Why are CBs and KZs the popular ones.

[timebombprod]

Whenever I'm scrolling on Instagram looking at suggested pages I always see photos of honda CBs and Kawasaki KZs, original or cafes that's the bunch of what I see. I get happy when i see a GS on a suggested page photo, and I've noticed that pages from the middle east seem to enjoy the GS alot.

Now I didnt live back in the day, so I dont know how it was back then, but I know that at least on social media the KZ and especially the CB steal the thunder.

Does this all have to relate with Honda having the first affordable four cylinder and Kawasaki bringing out the Z soon after?

Note: there was a German I believe who made a 4 cylinder bike before honda, looked very short and stubby and was a wheelie machine i assume, one of the photos of it is the front wheel being up. It was not a normal consumer bike though.

 

[timebombprod]

Honestly I'm not even mad, it keeps the GS at a good price, and they handle well.

 

[oldGSfan]

I would say you nailed it because that's what I thought even before I read your view on why - the CB750 and Z1 just left such a huge mark. They were watershed bikes and the GS trod the same path, but as we know they are better!

Whenever I'm scrolling on Instagram looking at suggested pages I always see photos of honda CBs and Kawasaki KZs, original or cafes that's the bunch of what I see. I get happy when i see a GS on a suggested page photo, and I've noticed that pages from the middle east seem to enjoy the GS alot.

Now I didnt live back in the day, so I dont know how it was back then, but I know that at least on social media the KZ and especially the CB steal the thunder.

Does this all have to relate with Honda having the first affordable four cylinder and Kawasaki bringing out the Z soon after?

Note: there was a German I believe who made a 4 cylinder bike before honda, looked very short and stubby and was a wheelie machine i assume, one of the photos of it is the front wheel being up. It was not a normal consumer bike though.

 

[timebombprod]

I would say you nailed it because that's what I thought even before I read your view on why - the CB750 and Z1 just left such a huge mark. They were watershed bikes and the GS trod the same path, but as we know they are better!

Maybe it's because suzuki brought out the GS right before the 80s, and people wanted to forget the 80s.

All jokes aside i probably did hit the nail on the dot with my reasoning but knowing about the katana being a huge thing, I would think its predecessor may get some recognition. Probably not how the autoworld works though that's why a mk3 toyota supra Is 5 grand while a mk4 is 50.

 

[oldGSfan]

The big Kat had impact but not sure sales followed. I sure miss mine! I still can't believe I sold an '82 Katana and '82 GPz1100, my two dream bikes. But I was moving overseas thinking I'd never return. Yet here I am back. Viva the 80's ... early 80's anyway. Bikes anyway...

Maybe it's because suzuki brought out the GS right before the 80s, and people wanted to forget the 80s.

All jokes aside i probably did hit the nail on the dot with my reasoning but knowing about the katana being a huge thing, I would think its predecessor may get some recognition. Probably not how the autoworld works though that's why a mk3 toyota supra Is 5 grand while a mk4 is 50.

 

[Big T]

Ian, there were lots of 4 cylinder bikes 100 years ago, Indian being the best of them
In the 50/60s, Gilera and MV had 4s. Kawasaki essentially copied the Gilera 500 to make the Z1

 

[timebombprod]

Ian, there were lots of 4 cylinder bikes 100 years ago, Indian being the best of them
In the 50/60s, Gilera and MV had 4s. Kawasaki essentially copied the Gilera 500 to make the Z1

Oof I forgot about the Indian 4! And dont know much about the beginning of motorcycles, I know there were MANY companies following the new motorized bicycle.

Gotta learn about before the UJM bikes and 2 strokers.

 

[timebombprod]

The big Kat had impact but not sure sales followed. I sure miss mine! I still can't believe I sold an '82 Katana and '82 GPz1100, my two dream bikes. But I was moving overseas thinking I'd never return. Yet here I am back. Viva the 80's ... early 80's anyway. Bikes anyway...

