10 Most Dangerous Motorcycles Ever Built
Рет қаралды 1,221,738
Күн бұрынI have ridden some monstrously powerful and insane bikes over the years, but even I have scared myself at times. Some motorcycles have a tendency to do that more than others and there are a few bikes that over the years that have earned the title of Widow Maker. Some deserve it more than others.
This is my list of the ten scariest, most lethal motorcycles I have encountered in my many years of riding.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:34 An honoroury mention, The Yamaha RD350LC
04:00 Maico 700
05:42 Yamaha VMX1200 V Max
07:56 Kawasaki KH750
09:11 Suzuki TL1000R
10:24 Quasar
11:50 Suzuki RG500 Gamma
13:17 Suzuki TM500 Cyclone
14:24 Harley Davidson V-Rod
15:32 Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo, Suzuki XN85, Honda CX500 Turbo, Yamaha XJ650 Turbo.
16:52 Suzuki X7 and X5
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@barebonesmc 4 ай бұрын
IMPORTANT Dakar have hit me with a copyright strike so ive had to delist some of the videos just in case i guess they got pissed that mine were better because of the MOTOGP one before xmas that means im really vulnerable now and the channel could be removed at any time I have set up this backup channel so please go and follow it NOW, this could all be removed at any moment now so it is critical to stay in touch via the backup channel here kzfaq.info/love/CSl6i-tZJNC5DQ38vgCtvw sorry for this if i get another strike it wipes out all my work all my old videos will be removed I wont be posting anything much on the new channel unless this goes down but this is a just in case because it really could go down at any point the videos are still visible if you have a link so if you have problems message me for links so you can still watch them, if you follow the channel and this one gets taken down you will be able to find me there sorry if thats a bit garbled ive just woken to this but i guess i could have had the channel taken down already so i should be thankful ride free everyone
@stewart8127 Ай бұрын
Vmax did zero to 60mph in under 2 seconds here .the set up was to switch the cams in for ex and ex for in with the kerker pipe
@barebonesmc Ай бұрын
@@stewart8127 yep, but here im talking about stock bikes, tuning would reveal different bikes and figures 🙂
@stewart8127 Ай бұрын
@@barebonesmc stock the magazine got a guy named mr shift to ride in and his zero to 60mph was under one second on a demo stock bike. Did say if it was pump gas. It wasn't until 2012 the liter bokes beat its 1/4 mile time. Stock thar is.
@barebonesmc Ай бұрын
@@stewart8127 i would like to have seen that run 🙂 im not sure on the 0-60 times to be honest, but they were a brutal bike 🙂
@stewart8127 Ай бұрын
@@barebonesmc its was cycle world buyer's guide issue. Notice how HD copied the V max for their V Rod just get Porche to make the engine Tracing paper and a V max manual is how HD came up with the V Rod.
@allanweseman5433 Жыл бұрын
At 75 years old I am probably one of your older riders that has enjoyed several bikes. I started riding at 17 with a new YM-1 1967 Yamaha 305. I had a '72 RD350, a '74 Yamaha 360 enduro, a '75 Yamaha TX-500 twin and more recently a '81 CB750F Honda. For 35 years with my second wife I had no motorcycles. She died in 2/2020 and I resumed buying and riding motorcycles, first purchasing a '94 yellow V-Max from an 86 year old man. At 27 years old it had just 3,491 miles on it. It got 22.5 MPG on a good day and the gas tank below the seat held just 4 gallons. My heart's desire was to find another transverse 4 cylinder 750 Honda. Instead I found the joy of fuel injection with a 2014 CB1100. This, although not rocket powerful at 88HP I considered the finest overall bike I have ever owned. Carefully watching what motorcycles were what and desiring a shaft-driven bike I found a used 2010 Honda VFR 1200F in totally pristine condition from a private seller. This bike has unspeakable power at 170HP and smooth V-4 vibration free operation. It's only flaws are it's 400lb weight and uncomfortable lean-forward riding position. At 75 years old I am having difficulty in swinging my leg over the seat. I traded in my V-Max for a new '23 little Honda Grom that I can enjoy riding close by, so now I have a light bike, a middle weight bike and a go-fast heavy bike. As I speak I am now recovering from double-bypass heart surgery and it will likely be a month before doc will let me ride. I remarried my first wife who I had taught to ride. She went out and traded in her 2015 Yamaha MT-09 900cc for a new '23 Kawasaki KLX 230SM dual-sport dirt bike while I was in the hospital, so soon we will be riding together.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
great story mate, and good luck with the recovery 🙂Cheers for watching , ride free
@dominicrussell19 Жыл бұрын
Ride on brother, you’re truly an inspiration!!$
@ceetwarrior Жыл бұрын
Very cool motorcycle life you live sir. Inspiration for sure.
@djquinn11 Жыл бұрын
My condolences for the loss of your wife. Hope you heel fast and get back out there on the road Sir!
@pierreleroux2441 Жыл бұрын
Best of luck m8 , and what is amazing, you’ve been overhauled and gone full circle to find love again with your lucky lady. What a life, keep going take care and keep safe and look after your first love. 👏🥰🌹❤️
@phonebackup8132 Жыл бұрын
Back in the day a buddy of mine had the Kawasaki 750 triple. I was in the business of porting 2 stroke outboard engines for racing and he asked if I could hop his 750 up, so I did, and after much rejetting and pipe tuning, removing the oil pump and just running premixed fuel it was simply insane. Looking back now I'm guessing it made north of 120hp. All summer he beat up on every thing he encountered until one day it puked the crank out the bottom and the mosquito killer was gone. I rode it once and never new how he managed to never crash it. I was used to Italian bike handling and that thing scared the absolute sh!t out of me.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
great story mate :-) cheers for adding
@ashleyobrien4937 Жыл бұрын
lol yeah it would scare you if you were used to older Italian bikes, premix is unfortunately never as good as the oil pump deal into the bottom end..
@dennis-nz5im Жыл бұрын
@@ashleyobrien4937 ya k lube pump was great. You can make it last forever if you turn the oil up . My Cullough did extensive testing and they said that engine life was directly related to the amount of oil consumed.
@CSltz Жыл бұрын
We had a great alcohol induced idea one night of riding one down the hallway of the barracks. Thankfully the owner and rider started drinking before we did. My lord that thing was loud. The hallway wasn’t much wider than the handlebars . I hope the statue of limitations have expired. If not… crank text crank text……….!!!!!!!
@phonebackup8132 Жыл бұрын
@ashleyobrien4937 The oil pump could not keep up. Believe me I tried.
@nathan.brazil780 Жыл бұрын
I used to have a Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo in the late 90's. It was certainly one of the most dangerous that I have ever been on. It wasn't the speed that made it dangerous but the unpredictability of when the turbo would suddenly boost. Riding the highway it was sometime really difficult to tell where the tipping point of the boost was. You could be riding along and decide to speed up slightly to pass a car and suddenly have the turbo boost and find yourself rocketing towards the rear of the car ahead of you.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
the tech was in its formation years so was always going to be hit and miss, maybe things would be different with todays tech but i just dont think turbos suit bikes except drag bikes, cheers for watching mate :-) ride free
@merlin5476 Жыл бұрын
I've still got my 750 turbo after 25 yrs & love it, although its been chopped about somewhat, it wobbles a lot & has crap brakes but looks cool & sounds cool with just a wee slash cut exhaust from the turbo, it did give me a metal collar bone yrs ago due to a tank slapper though.
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
@@merlin5476 i do think the Kawasaki was the best of the Turbos 🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free
@TheMattC9999 10 ай бұрын
I had a Yamaha 650 turbo and it was the same way. Riding that thing up a mile long incline on I-44 in the rain was about the scariest thing I've ever done. Just cruising along up the hill, then out of nowhere, boost hits, traction disappears as the engine pretty much instantly jumps to redline, grab the clutch, straighten, the bike out, and repeat. I never rode that thing in the rain again after that.
