressive pulling uphill on the test circuit, the party piece if demoing with a pillion who didn't want to drive it was to use low rpm from 1500 to 2500 then upshift uphill the low end torque was really impressive especially uphill with a surge of power which impressed many people on the demo run. It was especially favoured by older riders used to british twins who wanted the reliability without the oil leaks and constant maintenance of a British twin.
Ah, another person, like my mate Gordon (from Glasgow) who must love riding in the wet 🤭
Gordon reckoned that, if it wasn’t raining at that moment, it almost certainly would, later the same day!
@@GT380man actually the first week was in sunshine and the most beautiful scenery rode up the east coast and down the west coast in good weather. A trip to Sky ended in a day of rain then sunshine from Sky down through glorious Glencoe across Rannoch moor into Perthshire and back to Aberdeenshire. Just one day of rain in a 10 day trip and some of the best riding and scenery.
@@GT380man on a trip to Edinburgh castle the guide quipped "over there is fife if you can't see it it's raining - if you can it means it's going to rain "
I restored a Z750 twin about 15 year’s ago. Lovely bike, looked great and rode well. I ended up selling it a few years ago and still regret that decision to this day 😢
Ah the decisions we make
And live to regret
These series of bike vids is fascinating watching and beautifully educational. The more I learn about the searingly tantalising world of motorbikes, the more I realise just how much I don't know! Thanks for the terrific production of your vids! 👍
Thank you
Great list! I had a Kawasaki Z750 Twin for many years (sor, thawt i saw one in thumbnail, nevertheless...) - great bike; Mad Max style, torque master, unbreakable engine; flexy 70's frame, tyres like bakelite - bloody brilliant! CYA277S, where are you?
Still a few around clearly
And should cost a lot less than the fours
My 82 Kz750CSR twin has been my main rider for 15 years now. Its just such a blast to ride, reliable and just so mechanical, a real machine feeling
Nice
I've been riding since 1978 and of all the bikes I've owned my favourite by a country mile was the Z750 twin I had for ten years. I think I did more miles on her than all my other bikes put together. It was my first 'big' bike and what they say about your first love being your greatest absolutely holds true for me with regards to the Zed. I've owned bigger and far better bikes since but I'd swap any of them for a mint Z750 in a heartbeat.
There is nothing like your first big bike, I used my first every opportunity I had
My bro-in-law had one of the '68 Interceptor II models, it was wicked cool and left staccato burnouts. Man, that thing was quick and dirty. I just loved it. He traded it for an R69S hack rig with under 100 miles which, I suppose was a good deal. In 1981, Lynnwood (WA) Cycle Barn was selling new KZ750 twins (all years) for $1395 while the Fours were selling for $2 Grand minimum. The twins had a rep for vibrating badly and they mostly ended up commuters with Windjammer fairings with lunch boxes strapped to the accessory luggage racks. At the time, I chose to buy a Virago 750 instead and was happier for it.
Nice
Good information there, Yamahas Virago range seemed to be around for decades
I rode a KZ750 from Washington DC to Fort Bragg, NC, by way of Skyline Drive. I am 191 CM tall and weigh about 100 KG. The bike was comfortable, never lacking in power. Had good handling in the winding mountain road. Smooth and reliable, a nice tourer, yet no top-heavy feeling. Quick enough. The guy to whom I delivered it turned it into a bagger and rode many happy years.
Good to hear from a happy owner
What is a bagger? Never heard that term😅.
@@perpetualgrin5804 a bike with saddle bags
@@bikerdood1100 Thanks.
Great set of of bikes and an interesting vid. I'd like to try one of the tridents or the Kawasaki z750.
Ditto really
Tempted to get a trident but space is a real problem
@@bikerdood1100 For me, the limiting factor is insufficient opportunities to ride the bikes I’ve already got!
Used to be four, now down to two.
I’m very tempted to add one machine to my miniature “fleet”, but don’t know what to get.
I’ve restored many 1970s Suzukis, owning two examples of their triples at each capacity. Last bike sold was my bought-new GSX1400K6. Complete idiot selling it for buttons, it was essentially like new despite age and mileage, because it shared accommodation with the trailer queens, the GT380B & GT750A. But we were emigrating for at least three years (that was the plan, anyway) and there was a possibility we’d never return, so I sold everything including our home, keeping with a good friend only the two bikes where every washer had been selected by me & one of which I’ve owned the actual example, not just the model, since 1978.
I know many would say buying the best example of a ‘14 would be an unambitious choice, but I would allow me to use some of the many parts I have for the model (exhausts, huggers etc).
