I bought a brand new MZ ETZ125 in 1989, I part exchanged a nice condition 1987 Honda CB125 TDE for it and actually got the MZ and £75 for it !.. I loved the MZ, rode it daily for almost 5 years, passed my bike test on it (only just and on the second attempt, the first examiner told me it wasn't really suitable due to it's lack of uphill grunt and a top speed of 55mph, the second was a bit more forgiving of it's' pedestrian' acceleration !..) then I sold it to a mate's daughter for £150. She used it for a long tour of Europe and then for riding between her university in Wales and her home in Norfolk every other weekend as well as road trips touring Scotland, she then passed her car test and sold the MZ on for £200, £50 MORE than she paid me for it !.
I owned a Harley Davidson Street Glide and sold it less than 2 years. I now have a 2008 Sportster and it’s a smile every mile, handles great, sounds AMAZING. I was not a Harley fan but if you hang around other Harley riders, eventually some of them rub off on you. Incidentally one of those guys passed away a few years ago, a very dear friend, and he left me his 1986 FXRD…look that one up! :)
As some RD350/250LC's are now being touted at nearly £10,000 and more ,and some CB400Fs at around £8,000 i would say that most who either owned or lusted after them in their youth and want another one now still cant afford them
In 1979 I bought my first motorcycle: a 1976 CB400F. For a few years I rode it everywhere, including twice on 5000kms treks around Canada's maritime provinces. Long story short, in the intervening years lots of other bikes have come and gone, but the yellow and black CB isn't one of them: 44 years after I first brought it home it still lives in my garage. Here in Canada, the Bandit 400 came before the 600. I find the MZ interesting, but the only ones I've ever seen were when visiting the UK and Cuba.
As I’ve found they are very common in Cubs And in Germany , not surprisingly too In the very class driven UK they suffered y the same way that Skoda cars did Snobbery about vehicles has always been a thing here these days they have become positively fashionable. I owned one when they definitely were not I never did care for class snobbery, growing up poor as I did
When I passed my test, aged 17, I bought a Yamaha RD 350 YPVS. Fitted micron exhausts and it was loud and fast. It had a nice power band making it easy to pop small wheelies under acceleration. Traded it in for a Kawasaki GPZ 550 which was another nice bike for a teenager, very smooth and quiet compared to the Yamaha but still sporty and fast.
I would add the Honda Hornet 600 to that list. At 400 lb and 95 hp it knocks spots off the Bandit. And the finish is typical Honda quality. I've had two S versions which have the nose fairing. If you look around you can find good ones for £1200-1500 if not cheaper. Don't be put off by higher mileage ones if the bike has service history or looks like it's been looked after. Light, fast and reliable. Great fun.
Two bikes that became Cult classics in the US have to Honda's HawkGT (NT650) and GB500. I worked at a dealership in '87 and we couldn't give them away, a few years on they were finally recognized as great machines
The 1200 is brutally fast. But the vibrations through the pegs and the bars were painful, after not too long in the saddle. And they eat rear tyres for breakfast. A couple of friends had them, back in the day, and while undoubtedly they were a great "hoon" bike, they were hard to live with in the longer term.
I would add the GSX1100G to your mention of the Bandit. The G model also has the GSXR-based engine, but with shaft drive. My opinion is that it had a bit better rear suspension...but you know about opinions. I am long-gone from the motorcycle business, but I was a Suzuki dealer...and I bought a G model from the guys who bought my dealership from me. Got a pretty good price, too, because they didn't sell very well. Shame, as it is an absolutely terrific bike. I still have it, althugh the front forks and brakes have been changed out for GSXR items and the rear damper and spring have been updated (along with the brake). I keep it shod with premium rubber and it will show its taillight to many newer "sports" bikes. And, yes, at 86 I can still ride a bit...60 years after my last race! Love your videos.
came across 2 mz etz250, s from the 80,s on tour in ireland yesterday, from england, they were on the side as the exhaust had fallen off one of the bikes, fixed by the roadside and ive no doubt they reached where they were going, good luck lads
I owned a 1200 Bandit for a few years, that bike is all motor. It handled fine on highway, but at low speed it had heavy steering. Very easy to maintain (love air cooled simplicity) and never had a lick of problems.
I have had both. The 1200 was a pig in parking lots but a pure joy on the highway. The 600 was very rev happy and sounded like I was racing from stop light to stop light. It was a real screamer. I think the 600 was easier to ride.
@bikerdood1100 Had a 600 Bandit a couple of years ago and would have to agree on steering being really light, in fact the front end just felt too light and a bit vague...After that got a 1250 K8 Bandit Streetfighter and that's a whole different ball game...front end is more settled and steering is really positive...
I have a 1978 Honda CBX, which I bought 35ish years ago, when they were not considered "desirable" (quite the opposite, actually). I bought it because I liked it. I couldn't afford to buy it today! I followed the same philosophy more recently when I bought a 1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200 and a 1999 Ducati Monster 750...
I bought mine 20 years ago for $600.00. I don’t have to mention that it needed some work but I got it running and on the road soon after. I also have a ‘75 GL1000, a ‘69 CT90, a ‘72 Triumph Tiger 650 and my newest baby , a Super Tenere.