@kamax7672 7 ай бұрын
I almost bought that bike in 84 but couldn't afford extra grand and went with the standard 750 (which was a great bike) . I always regretted not getting the turbo, but after reading your post, it probably worked out for the best!
@berttompkins9096 8 ай бұрын
Cheerio old boy. We all all thankful that you survived . A cat has nine lives. You've had 11!!! Thanks for the ungovernored sounds as well
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@MM_in_Havasu Жыл бұрын
Sold my 1974 Kawie 750cc H2 that I'd owned since age 19 in 2017, was age 60 when I sold it to a close friend of mine so it's still "in the family", so to speak. I also learned how to street ride on a '73 1st-year RD350 air-cooled Yamaha twin, why I'm still alive after that steep learning curve is beyond me. It and the 750 triple always pulled the best wheelies, the 750 all by itself under load! 2 strokes forever! The only bad crash I ever had on a motorcycle was a f'n' dirt bike, endo @ 60 mph(97 kph)put me in a hospital for a week healing up from 2 major surgeries to put Humpty Dumpty's busted ass back together here! I did dragbike racing on my CBX after that...... I still have my 1979 Honda CBX that is turbocharged for giggles and grins.......am 65 now and still love a good fast ride on it.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad ur still going strong mate, cheers for watching, enjoy the ride
@fernanddominiquevitoux6447 Жыл бұрын
"2 strokes forever!" And with the smell of the mixture as a bonus 🙂
@charlesparker14 Жыл бұрын
Had a 71 and 72. Triple 750 also a 500 and 400 triple all very fast but the 750 handled like a dump truck
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@fernanddominiquevitoux6447 Castrol R runs through my veins 🙂
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@charlesparker14 lol, cheers for watching mate, Ride Free 🙂
@davehudson4607 Жыл бұрын
The wildest bike I have ever had the pleasure of riding was the Honda CR500, that bike was incredible, how they could make that much power with that motor is incredible.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
yep, ive been told by many it should have been included :-) cheers for watching mate, ride free
@kevinbell6247 Жыл бұрын
The cr wasn't a bad bike.....the maico is much scarier. My mate had an alpha1 490....plenty skids with that yin and am nae speakin about the tyres 😲
@billmeade9029 Жыл бұрын
My first bike was a 1977 XR75 and it was a great little bike, my friends and cousins had various bikes we would all ride each other's from time to time, In 1988 I bought a XR600 thumper it had so much tork you could dump the clutch in 3 gear from a dead stop and stand it straight up and I had Honda's first quad 85 trx 250 my friend buried in in a field of mud and I pulled it out with my XR it was a tractor on two wheels as you know being a 4stroke it wasn't quick but it was fast in the long run I never raced so for the kind of riding I did I preferred the 4 stroke but I had a Buddy who had a CR 500 and first time we switched bikes I was used to the 4stroke more all though I road all kinds of 2 strokes including my brother in laws CR 250 same year as my 600 and off the line it would eat me alive but when I took off on that what I call a rocket ship CR 500 I couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground 😳 I road for a very short time and said here I'm done with this thing give me my bike back 😂 so I know what your saying 👍ps sorry for writing a book
@joeduffey5344 Жыл бұрын
I had a cr 500 and she rung the back spindle out of the wheel breaking ever spoke .I kid u not. Weapon
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@billmeade9029 no apology needed mate, i enjoy the replies, have a good day 🙂
@hiltonlouque1504 7 ай бұрын
I'm 73 yrs old ND can say I'm blessed to have owned some of the bikes in this list! My first true Muscle bike was a 74 Kaw 900Z1 that was king for a while! I also had a Suzuki GSXR1100, Ninja ZX11, YAMAHA VMAX, HONDA XX Blackbird and a Suzuki Hayabusa! All of these bikes were dangerous if you ever thought you were the boss! My only bike I feared were the Boss Hogs! Blew my mind to have a blown twin turbo V8 between my legs! That's enough of me, ride carefully guys and gals!!
@barebonesmc 7 ай бұрын
Great story 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. Ride Free 🙂
@cliffhouser9138 5 ай бұрын
50 years ago, I bought a Kawasaki 500. I still remember the thrill of the tach reaching 5000 RPM and the front wheel reaching for the sky!
@barebonesmc 5 ай бұрын
Great story 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. Ride Free 🙂
@carlfogle6517 Жыл бұрын
At 16 I sold my Honda 305 superhawk and my parents helped me buy a ‘70 Kaw H1 500, I truly had angels on my shoulders and consider myself very lucky indeed to have survived this motorcycle.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
i guess i think similarly of the 350LC I had, i guess we all had friends who weren't so lucky sadly
@carlfogle6517 Жыл бұрын
@@barebonesmc I was living in so cal when the katanas were released, Anaheim Suzuki had almost all of them come back badly crashed. And yes we are lucky to have have survived be it through fear, common sense or pure luck. 💙
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@carlfogle6517 most of us probably a bit of all 3 lol🤣🤣
@waynefeigenbutz4309 Жыл бұрын
I had the same experience as you! Went from a Honda 305 to riding a friends H1 500! Not even on the same planet with regards to speed!
@alanhardy3374 Жыл бұрын
My first bike was a305 Scrambler A real POS
@VN9001 Жыл бұрын
I thoroughly enjoyed your video here, thank-you so much for creating and posting it! Wonderful memories of most of those bikes (I'm in Canada, and some of them were European market specific so we didn't see them). I'm so glad you gave an "honourable mention" to the Yamaha RD series. As a teen I worshipped Kenny Roberts and followed him and his YZR through the 500cc Moto GP. When Yamaha released the RD500 we just drooled over ourselves and wet our pants!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! Stevie Baker was a GIANT of a tiny man too :-) what racing
@levi2204 Жыл бұрын
Can t agree more on the TL1000S - Replacing the rotary rear damper with a classic Ohlins and adding a proper steering damper did improve the bike greatly, but it remained a completely mental bike!
@uhtred7860 9 ай бұрын
Especially the 98 model ones, after 98 they mucked around with the ECU to tame it a bit.
@willisscott3107 10 ай бұрын
Ah yes the memories you have invoked … A thousand thumbs up 👍 Thank you!!!
@barebonesmc 10 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@grahamovenden9007 Жыл бұрын
I agree with most of the content . The 500 Kawasaki was the first to get the nickname widowmaker and it was the original model . Once the problems were discovered the last of the original run were withdrawn . some of the fork head's were over torqued and the bearings were damaged . I don't believe any of these bikes reached the US and were only sold in Australia and New Zealand . The H2 handled very well and was very successful in production racing , usually filling in the first four or five places . It was the less skilled riders that got them a bad name but only through their lack of competence . ( some people could crash a velosolex ) In my opinion the top of the list would belong to the original Z900 Kawasaki , this bike was truly an evel handling bike . most rider never pushed them hard enough to find out , but at race speed they were like a Camel with three left feet . Few riders did well production racing the early models and were always out paced and handled by the H2 . By the way I raced a TM 400 and to this day it remains my all-time favourite bike . We had a thing going , I wanted to win , it wanted to kill me . There is an honesty in this . I am just days short of 73 and I would love to do a few more laps on a TM 400 . Still have a 360 CZ and a 250 Maico .
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching mate, cant disagree with much of what you say 🙂 a good rider rides to the limits of themselves AND the bikes they ride 🙂 Id say the Z900 was easier to ride normally than the H2. It was only when you tried to push it hard it came unstuck, whereas the H2 could try and kill you at any moment depending how good your throttle control was. That was the beauty of the big fours, they were easier for non racers to go quick. but it did mean they caught people out too. thanks again for the comment mate, enjoy the ride
@fknchuck55 Жыл бұрын
Kawi 500 triple was one hell of a machine, I rode one from '76 to' 79. I loved that bike.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@fknchuck55 love and respect, thats what they needed 🙂
@robertomalatesta6604 Жыл бұрын
Yeah, worst thing was asking them (H1/H2) for a tour around the block from a mate, at times where the helmet wasn,t law everywere, yet. No time to get acquainted to to the sudden rush.
