Modern Motorcycle most like a real 80's UJM ?

[Jedz123]

The vid of the speedo shows a top speed of 235 kph. I'm underwhelmed.

Isn't 235 KPH around 150MPH? For a stocker 900cc bike that isn't bad... No slouch but no performance liter either.

 

[Boriqua]

Back in the day .. I had my old GS 750 up around a speedo reading of 115-120mph and hit the tiniest of tiny wee bumps in the highway. This was the early 80's at about 3am. My handlebars started going back and forth like they were possessed. I am not talking vibrating here .. I am talking literally going back and forth. I was absolutely sure I would die. I still don't know how I didn't. Since then .. I tend to get up to about 100 on a short blast and call it a day.

150 seems plenty high to me!

 

[Jedz123]

Ahh the Death Wobble... Happened to me once on a 78 GS750E. That is when I learned it is best to replace old tires even if they look ok... It had a Kenda Challenger that cracked and started to peel up while doing +100mph. Yeah they don't call it tank slapping for nothing...
I bet with some mods the Z900RS could go faster.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Why do people need a retro to top 150? That's ridiculous if it is a determining factor. Get a Busa and slap a turbo on it if you want to be Ghostrider.

 

[Jedz123]

Why do people need a retro to top 150? That's ridiculous if it is a determining factor. Get a Busa and slap a turbo on it if you want to be Ghostrider.

Personally 150mph is too fast for what I need for my riding here in Vermont.

I guess I'm getting old but I'd much rather have a shorter geared bike with oodles of torque every where that handles awesome and I can rack miles by the hundreds.

Why the XSR700 is more desirable then the XSR900.

Why I landed on a XR. Plenty of retro inspired looks, heft for good touring, wheels and suspension that let me keep up with my sport bike buddies and an engine with a great amount of torque above 3K RPM.

Shame they don't make a modern version of that...

 

[earlfor]

Why do people need a retro to top 150? That's ridiculous if it is a determining factor. Get a Busa and slap a turbo on it if you want to be Ghostrider.

Looking at it that way, no one needs the performance of about 85% of the bikes on the road, and I doubt there is anyone that actually Needs a motorcycle. We could all ride 250 Ninjas and be done with it. LOL

 

[storm 64]

I don't ride at full throttle, top speed. But it's nice to have that extra horsepower to get the heck out of the way, especially on the highway! If that means going 150mph then so be it!

 

[swanny]

The vid of the speedo shows a top speed of 235 kph. I'm underwhelmed.

150MPH is pretty good on a bike without any fairing. You'd be surprised how much a full fairing on a modern sport bike reduces the coefficient of drag. No fairing means you're pushing a wall of air.

 

[earlfor]

150MPH is pretty good on a bike without any fairing. You'd be surprised how much a full fairing on a modern sport bike reduces the coefficient of drag. No fairing means you're pushing a wall of air.

Not a lot of surprise. For a bike without a fairing, 40 hp will give about 100 mph top speed. If you want to hit 200 mph, it will take over 200 hp.

 

[Nessism]

The moto 3 GP bikes are 250cc singles that make about 51hp and can hit 150mph.

 

[bobgroger]

Isn't 235 KPH around 150MPH? For a stocker 900cc bike that isn't bad... No slouch but no performance liter either.

The original KZ900 went 122 IIRC. And many Kawis hit the limiter at 150. I would be quite happy with that. That will get a ride in the back of a police car, and a ride for your bike as well. I have to arrange a test ride...

 

[glib]

Top speed for a street bike is not necessarily an attraction except for comparison but, how fast you can accelerate is very important in measuring fun factor. IMO. Torque rules.

 

[limeex2]

Late to the tread. The Kawasaki Z900 gets me going. A friend of mine who's blood is lime green was giving the transformer version of basically the same bike. He loves it. This is from a guy who has in his possession a real Eddie Lawson KZ1000 and every big bore Kaw you could think of. There just plain fun. They look good, go plenty fast, killer brakes and susp., modable,. The new XS yamaha's are nice but to transformer for me. The new 120 Bonneville are sweet as is the new 795 speed triple. They both are getting rave reviews. I have a 01 Speed Triple with plenty of updates that I don't ride much since I have been playing with the GS's. When I think of selling it, I go for a ride and it never fails to put a big sheet eatin grin on me. Riding naked bikes over 135 gets tough. My ZRX will hit that in 3rd gear. If you have never ridin a ZRX your missing a treat. So much torque, redline is rarely seen and they are going up in price unlike most bikes.

If Suzuki had any balls which they don't, they would build a GS1000s that looks like a 1000s, NO TRANSFORMER genes what so ever! Build it in limited numbers so the dealers can make money, helps resale too. Then stop making them. Then make a modern Kat, that once again looks like the original but is just plain FAST. Once again limited numbers. limted numbers keeps the prices and interest higher. I know we all hate 'em, but the dealers are hurting and they need to survive too.