But the recent Kawasaki and Triumph twin cylinder models look astonishingly beautiful to my eyes in a way that the bruiser Suzuki GSX1400 is not.
Occasionally, I’m tempted buy an E-bike like a Zero with the extended range pack. However I recall my jaw dropping when I realised I was looking at £20,000 & God knows what they’ll be now. The current rationale is if petrol becomes difficult to come by, because of the climate change fraud, I’d still be able to ride, provided mains power remained on!
Decisions, decisions. Nice problem to have when alls said & done 😊
Ps: thank you for making such excellent mini documentaries. You do these so well.
Mike
Nice collection, again. I had a Z750 Kawasaki for way to short a time (you know, cirkumstances..), and of all the bikes i have ridden, noone made me feel emidiatly at home, first time I sat on it. It was of cause not the power, but something I can´t define, it just felt so right to me.
Nice when a bike fits just right, and it’s a different one for each person really
The Interceptor should have been a better bike than it was. On paper it was head a shoulders above Triumph and Norotn and except for the crank failures it would have been.
Do they think the series 2 had such problems, RE at Redditch was a little too small and got taken other by the bigger firm
The ‘power band’ is what makes a nice 250 2T attractive…for me at least.
I had a Kawasaki KR-1 back in 1992, followed by buying a brand new Suzuki RGV250P in 1993. Both incredible bikes.. the RGV was better in quality (well, it was new), the engine was less frantic.. but, the KR-1 was excitement dialled up to 10!! Incredible little bike..
On a certain ‘private ‘long driveway, I saw 136mph flat on the tank! Loved that bike 😎
For me it’s often the opposite a fun power band is only fun for so long
For me bags of immediate torque is way more fun
Coming out a corner in an6 Gear and bam
Now that’s entertaining
In the mid 70s Yamaha put out a 650 vertical twin that was a ripper ! The flat track guys loved it , the chopper guys that liked the British looks and Japanese reliably loved them .The full on dirt guys couldn't wait to pop it into a Rickman frame , suspension kit to the tune of near 10 k at that time...
Was a much loved bike it seems
Another top vid. Unlike most people my favourite thing in the world is a two stroke power band. If that beautiful NSR had a wallop as it went up through the revs it would be perfect. Sadly, making a two stroke behave like a 4 stroke with a linear power band removes what makes 2 strokes so much fun.
More of a mid range torque man myself
@@bikerdood1100Absolutely. The few 4 strokes I've owned have all been torquey. (TL1000s, GS 450s and GSXR 1000 K5) Revvy 4 strokes seem the worst of both worlds. My favourite bike is easily my Honda RS125 GP bike. 71 kilos ready to race, 44 HP. I can regularly beat 1000 4 strokes at the track and I'm far from a great rider. It's great to see their reaction when they find I'm on a 125!
Nice work mate and thanks for that. Some lovely classics ther. Almost bought the new iteration of the Interceptor a short while ago, but went in another direction. Didn't want a repeat of the troubles I had with the Lightning I had.
Oh the Enfields are pretty reliable these days
I was the head shop mechanic for our Kawasaki/Suzuki dealership in the '70s and recall the era's machines well. We only sold two of the KZ750 twins as I recall; the 650 was more sought after and we sold many of those. The KZ400 has emerged over time to my mind as a super workhorse for its class but it had a very trying time shortly after we sold a few; top end oil leaking was wreaking havoc! Turned out that oil was being pumped up two studs at the center rear of the cylinders and spilling profusely over the externals of the top end. Kawasaki very quickly came up with their "product improvement kit" which required a teardown to the base gasket with new studs, some sealers, and gaskets. They got on top of the problem at the factory and by 1978, the KZ400 was a very desirable machine. I'd like to own one today.
Yes 4s really were all the go in the 70 s
I had a KZ 750 Twin and I loved it ,I did many miles on it and enjoyed every one of them, I traded it in for A Z1000 which was another fantastic bike even if it was a little scary at times. 😃😃😃
Those big Zs were big on power, relatively but short on chassis. KZ has a tough reputation
I used to buy Z750s when they were cheap. Apart from the starter clutch I thought they were ace. I put a sidecar on one, kept it on solo gearing and the engine didn’t seem to notice. The forks sulked a bit though.
I put a bike onto a sidecar myself, it really does push the chassis to its limits
Had a Z750 (4) only problem was the starter clutch, made in round Australia 40 years ago😅.
The 750 Kwak was bullet proof and has become a desirable unit to customize.