@donuthole7236 Жыл бұрын
I hated the "5 up" transmission. What were they thinking? 😐
@aussiecoop.5399 Жыл бұрын
I'm in my 60s and your video took me straight back to old days, I started riding bikes when I was 9 , I remember buying the first Yamaha IT 400 when it came to Australia and at first that bike scared the shit out of me but I grew to love it, it was like strapping yourself to a missile, thanks for your video mate, it was great going down memory lane.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
:-) cheers for watching mate, ride free
@EarthSurferUSA Жыл бұрын
My 1978 YZ100 was the same for me at the age of 14, (bought new for $800.00). But it would not be today. Neither would that 40hp IT400. A fast modified 2stroke 125 can make those numbers today, (or real close). The first powerful bikes we had as kids do stick in our memories though, and what a joy that was. :)
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@EarthSurferUSA Glad you enjoyed the video Cheers for watching mate, 🙂Enjoy the ride
@gentrynewsom2080 Жыл бұрын
THOSE WERE CRAZY DAZE..GLAD I MADE IT TO MY 60s.. Thanks for the show..!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@gentrynewsom2080 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride 🙂
@tonydabaloney Жыл бұрын
Nice list. I'm 70yrs old and have ridden most of the bikes you mentioned. I'm surprised the kawasaki 900-1100 wasn't on the list. It was a true widow maker when it came out. I rode with two friends who thought they had a jewel, but but wrecked because of the horrible front wheel wobble at around 90-100mph. One lost both big toes from scrapping boots in a high speed slide on his belly. And I would also add the Suzuki 750 water cooled. First of the kind. When I rode one I was amazed at the lack of feel. I looked down to find I was going almost a hundred in a 35 zone, because I felt no sense of speed due to the water jacket around the motor. I rode a Norton Atlas(1968) for 30 years. Best bike ever, best handling, acceleration, but worst brakes EVER! Keep that in mind and alls good.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Cheers for adding your bit and watching mate👍😊 I had to stop somewhere or id still be writing it all
@michaellange6598 7 ай бұрын
H2
@johncarver8125 7 ай бұрын
Roger the Norton Atlas 750's outstanding Handling ("Featherbed frame."). Also at Norton service school in '67 Mr. Fred Neil, Norton Engineer on the Manx Isle of Mann racers, gave me some very good Norton intake and exhaust tips. Quite a helpful, learned gentleman! BC
@petergerritgroen3157 7 ай бұрын
Bad brakes ? The Jawa 350😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Your shoes...
@gregsullivan8065 8 ай бұрын
I’ll throw the Suzuki Bandit 1200 into the mix. Full disclosure, I have a 600, which makes about 75 hp. The 1200, without much more chassis, and only 25 lbs heavier, makes 100 hp. They call it the “Wheelie Bandit” for a reason, and it’s rightly gained favor among stunt riders. I bought a 1200, intending to transfer some direct fit pieces (Corbin seat, $500, etc.). I had a go at the 1200, and quickly realized that the 600 was enough. Sold the 1200, and haven’t regretted the decision. Great video, thanks!
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
Great story 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. i do like the Bandit 12 though lol, i featured it here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kKiSmZOpq524kok.html Have a great weekend 🙂
@peterkoning21 Жыл бұрын
How did you miss the Suzuki CT750 water buffalo ?! Evil handling but went like hell !
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣 it is true :-) couldnt include them all though :-) cheers for watching mate
@josephpacchetti5997 Жыл бұрын
The Suzuki water buffalo was the GT-750, I had one in the mid 70s and quite a few others, I bought Kawasaki 500 H-1B in 72, and I was 14 years old, No kidding, everyone said I would be dead in a week, But here I am, 65 this summer. 👊 😎
@josephpacchetti5997 Жыл бұрын
@@barebonesmcThanks for posting. 👍
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@josephpacchetti5997 reckon theres probably a few of us thought wed be gone before now 🙂 cheers for watching mate
@wesstratichuk3141 Жыл бұрын
For sure 3 cyl 2 stroke They were a rocket in the day!
@andypap7955 Жыл бұрын
Great video, thanks for sharing. remember most of those crazy motorcycles over the years, and another one I would add to the list is the Yamaha RD 500 LC. After moving up from a 250 LC to 350 I thought that I could have a thrash on my mates RD500lc on the North circular Road in London in the late 1980s. It was a bit of a handful, especially in the power band, and because of its 16 inch front wheel turned very quickly indeed, and almost spat me off a couple of times. I return to my mates house, a little bit whiter in the face, then when I left, but that crazy machine left an indelible memory, and a big smile on the face….
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
great story mate, 🙂cheers for watching, ride free
@garethpepin6167 Жыл бұрын
Thanks, great video, I worked in the Motorcycle business in the 80’s and rode most of the ( road ) models you featured, and your comments are spot on. The sound of the bikes from rider perspective took me right back !
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers mate, i do try and work hard balancing the footage 🙂 thanks for watching, ride free
@joseluisruiz8526 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. 100% with you. BTW, your description of the TL1000R is spot on. I have had one for ten years already and I will keep it forever. When properly managed, that is the most rewarding motorcycle I have ever ridden. Cheers.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate, cheers for watching, ride free
@andrewoakley4957 Жыл бұрын
I will add that personally I always felt the tl1000s was more lairy with the rotary rear damper and flexy frame. Absolutely loved mine ❤ Such fun to ride..
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
it has been said in more than a few comments mate :-) cheers for watching, ride free
@olsmokey Жыл бұрын
Nice to see a mention of the Yamaha RD/LC series at the start. My first bike was the RD250LC which introduced me to the joys of the powerband. Such fun!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
happy days :-) cheers for watching mate, ride free
@kevinkillsit 6 ай бұрын
man I'm getting old when the VMAX is no longer a "modern" bike. Great list.
@barebonesmc 5 ай бұрын
Join the club mate lol glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel and the website, let me know what you think. hope youll climb aboard. Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@lennydetloff1031 8 ай бұрын
Great video, bringing back memories, all good. Thanks for sharing
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
glad it jogged some good memories mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@sanatandharma4435 Жыл бұрын
I am grateful to my parents who limited me to a suzuki GT185, it was heavier than my mates RD200 that I rode, but the RD always felt twitchy, the suzuki did not! It took me reliably all over the NW of england and, yes, i did come off it, once or twice! It would be rude not too!! However, it was a very 'safe' bike in the 70s compared to what was on offer up to 250cc. But, in reality, I really did want an X7 but even I realised that they were deadly! So! Thank you mum and dad! xxxx Thank you for this content!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching, and adding another story mate. we have had some great tales in the comments :-)
@dougwhiley4028 Жыл бұрын
You had fun and survived. Good choice. My first bike was a Honda CB 250 twin. It did the job well and was very predictable. My rd350lc caused me to skip a heartbeat from time to time.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@dougwhiley4028 They did have a tendancy to do that 🙂
@mrsilbo6499 Жыл бұрын
Great video, really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. IMO, most 70s & 80s bikes, by today's standards, were deathtraps. Skinny, non-stick tyres, lousy brakes & suspension plus flexible frames that couldn't cope with rising power outputs were all part of the fun! I restored an X7 a couple of years ago & I can confirm they were made from recycled sardine tins. Look forward to the next chapter.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
The tyres were so ridiculous when you look back on it 🙂 glad you enjoyed it, finally sold my last TZR about 7 or 8 years ago now, i just wouldnt bend that much anymore lol Ride free my friend
@lanesaarloos281 Жыл бұрын
The 500 Kawasaki 3 cyl death wobble made me reconsider riding in '73. Started up again in 2017.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@lanesaarloos281 Glad you came back to the fold mate, enjoy the ride
@John-ue8md Жыл бұрын
I personally really like Honda bikes in the 1979-1984 range... by 1986 they often used the same basic engines but they changed the frames and suspension and they just didn't fit me as good as the older dual shock bikes. I like riding in rough terrain, and being able to easily reach the ground with the bike hung up on a log or stump is important to me.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@John-ue8md me too mate, 🙂cheers for watching, enjoy the ride
@stratcat3216 8 ай бұрын
Me on a 750 Kawi and my buddy on a RD350LC... we were nuts :) glad we're still alive.