Great video again.most of us wanted a lc in the 80s but most of us apprentices couldn’t afford one and the price now is astronomical if you can find one.I’ve had a sporty and have a Buell .sporty are the most affordable on the list and useable although the have gone up a bit as well.hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Me on the classic Hayabusa second generation in to high speed wanting to follow that curve when the Busa still wants straight forward, over that field and probably into that wood far away. But we still get along and i do like that bike. 😄❤️👍
Affordability is relative. But I get your point. Had a 400/4 in the.mid nineties, bit underwhelmed tbh. Rebuilt a 550/4 later, a considerably better machine I thought. Had a TS250 in 1991, bought for £60! Reliable enough for my 10 mile commute in the day, but truly awful handling. Sold it for the same money 6 months later and got a GT500 for £200, needed a new CDI unit, so my mate showed up with one off a Triumph Acclaim, which we got the thing to run off...kinda 😂
I would agree that the 550 is better but it doesn’t have the same following. In an earlier video I stated that I felt this was the case and got a lot of stick, people do seem to love the things but I’d go for the bigger bikes every time As for the MZ they were often supplied with the worlds worst tyres, had an Etz which was absolutely fine Triumph acclaim 🤦
Another banger, brother. I know it sounds silly, but your videos really help me get through the week. All the negativity and political crap really grinds on people. It is great to be able to take a step back and watch a great video on classic bikes.
I agree with you on the harley-davidson bikes anymore. I have had quite a few of them and I love them on the express way if you are just trying to get there.
One thing I have learned is that spares availability can be a big problem. So far I have been able to have my CB250 and RD250LC racers running. Spares for Japanese bikes can be difficult to find. For some exotic bikes it can be impossible to find parts. Generally British bikes have good spares supply. For some high priced bikes like Vincents and short stroke Manxes, every part is available.
Really depends where you are in the world and what you’re riding There’s a few places in the UK that are very good for Japanese spares Honda especially
@@devilsreject320 well I’m no dealer but they any between £1500 and 2300 depending on condition bit less for an ETZ because it’s relatively modern I expect
@@bikerdood1100 thank you for your time and knowledge. It's good to know not many up for sale to find out. Saw one at £ 3000 but did it sall probably not. Worth more than I thought. Thanks new sub hire ✌
The greatest cult machine is the Honda C90 but that go's without saying and it's hardly ''afordable'' any more . In fact I would say they are ridiculously priced now .I look forward to your vids .Great stuff .
Thanks very much for a highly enjoyable video featuring a great selection of bikes. I agree with your evaluation of the Honda CB400F and the H-D Sportster. Having a Sportster, a Buell M2 and two H-D big twins (a 1987 FXRS-SP and a 1990 FXRT) I wouldn't say bid twins were "too big" for UK roads but I would put them roughly on a par with other large touring bikes. If touring two up with a lot of luggage, then I think a big twin will be superior to a Sportster.
The problem with lists like this: how do you define a cult? Is it when they have a dedicated bunch of owners? Is it when they are at the front edge of technology when they were new? I like MZ, know the history, etc. Yet I almost never see them on the road. Then the number of BMW GS, old and new, is unbelievable. The GS is, at least to me, also more or less the first adventure bike. Does that make it a cult bike? Is a VFR 750F, seen by many as the best sports touring bike ever, a cult bike? They still are very affordable... How about a Yamaha R1? I believe any list is almost impossible to create as it is always driven by personal preference. My list of cult bikes (if I had such a list) will differ from the next guy. I also find that people who are in to a certain type or make of bike (and cars for that matter) seem to be blind for negative side of their vehicle. Also, to me, age does not make a bike (or a car) better: if it was a lousy vehicle when it was new, it is still that when it is old. But then again, this is all very personal...
GS is more herd mentality generated by the media I’d say a bike with a devoted following often despite the reaction of others sometimes MZ is a great example I’m guessing you non European? In Britain and Europe they are a common site especially at classic meets, they had a devoted following in the 70s and 80s despite being often ridiculed by other riders and the press, they had a devoted network of enthusiastic dealers and were popular despite everyone else. Their popularity as a classic has grown in recent years too. VFR is a good shout I’d say but they are a little Honda soulless better the C90 I’d define as having the kind of bike that has fan clubs , forums etc Although this may be despite lower numbers Think more Rock bands Genesis in the early 70s we’re seen as a Cult band Very devoted but necessary huge following, they later become massively successful and were no longer seen as a cult band I’ve included the Bandit because of its long history of devoted ownership who love to customise and personalise the mounts, in contrast a GS owning sheep will only add expensive branded items to the things and really like sheep the all look the same, same bike same gear same overweight middle age rider Sad and pathetic by comparison
@@bikerdood1100Thank you. I'm from Europe and I was already around when MZ was still competing in the European circus. Although relatively cheap, their road bikes were not that common back in the day. They simply were not on par with the Japanese bikes and the price difference was just a couple of hunderd bucks. I do not disagree many Honda's are a bit soulless, yet I believe the original VFR 750F (with the gear driven camshafts) and the Super Blackbird are not part of that. I'm not a GS (or adventure bike) fan at all, yet BMW has created the adventure bike cult, at least in my mind. And being expensive does not mean (to me) that it can not be a cult. Yet as I stated - this is all very personal.