Well they do have a good rate of survival but don’t cost the Earth
At the moment that is
Clicked because of the KZ750. I bought one last year for peanuts in "mostly running" condition. I am planning on tearing it down this winter and converting to EFI. Had a KZ400 prior, was a really good bike, the KZ750 is kinda just a scaled up version. Really handsome bikes though, of all the UJM's I felt like Kawasaki's were the best looking. (I also really appreciate how Kawasaki seems to over-engineer everything, almost like the Germans)
Well yes performance machines no but very solid which if you are running a bike long term is probably more important
Yep, I had a '92 750 Trident and loved it to bits, literally. I was not told it had an unmolested starter, and so it broke, just at a time when I had no money to fix it. Mabe when I retire I'll get another.
Just maybe
@@bikerdood1100 Yup, maybe.
I have a buddy who has one of these Interceptors and I can say, having ridden Triumph's older Speed Twins, that it's a hot rod not to be underestimated.
They are beasts, unfortunately the company was a bit too small. Legend has it Royal Enfield had their factory closed by the owners even though their order book was full
Nice to learn of bikes I have never seen. I was a 2 stroke nut but in the US the RZ350 was the last streetbike. Tried to buy one once. For me the 84-85 Kawasaki 750 turbo has been my favorite machine. Just got her running again last week. Needs tires and have rust repair on the tank but should be rideable in a few weeks. 140+ hp.
Turbo bikes never really took off
I suspect the extra cost didn’t help
Plus of course people are inform anxious around new technology
@@bikerdood1100
I have had mine since the mid 90's. Took 7 years to get the parts to get it rebuilt the 1st time. This time mainly the turbo was the problem. It is a real hoot to ride and sounds wild!
Great to see the Ariel Arrow in there. Unusual styling, but the first model (Airfix) motorcycle I built. 😊. Oh and the much forgotten original RE interceptor.
I like the be a bit unpredictable
👍the eighties 250 two stokes were definitely under rated. I bought a mk1 tzr 250 to replace a tz 350 race bike. It wasn't as fast in a straight line but could go round the inside of gsxr 750s in the corners, the poor old Kawasaki Z750 got a proper roasting in the bike magazines at the the time. As you say everyone wanted 4 cylinders. If they bought it out today it would sell by the shed load if royal Enfield sales of 650 twins are anything to go by. Ps. I could be wrong but I dont believe the original royal Enfield interceptor was wet sump. Like the 350 bullet the oil tank was cast into the back of the crankcase..
I found the quality of 5he steering just incredible
Do you remember the Honda ns 400 v3 two stroke .. what ever happened there.
Loved my kz750 twin, was very nice to look at and ride was long heavy and a torque monster that would burn the dunlop 752 for twenty feet without dumping the clutch.
Sounds expensive
A friend had a Z750 hardtail chop in the early 90s, with no electric start. It vibrated worse than my T140. I remember trying to kickstart it, when it kicked back and clouted me on the shin. Painful, but probably not as painful as his wife's backside after a 500 mile round trip to Devon on the virtually non-existent pillion seat.
I thought of getting an early 90s Trident a couple of years ago, but when I sat on one, the riding position just didn't work for me, too cramped compared to my T140, so I had a rethink and bought a GS550L instead.
Interesting the Kawasaki is really best known for its smoothness, putting an engine in a different chassis can make surprising difference, resonant vibes can result, some Tritons can buz like a SOB
@@bikerdood1100 To be fair, it wasn't in the best mechanical condition. I helped sort out the wiring on it, in his front room - it was that kind of build.
Remember well my uncle's "Cherokee Red" Arrow,he said that it was the only bike he would ride in the snow and ice,as it was close to the ground and very stable...and I loved the yowl as it pulled away.
The do sound pretty good to me
Some hate the two stroke noise
But that’s their problem
I love the sound and smell of them
I am a pretty big guy but I can see where a sporting 250 two-stroke sport bike would have been the absolute nuts! Too bad we didn't get many of these bikes in the states.
Last gasp here was the Yamaha Rz 350. Twin pot Banchee motor. Great looking. Finicky. With pipe and carb work, capable of embarrassing an unknowing rider abroad just about anything. Wish I had one.
It was unbelievable to ride, nearest thing to an 80s GP bike
@@bikerdood1100 I got to ride a Suzuki RG500 Gamma once and for me that was the pinnacle of sport bike tech. It was very light, very small and when you hit the revves at anything over 7K RPM it was like getting hit in the back with a shovel. I have always thought that a clean burn two-stroke would go a long way in reviving sport bikes both in cost and performance. I really like your content by the way.