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
Wild days, and even wilder nights 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
@desperadolighfoot8534 8 ай бұрын
Great narration, cool pace, super content. Thanks:)
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
Thanks for your support mate 🙂 the feedback does help me and i do appreciate it
@peterford9369 Жыл бұрын
I rode a 94 VMAX for about 10 years. And you're so right. The thing was a beast. But I loved it. Vboost was a knuckle whitener alright, but being a conservative rider, thankfully no mishaps. But I loved the look. The fat rear tire and smaller front always gave it the dragster look. I miss it. Thanks for the memory.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@joeybobbie1 Жыл бұрын
Hi, Great Video. This brings back Memories of the 70s and early 80s for me. I had a Z1 900 Kawasaki back in 1979 and it was the King of the Road back then. Like you said though, Suspensions, Tires, Brakes, weren’t as good back then. When I look back at some of the Crazy things I did on that 900, it’s amazing I’m still alive. Thanks for the Video, and I look forward to more.👍👍
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
your welcome mate, glad you enjoyed it. theres always more to come :-) Im still not even halfway through last years tour videos lol. the best is still to come, cheers for watching
@mangoMango-ck3et Жыл бұрын
great memories,,,remember at high school in the 1970s in NZ,,young guys no helmets ,,,wheel standing their GT 380 Suzukis,,RD Yamahas ,,Kawasaki 500s,,everywhere you looked Japcrap,,,the" great invasion " has just begun...Excellent Video..Narration..keep em comin..
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@mikejohnson5900 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for keeping the sounds in, and for sharing this vid. Excellent work. When I was 14 years old my best friend, who was 15, convinced his mom to buy him a TM 400. We rode that thing all summer in the woods and trails of upstate NY. I remember once riding it along the railroad tracks and it spun the rear tire through 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears and the rear just floated back and forth kicking out the big rocks next to the tracks, without ever gaining full purchase. before It was one of the most beastly bikes I ever rode. I also had an opportunity to ride a TL1000 R and it was quite a handful. I'm thinking the S model was even worse.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
plenty of people have talked about the TL S :-) Cheers for watching mate 🙂 Ride free
@AlessandroGenTLe Жыл бұрын
Proud owner of a TL1000S here (with an Ohlins at the back). Still a great bike, but heavy to handle compared to these days bikes. And now with 200CV bikes around it seems even tamed...
@manuelmontiel5418 Жыл бұрын
I got a backseat ride on Kwacker 750 H2's on two ocasions from two different friends within a 20 year time difference and they were both terrifying experiences. Thankfully they both had enough confidence and skill to negotiate turns scraping the footpegs in slick pavement. My white hair is testimony of these scary experiences.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
lol, cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride :-)
@pateris Жыл бұрын
They were so raised that they lifted your helmet up ? ;) (I point out I would not have fared better. Oh, no. Nope. Uh-hu…)
@BROU-bb2uc 11 ай бұрын
We had one with a sissy bar told my buddy on the back don't use it😂
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
@@BROU-bb2uc lol, 🙂Cheers for watching mate, Ride Free
@SilverSurfer5150 Жыл бұрын
Awesome!! Love the video! Takes me back to a wilder day!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride :-)
@aronsingletary 5 ай бұрын
Great video! Thank you for sharing
@barebonesmc 5 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel and the website, let me know what you think. hope youll climb aboard. Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@Turco949 Жыл бұрын
Good list, great video! Really enjoyed seeing these iconic bikes. 80s was definitely my favorite decade for motorcycles. I had a tweaked 2006 VMax. I can't believe I am still alive. If I had that bike in my 20s, I probably wouldn't be. I'd have fish tails on a dry street merely by taking off slightly too fast. That was also the only bike where I could feel the shaft drive twist the frame a tad when taking off a bit fast. Crazy bike, delivering around 117 ponies to the real wheel when stock, mine was probably close to 130 HP.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching mate and adding your thoughts :-) ride free
@cousinjack2841 Жыл бұрын
I had an ex works Maico 490 in the 80's and that was scary enough now and then, so I can only imagine what the 760 must have been like. At the same time my daily commuter was the Suzuki TS400 which I rode for a few years. That was a great bike and never gave a moments trouble even after some serious mileage. It was a good ride for dealing with hectic city traffic. Nice programme; thanks.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
thanks mate, cheers for watching, enjoy the ride
@jeffurey6399 Жыл бұрын
Me too, Maico 490 Spider and an Alpha 1. Came on like a rocket 🚀
@hsttrek1 Жыл бұрын
@@jeffurey6399hole shots were no problem. I loved practicing starts on the 490. However it was heavy & a bit unwielding around the track.
@TheDigger06 Жыл бұрын
Imo the 460 was the scariest...livelier than the others ,and bad power output lowdown
@transistor754 Жыл бұрын
I also had the TS400... nice bike.. lots of good memories.. after that I had the PE400 Enduro which was my day bike... a drag racer fixed the exhaust for me, it would rev cleanly and not burble just as it "came on the pipe".. consequently first gear was useless, as it would wheelie in second, crash change into 3rd and if I was mad enough it would have done 4th but by this time you're doing 80 or 90 k's and the front wheel would skid as you came down as it had stopped rotating way back... I eventually sold it for my healths sake... and bought the Yamie XT 500... far more sane! A 750 single 2 stroke can only be unusable... lots of guys thought a CR500 or YZ490 made them good but I could run rings around them on a XR200 on twisty trails as it was more useable... except in a straight line of course.
@alexjohnson3696 Жыл бұрын
Great content. Thanks for sharing
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂 cheers for watching mate 🙂 Ride Free. contemplating doing a video of a new engine design i found that sounds interesting, you interested?
@probationbird9786 Жыл бұрын
What a trip down memory lane! I remember just about all of these bikes. Thanks for the content!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride 🙂
@GrotrianSeiler Жыл бұрын
Excellent video. Great history lesson. Thanks for making it. I still have my TLS that I bought new in 01 and have never felt unsafe on it. That motor is a blast.
@mikef.1000 Жыл бұрын
I agree, the bad press about the TL Suzukis really is undeserved. The rear shock absorber copped and undeserved shellacking, as did the steering geometry. Anyone I know has one, has no complaints whatsoever. Much of the negativity seems to have been confirmation bias in the motorcycle magazines!
@GrotrianSeiler Жыл бұрын
@@mikef.1000 and the fact that the issue was ONLY in 97, resolved with the addition of the steering damper. I’ve had my bike way up above 130 and the bike tracked dead straight. Awesome bike.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! :-) cheers for watching mate. Ride Free
@timking2822 Жыл бұрын
I haven't owned that many m/c's. My first was a Kawasaki H1 500cc two-stroke. You're right, it was scary. I started having nightmares after almost every ride, so I traded it in on a Suzuki TM400, my first dirt bike. It didn't seem that bad. Of course I had nothing to compare it to. Fortunately, I survived both. But, I never had so many injuries as I did on that TM400.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad u survived em mate, cheers for watching, enjoy the ride
@davechard6481 10 ай бұрын
Thanks! Nice to see the days of older bikes! 81 YZ465 was a wild ride crazy powerband.
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
@shaundonohue4879 8 ай бұрын
Thankyou so much for the blast from the past, brought back some great memories.