@@bikerdood1100 I lived and live in the Netherlands. Sadly I never rode one although I came close to purchasing one, yet got a Honda CD 175 in stead. That was soulless, yet an excellent every day bike...
MZs handled better than most of the equivalent sized Japanese 2-strokes of the era, something advertising reliant motorcycle press would only reluctantly admit. The fact they went on to have a club racing scene bears this out.
There's quite a bit of groupthink among certain people interested in motorcycles. For that reason, some might get accused of having a cult mentality. Personally, I think the criticism is more or less fair. It's just a simple fact that hardly anyone under 50 will venerate an RD or LC. Simply because they weren't riding them in the 80s. So yeah when you see such bikes ritually venerated in magazines and such, there is an element of weirdness and one has to question why that is the case.
Herd mentality I’d have said Any time I go out for a ride and see all the people on identical BMW Gs in identical BMW gear I just shake my head and ride on 😂
@@bikerdood1100 True, people are getting a bit strange. The modern BMW GS is probably the first bike to have existed in symbiosis with social media and celebrity. What a difference this all is from only a few years ago, with sports bikes crossing double whites and doing 3 times the limit on blind bends, etc. The ER6 was launched in 2012 according to Wikipedia. From the very first moment I saw it, I knew I wanted no part of this modern motorcycling paradigm. I'm not a particularly visual person but visual aesthetics signal ideas that either accord with us or they don't. I am pretty much stuck in the late 80s and 1990s, so I'm probably being too harsh on some old bike aficionadi by implying they're cultists.
@@GTMarmot to an extent this is no bad thing, bikes are over reliant on gadgets while the actually build quality, especially in relation to materials and paint quality has definitely gone down hill in recent years as the companies look to cut costs in an ever shrinking market I suspect the industry are now regretting chasing older riders who could afford their range toppers while ignoring younger riders and doing precious little to attract younger people into the fold. Short term lunacy
The Sporter, bof, uncertain reliability, and you get soon tired of it. The 350 RDLC requires a high maintenance and spares are becoming pretty rare and expensive, the bike has become a collectible and the prices are skyrocketing. The MZ is for hardcore amateurs of the brand. The Suzuki is affordable, reliable, the air-oil cooled engine is plenty of grunt and you find the spares although I prefer the Honda CBF (the 600 makes 150 thousand kilometers easily) which is built with better components and paints, the real problem is to find now a Bandit well maintained in original state. In my opinion you have forgotten the magnificent Honda VFR 750 RC 36 monolever with the gear driven camshafts which reminds the racing RC 30. The quality of fabrication of all the Hondas of the 90 made in Japan was first class, no a point of rust after 30 years. The white pearl I had was a total beauty, I even bought the pearl white leather, boots and gloves to go with.. The suspensions and brakes were first rate, and with sinterized copper pads plus aviation liners the brakes are almost actual. The excellent rear shock can be rebuilt for less than 200 euros. The engine is extremely strong 150 thousand kilometers without intervention are common, I know one with 245 000 km never opened. It needs a rather simple maintenance that you can do yourself but all is pretty lengthy. The interventions on the valves and carburetors are long spaced. The gas mileage is decent. It's a extremely good and efficient sport touring bike, the bike is able to make a Paris Barcelona (1050 km) in one shot of less of 9 hours including gas, piss, and coffee stops without any problem, well protected. Nowadays with the cops and radars you can forget it. But you can take the small twisty roads with confidence, with a good rider on, the others will be suffering to follow you. You find all the common pieces, and even a lot of spares at very decent prices. And you find a lot in very good condition for less than 3000 euros for this concentrate of nineties high technology without impossible to fix electronics...
Both the HD and the rd require maintenance it’s true Poor reliability is often linked to lazy owners That’s true of any bike My wife ran a sportster for a few years with no problems because we are not lazy own These a reason I only include 5 bikes The VFR is not forgotten it’s there for latter if i feel it deserves inclusion One should always have a little wiggle room
@@bikerdood1100 😁 Let's simply say that for different reasons I do not like HD, BMW and KTM... I'm a pretty good meticulous even maniac mechanic, and I've always maintained and rebuilt my bikes since 1969, and before my mopeds and bicycles. I'm able also on marine engines, outboards and small plane engines. I hate to fix cars... The list of my bikes with more than 100 thousand km is pretty long as I was riding between 30 to 50 thousand km/year on road and off-road from 1969 to 1992. After it was only 15 thousand until 2013. I had the RDLC, 1988 YPVS 63 hp. Nice sport bike although the Honda NS 400 R, that I had also, was far superior in terms of handling and had a better range of power. But the Honda was an expensive exclusive bike and the RDLC a cheap one so it was sold like hot cakes. Like all the sport and off-road 2 strokes they were high maintenance bikes, it's not a defect but on a 35 years old 2S bike which will need certainly an opening of the engine, or new piston-cylinders that may become problematic because the new spares are now rare and getting more and more expensive. And remake a new cylinder liner on a 2S it's not an easy task. I see these problems with the excellent 2S Kawasaki KDX 200 and the very good Suzuki RH 250. A lot of guys are crying to find good new spares. So when you buy an RDLC or any old 2 strokes you have to take these peculiarities in account.
