80s nostalgia

[sasguru]

No, it was an irresponsibly affordable, unfeasibly fast motorbike designed by a psychopath and marketed to 17 year olds as a method of Darwinian selection. Those who survived were either;
- incredibly talented motorcyclists or
- provided by their genes with a remarkably durable skeleton

You see the trouble was that up to about 5 or 6 thousand rpm, it felt like a slow, quite civilised motorbike. Above that all hell broke loose and it turned into Beelzebub's rocketship. Now, if you went into a bend in, say, third gear, and then accelerated out, you would often hit the so-called 'power band' (the point where the motor's power suddenly rises toward a peak) before straightening the bike, and the back would simply break out; alternatively, if it was a warm day with lots of grip the front wheel would rise, giving no steering, and you'd hit a tree.

The chaps at Yamaha sorted the problem on later models with a so-called power-valve (YPVS), which adjusted the airflow into the cylinders to ensure a more gentle and predictable supply of power; obviously, that meant anyone with a YPVS model was a bit of a wimp.

2 questions:

1. You could afford to run a motorbike at school?
2. Your parents let you?

[Mich the Tester]

2 questions:

1. You could afford to run a motorbike at school?

Yep, by about 1988 the first 'Elsies' were about 300 quid a go; no guarantees that the frame was still straight.

And yes, my parents let me. My father has a penchant for anything that goes fast on land or in the air, once earnt his living jumping out of aeroplanes, and couldn't really be such a hypocrite to stop me doing something exciting.

[TestMangler]

No, it was an irresponsibly affordable, unfeasibly fast motorbike designed by a psychopath and marketed to 17 year olds as a method of Darwinian selection. Those who survived were either;
- incredibly talented motorcyclists or
- provided by their genes with a remarkably durable skeleton

You see the trouble was that up to about 5 or 6 thousand rpm, it felt like a slow, quite civilised motorbike. Above that all hell broke loose and it turned into Beelzebub's rocketship. Now, if you went into a bend in, say, third gear, and then accelerated out, you would often hit the so-called 'power band' (the point where the motor's power suddenly rises toward a peak) before straightening the bike, and the back would simply break out; alternatively, if it was a warm day with lots of grip the front wheel would rise, giving no steering, and you'd hit a tree.

The chaps at Yamaha sorted the problem on later models with a so-called power-valve (YPVS), which adjusted the airflow into the cylinders to ensure a more gentle and predictable supply of power; obviously, that meant anyone with a YPVS model was a bit of a wimp.

I managed to survive the RD250LC while still learning, although I knew a few who did some time in traction because of them.

Early 80's motorcycles could be great. Fantastic engine technology (especially 2-strokes) but never the tyres/frame/steering/suspension to match making them prone to being fast as **** but having a habit of behaving rather strangely and throwing you down the road.

[Mich the Tester]

I managed to survive the RD250LC while still learning, although I knew a few who did some time in traction because of them.

Early 80's motorcycles could be great. Fantastic engine technology (especially 2-strokes) but never the tyres/frame/steering/suspension to match making them prone to being fast as **** but having a habit of behaving rather strangely and throwing you down the road.

There was a chap at the local bikers pub who had an old Kawasaki 750 Mach IV. That thing really was mental. Bikes have all become a bit sensible now. Sure, it's really impressive if a Hayabusa can go 200 mph, but the brakes and tires are probably rated to 250, AND it stops in a straight line.

[gingerjedi]

No, it was an irresponsibly affordable, unfeasibly fast motorbike designed by a psychopath and marketed to 17 year olds as a method of Darwinian selection. Those who survived were either;
- incredibly talented motorcyclists or
- provided by their genes with a remarkably durable skeleton

You see the trouble was that up to about 5 or 6 thousand rpm, it felt like a slow, quite civilised motorbike. Above that all hell broke loose and it turned into Beelzebub's rocketship. Now, if you went into a bend in, say, third gear, and then accelerated out, you would often hit the so-called 'power band' (the point where the motor's power suddenly rises toward a peak) before straightening the bike, and the back would simply break out; alternatively, if it was a warm day with lots of grip the front wheel would rise, giving no steering, and you'd hit a tree.

The chaps at Yamaha sorted the problem on later models with a so-called power-valve (YPVS), which adjusted the airflow into the cylinders to ensure a more gentle and predictable supply of power; obviously, that meant anyone with a YPVS model was a bit of a wimp.

I know a guy who had an RD350 followed by an RG500 GAMMA and AFAIK he is still alive today, probably a unique feat in the motorcycling world.

[Jog On]

The Young Ones
Spitting Image

"Hooooooold aaaa chicken in the air, put deckchair up your nose.."

[Mich the Tester]

I know a guy who had an RD350 followed by an RG500 GAMMA and AFAIK he is still alive today, probably a unique feat in the motorcycling world.

I remember him; how's Old Stumpy keeping these days?

[Jog On]

Breakdancing

[sasguru]

Sure, it's really impressive if a Hayabusa can go 200 mph, but the brakes and tires are probably rated to 250, AND it stops in a straight line.

Indeed the Busa feels really planted and safe, even in the wet.
I'm glad I didn't get into bikes that early - I would have probably killed myself given the shennanigans I got up to in my 20s. From the sound of it bikes had improved by then.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Is that a synth?
And yes 80s clubs were quite dire ...

Motorbike and pop was "commercialised" way before Cowell et al