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
glad it jogged some good memories mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@blakeepperson3902 Жыл бұрын
Awesome video. I never rode a tm400, but I once rode a clapped out ts400, and that bike was a beast. It was powerful but handled surprisingly well. I can’t imagine riding the tm400. There’s something about the design and styling of the early to mid 70s bikes that I love. Many modern bikes are trying to recapture the retro styling, but they aren’t the same as the real thing.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Simplicity is one aspect im sure :-) cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@djbillye4943 Жыл бұрын
Had a pe400 back in the day.was also a beast.suzuki all the way😊
@ejgrant5191 Жыл бұрын
Suzuki actually addressed some of the TM400 issues about 3 years into production. The Dirt Bike magazine roasting of the TM400 probably made them take notice....I think they lenghtend the wheelbase 25-30mm with a new rear swing arm as I recall.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@ejgrant5191 I don't recall that but thats nothing new lol i thought it was just replaced by the TS
@bobjohnson7207 Жыл бұрын
I remember when Cyclones showed up for the races but none of these had a rear fender. The European mxers enduros and trails were still the class of the field until the Suzuki RMs showed up.
@patrickwhitfield1350 Жыл бұрын
That was a great list... Most mental bike I've ever had the pleasure of riding is an '82 Yamaha IT 465. It's heavy, and it doesn't like to turn... but touch the throttle and you're on one wheel.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
i think someone else mentioned the IT, ive never ridden one to be honest, i can imagine tho :-) I had a YZ 490 at one point lol, cheers for watching mate, ride free
@dwightcrapson135 9 ай бұрын
"Dial a wheelie" was how the great Rick Ramsey described it. Super Hunky said "the only way to miss a rock with an IT is to aim for it". I had an 82 IT465, probably the best all around dirt bike I ever had.
@webjammer1 Жыл бұрын
I had a 74 Kawasaki H2 750 with expansion chambers and it was scary fast. It had way more power than the crude brakes and suspension could handle, and deserving of the Widow-maker moniker.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
indeed mate, :-) Cheers for watching :-) Ride Free
@djdirty7455 Жыл бұрын
Great video I really enjoyed it, It brought back vivid memeories of my path. The unique essence I percieved was your story is from an experienced sportbike rider, I'm sure (track time videos lol). So I made this discovery as I watched you explain the basis of what content you were offering. I must say that your approach let me know that we both grew up in pretty much the same era. Thank you I enjoyed the content & would like to add .... I believe it was either 1982 or 83 Susuki GS1150E. While being young & adventurist I launced it, it went sideways burning rubber so I short shifted to 2nd gear & noticed that my front tire was no longer on the ground & I proceded to have one of the scariest & mosted loved experieces of my life!!!! MInd blowing power!!! I think I understand LOL.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
welcome aboard mate. Madness will inevitably ensue 🙂I still have 2 FZR's and a Daytona 955 but they get used less now, ive thoroughly enjoyed riding most of the bikes i have tried over the years, i even loved ragging my lads Honda Dax around the woods 🙂 I always preferred the Yamaha's to the Suzuki's so didnt have so much saddle time on them to be fair. trust me to end up with a Vstrom now as my general digsbody 🙂 cheers for watching, enjoy the ride 🙂
@ninjapower1000 Жыл бұрын
Great Vid. Turns the clock back. For me a 350 Elsie everyday of the week. It was the total hooligan of the 80's and messed with big bikes of its era. It's no wonder they are fetching huge money these days.However had a Maico 490, that was scary especially on dirt lol.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
I do miss my LC too lol. rose tinted specs aside they were a fantastic bike
@mikeholland1031 Жыл бұрын
I've had a few RD and RZ's in my day. Always loved them. Sold my RD a few years ago and still regret it but was trying to raise a family and broke. Still got my RZ350 although the clutch is blown up. I bought a 91 FZR1000 last year and love it.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@mikeholland1031 I do still miss my 350LC. last of the TZR's went about 6 or 7 years ago now, I just wouldnt fold up enough lol. Ive got a bog standard '89 FZR1000 EXUP which I'd say was the best year, and then ive got a naked one thats been toyed with lol, its got the later USD forks and YZF 750 head and cams. YZF swingarm, underslung calipers etc, its a monster, cheers for watching mate
@maxharris4208 11 ай бұрын
Great video, wonderfully unpretentious and simple style. No silly graphics, annoying soundtrack or overwhelming ego! Brilliant and really refreshing - keep em coming, please!! 👍👍
@barebonesmc 10 ай бұрын
Welcome aboard mate, and cheers for the comment. enjoy the ride and thanks for the support
@ITSNOTMEITISYOU 10 ай бұрын
Fantastic video!! Thanks
@barebonesmc 10 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@rcclassiccrawlers4368 Жыл бұрын
Ahhh the good ol’ days! This video certainly brought me back. I’ve ridden a few of those bikes back in the day. But my all time favorite and maybe scariest for me was a Suzuki gs1100e. It was far from stock and that thing went like a bat out of hell. I ended up selling it shortly after my wife had our first child. Probably a good thing that I did but I do kind of miss it. Very cool video, thanks for sharing. And as my dad would always tell me, “keep the shiny side up”
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it mate - and the rubber side down :-)
@potrzebieneuman4702 Жыл бұрын
I owned a 750 Katana and absolutely loved it. I heard stories of the 1100 being a pig and the 650 being not great to ride but the 750 was a dream although the best I got out of a tyre was 4000 kilometres and that was a dual compound too.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@potrzebieneuman4702 🙂cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@alextornello4755 Жыл бұрын
Great video. I had an rd400 back in 1977. Put 10,000 miles on it that first summer. What a great bike. Had many other bikes but that rd400 was my favorite.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
they were indeed a fantastic bike, cheers for watching, ride free
@altec19 6 ай бұрын
Great job I really appreciated your reviews !
@barebonesmc 6 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel and the website, let me know what you think. Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@baerv3753 Жыл бұрын
The RD350 was the most fun bike of that era. The most terrifying was the Kawa 500 2 stroke triple. When that thing got up on the pipe it was pure insanity.
@richardwalker7688 Жыл бұрын
Ran a tuning & race shop in the early 80s, I had a KH500, just a set of allspeeds & RamAir filters & re-jetted to save the pistons from holing. Got tame after a while so found the right piston alternatives and bored it to 600, with about 9:1 compression corrected. Initial testing on our Souirau Dyno gave impressive HP, loads of torque & the tendency to go into diesel mode (no ignition needed) after 7500rpm. Yup turn off the ignition and it just carried on running! So we had to drop the Compression to 8.5:1 corrected. Jim Lomas pipes and finally 40mm Lectron flatslide carbs did the trick. Everyone who tried it out always came back white but with a massive grin. Eventually sold it before it killed me. Never got around to trying to sort the totally useless chassis / suspension other than a steering damper to stop the tank slappers that would invariably set in at about 125mph, a very bad time to do it as that was just starting to hit the power in top, once you'd wrestled it past that it flew, I never took it flat out for long enough to have time to look at the speedo, too busy hanging on for dear life, no fairing. Memories. BTW, single seat conversion. So I wouldn't have to let the girlfriend get on the back on that one :-)
@marvelaturraz5405 Жыл бұрын
About 40 years ago, I remember helping a friend start his Kawi 500 for the first time after he bought it from someone who had stored it. I was a very good motocrosser at the time. Bump-started it down his street, and nursed it for a while, while it blubbered but ultimately cleared out. I rode it back and handed it over. I didn't want to be on it. My legs were shaking!! That F-ing thing was vicious. Come to think of it now, I'm not so sure both brakes even worked at that point.