@@bikerdood1100 I've not owned a HD but I've repaired a few, because when it was the high period of HD fashion some of my acquaintances bought Sporters and other HD and needed help with all the little annoying miseries that leave you stranded a Sunday. So when they were tired of paying the HD mechanic, they remembered the existence of the old Pablo who rarely accepted to see the problem. I rode a few, and I has never been hooked by the handling, brakes, superb suspensions, the astounding engineering or the quality of fabrication. It's not for me, I do not feel good vibrations. Idem for the BMW; high fashion, extremely expensive, prohibitive prices of spares. For me not worth the price, the same for the cars. I had plenty of acquaintances with BMs since more of 50 years, I've tried many from the 1968 R69S to the 2021 GS 1200. Bof. Overpriced like the I phones and the Apple computers. And KTM unhappily I had one, a 250 GS 2 strokes which was less reliable than a Bultaco Matador 1970. My enduro season was ruined and I spent a lot of money trying to fix a flawed, badly built, engine.The SAV was nihil and that has not changed, as I've seen with an acquaintance with a 1290 which gave him a lot of miseries, even new and expensively maintained by the KTM mechanics. He sold it.
@pabloricardodetarragon2649 hmmm 🤔 I’m not an HD fan at all but I do at least try before adding critical opinions CbF 🤦dullsville A cult bike requires at least a whiff of personality surely Incidentally you use the wrong work when describing MZ enthusiast Amateur is completely the incorrect word. And isn’t a bike with an enthusiastic following the very definition of a Cult bike ? Think you made my argument for me there
Tut never smoked Got a bike addiction instead Less dangerous to my long term health Very bad for my bank balance 😂 Incidentally i neither smoke or drink Spent my money on fuel
Well that’s nonsense No opinion here Neither had a mechanical issue of ant type in the years we had a sportster But the Guzzi V7 is just plain better Fact
![เปิดบ้าน นาราเครปกระเทย 1 ไร่ ขายขาดทุนหลัก10ล้าน เอามาใช้หนี้!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jz84VFWVP4/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought a brand new MZ ETZ125 in 1989, I part exchanged a nice condition 1987 Honda CB125 TDE for it and actually got the MZ and £75 for it !.. I loved the MZ, rode it daily for almost 5 years, passed my bike test on it (only just and on the second attempt, the first examiner told me it wasn't really suitable due to it's lack of uphill grunt and a top speed of 55mph, the second was a bit more forgiving of it's' pedestrian' acceleration !..) then I sold it to a mate's daughter for £150. She used it for a long tour of Europe and then for riding between her university in Wales and her home in Norfolk every other weekend as well as road trips touring Scotland, she then passed her car test and sold the MZ on for £200, £50 MORE than she paid me for it !.
An appreciating classic even then
Sort of 😂
Sold mine to a family member for the same that I paid
£125 brilliant thing really
Showing my age, I remember when these bikes came out and have very fond memories of them😍
Same for a lot of us unfortunately
You're showing my age, actually, now shoosh! I don't want my 25 year old son to hear you.
I owned a Harley Davidson Street Glide and sold it less than 2 years. I now have a 2008 Sportster and it’s a smile every mile, handles great, sounds AMAZING. I was not a Harley fan but if you hang around other Harley riders, eventually some of them rub off on you. Incidentally one of those guys passed away a few years ago, a very dear friend, and he left me his 1986 FXRD…look that one up! :)
Nice 👍
As some RD350/250LC's are now being touted at nearly £10,000 and more ,and some CB400Fs at around £8,000 i would say that most who either owned or lusted after them in their youth and want another one now still cant afford them
Well some yes
If people are silly enough to pay that much
Compare though with a CBX or a Kawasaki triple and their a bloody bargain
In 1979 I bought my first motorcycle: a 1976 CB400F. For a few years I rode it everywhere, including twice on 5000kms treks around Canada's maritime provinces. Long story short, in the intervening years lots of other bikes have come and gone, but the yellow and black CB isn't one of them: 44 years after I first brought it home it still lives in my garage. Here in Canada, the Bandit 400 came before the 600. I find the MZ interesting, but the only ones I've ever seen were when visiting the UK and Cuba.
As I’ve found they are very common in Cubs
And in Germany , not surprisingly too
In the very class driven UK they suffered y the same way that Skoda cars did
Snobbery about vehicles has always been a thing here these days they have become positively fashionable. I owned one when they definitely were not
I never did care for class snobbery, growing up poor as I did
When I passed my test, aged 17, I bought a Yamaha RD 350 YPVS. Fitted micron exhausts and it was loud and fast. It had a nice power band making it easy to pop small wheelies under acceleration. Traded it in for a Kawasaki GPZ 550 which was another nice bike for a teenager, very smooth and quiet compared to the Yamaha but still sporty and fast.