Those are two beautiful bikes, they're both so nice I couldn't favor over one based off their looks! Theres a guy here with a gpz900r, I wish he'd pull the dang tarp off it and let me nerd out over it.

 

[Nessism]

In the KZ world it's mostly the 900 & 1000 that have the rabid popularity. The smaller bikes are like GS's in that they are not nearly as popular.

 

[bwringer]

Honda was, of course, first to market in many categories (not just four cylinder bikes), and the first to demonstrate that motorcycles could be reliable and keep their oil on the inside. Their marketing was extremely well done, and I think the name "Honda" was also a factor; it's simple and doesn't sound nearly as "alien" or obviously Japanese as the others. Honda opened the door for the rest.

Kawasaki, of course, focused on developing the reputation for engine performance. Not just the KZ, but the insane two-stroke models as well. They were quite a bit behind in handling, including some infamous faults, but quite a few people didn't care about anything but quarter-mile times. Bold styling also played a large part for Kawasaki and Yamaha as well; people don't buy motorcycles to blend in.

Suzuki was the first to get all the basics of handling right. Frame construction, geometry, and ergonomics were light-years beyond the competition for several years. Styling wasn't as "in your face" as Kawasaki and Yamaha and they were perceived as a step behind on power as well for a while. Any doofus can yank a throttle open, but the advantages of ergos and handling were completely lost on a lot of people.

So anyway, I think those market positions from the '70s and '80s explain a lot of the lingering differences in appeal. If you were in high school in 1974 or so, you had a poster of the Z1 on your wall. That's the kind of thing that sticks.

Fast forward 30 or 40 years, and we find that Suzuki's GS models are extremely reliable, with far better handling and ergonomics than other vintage bikes. Once sorted out with a few basic upgrades, a GS can be flogged mercilessly for years and years, and is a joy to ride and live and travel with. Sure, modern bikes are more powerful and handle a little better, and ABS is a game changer. But if you know what you're doing, you give up very little in spirited street riding, reliability is just as good or better (and repairability is definitely better), and the ergonomics are far superior to almost any modern era motorcycle.

In all my experience, I've seen for an absolute fact that GS owners ride much further and faster than KZ and CB owners. There may even be more restored CBs and KZs on the planet, but I will guarantee that we are wearing out far more of the side treads of far more tires.

 

[timebombprod]

Honda was, of course, first to market in many categories (not just four cylinder bikes), and the first to demonstrate that motorcycles could be reliable and keep their oil on the inside. Their marketing was extremely well done, and I think the name "Honda" was also a factor; it's simple and doesn't sound nearly as "alien" or obviously Japanese as the others. Honda opened the door for the rest.

Kawasaki, of course, focused on developing the reputation for engine performance. Not just the KZ, but the insane two-stroke models as well. They were quite a bit behind in handling, including some infamous faults, but quite a few people didn't care about anything but quarter-mile times. Bold styling also played a large part for Kawasaki and Yamaha as well; people don't buy motorcycles to blend in.

Suzuki was the first to get all the basics of handling right. Frame construction, geometry, and ergonomics were light-years beyond the competition for several years. Styling wasn't as "in your face" as Kawasaki and Yamaha and they were perceived as a step behind on power as well for a while. Any doofus can yank a throttle open, but the advantages of ergos and handling were completely lost on a lot of people.

So anyway, I think those market positions from the '70s and '80s explain a lot of the lingering differences in appeal. If you were in high school in 1974 or so, you had a poster of the Z1 on your wall. That's the kind of thing that sticks.

Fast forward 30 or 40 years, and we find that Suzuki's GS models are extremely reliable, with far better handling and ergonomics than other vintage bikes. Once sorted out with a few basic upgrades, a GS can be flogged mercilessly for years and years, and is a joy to ride and live and travel with. Sure, modern bikes are more powerful and handle a little better, and ABS is a game changer. But if you know what you're doing, you give up very little in spirited street riding, reliability is just as good or better (and repairability is definitely better), and the ergonomics are far superior to almost any modern era motorcycle.