@olafkelm6441 Жыл бұрын
Yep,
@davefrench3608 Жыл бұрын
The CX500TC was a heavy slug with chronic turbo lag. The CX650TC was another matter altogether, 100 bop and good for 140, when the boost comes in things in the mirror get small very quickly. Add in a brilliant fairing and riding position, you have the ultimate grand tourer, and it’s not scary in the slightest. Great vid, thanks
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate :-) Cheers for watching, Ride free
@assassinatepsychoputin4151 Жыл бұрын
The Kwaka 750 Turbo was the BEST Turbo'd bike EVER ... & the best of them all to ride.. it ate hondas for breaky lol
@christopherhampson265 Жыл бұрын
The euroslug/maggot
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@christopherhampson265 🤣
@rudedog302 11 ай бұрын
In 1980 I bought a 1973 H2 750 off of a friend in the military after he ran it off of a clover leaf entering on to a highway. Fixed it up. Love the sound. Rode it for 15 years, then kids came along, and sold it to a friend , he restored it and I get to ride it when ever I get to his place. Told my son he will never ride it, only on the back with me driving. I have owned 22 motorcycles in my 60 years, Harleys, Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas, Kawasakis, a Husqvarna, and a Can Am. The H2 750 is my favorite. That bike was mean, loud, and fast.
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
great bikes, fantastic that you still get to ride it, 🙂 cheers for watching mate, Have a great week
@scottfree8848 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely great video and one of the first narratived videos I could actually stand. Bravo!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for the vote of confidence mate :-) thanks for watching, ride free :-)
@keithharrison1453 Жыл бұрын
1976 Kawasaki H2 750 C survivor here! Damned fine machine, I absolutely loved it. Unlike other machines, when climbing on the H2, I did always ponder if that was going to be my last ride, ever. Oddly, I thought it actually handled very well, at least up to 115mph. After that, one had to catch the tank slappers the very moment they tried to start, or else one would end up in a hedge. Well, here I am, many decades later and, thanks mainly to the H2, I am now limping badly with a full set of comprehensively damaged lower bones and joints but, I'm still here. Just. However, in the morning, please ask my wife to re-check!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad ur still with us mate :-) cheers for watching mate. enjoy the ride
@grayharker6271 Жыл бұрын
I got my only speeding ticket in California on a 750 triple. The CHP had been chasing me for miles but I didn't know it. He only caught up when I stopped at the Kawasaki shop for a new clutch cable!
@grayharker6271 Жыл бұрын
The 750 was borrowed. At the time I owned a 75 Norton 850. I didn't think the the triple handled that bad. The Kawasaki 900 and 750 could beat me stoplight to stoplight. But once we got on the coast road from Carmel to big sur I could walk the dog on them!
@keithharrison1453 Жыл бұрын
@@grayharker6271 The exact details now escape me, as it was 46 years ago, but my H2 750C had an uprated clutch, I think using Plates from an H2R Racing Machine, plus I seem to recall, Z1B valve springs used in the clutch (or something like that). Most H2s would slip the clutch badly, so lost a lot of power because of that, plus because of the huge slippage, the clutches just did not tend to last that long, that's if an H2 was ridden enthusiastically, as it should be. Indeed, the H2 750 clutch was not a lot bigger than the KH 250 clutch so, not surprising it slipped! However, those changes to my H2, whilst making my clutch highly effective, meant I only had a very small amount of movement in the clutch lever. Indeed, many climbing on it, even when stationary, thought the clutch was jammed and stuck, because it needed the strength of a million monkeys to use it! But it worked, never slipped, and I could get the power down every time, even screaming away from traffic lights. The most amusing thing about that was when I travelled half way up the UK to initially buy it and collect it, I had only the day before had my left arm taken out of plaster, so I had less than the strength of single hamster in that wrist, at that time. The 200 mile ride home was entertaining! Ended up having to operate the hair trigger clutch with my left forearm. The other fun was it was quite late when I picked it up, and I found most of the fuel stations along the A1 riding home were closed. Very nearly ran out of fuel at least once, and only just made the last stop some 40 miles from home. I then let rip on the M11 heading south, and was amazed to find I managed to use a whole tank, and went on Reserve before the end of that! Fuel consumption, that was the other minor problem! Your Norton would indeed sail past me probably at every fuel stop! But then they'd be an initial enormous cloud of white Two-Stroke smoke, as I departed in hot pursuit!
@rogerdodrill4733 Жыл бұрын
@@grayharker6271 it took a long time for jap bikes too handle as well as Norton's, maybe never
@frankstone8930 11 ай бұрын
15years ago superbikes just shy of the 200hp mark and still without TCS, ABS or even electronic throttle left a serious impression on me. 😂😂😂
@michaelmyers7425 Жыл бұрын
Great video! Loved it
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂Cheers for watching mate , ride free
@karlkasbach3708 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great video. I had a 1985 GPZ 750 (not turbo) which was great but I offloaded it in 2011 and got me a 1998 Suzuki TL1000R which I've still got. It's red with polished rims and lots of go fast bits. I absolutely love it and she's super shiny still with nearly 100,000 kms on the odometer. She's become my special bike and I daily an FZ6N which I call my Toyota Corolla. Long live the TL.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
nice story mate, :-) cheers for sharing, The TL engine in the navigator had done a fair few miles when i let it go, from memory i think about 80k miles, they do last. enjoy the ride
@karlalton3170 Жыл бұрын
I had a H2 when they first come out and it used to wheelie at 80 mph and when it come on the power band it was brutal bloody Awesome bike 😁😁🤘🤘
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
That engine was awesome. Cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@danwilliams5867 Жыл бұрын
Ahh another H2 survivor LOL. It was a brutal bike to ride
@ade-1772 Жыл бұрын
Nice would love a go on one of them omg
@Paganreptiles Жыл бұрын
I have 3 kawasaki triples fully restored 750cc scary as hell but what a rush
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@Paganreptiles indeed :-) ride free mate
@micahbuchheit1283 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely loved this video. Cheers !!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching mate , ride free :-)
@roadstrom Жыл бұрын
The RD's were fantastic bikes 👍
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
yep. i loved my first gen LC, wish i still had it 🙂
@billallen4793 Жыл бұрын
I had 1 RD400 with every go fast part available, and 4 different RZ350's from moderate to craziness power wise!..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠 I still have a waterbuffalo and a 75 RE5 Suzuki's.
@Aubury Жыл бұрын
Perhaps the best of my motorcycles the 250RD. Touring Ireland, commuting. Of its time, the smooth twin ts and the gush of power, still recalled in my dotage, with a smile..
@DonleyWilson Жыл бұрын
RD350 El Capitan high school Lakeside Calif 1977. Tuned by Don Vesco Only street bike I ever owned. This was the fastest accel/decel bike on the planet that I ever heard of 0-60-0 before most had hit 60. Take any bike that chalanged it till they found 3rd lol Smart enough to hang it up before I got stupid (er) always pushing it. And the older I get, the the better I was. Thank you for the HS reunion
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
I think we have a big RD appreciation society going here 🙂
@jimbo1959 Жыл бұрын
An RD350 ( 74) was the bike I got my License on at 16! Had it for a couple years. It was a 6 speed, 2 stroke rocket!!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
I had the Mars bar one :-) cheers for watching mate, enjoy your day
@chuckarrand4281 Жыл бұрын
That was an awesome video of great memories. Rode the gamma 500 a lot and have owned a 95 vmax since new and still ride it. Started on a rd350 and remember the lessons I learned very well lol. Cheers.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂 cheers for watching mate, ride free
@ponytrishpip Жыл бұрын
Great video thanks. Brings back some good memories. I learnt to ride a rood bike on an RD250LC. Interesting times
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
great bikes 🙂cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@markalton2809 Жыл бұрын
The X-7 took a couple of my mates well before their time. Stupidly fast for a learner and the main reason the UK introduced a power limit legislation for learners.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
that and the RD's Cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride :-)
@karlkuttup Жыл бұрын
great list the full line of the early kh kawazaki from the 250 up ,they just giggled at you as it tried throwing you off if you dared to put power on too early, the scary ones i had was the kawazii ar 125 and 250 they loved being on one wheel ,the crazy rd 400 and 500 ,the rgv as another one
@geraldfrieberg7921 Жыл бұрын
Great video ! Thanks for sharing. I bought a new 1970 Yamaha R5 (predecessor to the RD series). I rode that purple and white bike for thousands of virtually trouble-free miles. It was the most fun motorcycle I've ever owned. I am still riding to this day at age 70. Cheers to all from Ohio, USA !