Nice 👍🏻
I never liked MZs until I rode one !
That’s bikes for you
I remember when the LCs came out
Very cool 😎
250 was unfortunately a bit too cool (fast)
I would add the Honda Hornet 600 to that list. At 400 lb and 95 hp it knocks spots off the Bandit. And the finish is typical Honda quality. I've had two S versions which have the nose fairing. If you look around you can find good ones for £1200-1500 if not cheaper. Don't be put off by higher mileage ones if the bike has service history or looks like it's been looked after. Light, fast and reliable. Great fun.
Good call
I always do lists of 5 to allow room for another video
Also rarely top 5s . Self limiting
Two bikes that became Cult classics in the US have to Honda's HawkGT (NT650) and GB500. I worked at a dealership in '87 and we couldn't give them away, a few years on they were finally recognized as great machines
Funny how that happens sometimes
Something you said in this one struck a deeply resonating chord with me. The lack of any 'character ' to so many bikes.
True
Imagine how an electric bike will be
Soul free
@@bikerdood1100 A grey, utopia...
In Cuba, the MZ is a cult motorcycle. Watch videos on YT about it. Simple and reliable design. I recommend it as a first motorcycle
I have to agree
Great bunch of bikes. Love the sound of the Bandit. Inline four symphony. Really loved the intro and end. 😅 Take care guys and ride safe. Cheers
Thanks
I wonder went she went 😂
The 1200 is brutally fast. But the vibrations through the pegs and the bars were painful, after not too long in the saddle. And they eat rear tyres for breakfast. A couple of friends had them, back in the day, and while undoubtedly they were a great "hoon" bike, they were hard to live with in the longer term.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Thanks for the info.
I would add the GSX1100G to your mention of the Bandit. The G model also has the GSXR-based engine, but with shaft drive. My opinion is that it had a bit better rear suspension...but you know about opinions. I am long-gone from the motorcycle business, but I was a Suzuki dealer...and I bought a G model from the guys who bought my dealership from me. Got a pretty good price, too, because they didn't sell very well. Shame, as it is an absolutely terrific bike. I still have it, althugh the front forks and brakes have been changed out for GSXR items and the rear damper and spring have been updated (along with the brake). I keep it shod with premium rubber and it will show its taillight to many newer "sports" bikes. And, yes, at 86 I can still ride a bit...60 years after my last race! Love your videos.
Possibly but the early slab sliders go for serious money
Very enjoyable .....again.
Glad you liked it
came across 2 mz etz250, s from the 80,s on tour in ireland yesterday, from england, they were on the side as the exhaust had fallen off one of the bikes, fixed by the roadside and ive no doubt they reached where they were going, good luck lads
That’s the point with these things
Simplicity is the key
Not touch screen or ABS, CPU and rider aids
Just a bike and an engine
How I like em
Another great video. Unfortunately MZ’s and RD’s are not very common here in the States
Too bad
They are old bikes now but still a few around here
I owned a 1200 Bandit for a few years, that bike is all motor. It handled fine on highway, but at low speed it had heavy steering. Very easy to maintain (love air cooled simplicity) and never had a lick of problems.
The 600 I found to have quite the opposite really, stealing was very light
I have had both. The 1200 was a pig in parking lots but a pure joy on the highway. The 600 was very rev happy and sounded like I was racing from stop light to stop light. It was a real screamer. I think the 600 was easier to ride.
@@JR-bj3uf no doubt
@bikerdood1100 Had a 600 Bandit a couple of years ago and would have to agree on steering being really light, in fact the front end just felt too light and a bit vague...After that got a 1250 K8 Bandit Streetfighter and that's a whole different ball game...front end is more settled and steering is really positive...
@@gordy4459some might say heavy I suppose
I have a 1978 Honda CBX, which I bought 35ish years ago, when they were not considered "desirable" (quite the opposite, actually). I bought it because I liked it. I couldn't afford to buy it today! I followed the same philosophy more recently when I bought a 1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200 and a 1999 Ducati Monster 750...
If only they’d stayed undesirable
Wish I hd never sold my old Kawasaki Z1300.
I bought mine 20 years ago for $600.00. I don’t have to mention that it needed some work but I got it running and on the road soon after. I also have a ‘75 GL1000, a ‘69 CT90, a ‘72 Triumph Tiger 650 and my newest baby , a Super Tenere.
Yes i had a few of those 350lc bandit 1200 and even a MZ in the early days ,niw i wish i could have kept them😅👍
Well we all have those bikes
Great video again.most of us wanted a lc in the 80s but most of us apprentices couldn’t afford one and the price now is astronomical if you can find one.I’ve had a sporty and have a Buell .sporty are the most affordable on the list and useable although the have gone up a bit as well.hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Well some models here on the UK are not cheap but compared to models such as the Kawasaki triples there a bargain
The LC still looks good, by god it was the dogs when it was launched in 1980.