In all my experience, I've seen for an absolute fact that GS owners ride much further and faster than KZ and CB owners. There may even be more restored CBs and KZs on the planet, but I will guarantee that we are wearing out far more of the side treads of far more tires.

Great explanation! You know I didn't take note that yeah, all the CBs and KZs are usually restored, or cafed out, and most of the GSs are survivors.

https://youtu.be/bLOuCiSMtIQ


Here's a vid giving the GS its props!

 

[steve murdoch]

Thanks for the link to the GS750 story, Ian.
It is well done. Unfortunately i looked at their other videos....where did that hour go?

 

[tatu]

The big Kat had impact but not sure sales followed. I sure miss mine! I still can't believe I sold an '82 Katana and '82 GPz1100, my two dream bikes. But I was moving overseas thinking I'd never return. Yet here I am back. Viva the 80's ... early 80's anyway. Bikes anyway...

I have a SZ1000 and a KZ1000R for sale soon....

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Both of those bikes are amazing. Like many others here, I've only ever seen a few Kats in real life. I've owned a couple of GPzs, though, and they were fantastic bikes.

 

[Guest]

The big Kat had impact but not sure sales followed. I sure miss mine! I still can't believe I sold an '82 Katana and '82 GPz1100, my two dream bikes. But I was moving overseas thinking I'd never return. Yet here I am back. Viva the 80's ... early 80's anyway. Bikes anyway...

You must have been afflicted with seller's remorse for ages after selling those! How do you live with yourself???

 

[timebombprod]

Both of those bikes are amazing. Like many others here, I've only ever seen a few Kats in real life. I've owned a couple of GPzs, though, and they were fantastic bikes.

Hey is your cb900f the one with high and low gear?

 

[Rob S.]

You must have been afflicted with seller's remorse for ages after selling those! How do you live with yourself???

I think oldGSfan has stood tall with that 11EZ turbo. Still, an '82 GPz1100! Now if it were green, that might be a more serious offense...

 

[oldGSfan]

I loved that GPz as it fit me so well, but I never felt confident in the corners like I do on the GS. It didn't have a natural balance to it, and neither did my '82 KZ1000J which is basically the same setup. But it had perfect ergos, a comfy seat, fuel injection that never gave me any trouble - I put in 1166 Wiseco pistons as it burned oil when I got it (for $500) and it had nice grunt and sound. Hit a lot of marks. The Katana was a torture rack even for me at 6'3". The guy I sold them to was shipping back to Japan, for sure. He hardly spoke English but his grin said it all.

For some reason I have had lots of '82 Kawasakis and Suzukis. I really wanted the ELR or Wes Cooley but the best I could do was the 1000J with the Cooley fairing which got stolen one fateful night in Athens Greece.

I think oldGSfan has stood tall with that 11EZ turbo. Still, an '82 GPz1100! Now if it were green, that might be a more serious offense...

 

[rphillips]

Just wondering, you had both the GS1000SZ & GPZ1100 at the same time. Did you ever run them against each other thru a 1/4 mi. Around here, the 2 Katana 1000's were about dead even with the 1100's of the day. We always wondered how.

 

[Rob S.]

Just wondering, you had both the GS1000SZ & GPZ1100 at the same time. Did you ever run them against each other thru a 1/4 mi. Around here, the 2 Katana 1000's were about dead even with the 1100's of the day. We always wondered how.

Cycle World gave the quarter-mile title to the GS in '80 and '81. The GPz won by a hair in '82; the mag said it was essentially a dead heat. The 2 valve GPz made a bit more HP, but the GS made more in the mid range, so was 'easier to ride fast.'

P.S. The '80 and '81 GS 'didn't create the visual excitement of the GPz.'