@@JR-bj3uf thanks
Years ago I stripped a kawasaki 750 to repaint the frame . I remember the engine being very heavy. All the components were well made . With the repaint done it was a nice bike to ride. Rode it down to Cornwall for a holiday with the Mrs on the back. One bike I would like to see is the Honda xlv 750 r. First big traily from Honda. The only service free bike I know of. Just oil and filters and they are easy to get at.
Well I assume they use hydraulic valves if they don’t need servicing
There common in cars Ford pan head I believe but some bike companies have used them
Harley on late model sportsters and Guzzi for a time too.
Great while they work but not without the occasional hiccup,
Expensive and heavy so not often used if only on grounds of cost
@@bikerdood1100 they were bucket and shim similar to z900/1000 but easy to service as the shim was between the cam and bucket. A simple tool held the valve down rotate the cam and flip the shim out. The z650 was different shim between bucket and valve.
I did have a 1995 900 Trident. It was a good bike at everything over the slowest speeds where the high centre of gravity made it a bit unwieldly. That one fault would be enough to put me off ever wanting another of those bikes.
Interesting
Top heaviness isn’t an uncommon trait, laverda Jota definitely springs to mind
I’ve just bought myself a very nice VX 800 Suzuki, a real unsung hero. Full of character and comfortable, she really ticks off my mates on their regular classics when they know how much I paid for her.........😊
And don’t forget shaft drive
Thanks for another interesting selection. In the early 1980s, I owned a Yamaha XJ550 for a time. It was an amazingly good bike, with a decent turn of speed and great high speed handling. Size wise, it was as compact as a Honda CB400F, but was much faster and better handling, relative to the CB400F that I later owned.
I’ve always felt that the 400f is a little underwhelming to be honest, not particularly powerful and not much midrange punch
@@bikerdood1100 totally agree. I had one, and later a 550 which was far far superior
@@bikerdood1100 My ex loved our CB400F for posing on but she preferred our CB250RS single when she want easy fast motorcycling. Later on we have a V50 which was great fun but terribly high maintenance and then a Katana 650 which was brilliant (once we'd replaced the regulator). By then we'd also acquired a Honda CD200 for use when the Guzzi was out of action. We loved that a lot, because of its ever willing unbreakable motor and in spite of its very bouncy suspension.
@@derekp2674 250rs was the first bike bigger than a 125 I’d ever ridden on the road, a friend owned one. I remember it felt so fast. I was on a GS125 at the time
@@zfid bigger isn’t always better, but sometimes a bit bigger is a lot better
Ariel handling: I remember reading that, at the launch, to allay any fears about a pressed steel frame and leading link forks, works riders rode them on and off the kerb at 30 m.p.h!
I have seen that too
Not very clever of them
Imagine doing that on a litre sport bike
I have a book with an original road test in that recounts that story . As part of promoting the thing a factory rider rode one up mount Snowdon
250s were out of favour in the late 80s. They were still regarded by many as "learner bikes" even though newbies had been restricted to 125s since 83. The Honda is a beautiful machine.
The Trident was a well built robust machine, I know people who still own 900s.
When I was at infant's school I used to see a bloke on his way to work on his way to work every morning, his name was Terry Stephenson. They did have a reputation for poor brakes. BSA Group management had a lot to answer for in those days.
The Z750 never captured the customer's imagination.
A batch of those Interceptor engines were sold by the receiver to Rickman who built a batch of Rickman Interceptors. Light, handsome and fast.
And don’t forget the interceptor engines in the prototype Indians pulled together by Floyd Clymer
Cover all that in an earlier video, left out this time though.
Remember the 250 Honda was never intended for the British market anyway so what we were up to didn’t register with the team at Honda.
Had quite a few 250s over the years myself. I do quite like the capacity, still have a 250 from the 1930s incidentally
I don’t know if you only focus on classic bikes, but a video on modern forgotten bikes would be interesting. For example, I bought the discontinued Honda CTX 700 with dual clutch transmission in a 2015 model with only 3960 miles on it for a price of $4800. It’s a great way to get into a terrific machine for not much money. I am sure there are many more that would make a great video.
No exclusively
I did touch on the CTX. I think because rather like the PC 800 it was a good idea that can’t seem to catch an audience. Possibly style o just that many people , not me , see bikes as a play thing rather than a practical means on transport.
To succeed such bikes will need to tempt American for example away from their cars. This unfortunately seems unlikely
a list on 350cc bikes would be good as they are much forgotten
True
As of the last few years, that size class of machines has become very sought after among the older enthusiasts (like me) of the period. CB350s and the like from the mid '70s are getting lots of interest. They were so bulletproof and useable, economical and not too complicated. I also see this as an overlooked size with very affordable attributes and generally user friendly.