It was indeed
Modern bikes are too much and too big
The 350 had all you actually needed and no more
Me on the classic Hayabusa second generation in to high speed wanting to follow that curve when the Busa still wants straight forward, over that field and probably into that wood far away. But we still get along and i do like that bike. 😄❤️👍
Despite the fact that she tries to kill you 😂
Affordability is relative. But I get your point.
Had a 400/4 in the.mid nineties, bit underwhelmed tbh. Rebuilt a 550/4 later, a considerably better machine I thought.
Had a TS250 in 1991, bought for £60! Reliable enough for my 10 mile commute in the day, but truly awful handling. Sold it for the same money 6 months later and got a GT500 for £200, needed a new CDI unit, so my mate showed up with one off a Triumph Acclaim, which we got the thing to run off...kinda 😂
I would agree that the 550 is better but it doesn’t have the same following. In an earlier video I stated that I felt this was the case and got a lot of stick, people do seem to love the things but I’d go for the bigger bikes every time
As for the MZ they were often supplied with the worlds worst tyres, had an Etz which was absolutely fine
Triumph acclaim 🤦
Nice video! Unfortunately all of these bikes are extremely hard to find and not cheap when you do finally find one.
There compared to some check laverda or CBX prices and you’ll see they ain’t bad at all
Another banger, brother. I know it sounds silly, but your videos really help me get through the week. All the negativity and political crap really grinds on people. It is great to be able to take a step back and watch a great video on classic bikes.
No political stuff here
Well not much 😂
Once sampled a Stage 2 tuned 350LC. The power really did rip your guts out,fun with a capital fuh!😊
😁
Five bikes that will go up in price in the near future, so I will keep my Sportster (unfortunatly sold the CB400F).
Dam it 😂
Yamaha vmax are still surprisingly accessible. Decent examples well below 5k currently 👍
Cool 😎
Damn scary to ride too. Lack of brake power and handling meant you felt like you were approaching bends at a rate of knots too fast LOL!!
@dilwyn1 Some say they don't go round corners. I've had one for 20 years and it doesn't even go in a straight line 😀
@@mainlander6299 🤣🤣🤣 Great fun though, once the pants had been changed 😁
@@dilwyn1 well 5he throttle goes both ways as they say
I agree with you on the harley-davidson bikes anymore. I have had quite a few of them and I love them on the express way if you are just trying to get there.
👍🏻
One thing I have learned is that spares availability can be a big problem. So far I have been able to have my CB250 and RD250LC racers running. Spares for Japanese bikes can be difficult to find. For some exotic bikes it can be impossible to find parts. Generally British bikes have good spares supply. For some high priced bikes like Vincents and short stroke Manxes, every part is available.
Really depends where you are in the world and what you’re riding
There’s a few places in the UK that are very good for Japanese spares Honda especially
I have a Moto Guzzi V7 Special and a BMW R75/7, I'd love to have a Sportster in my garage as well.
That’s just greedy 😂😂
I suppose, but it would make for a nice mid size bike collection :) @@bikerdood1100
What's a MZ etz 250 f reg 12000 miles good condition no rot. Worth nowadays?
Depends where you live
@@bikerdood1100 north England
@@devilsreject320 well I’m no dealer but they any between £1500 and 2300 depending on condition bit less for an ETZ because it’s relatively modern I expect
@@bikerdood1100 thank you for your time and knowledge. It's good to know not many up for sale to find out. Saw one at £ 3000 but did it sall probably not. Worth more than I thought. Thanks new sub hire ✌
@@devilsreject320 dealers will probably ask that much I expect
1:18 The 400 was the first Bandit in the UK, back in 1989.
Well don’t believe t was an official import at that time though
A very different bike to the rest of the range too
The greatest cult machine is the Honda C90 but that go's without saying and it's hardly ''afordable'' any more . In fact I would say they are ridiculously priced now .I look forward to your vids .Great stuff .
It is getting a bit crazy these days
All too Modern THE 52 BLACK LIGHTNING !!!!!WILL.ALWAYS BE THE KING !!!!FOREVER 😁LIKE THE SONG g
👍
A bike I don't see getting much attention these, and one I thought was a real cult bike, is the GPZ 900 R Ninja.
True
Thanks very much for a highly enjoyable video featuring a great selection of bikes.
I agree with your evaluation of the Honda CB400F and the H-D Sportster.
Having a Sportster, a Buell M2 and two H-D big twins (a 1987 FXRS-SP and a 1990 FXRT) I wouldn't say bid twins were "too big" for UK roads but I would put them roughly on a par with other large touring bikes. If touring two up with a lot of luggage, then I think a big twin will be superior to a Sportster.
Oh
I think big touring bikes would be on the roads where I live
The problem with lists like this: how do you define a cult? Is it when they have a dedicated bunch of owners? Is it when they are at the front edge of technology when they were new? I like MZ, know the history, etc. Yet I almost never see them on the road. Then the number of BMW GS, old and new, is unbelievable. The GS is, at least to me, also more or less the first adventure bike. Does that make it a cult bike? Is a VFR 750F, seen by many as the best sports touring bike ever, a cult bike? They still are very affordable... How about a Yamaha R1? I believe any list is almost impossible to create as it is always driven by personal preference. My list of cult bikes (if I had such a list) will differ from the next guy. I also find that people who are in to a certain type or make of bike (and cars for that matter) seem to be blind for negative side of their vehicle. Also, to me, age does not make a bike (or a car) better: if it was a lousy vehicle when it was new, it is still that when it is old. But then again, this is all very personal...
