Classic bikes - a worthwhile investment?

[daleyd]

Yam did some cracking concept bikes with the TRX and the first gen half faired fazer 600 - not too outlandish, but they looked like mildly “racerised” versions of the standard bikes - they looked superb, and something you could easily do with a standard bike.

 

[GRW]

Yam did some cracking concept bikes with the TRX and the first gen half faired fazer 600 - not too outlandish, but they looked like mildly “racerised” versions of the standard bikes - they looked superb, and something you could easily do with a standard bike.

Yes! The early much nicer-looking Fazer 600! Cracking bike! I should have thought of that, I tested one and seriously considered it.... but then rode an XJR1300 and just had to have the extra grunt (hated the under-sprung, under-damped forks on the XJR, but £300 & MH Racing solved that )

 

[stuvy]

@dobbslc has a TRX850 from new

Be careful on buying both as people fit the wrong front sprocket and it’s too thin and glued itself to it

Iv always loved the TDM850 always always wanted one

 

[Bluemotion]

Strangely enough I’ve a TRX850 in storage that I paid little for……

 

[Greeves246]

Steve Lindsell at Kepple Gate TT 1994

 

[GRW]

Steve Lindsell at Kepple Gate TT 1994
View attachment 357112

If I recall, he was indecently fast on that funny-front-end thing

 

[dobbslc]

Transalp?
NTV650 (inc. The chain drive import)?
Early better-looking Yam TDM850?
Yam TRX850 Ducati rival (great bike with TDM motor that never really caught on big - would make a great usable classic)?

Me too. It'd make a great runaround and fun Sunday bike, without being too OTT powerful, fast, silly and licence-shredding.
I reckon they might be a future appreciating classic too, so a wise buy.

Strangely enough I’ve a TRX850 in storage that I paid little for……

I'll give yee a monkey for it ...

If I recall, he was indecently fast on that funny-front-end thing

I think they just wacked race numbers on a standard road bike and he raced the arrse off it.

@dobbslc has a TRX850 from new

Be careful on buying both as people fit the wrong front sprocket and it’s too thin and glued itself to it

Iv always loved the TDM850 always always wanted one

I do indeed! Owned it for 20 years now!
What's that about the front sprocket? I've had a 1 tooth smaller one on it for yonks without any trouble.

Enjoy!

 

[Bluemotion]

@dobbslc ive too many monkeys already here!

 

[Bluemotion]

@GRW take it your on a bmw forum of some sort too?

 

[GRW]

@GRW take it your on a bmw forum of some sort too?

I'm not actually. Years ago I was on a (the?, not sure) R1150R forum - but that was a very long time back.

 

[Robotstar5]

Yam did some cracking concept bikes with the TRX and the first gen half faired fazer 600 - not too outlandish, but they looked like mildly “racerised” versions of the standard bikes - they looked superb, and something you could easily do with a standard bike.

Don't know whether mine was first gen? X reg (2000) but I didn't like the fairing so took it off

 

[GRW]

Don't know whether mine was first gen? X reg (2000) but I didn't like the fairing so took it off

View attachment 357151

I always really liked the look of the early Fazer 600 top fairing with angular profile and twin rectangular headlights.
Conversely I didn't like the later Fazer 6 at all (apeing the Thou) and while the first Fazer Thou was a great bike (best stock bike for big, long wheelies I ever rode) - it always had a nose only a mother could love IMO.
Same with the TDM850 - the first ones looked purposeful, the restyled later ones looked to me like they'd melted in the heat. Fugly as IMO.

 

[daleyd]

Don't know whether mine was first gen? X reg (2000) but I didn't like the fairing so took it off

View attachment 357151

Yes that’s a mk1 - lovely

 

[Robotstar5]

I always really liked the look of the early Fazer 600 top fairing with angular profile and twin rectangular headlights.

I found the twin headlights a bit low powered, plus only one was on when on dip and I was always getting folks telling me one of my headlights wasn't working, so it went to be replaced with a single Cibie Z180

 

[Bluemotion]

I always really liked the look of the early Fazer 600 top fairing with angular profile and twin rectangular headlights.
Conversely I didn't like the later Fazer 6 at all (apeing the Thou) and while the first Fazer Thou was a great bike (best stock bike for big, long wheelies I ever rode) - it always had a nose only a mother could love IMO.
Same with the TDM850 - the first ones looked purposeful, the restyled later ones looked to me like they'd melted in the heat. Fugly as IMO.

Now I didn’t mind any of the fazors. I thought it was a refreshing look when the mk1 appeared and still didn’t mind the newer ones after but the TDM on the other hand I totally detested the looks. It was one of the most ugliest bikes ever. Now I know they were rated as superb users by the owners and media but I couldn’t stomach it which was the same for the first edition of Ducati’s Multistrada.
Incidentally I currently run a 1978 MZ TS150 and a R nineT and I know your going to say the Mz is ugly but it’s now come of age and blends in with classics of the 70’s, so no longer does it stand out like a square peg, round hole etc when it was surrounded by same age but 20yr more modern bikes.

 

[tom2207]

Katana ,, dare I mention them ,, now there was a strange thing.

 

[Screwdriver]

Haha great excuse to post.

My old Fazer thou gen 1...

My daily ride for almost 20 years. It's a 2003 and of course, I bought it just after the first owner wrote it off...

I don't think it will ever become a "classic" but it's a damned fine machine and always held onto its money.

 

[Robotstar5]

This thread has got me to list the bikes I've had, got to 19 so far

 

[Rannsachair]

This thread has got me to list the bikes I've had, got to 19 so far

Beats me:
61 Tiger Cub
72 CZ 360
BSA Bantam D7
61 AJS CSR650
52 AJS M18 Bitsa
59 Triumph 5TA Speedtwin
76 Triumph T140V
78 Honda CB550F2
78 BMW R100RS
69 Triumph T120
72 BMW R75/5
54 Matchless G3LS
56 Matchless G3LS
91 Trident 900
92 Trophy 900
00 BMW R1100SS
04 KTM 950 Adventure

Still have the ones in bold.

Got me thinking the early Hinkley triples are quite a good bet: Trident, Daytona and Speed Triple in particular.

 

[daleyd]

Katana ,, dare I mention them ,, now there was a strange thing.

Mate of mine had a Japanese import 750 with a pop up headlight - lovely thing, sold it for a mk1 (pre exup) Fzr1000 after it.