Oh yes, good one. Few recall the early Yamaha 350 two stroke twins, though it was almost nothing more that a bored out 250 with one size bigger carbs.
The GT380 is actually 371cc (I think, there’s a number cast into the right hand cylinder), so it’s a better fit to a 350 class listing than to a 400, which might be the more obvious closest relatives.
The classic Kawa triplets I believe included a 350, in the earliest range, being replaced by the KH400 in due course.
Didn’t Honda make a stylistically challenged member of this class, though as a nominal 360, rather than a 350.
I’m sure there a many more than is needed to make a very interesting mini documentary!
@@GT380man Honda did the CB350 k series K0 to K4 plus CL ,the 360 was the follow on model i know the 250was designated G5 , and later the CJ , Honda ,Yamaha , Triumph ,Moto guzzi Moto Morini Benneli and Harley Davidson ( later Cagiva ) all did 350s Suzuki the 380 as you said Kawasaki i think had a 350 twin 2 stroke , a lot of the Britishbike companies had 350s Royal Enfield being the only survivor today ,
My Leader handled really well, the only problem was the huge step between 3rd and 4th making it frustrating to ride, give it a five speed box and it would have been fine.
BSA really should have put some money into the bike
@@bikerdood1100 I think that, with a total of 22,000 Leaders sold and having put a lot of money into the tooling for the frame and panels, BSA essentially lost interest in the Leader/Arrow range.
Nice video. Thank you. I wish I'd never sold my MC21.
Ditto
Id forgotten about those kawasaki 750 twins.i remember them having a good durability reputation
Tough as old boots as they say
In 1975 I couldn't quite afford a Honda 750 or KZ 900 but I could afford a Honda CB550 Four. It was a very capable, versatile motorcycle. I would buy another if I could find one.
There a few out there. Not too many unfortunately
I have to admit I was one of the spectators who went 'meh' (or whatever the term then was) on seeing the Z750 in the late 70s. Tho slightly later I had the same reaction to z1000s when the other Japanese bikes seemed newer and more exciting - even the cb900 which I did get in 81
Well at the time it was all about fours
Any twin was old hat
Things changed
I grew up riding most of these bikes . The kz750 was dependable but compared to the 4cly 650 and Kz900 , not mention the fast dependable Suzuki motorcycles . Even today the Gs750 , Gs1000,Gs1100 ect all Super Bikes ! If you find one today it probably is still being ridden. Most people were not good enough riders to hurt such powerful motorcycles. I myself am riding a 1980 Honda cb900c . We found it last fall sitting in a body shop and my Son restored it to being fixed and put back into riding shape. He went through everything especially that air-ride ! It’s like being in a boat going thru waves instead of bouncing hard thru the bumps ect. I believe it out rides most everything I’ve ever ridden ! Smooth is a under statement. There are lots of jewels to fall in love with. With just alittle work you can find a dream bike to ride as long as your willing to ride and older bike . It takes alittle more time to find a match. There are all kind of nice used motorcycles.
There is nothing like bringing an old bike back to life
K h 250 triple wow. 40 year's ago always had problems with middle spark plug. Although great bike. Well done Japan.
Triples never like the middle cylinders
Friend of mine had a GT 380
If a plug was dodgy it was the middle
I wonder if they ran the middle cylinders rich to aid cooling
Hi Alan . I had one as well . My first bike . I will never forget putting in second gear and the adrenaline e rush you got . Some vibration problems though as I recall
Two small bikes I've always liked in terms of style was the BSA C15 SS80 Sportsman with it chrome headlight and humped seat. I had one of these in the early 70s . It was reliable and handled very well. My other favourite was the Kawasaki 250 Ltd model. A little cruiser that handled well a was very capable of going distances in comfort and not running out of puff. I wish I could have them both again. I now own a Harley 1450 softail and a 1200 sportster.
Bit of a change in weight between the first and last 2
Harleys are turds
My underrated list would be Yamaha FJ1100 & XJ900, Suzuki GS850, 650 Katana & GS450E.
All very good calls 🤔
I always liked the Z750 (never rode it). But one technical detail: the balancer shaft was chain driven. With wear of this chain, vibration could become very bad. So everyone should keep this in mind. The Yamaha TX 750 seemed to have issues. So the changed to the XS 650, which became kinda legendary.
