Best bike for everyday road riding 1969-1984 ;o)

Laverda SF said:
I have nothing against Breganzies - No Doubt they are FAST Enough to win a Race with Patience ;o)

I was rather partial for the Honda 900F in the 80's.

The 900K Kawasaki Bike was over powered, WOBBLED and broke transmissions for me. A Suicide ride Very FAST and Dangerous !

Other words the 900K handled like SHIT compared to a Breganzie ;o)

No Doubt Kawasaki got better and Breganzies don't exist anymore ;o(
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Back in the day I recall seeing a diagram of the GPZ frame with the remark (along the lines of) as it is so closely resembles a Laverda 750 frame perhaps that’s why it handles so well....
 
rocketonarail said:
Do I understand you`ve got a OW31 in your garage .... ? ....... I`m jealous is an understatement ..........

I know they are not the obvious choice ..... but Ron did say offered to the public ......... which they were , many private entries in club races up and down the country will testify to that ....... and some did make it onto the road .... see below .....

.... Not one for the daily commute though ..... and I reckon my Mirage made more smoke than that , easily ......... :) ..........

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A TZ750 sold as. Street bike????
 
rocketonarail said:
Do I understand you`ve got a OW31 in your garage .... ? ....... I`m jealous is an understatement ..........

I know they are not the obvious choice ..... but Ron did say offered to the public ......... which they were , many private entries in club races up and down the country will testify to that ....... and some did make it onto the road .... see below .....

.... Not one for the daily commute though ..... and I reckon my Mirage made more smoke than that , easily ......... :) ..........

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No, I wish I had a TZ750 in my garage. I’ve got an 89 Honda RC30, a bike that, yes, was found at select high volume Honda showrooms during that era. Such was never the case with a TZ750.
 
Exmoor beast said:
I uncreated one of the first 1000RX ( Red) and we stood and looked it at like it was a spaceship- it was so futuristic..or so we thought. Went like stink, rumoured be able to get up to 155 on the A41 in Watford before the Levesdon roundabout…🤫 Dirty rotten cheap at the moment- if you are looking at one beware of Tappety rattle from top- little cam followers used to scuff up and wear but not all of them were affected.
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I think the claimed top speed of the RX was around 165mph. Like Max, I took a demo bike for a ride, could have been Powerbiking’s, or whoever it was they were based in north Milton Keynes. I rode it around a bit then headed for the A5 dual carriageway that runs from Stony Stratford through the centre of MK. By the time I got to the first junction it had probably hit nigh on terminal velocity but I was concentrating slightly more on avoiding the (fortunately) few other vehicles sharing the road - that seemed to be travelling ever so slowly by comparison - than watching the speedo. However, as I approached the central MK turn-off I did have a sneaky look before I shut off and the needle was definitely buried in the 160 territory.
However, it doesn’t count as the model was launched in 86.
 
rocketonarail said:
Do I understand you`ve got a OW31 in your garage .... ? ....... I`m jealous is an understatement ..........

I know they are not the obvious choice ..... but Ron did say offered to the public ......... which they were , many private entries in club races up and down the country will testify to that ....... and some did make it onto the road .... see below .....

.... Not one for the daily commute though ..... and I reckon my Mirage made more smoke than that , easily ......... :) ..........

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Those crazy kids……. Love it!
 
Steve G. said:
No, I wish I had a TZ750 in my garage. I’ve got an 89 Honda RC30, a bike that, yes, was found at select high volume Honda showrooms during that era. Such was never the case with a TZ750.
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OK , it`s a RC30 , and I`m still jealous ......

The TZ750 in the clip is going to be a race bike which someone has converted to flat-track Kenny Roberts replica style ........ and managed to get registered for the road ..... According to the government DVLA website the last V5 ( registration logbook ) was issued in 2013 ( maybe for a change of keeper ) , ........ although it was first road registered back in 1978 .......
Last MOT test certificate expired back in 2013 ........ No lights , so daytime only MOT I suppose .......

It`s still around but SORN`ed ....... ( currently being stored off road ) .......
 
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Just looked up total production for the TZ750 , and it`s 567 over six years ....... not quite as many as I thought ...... ( but still more common than Laverda`s Montjuic Mk 1 and 2 combined , or Jota 120 , I think .... correct me if I`m wrong ..... ) ...... and still enough for someone to get hold of one and put it on the road , if they really wanted ....... Vendors like Lusso Veloce here in the UK would probably have one in stock at one point in time or another .... in fact they`ve got two at the moment ..... one at £75,000 , the other at a far more reasonable £60,000 ........... plus a Formula 500 at £16500 .........