GS is more herd mentality generated by the media
I’d say a bike with a devoted following often despite the reaction of others sometimes
MZ is a great example
I’m guessing you non European?
In Britain and Europe they are a common site especially at classic meets, they had a devoted following in the 70s and 80s despite being often ridiculed by other riders and the press, they had a devoted network of enthusiastic dealers and were popular despite everyone else. Their popularity as a classic has grown in recent years too.
VFR is a good shout I’d say but they are a little Honda soulless better the C90
I’d define as having the kind of bike that has fan clubs , forums etc
Although this may be despite lower numbers
Think more Rock bands
Genesis in the early 70s we’re seen as a Cult band
Very devoted but necessary huge following, they later become massively successful and were no longer seen as a cult band
I’ve included the Bandit because of its long history of devoted ownership who love to customise and personalise the mounts, in contrast a GS owning sheep will only add expensive branded items to the things and really like sheep the all look the same, same bike same gear same overweight middle age rider
Sad and pathetic by comparison
@@bikerdood1100Thank you. I'm from Europe and I was already around when MZ was still competing in the European circus. Although relatively cheap, their road bikes were not that common back in the day. They simply were not on par with the Japanese bikes and the price difference was just a couple of hunderd bucks. I do not disagree many Honda's are a bit soulless, yet I believe the original VFR 750F (with the gear driven camshafts) and the Super Blackbird are not part of that. I'm not a GS (or adventure bike) fan at all, yet BMW has created the adventure bike cult, at least in my mind. And being expensive does not mean (to me) that it can not be a cult. Yet as I stated - this is all very personal.
@@carsyoungtimerfreak1149 they were very common where I grew up
You must have lived in a nicer city
Have you ever rode or ridden one ?
@@bikerdood1100 I lived and live in the Netherlands. Sadly I never rode one although I came close to purchasing one, yet got a Honda CD 175 in stead. That was soulless, yet an excellent every day bike...
MZs handled better than most of the equivalent sized Japanese 2-strokes of the era, something advertising reliant motorcycle press would only reluctantly admit. The fact they went on to have a club racing scene bears this out.
I’ve found them fine
They just came with horrible tyres when new
Decent rubber and the ain’t half bad
Yamaha were probably less of a problem re demise of 250 learners as MCN splashing it over there front page IMHO.
Bloody MCN 😂
There's quite a bit of groupthink among certain people interested in motorcycles. For that reason, some might get accused of having a cult mentality. Personally, I think the criticism is more or less fair. It's just a simple fact that hardly anyone under 50 will venerate an RD or LC. Simply because they weren't riding them in the 80s. So yeah when you see such bikes ritually venerated in magazines and such, there is an element of weirdness and one has to question why that is the case.
Herd mentality I’d have said
Any time I go out for a ride and see all the people on identical BMW Gs in identical BMW gear I just shake my head and ride on 😂
@@bikerdood1100 True, people are getting a bit strange. The modern BMW GS is probably the first bike to have existed in symbiosis with social media and celebrity. What a difference this all is from only a few years ago, with sports bikes crossing double whites and doing 3 times the limit on blind bends, etc. The ER6 was launched in 2012 according to Wikipedia. From the very first moment I saw it, I knew I wanted no part of this modern motorcycling paradigm. I'm not a particularly visual person but visual aesthetics signal ideas that either accord with us or they don't. I am pretty much stuck in the late 80s and 1990s, so I'm probably being too harsh on some old bike aficionadi by implying they're cultists.
@@GTMarmot to an extent this is no bad thing, bikes are over reliant on gadgets while the actually build quality, especially in relation to materials and paint quality has definitely gone down hill in recent years as the companies look to cut costs in an ever shrinking market
I suspect the industry are now regretting chasing older riders who could afford their range toppers while ignoring younger riders and doing precious little to attract younger people into the fold. Short term lunacy
In Oz the Honda CT 110 is THE cult m.cycle. Demand silly prices now.
Definitely will figure next time
Alongside the Cub of course
Have you not sen the current prices of LC's? hardly affordable.
It’s relative trust me lol at RD 500s or Kawasaki triples, two strokes have become very collectible unfortunately
The Sporter, bof, uncertain reliability, and you get soon tired of it. The 350 RDLC requires a high maintenance and spares are becoming pretty rare and expensive, the bike has become a collectible and the prices are skyrocketing. The MZ is for hardcore amateurs of the brand. The Suzuki is affordable, reliable, the air-oil cooled engine is plenty of grunt and you find the spares although I prefer the Honda CBF (the 600 makes 150 thousand kilometers easily) which is built with better components and paints, the real problem is to find now a Bandit well maintained in original state.