My brother had one and rode it for many years. Still thinking of buying one again, after all these years. When he sold his one, a major problem was to find good quality exhaust pipes.
Did you know about the "reverse gear" of the XS 650? Tell me (anyone, reading this)!
Back then, I had my BMW R75/5 with the short rear swingarm. Dry weight (both 50hp in Germany) was 190kg for my 750, but 230kg for his 650.
I don't recall the dry weight of the Kawasaki, though.
The Kawasaki would be difficult to find today but I believe would be less expensive than the fours which are seen as collectible of course
I have never ridden any of those bikes but had a pint in the Royal Enfield pub in Redditch a few years ago.
There was a small bike on the wall.
It's an interesting video as usual.
The Honda NSR 250 looks like a good bike. Unfortunately, 2 stroke bikes are getting so expensive. I'm glad I've got my DT3 at least.
I would suggest that you do a video on the FZR600, they are fun and economical bikes too.
They were indeed nice bikes
I’m planning 80s / 90s 600s at some point
Yes the fzr600 was fast especially in the very late 1980s.
i bought a 1963 triumph tiger cub in sydney , put a large carby on it and it went like a rocket.
Well for a while i expect
I had one of those as my first proper bike, in 1971. Best thing I can say about it is it taught me a lot about taking engines apart and putting them back together again (and again)
The original royal enfield interceptor was in my opinion one of the best british unit parallel twins the interceptor 2 was superb, far better than the indian made, modern 650 interceptor of today and far quicker. Theyre rare now and are fetching big money but they are amongst the very best, most reliable, strong parallel twin engines and the cranks were better balanced too. The Norton commando and BSA A65 twins had crankshaft weaknesses especially when tuned and the triumph handling was not good until the later T140 bikes. The matchless 650 twins and ariel huntsmaster were good too but based on the A10 BSA but my favourites are the 1949 rigid A7, the 1939 tiger 100 with bronze head that was extremely rare, my dad had one and the 1969 interceptor 2.
Interceptor 2 is definitely an underrated classic.
The A65 is rather tougher than it’s reputation suggests
Engine make good torque even when tuned which made a very popular choice for sidecar racing in the UK and it was also successful on the dirt in the US
Z750 and Trident definitely worth a mention; what about XJ650.
All in goo£ time
XJ 900 too
I think at the end you asked what bikes we would like you to do. I love the old Royals 60's Continental GT250 also a matchless, if you already did these bikes, sorry I just found your channel.
Matchless made some great bikes
Especially their singles which unfortunately they sold for just too long
The Conti was my uncles first bike
And he confirmed that the gearbox was a troublesome beast
@@bikerdood1100 well maybe you can do a video on the Royal
I always resented the Ariel Arrow because I don't like two-strokes and the Leader/Arrow bikes brought an end to the Red Hunter and Square Four but, from all I've read about them recently, it seems they were much better bikes than I gave them credit for. I don't like the styling but will reluctantly admit that they had their positives.
I do find their designs technically interesting
I enjoy both two and four strokes with strokers definitely better at 250 and under but the scale flips over that
The Leader and Arrow were an attempt to be relevant in a motorcycle market where scooters were gaining popularity. People were abandoning large capacity sidecar hauling bikes like Square Four and Panther for cars, and manufacturers had to second guess the way forward.
@@borderlands6606 Yes, that trend (which I never understood) was clear. Even though I was a toddler when these machines were new, I've never liked enclosed motorbikes or two strokes, so the Leader was never going to appeal to me.
@@williamnethercott4364 Motorcycling meant transport for many people, not just leisure. If they could get to work without tickling carbs, negotiating advance-retard levers and wearing full leathers, so much the better. Enclosed bikes were nearer to the two-wheeled cars of non-enthusiast aspiration.
@@borderlands6606 True, the old Motor Cycle mags of the 1960s are quite clear about that. I still don't like them.
I used to have the Kawasaki 750 twin, great looking machine but all the weight and fuel consumption of a 750 4cyl bike with the performance of a 400.
Sure a 400s peak power was in the same ball park but the torque definitely not
RE,s had Albion gearbox.
Still clunky beast
Mixed my Ariel’s and REs
So many clunky boxes
A British Speciality
I have a KZ750CSR and I love it. It is heavy. But it goes well. Handling is ‘of its’ time’ but OK.
Well it wasn’t meant for track work but was intended for exactly what you use it for
I had a test ride on the 750 Kawasaki, it had the weirdest power delivery. Massive torque at really, really low revs that disappeared almost immediately and then power at the very top of the rev range. Trying to ride between these two extremes was not easy.