........ :whistle: .........
 
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... unlike the silenced TZ in the previous clip , this one isn`t likely to be passing any MOT noise test any time soon ......... not that the owner seems to be too worried about all that road legal stuff .... it`s only a quick run up and down the road after all ...... You`re never too old to act like you`re young .......

Of the 200 made in 1974 , most ( around 180 ) went to the USA , and this is one of those .......


..... I seem to recall that when the RGS was launched , the Laverda brothers arranged to have a length of dual carriage nearby closed off , so the factory staff could see the bike being put through it`s paces , with the equivalent of 147 mph being recorded ........ not the fastest bike offered to the public between 1969 and 1984 perhaps , but still in the top three or four , maybe ? .......

Also regarding performance , Motorcyclist Illustrated magazine ( I think , this is reproduced in one the Brooklands Books Gold Portfolio Laverda series ) , put a Green Mirage through the lights with a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.97 seconds , and a 0 to 100 mph time of 9.67 seconds ......

...... a modern litre sportsbike , in comparison , will manage around 2.7 seconds , and just under six seconds respectively .... not a bad result for Moto Laverda , when considering the 40 year gap between the two ........
 
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To tell you the truth I wasn't thinking about Multi-Cyl 2 Strokes when I posted this. Took a Kawasaki 750 3cly 2 Stroke for ride one day about 5 miles outta town down the hwy and back. Had a hard time to keep the front tire on the pave with the bars slapping wildly side to side when the torque curve maxed - Needless to say I never road one again. That K3 2 stroke killed many young inspiring Motorcycles whom didn't know any better; however, I did like the Kawasaki 3 cyl 500 2 Stroke MASH Series. I owned a Suzuki 500 Titan dressed in Cafe Blue and White - Really liked that ride; fast enough, loud, STINKY and well balanced for fast cruising the winding narrow 2 lane asphalt of the Cambrian Shield ;o)

RD 350's and 400's where popular in Northern Ontario back then for Street and Bush Roads. Could wheely all day long on them things - LOL

Plus they where CHEAP "Under $1000" where as my 70 Breganzie was listed at $3,300 in 71 (A Triumph 650 at $1,600, BMW 750S at $2,100 and a Honda CB 750 at $1,100 - The 900K around $1,300)

Got my 70 750 SF Bregaqnzie for $1,600 a year after the Dealership when under then she cost me another $900 for a starter from the Breganzie factory due to crappy Italian wiring ;o)

All the European Motorcycle Dealerships went under in Canada as they could not compete with Japanese Prices but Japanese Bikes had Fatal Flaws that Killed.
 
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chrisk said:
If my memory serves correctly, the GPZ900R had a 16” front wheel for the first couple of variants. Then they woke up to themselves.

Or am I the one dreaming?
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Please note that this year is the 40th anniversary of the Gpz900r winning the Isle of Man Production TT, so I don't think the handling was that bad..But yes, It did have a 16" front wheel up until 1990 when Mr Kawasaki upgraded the front end to a 17", 41mm forks and twin 4 pot brake calipers working on 300mm discs.

I've had my 1990 900r since 2000, when it was rescued from a friend's garage immobile, and it's now a lot different to it's original self. It's a great bike, and I've gradually upgraded over the years. It's now sporting Ohlins front springs and rear monoshock, Zzr1100c rear end, Nissin front calipers and M/C, 1000rx engine internals, clutch and gearbox, 1039 Wiseco big bore kit. big valve, 36mm carbs with 75mm velocity stacks and ramair filters, ported head with Yoshimura SP-1 cams and RD valve springs with Ti retainers. It certainly handles well and goes none too shabbily.
 
Knock it OFF the GPZ900R and the Suzuki 1100GSXR was during and after 1984 !

Both Rides KILLED the Breganzie Factory and the Legendary STAR the Breganzie 3 Cyl Jota that ruled for 10 years ;o}

For GOD's sake I rode a 84 Suzuki 1100 GSRX for one summer, 140MPH was an easy twist of the throttle - TOO FAST for me. Kept my dependable 120 mph 70 Breganzie 750 SF to get me home.
 
