Love CCM's personally... been on a factory tour and have thought about buying one as a second bike. Beautiful things
The most popular bike in the world? Probably. Love 'em or hate 'em. I really like them. Stupid money for a good 'old' one nowadays.
One machine which really got my rocks off every time I saw one was the Kawasaki Z1300, 600+lbs of water cooled, six cylinder, shaft driven loveliness so I just HAD to have one. My first, post test motorcycle......
Isn't this the most prolific vehicle ever made, usurping even the VW Beetle with tens of millions made so far? I take one over a piece of modern battery powered crap anyday.
I think so mate (C50). Crikey a Z13 as your first post test bike, that's impressive, mine was a CB350 Honda. Lol
A C50 was my first ride. 1982 and 16 years old it was my means of commuting as I was starting my apprenticeship. It was my dad’s from new and I loved it. Regrettably (or luckily) a friend of my dad’s from the local cop shop pointed out to him that it was a motorcycle and not a moped. Was quickly sold and a secondhand Yamaha DT50 replaced it.
Maybe it's because I started out as a Lambretta riding mod in the 60's (!) but I've never quite understood the Honda 50 bug - it was just a utility bike that some folk rode to work instead of taking the bus! I remember in 1970 when I commuted to work on my Triumph 500 (5TA), a new guy started in the office, saw my bike gear and said that he rode a motorbike as well. He pointed out the window, and there beside my bright orange 500 was...... a little red Honda 50! We became best buds anyway, but a Honda 50?? At 5 o'clock he got the last laugh, as his little putt-putt started and rode off while I was still trying to kick that bloody old Triumph into life!!
For me, this one sentence sums up the demise of the British bike industry. The Brits just continued turning out, outdated, unreliable, maintenance heavy machines where the Japs just got on with their, 'improve and refine' design ethic and the rest is history. Who would have thought that some of these old British nails would eventually command the prices they do.
@tcbandituk But a good clean one was a nice bike that went forever. Only my opinion as I had two and they never let me down
I had a similar optimistic first post-test bike: a ZL900 "eliminator" from 1985. "Improved" with a 1100 bore-kit, K&N filters and an open exhaust. An absolute animal of a bike, with a surprisingly good handling (brakes not so much) and the great engine of the gpz900. Took me, even as a 19-year old several months to dare to open the throttle. And REALLY goodlooking, in my opinion. (photo from the interwebs, not mine).
Until you try and start one with the ridiculous key fob,if you think the triumph one is dodgy ,this thing is just embarrassing, speaking from experience grrrr
I agree. My first was a bit sexy with a seat hump . and th silver broke up th blandness a bit.. th second one i had looked better in reality as it was a dark grey with flek. Not black like it looked in th piccies... But pritty.... Naaaa. Plus th twin dustbins didnt help. But one needs to have th bonkers time in ones life at least "once" so one feels alive... Not for me old bones now though..
The most important and noticeable upgrade of the Gen2 IMO was the 1441cc engine. I agree the exhaust cans are huge but the alternative Akrapovic items are too loud for me so I stuck with standard. It doesn't get used much these days, around 38k on the clock now with less than 1k in the last two years but it reminds me every time I ride it that I can't sell it.
I agree. I was only going to buy one and keep it a year for safety reasons. But boy it was a difficult sell. I used give mine a cuddle (Weird ) in th garage and say you give me everything and more..... Bloke who had it off me, rung me up after a 200 mile ride home and thanked me over and over again. If your into a thing that just wants to keep giving its a definite try it and see.... Too old and creaking now so its a sit up and beg Triumph from now on. Back to th origianal thread aye...
Th wife liked these from th start, but dosn't like me..!!!! (Is this normal) were as it as grown on me as th years go buy like th Katana did....
I'd go as far as to say the ZZR is one of the most enjoyable bikes I've owned. The only mods I've made were for comfort with bar raisers/spacers and I use an Airhawk seat cushion for long rides. I've done numerous day trips to Scotland, the longest of which was 798m on some fantastic roads through Dumfries and Galloway and on through Argyll and Bute. It does that with ease and will still scratch through the twisties, well, as far as a 260kg bike can scratch. Such a shame they're not made anymore. A future classic maybe?