Doesn’t seem quite right does it
Wonder if the carbs were set up right, they are generally known for being easy to ride
I have that exact problem with my 1976 kz750 twin. I know it's not normal for it as it always pulled all the way up to redline in the before the restoration. Spent months trying to sort out the stock carburetors, probably should have just upgraded to something new. Or it could be the exhaust, as the crossover pipe was removed and smaller more restrictive 750e mufflers were installed. It's not the ignition, been through that thoroughly. Runs super rich at mid range, but ok at low rpm and after about 4500rpm according to the wideband.
the z750 in the garden looked different from the out set.......didnt have the large original side panels , nice custom job , changed the look completely .of a Z200 maybe ?
Who can say maybe they changed them over the life time of the bike
I always liked the kz750 but there weren't many in nz. I opted for the tx750 brought 4 in the 80s cheap.
Once sorted these were awesome. Love parallel twins. When 4s start singing your in hyperspace. Not for me. I ride a tdm now still prefer a tx750.
TDM is definitely one of the best all round bikes ever I think
I learn so much about British nomenclature here .
I would be curious to see a collection of 5 insane motorcycles as well as 5 most docile motorcycles .
I do believe that driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow applies to motorcycles as well , yet that's just my anecdotal experience and I did not coin the phrase .
Don’t know about cars but there is a similar phrase relating to bikes
@@bikerdood1100 do tell
It’s always more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a very fast bike slowly
As most Superbike riders would no doubt testify
I had the kawasaki 750..would love to find one..that thing was a beast
Be hard to find now, they didn’t sell in huge numbers unfortunately
Never seen that Kawasaki, like it👍
There’s a few out there
Somewhere 😂
You're giving away the secrets! lol
Not all of them
I want to see a video on the Early Yamaha Seca. I loved that bike AND the Virago.
Not familiar With the name at all
It wasn’t used in Europe to my knowledge
@@bikerdood1100 The Yamaha Seca was definitely available in the UK, as a 650 and a 750, there was even a (rare) Seca 650 Turbo
@@robertbagley9199 Thought the Seca was the XJ600?
@@GTMarmot The XJ600 was known as a Diversion in the majority of markets but in Nth America and Australia it was the Seca II as in Seca 2 can't get the symbols on my keyboard lol
@@robertbagley9199 Yes and XJ600 pre-Div model must be what Americans call the Seca
I put a lot of miles on a kz750. They were reliable and fun bikes. Not real fast compared to my gs750.
Had some vibration, but not bad.
Well there will always be some vibes I expect
reminds you there’s a bike beneath you
Now that Kawasaki twin would sell like mad if they copied the style exactly and put a new parallel twin motor in .
Yes twins are very trendy today
Yes twins are very trendy today
Yes twins are very trendy today
GS400. Cheap, plentiful in the day, would run forever with an all-bearing motor - just change the oil and it would go around the clock. Reasonable performance, goes better with Superdream carbs. Fit narrower handlebars to de-vague the handling and make it sharp and predictable and stable.
CB 250K. Change the oil and clean out the oil filter and do high mileages. Better handling and rideability package than later 250s. The 350 versions were banned from classic racing in the 1980s as they would run with (and beat) exotica like Aermacchis and you could get them out of people's gardens: 'Take it away mate, I'm sick of the sight of it'.
CD175. Cheap, plentiful, easy and swap parts with CB175s CD175 slopers and even CB200s. Change the oil and it would run and run and you could get a CD to run like a CB175.
CG125. Cheap, not at all cool but would sip fuel and just keep on going. Mine did had 72K on the clock when I sold it, still running like a slightly rattly clock.
GPz550. Great reviews for the early unitrak, but didn't last long before a facelift, so cheap to buy. Good handling and performance and very comfy long distance. Make a bigger 'spat' to keep crap off the single rear shock and stick ventilated gaiters on the front forks and they will last for years and years. Go well on Motad 4:1s, especially when the silencer is de-restricted with a spike or big drill.
C50. Cheap, snore along forever on hardly any fuel. Getting bored? Then try an SS50 bottom end with 4-speed manual gearbox. C70 top end maybe? No problem, just swap the bits in. Shhh, don't tell.
As with all bikes from the 70s regular servicing is vital
If it’s done right they run on and on
Jolly good.
Ta
Husqvarna Please, Love those Bikes. 80s and older at least. Thanks..
See what I can do
The Z750 engine rotates anti clockwize like the Z400 twin.
Interesting
Not as uncommon as you may think
Triumphs first twin the 6/1 was the same
I think you will find that the KZ 750 twin had a 180 degree crank and the bike weighed 230kg.