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Laverda SF said:
Knock it OFF the GPZ900R and the Suzuki 1100GSXR was during and after 1984 !

Both Rides KILLED the Breganzie Factory and the Legendary STAR the Breganzie 3 Cyl Jota that ruled for 10 years ;o}

For GOD's sake I rode a 84 Suzuki 1100 GSRX for one summer, 140MPH was an easy twist of the throttle - TOO FAST for me. Kept my dependable 120 mph 70 Breganzie 750 SF to get me home.
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And here I thought that Laverda selling their agricultural division was the nail in the coffin.
When my brother bought his ‘84 Kawi 900 Ninja new inn’84, he was the alpha male in our town, Langley, BC, just outside Van City. Friday night drags at the illegal ‘Latimer Road ‘ strip road, where trailered alcohol machines showed up, he’d win gas money for a whole week. It was a revelation! It was easy. It did eat the cams at 13,000 kms but was covering see warranty.
 
For 78jotadave RE: Honda VFR 750R - Yes I was attracted to that bike but to say the least when the chains fail I didn't want one. (Small Sized Chain like 550)

I actually witnessed a chain failure on a VFR 750R while cruising with a friend with my 70 Breganzie 750 SF0 - Never had a Chain failure on my SF0 with a 650 "O" ring but did come close where the Master Link disappeared and found on a walk about inspection - Close Call !

Always inspect your Chain before you Ride ;o)

The Honda VFR 750R would have be a great bike if only they had put a 650 chain on her.

Come to think about it, that Bike is after 1984 and NOT included in this POST ;o)
 
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Just saying a Norton 750/850 Commando was approx $1,700 perhaps 2,200 for an 850 Interstate in the early 70's in Canada and they where available along with outrageous prices for Breganzies and Ducatis. The Honda CB750 was $1,100 - Go Figure What happened. I'm talking 1971 !

Who had the Fastest Moped by 74 , Definitely the Breganzie Jota for which cost near $4,000 Canadian.

By 84 you could by a Suzuki 1100 GSX for a thousand $ less and blow that Breganzie Jota away ;o(

So why I choose from say 1969 to 1984 Fastest Bikes - Forget the 84 Suzuki 1100 GSX Kantana - That's a different ERA for Motorcyclists.

However other then then 4 strokes, I'm interested in what you 2 Stroker's are chiming in for that period.

Really Roberts and Spencer were my HERO'S in the Day and Isle of Man TT Joey Dunlop.

The thing is Roberts and Spenser raced on Safe Prepared Race Tracks where as Dunlop Raced on what we ride on every day.

Because of that statement my Heart Feeling for a Racer really has to out for Joey. May he R.I.P !
____.
 
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piranha-bro2 said:
And clearly, a GPZ900R didn't handle like shit Ron!
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Mine would get a bit scary in long, fast corners if you were cranked over hard at a stupid speed (above about 200 kph). The bloody thing would get a little weave going that would gradually get worse. It had the potential to turn into a full-on tank-slapper if you didn't ease off very carefully.

Just such a bend exists in Tasmania's Symmons Plains racetrack. The "straight" is actually bent. It has a big long right-hand curve that you can easily take at well over 200 while dragging the knee on the road on something that handles well. I never had the balls to hold the throttle fully open on the GPZ900R through that bend. It just felt too unstable. Guys on Ducatis would cruise around the outside of me on full noise while I was backing off.
 
Dellorto: Wish I knew your First Name? I'm referring to the early Kawasaki 900KZ's. Really did that GPZ900R exist before 1984 and where they available - Seems you didn't like her ?

I did not like the Kawasaki 900KZ; however powerful, she handled like SHIT specifically in Hi-Spd long corners. - Dangerous machine in my opinion.

Not even close to sailing a Breganzie 750 SF at the same speed through the same corner.
 
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Hi Ron. My name is Cam (Cameron). My GPZ900R was one of the first batch of 1984 models. I bought it second hand in 1985, but it only had about 1000km on it. Made me wonder who buys a new bike and only keeps it for 1000km. It was a nice bike.
I probably have photos of it somewhere, but I'd have to look through piles of old printed photos or colour slides to find them. No digital photos from those days.
 
Holy Shit after all these years I should have known Dellorto was "CAM" - FUCK Forgive me.

Down Under Tasmanian Devil under the Southern Cross ;o)

Hey did you say you had an 850 Lemans?
 
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