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
welcome Ohio 🙂I do love the RD's 🙂Cheers for watching mate, ride free
@nonickname9612 Жыл бұрын
Thankyou, I really like your channel and have subscribed. I like the down to earth, unpretentious, and informative narration. This combined with your obvious enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject, makes for a nice change from the show ponies and self obsessed nobody's with huge ego's that seem to be plaguing the many other channels centred around bikes and motorcycling. I agree with your choices here and have had the opportunity to ride a couple of the bikes you mentioned (an RD 350 + a TL 1000) both fun, but also extremely challenging to ride quickly and safely at the same time. I look forward to watching some more of your videos and I wish you all the best with growing your channel in the future :)
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
thanks for the support mate. down to earth is definitely the aim lol. and yes. guilty as charged i am and have been utterly obsessed by bikes my whole life lol enjoy the ride my friend
@Taz6688 Жыл бұрын
TL 1000S was the most fun I every had on a bike, it was re-called for a fuel tank issue, then a remap to fix the stalling and the steering damper, while smooth it lost the vicious edge, still a beast though, very fond memories of that bike.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@Taz6688 The joys 🙂 The Navigator I had had the same engine but a Tamburini chassis, best of both worlds 🙂 cheers for watching mate
@bignasty3274 Жыл бұрын
@BAREBONESMC Great video, mate thoroughly enjoyed it. I left school in late 70's and had always been a motorcycle nut and indeed ended up as a mechanic. I had various old field bikes so I was always mechanically minded. I went from a Garelli Rekord straight to a B5 KH250 bought new from Manley Motorcycles in Clacton. The frames on those things were made out spaghetti with a hinge in the middle and although it was detuned as such from earlier models it still tried to kill me every chance it got. I loved the sound and the look of the KH, so dispite it's hatred of me, I loved going out on it. I bought a very early 500 HI Mach 111 which was even worse (if it could be) it had unpredictable throttle response much more power than the KH250 and bloody drum brakes. It remains the most frightening and fun bike I've ever owned. I used to get off the bike after a ride and prayed to god for letting me live for another day. Nothing beats the old 70's two stroke bikes for fun and pain😅
@sidbobby3233 Жыл бұрын
The kettle seen some beautiful custom bikes of these... 😎😎✌✌👌👌👍👍
@redonkk Жыл бұрын
great video, really enjoyed it.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Cheers for watching mate :-) enjoy the ride
@ryanmorgan6677 10 ай бұрын
I thoroughly enjoyed this video keep it up ❤
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@michaelreed9805 Жыл бұрын
Lol, should have waited till the end to comment. The X5 was one of the most fun bikes to ride and get hospitalized on. Your list of widowmakers is brilliant. You put some thought into it for sure. One thing all these widowmakers have in common other than hospital and funeral costs is this, they were and are fun as hell to ride! Thank you sir!
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
glad you enjoyed it mate, i do my best lol, cheers for watching, enjoy the ride :-)
@ipaddy Жыл бұрын
yep i agree my yellow x5 was a good nippy bike 86 mph so our local police said I raced lots of gt185s and rd200s and beat most it accelerated as fast as the gt250 ram air but they could always do 10-15 mph more than me had to get rid when i came off doing 75-80mph on a gravely bend broke lots of bones and the worst bit was they had to cut off my signed Barry Sheen T-shirt what a great time to be a young biker
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@ipaddy ouch, glad ur still with us mate 🙂cheers for watching , ride free
@G31mR Жыл бұрын
The later TM400's (I had one, and had raced the first TM for a dealership) did not have a detuned engine, but it did have a silenced pipe that curtailed the top end somewhat. What it DID have was a (slightly) improved chassis. It was still a handful without an aftermarket flywheel weight and never became a decent handler.
@thomashussey5159 Жыл бұрын
great work! subscribed.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
welcome aboard :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
@peteranson4021 Жыл бұрын
Surprised to see the RG500 gamma on your list because I thought it was quite easy to ride. Two grumbles about it: It was light with a large area of fairing so was tricky in strong cross winds; and it came with odd size wheels so was difficult to get good production race rubber. I think the 16" front wheels were a failure all round and the RG had a 17" rear before 17" rear tyres were common. The engine was brilliant.
@TheDigger06 Жыл бұрын
Its just biker myths,, i agree, the rg was v v competant
@patrickjaegers3110 Жыл бұрын
The RG Gamma engine is legendary! That engine was swapped into a couple Suzuki LT500R ATV chassis (one in the US, and one in Australia I believe), and might be the meanest Frankenstein ATV ever made!
@tmerizan Жыл бұрын
for me the rg500 was the most difficult bike to ride fast on a track because it's power was all or nothing making accelerating out of the corner hard to get right every time, then add in some surface imperfections with a guy in front and next to you lap after lap. yeah it's fast but mentally exhausting to go at it full tilt
@ejgrant5191 Жыл бұрын
BIG PROBLEM with the RG500 was INSTANT SNAP OPEN of the exhaust valves @ 7000RPMs...The opening wasn't progressive...it was HERE'S 30HP for you! Right NOW! I almost wrecked mine @ the 600Km mark after a careful break-in....NOPE The RG500 definatley belongs on this list.
@carlwalker7560 Жыл бұрын
An RG500 was the only brand new bike I ever bought, back in 1986. I crashed it after 3 months and around 5,000miles. In my case, I think it was the 16" front wheel and/or steering geometry that did for me. The front end just let go at around 50mph while in a bend :-( Unfortunately I couldn't afford to repair it and ended up selling it for parts. Still don't regret buying it, that was the most exiting 3 months of my life!
@elizabethcanavan3755 Жыл бұрын
Great list .Of all the mad machines you featured I only ever rode the Suzuki X7.Although I did try to trade in a Yamaha XS 1100 for a V-Max,until the ,surprisingly honest, seller asked me why I wanted to trade one fast,gas guzzling ,bad handling bike for another .
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
A full power 🤣🤣🤣V Max is one of my shortest ownerships, got one, loved it, 3 days later realised there were 2 end results, death or no licence lol, it got sold a week later
@seanbutler2291 Жыл бұрын
Yamaha xs 1100 was actually a pretty decent bike all around. But the Vmax definitely takes the cake for being the....less safe ride.
@seanbutler2291 Жыл бұрын
@@barebonesmc that seems like such a waste. If those two options were your only two options that's really more of a comment on you as a rider and not so much on the bike.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@seanbutler2291 and you mate, cheers for watching, enjoy the ride
@BearsTrains Жыл бұрын
Had an XS1100 as well. It was nicknamed Kenny. Not after Mr Roberts but a brand of truck as that was what it was like to ride.
@daryldaryl913 9 ай бұрын
Thank you for the exceptional history. An Aussie here. This was my era also. I agree of the Kawasaki 750 triple. It was the original Widow -maker, although others could fit a widow maker title as well. The 500s triples ripped also. I had a friend that would wheel stand them every where he rode. Entire streets and manage around corners on the back wheel as well like as in a circus, not fast of course. I was never anywhere near that talented. Good video mate, thanks to revive my memory.
@barebonesmc 9 ай бұрын
glad it jogged some good memories mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@kerryschwass1147 8 ай бұрын
Put a 500 triple in a go kart. Scared the daylights out myself mates flat out on local mud flats. And of course the sound was bloody fantastic. Had to give away and went down the vfr route another great sounding bike.