In my opinion you have forgotten the magnificent Honda VFR 750 RC 36 monolever with the gear driven camshafts which reminds the racing RC 30. The quality of fabrication of all the Hondas of the 90 made in Japan was first class, no a point of rust after 30 years. The white pearl I had was a total beauty, I even bought the pearl white leather, boots and gloves to go with..
The suspensions and brakes were first rate, and with sinterized copper pads plus aviation liners the brakes are almost actual. The excellent rear shock can be rebuilt for less than 200 euros. The engine is extremely strong 150 thousand kilometers without intervention are common, I know one with 245 000 km never opened. It needs a rather simple maintenance that you can do yourself but all is pretty lengthy. The interventions on the valves and carburetors are long spaced. The gas mileage is decent.
It's a extremely good and efficient sport touring bike, the bike is able to make a Paris Barcelona (1050 km) in one shot of less of 9 hours including gas, piss, and coffee stops without any problem, well protected. Nowadays with the cops and radars you can forget it. But you can take the small twisty roads with confidence, with a good rider on, the others will be suffering to follow you.
You find all the common pieces, and even a lot of spares at very decent prices.
And you find a lot in very good condition for less than 3000 euros for this concentrate of nineties high technology without impossible to fix electronics...
Both the HD and the rd require maintenance it’s true
Poor reliability is often linked to lazy owners
That’s true of any bike
My wife ran a sportster for a few years with no problems because we are not lazy own
These a reason I only include 5 bikes
The VFR is not forgotten it’s there for latter if i feel it deserves inclusion
One should always have a little wiggle room
Have actually owned both of them or is it just gossip/ pub talk?
@@bikerdood1100 😁 Let's simply say that for different reasons I do not like HD, BMW and KTM...
I'm a pretty good meticulous even maniac mechanic, and I've always maintained and rebuilt my bikes since 1969, and before my mopeds and bicycles.
I'm able also on marine engines, outboards and small plane engines. I hate to fix cars...
The list of my bikes with more than 100 thousand km is pretty long as I was riding between 30 to 50 thousand km/year on road and off-road from 1969 to 1992. After it was only 15 thousand until 2013.
I had the RDLC, 1988 YPVS 63 hp. Nice sport bike although the Honda NS 400 R, that I had also, was far superior in terms of handling and had a better range of power. But the Honda was an expensive exclusive bike and the RDLC a cheap one so it was sold like hot cakes.
Like all the sport and off-road 2 strokes they were high maintenance bikes, it's not a defect but on a 35 years old 2S bike which will need certainly an opening of the engine, or new piston-cylinders that may become problematic because the new spares are now rare and getting more and more expensive. And remake a new cylinder liner on a 2S it's not an easy task.
I see these problems with the excellent 2S Kawasaki KDX 200 and the very good Suzuki RH 250. A lot of guys are crying to find good new spares.
So when you buy an RDLC or any old 2 strokes you have to take these peculiarities in account.
@@bikerdood1100 I've not owned a HD but I've repaired a few, because when it was the high period of HD fashion some of my acquaintances bought Sporters and other HD and needed help with all the little annoying miseries that leave you stranded a Sunday.
So when they were tired of paying the HD mechanic, they remembered the existence of the old Pablo who rarely accepted to see the problem. I rode a few, and I has never been hooked by the handling, brakes, superb suspensions, the astounding engineering or the quality of fabrication. It's not for me, I do not feel good vibrations.
Idem for the BMW; high fashion, extremely expensive, prohibitive prices of spares. For me not worth the price, the same for the cars. I had plenty of acquaintances with BMs since more of 50 years, I've tried many from the 1968 R69S to the 2021 GS 1200. Bof. Overpriced like the I phones and the Apple computers.
And KTM unhappily I had one, a 250 GS 2 strokes which was less reliable than a Bultaco Matador 1970. My enduro season was ruined and I spent a lot of money trying to fix a flawed, badly built, engine.The SAV was nihil and that has not changed, as I've seen with an acquaintance with a 1290 which gave him a lot of miseries, even new and expensively maintained by the KTM mechanics. He sold it.
@pabloricardodetarragon2649 hmmm 🤔
I’m not an HD fan at all but I do at least try before adding critical opinions
CbF 🤦dullsville
A cult bike requires at least a whiff of personality surely
Incidentally you use the wrong work when describing MZ enthusiast
Amateur is completely the incorrect word. And isn’t a bike with an enthusiastic following the very definition of a Cult bike ?
Think you made my argument for me there
when i was 15 in 1975 i had a jar i put pennys in as my 400/4 saving fund never got one as i discovered cigerettes bad move !!!
Tut never smoked
Got a bike addiction instead
Less dangerous to my long term health
Very bad for my bank balance 😂
Incidentally i neither smoke or drink
Spent my money on fuel
From South Africa there is a CBX 6, IN PRISTINE condition , 3500 km going for 140 000 ZAR. SIGH......
Is this channel EBay all of a sudden
Buy a Harley sportster but make sure you buy a trailer to transport it home lmao
Well that’s nonsense
No opinion here
Neither had a mechanical issue of ant type in the years we had a sportster
But the Guzzi V7 is just plain better
Fact
The best way of converting petrol into noise.@@bikerdood1100