I think you better check that the Z750
Had a 360 crank
230 wet or dry
That is the question 😂
I loved the trident a regret not buying one
Well they are still around, they were too expensive For me when they came out
I did look at the kawasaki 750.. but bought a yam xs650 instead.. all the 750s were painted brown..! 😂😂😂
Thee were some questionable colour choices in the 70s
1968 Harley-Davidson 250 SS Sprint?
Interesting suggestion 🤔
My old boss bought one of these but did only several thousand miles in around ten or more years ,shame.
Nice
Kawasaki W650 - Could you please review this largely forgotten 360 degree crank parallel twin? It has been overshadowed completely by it's watered-down later W800 less 'authentic' model. By that I mean you could actually 'kick-over' the W650 if you wanted the 'British parallel twin experience' with Japanese troublefree electrics and top engineering quality! The W800 consigns one to electric start only! ..euww! :) :)
Covered in another of my videos as a matter of fact
what about the humble little suprdrean 250 / 400
Not so little
250 is a bit of a porker
My 500 Guzzi was lighter by quite a bit
Spot on..........
Thanks
This is rich seam you're mining. People are (or can be) hugely binary about bikes. Or "sheeplike" as you say. When I was a courier, common opinion was essentially a distilling of the two-sentence bike-by-bike buyer's guide in What Bike.
A motorbike is almost always a lovely thing. I detest Harley's, but I had a lovely ride on a very early (mid-1980s) 4-speed 883. A gorgeous thing. I wouldn't want to own one, but it was a lovely ride and full of character. Apparently the WORST Harley, but it was lovely. Similarly, 850 T4.... Nice bike. GSX400... Nice bike. Honda H100 (don't ask).... Nice bike. There are very few bikes that aren't nice. But there is prejudice and judgement everywhere. Who now remembers the XS1100? If you open the throttle as you exit a large roundabout onto a fast, open, sweeping A-Road and you find a smile growing across your face, then it is a nice bike.
Common wisdom is often the opposite
abion gear box not berman
Albion
Parallel twins were seen as boring by the 1970s and 80s. Bikers could just about tolerate them on British bikes, but Japanese twins were seen as staid and workmanlike.
How things have changed
Best bike I ever owned was the Z750. Absolutely unburstable motor.
Well they were pretty under stressed
@@bikerdood1100
I used to work in a bike shop as a mechanic.
I ran mine with and without a sidecar. Toured all over Europe with the chair on.
I also sprinted and hill climbed it for 2 seasons. It had been rattling for some time from the primary chain when I took it to Santa Pod for a sprint meeting. Did 12 runs over 2 days - deliberately tried to blow it up but failed and had to ride it home again.
It was running consistent high 13 second 1/4 miles at around 102 mph.
I then sold it to a mate who put a sidecar back on it and ran it for another 2 years before he sold it.
As I said - bulletproof!
@@jacketrussell cool 😎
i had a 94 nsr 250
Nice
👍🏻
I disagree with you about the Kawasaki, 750 I rode one when they were fairly new. They were priced, well secondhand, but handled terribly vibrated horrendously once you had a few revs and the performance was very mediocre.
Not a fan then
Why do you refer to the Z750 as KZ ? You're not American
I refer to as both
The bike sold in greater numbers in the US and many viewers on the channel are American
I also sometimes refer to kilometres or litres
Is that ok ?
You may notice however that I don’t say Zee
There are limits
It’s the same bike so why does it mater ?
And then , of course , there is the Yamaha XS-650 . GREAT Parallel Vertical Twin Engine/Motor . Terrible Frame . The Twin Cam 750 was a Dog .
Both are in separate videos
The XS in another middleweight video and the twin cam in a fails video because it was indeed a Dog
@@bikerdood1100 . Cool . Just askin' ......
my z400 could outpace rd400 due to iddiot riding it still love my z750
That a confession of sorts ?
The only way it would outrun an RD is if the Yam was parked.
The NSR250 is not the most fun you can have on two wheels.
But best not go into that on here. 😚😚😚
Yes but with the engine on you risk serious burns
@@bikerdood1100 blame friction not thermal.
I hate liquid cooled bikes,either water pump goes,over heat to fast or leaky rad, junk.
I do prefer air cooling but I don’t mind liquid cooled bikes, sooner one of those than an electric bike
i had a KZ 750. One of the worst bikes I ever owned.
Well no bike is for everyone and how the previous owner maintained the thing makes a massive difference.
Hard to judge from a non specific statement though