The new GL's may be the cats meow, but I'm selling my 01. I have a 35 inch inseam and just don't fit. The bike is stunning once it is moving. I can fit more stuff on any of my standards for long trips, been looking at the Kawasaki 1000 Versys. Lots of bike for 10k and you can get aftermarket cruise control. The GL has it and I was instantly addicted on long trips

 

[Guest]

I could see myself breaking my rule on debt and buying a new Z900RS. Such a great looking bike! I LOVE THE SATIN BLACK STAINLESS STEEL/ BRUSHED ALUMINUM ENGINE COMBO. Like I said- if I am in the mood I may sit down with a loan officer at my credit union. When the Honda retro CB1100 came out I was excited too. But when I learned the HP of the Honda was less than the XS1100E Yamaha I had at the time my excitement decreased. The Z900RS makes more power than my current 83 GS1100E AND the Kaw weighs some 60 plus less lbs!!!!! Anyone know the 1/4 mile time of the new Kawasaki? Im thinking a pro test rider weighing 160lbs ish should run about 10.6-10.8 sec in the 1/4??

 

[glib]

I could see myself breaking my rule on debt and buying a new Z900RS. Such a great looking bike! I LOVE THE SATIN BLACK STAINLESS STEEL/ BRUSHED ALUMINUM ENGINE COMBO. Like I said- if I am in the mood I may sit down with a loan officer at my credit union. When the Honda retro CB1100 came out I was excited too. But when I learned the HP of the Honda was less than the XS1100E Yamaha I had at the time my excitement decreased. The Z900RS makes more power than my current 83 GS1100E AND the Kaw weighs some 60 plus less lbs!!!!! Anyone know the 1/4 mile time of the new Kawasaki? Im thinking a pro test rider weighing 160lbs ish should run about 10.6-10.8 sec in the 1/4??

Decent calculator:

https://www.gregraven.org/hotwater/calculators/qm-from-wt-hp

 

[Guest]

The class-defining characteristics of UJMs were listed in earlier posts in this thread:
The era was roughly 1975 - 1985.
Mechanical: In-line 4 cylinder; 4-stroke engine; 5 speed transmission; air cooled; flat, wide seat; electric starter; dual front disc brakes, single in rear; dual, adjustable rear shocks;
Function: General purpose from the factory. Upright seating. Compared to earlier generation motorcycles, performance and reliability was greatly improved. The rider used it for any on-road trip.
The market expanded greatly for many reasons. Customers often customized their bikes, and manufacturers gradually sold specialized models that included the more common features.

To me, the modern replacement for the UJM is an "adventure" motorcycle. The DL650 Wee Strom is a class exemplar.
Broad, flat seat; two cylinder engine; 6-speed transmission; integral fairing; air and water cooled, computer controls; good for anything on-road, and some on trails. Excellent range.

The old UJM was what most riders would buy if they could have just one motorcycle. So is the current UJM. The "look" doesn't figure into it.

 

[glib]

The class-defining characteristics of UJMs were listed in earlier posts in this thread:
The era was roughly 1975 - 1985.
Mechanical: In-line 4 cylinder; 4-stroke engine; 5 speed transmission; air cooled; flat, wide seat; electric starter; dual front disc brakes, single in rear; dual, adjustable rear shocks;
Function: General purpose from the factory. Upright seating. Compared to earlier generation motorcycles, performance and reliability was greatly improved. The rider used it for any on-road trip.
The market expanded greatly for many reasons. Customers often customized their bikes, and manufacturers gradually sold specialized models that included the more common features.

To me, the modern replacement for the UJM is an "adventure" motorcycle. The DL650 Wee Strom is a class exemplar.
Broad, flat seat; two cylinder engine; 6-speed transmission; integral fairing; air and water cooled, computer controls; good for anything on-road, and some on trails. Excellent range.

The old UJM was what most riders would buy if they could have just one motorcycle. So is the current UJM. The "look" doesn't figure into it.

You may be right but then I'd have to give it to the Bandit. I can't see the V (or Wee) Strom as a "Superbike, back road burner, drag strip demon" as described by 850 Combat earlier in the thread. But the 1250 Bandit could be those--and they can tour. The Stroms (never ridden one BTW) apparently have the adventure aspect covered but that wasn't a UJM characteristic, was it? Back in 2008 when I bought a Bandit, I was looking for the modern version of the 1100ES and it was all that. Just as with the 83's, some modifications will turn it into a real rocket. Just MO. But then I think the look matters too.

 

[bobgroger]

Boy the buying public didn't warm up to the Bandit. Suzuki brought it back for another go in 2016, they are still on the showroom floor and you can ride out with a new one for $7k. A screaming deal for sure.

 

[glib]

Boy the buying public didn't warm up to the Bandit. Suzuki brought it back for another go in 2016, they are still on the showroom floor and you can ride out with a new one for $7k. A screaming deal for sure.

They are a little funky looking (better with the black engine) but that?s the best $7k deal around. They tried the GSXR style fairing in 2011 but it didn?t make a difference.

 

[Guest]

You may be right but then I'd have to give it to the Bandit. I can't see the V (or Wee) Strom as a "Superbike, back road burner, drag strip demon" as described by 850 Combat earlier in the thread. But the 1250 Bandit could be those--and they can tour. The Stroms (never ridden one BTW) apparently have the adventure aspect covered but that wasn't a UJM characteristic, was it? Back in 2008 when I bought a Bandit, I was looking for the modern version of the 1100ES and it was all that. Just as with the 83's, some modifications will turn it into a real rocket. Just MO. But then I think the look matters too.

The Bandit seems to be as justifies as the VStroms. UJM styling and functionality, but completely modern mechanicals.