@barebonesmc 8 ай бұрын
@@kerryschwass1147 some serious go karts there 🙂
@propdoctor21564 Жыл бұрын
What a great video and the memories it brings back of my time during the 80s and 90s... I have owned about 20 cycles over my 40 years of riding and some of the more exciting machines included two Kawasaki LTD 1000,, two Honda V65 Magna,, a Honda VF1000R Interceptor, and a Yamaha VMAX.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
You like em quick then :-) Cheers for watching mate. Ride free
@michaelreed9805 Жыл бұрын
As a rider of over 40 yrs now this list is absolutely spot on! The kawasaki early H2 was a true widowmaker. That motor was and still is a beast..nobody cared that the rest of the bike was a sponge. That sound was worth the speeds we pushed regardless of how many skin grafts it delivered
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride :-)
@pauloconnor7951 Жыл бұрын
Dramatic. All new road tests didn't fault the handling. However about 4 years later several articles did negatively reflect on handling. As an H2 restorer; I have some observations. The nylon - plastic swing arm bushings were worn by then. And so swing arm play occurred. Simple as that; Later bronze bushes becam available; later again needle roller bearings. And wow what an improvement ! Taper head bearings help immensely !!!
@TonyYork-KB9RAO Жыл бұрын
What was left out was the wheelie factor, at @4000-4500 rpm under open throttle the thing would wheelie in whatever gear it was in, the last one I rode was bored out and ported and polished and it scared me off of the triple completely.
@Midnight_Rider96 Жыл бұрын
Can't forget the cr500, 1985 model is supposed to be the most violent. I've ridden a 1983 cr480 quite a bit, had a few scary moments but it was generally controllable for a moderately experienced rider
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
The CR was a legend of a bike :-) cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@Patriot-up2td Жыл бұрын
I said the same thing! No Honda CR 500?
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@Patriot-up2td I have been told 🙂 Im sure it will come up again somewhere 🙂
@brianjebe7797 Жыл бұрын
I think the 87 through 90 were highest output.
@steveread3890 Жыл бұрын
My brother had a 81 ktm490 and everyone who had a go came off it.
@karlbrowne3361 Жыл бұрын
This is a fantastic find, I have always been drawn to Widow Makers, very well narrated my friend 😊
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂 cheers mate and thanks for watching 🙂 Ride Free
@johnbelcher7164 Жыл бұрын
Awesome Video brings back memories
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free
@lestersmyth692 11 ай бұрын
I was pleasantly surprised to see the X7 included in your review. Having owned one in the early eighties as a learner rider I suppose I’m fortunate to have survived intact. I crashed that bike more times than I remember usually racing RDs …… flipped it over many times whilst wheelying or lost it whilst cornering beyond its capabilities and mine of course. The tyres, brakes and suspension were crap to say the least. Obviously making it go faster was obligatory hence Micron pipes, K&N filters etc. plus some filing of the ports courtesy of the MCN tuning article. With a smaller rear sprocket I do recall seeing 110 on the speedometer. They’re fetching serious money now and I look back fondly to those fabulous times forgetting the hospital trips of course 👍
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
lol :-) Cheers for watching mate and thanks for the comment, enjoy your weekend
@philprice5712 Жыл бұрын
If memory serves the 400 Suzi had symmetrical port timing. Surprised MX riders would sometimes take off backwards at the drop of the start gate. Great video, lots of good if scary memories. Thank you.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
thanks mate, much appreciated comment 🙂 cheers for watching, ride free
@shawnsatterlee6035 Жыл бұрын
Probably not. Little know fact unlike most all think, 2 strokes won't run backwards unless ignition timing is altered. Like anything they fire before top dead center, if running it backwards it's gonna b overly retarded n just not gonna run. Facts!
@johnp1277 Жыл бұрын
It hardly suprized me that I've owned half the bikes on this list ...the Yamaha V Max , the Suzuki TM400 , the Yamaha RD350, and the Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo....all fun bikes...I loved the V-Max and the GPZ750 Turbo the most....and I miss all of them now.... I keep looking for a deal on a Kawasaki Ninja H2 supercharged ...that one should easily be the craziest bike ever.
@benitopussolini544 Жыл бұрын
I know a few blokes that bought their lad a cr80 back in the 80's.After the initial excitement over getting a new bike the time came for trying it out,it scared the life out of them. When I tried them they usually had the same effect.Wild little things they were.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
i love the concept. Here you are, buy this for your kids, theyll be fine, honest 🤣🤣
@christianfritz6333 Жыл бұрын
I grew up on a CR80, it's an insane little bike, mostly because power band was so abrupt, and the bike weighed next to nothing, I had a friend that had a 125, got on my bike blipped the throttle and stood amazed as the bike disappeared from under him and off into the distance.
@Cutter_Number_30 Жыл бұрын
I rode a KTM sx65 until I was maybe 11, well and truly too big for it, but damn it if that little bike didn't get you moving fast no matter how heavy you are. Many adults rode it ironically and we're unironcally chewed up and spat out the moment they tried to push it.
@darwinhall8550 Жыл бұрын
As a Suzuki dealer mechanic in the late 60's through the early 70's I think this is a very interesting list. It was amazing to me that the Japanese manufactures were taking on the big American and European manufactures with innovative design and engineering. Working on all types of motorcycles as we did, it was apparent that the Japanese were leading the way, abet with some questionable trade offs between speed, handling and braking. I think that in many ways this was a motorcycling golden age with lots of interesting choices. I still ride a 2005 Suzuki S83 and the ride, reliability, and ease of maintenance still surpasses anything from most other manufactures.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
it was a golden age for sure mate 🙂 cheers for watching, ride free
@bonecruncher2641 Жыл бұрын
Try the Chevy chase cheddar cheese chuppa chup challenge !. That’s a eye opener for sure
@homerepairguy1 Жыл бұрын
I've got an 02 1500LC, I've never ridden. Lol. Took it on a trade, and shes tucked in the garage since
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
@@homerepairguy1 1500LC?
@homerepairguy1 Жыл бұрын
@@barebonesmc the big cruiser, before it became the boulevard. First years was called the Vulcan 1500 LC "legendary classic" air cooled 1500, big chassis bike, perfect for tall guys. Picked it up from the original owner, put it away, then left for business. Finally got home, and there she sits.
@psjasker 10 ай бұрын
Brother, you’ve made a GREAT video here. Thank you!
@barebonesmc 10 ай бұрын
Welcome aboard mate, enjoy the ride and cheers for the support
@robertevans9354 Жыл бұрын
Never got to ride a V-Rod but I'm glad you added that Harley deserves a spot . Great video just sitting here sobbing at the memories it is bringing back.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it, cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride 🙂
@zf4hp24 7 ай бұрын
Love my 2014 VRSCF. Great engine, excellent build quality. One real downside is the need to really countersteer into a curve. Takes a *lot* of opposite pressure to get her healed over into a turn with the 240 rear tire. I wouldn't ever consider the V-Rod even remotely dangerous, but certainly not a beginner's bike.
@mikeholland1031 Жыл бұрын
Odd looking master cyl on the RD. Definitely different than the stock one in Canada.
@ToddWrightthedrummer Жыл бұрын
I have been lucky enough to ride 5 of the bikes on your list, and for me the H2 was in a class by itself. The frame was so bad I thought it had to be bent or broken somewhere. They made great and dirt cheap dragbikes and in the '70s and early '80s the staging lanes were packed with them.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
🙂 cheers for watching mate, ride free
@ancientheart2532 Жыл бұрын
Take that H2 750 motor and put it in a Rickman frame and you've got something.
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
@@ancientheart2532 ive seen it done with a Spondon chassis but not sure ive ever seen a Rickman KH🙂cheers for watching, ride free
@barebonesmc 11 ай бұрын
@@ancientheart2532 ive seen it done with a Spondon chassis but i dont remember seeing a Rickman KH, 🙂cheers for watching, ride free
@micheltremblay4774 Жыл бұрын
I owned around 15 motorcycles and the most hairy to ride fast were shaft driven. Gunning it in a turn, the rear end would jump up and the traction would go down making it dangerous to do fast cornering. I loved cruising the Suzuki 650 shaft drive but my modified Suzuki 1000E was scary fast to say the least. My fun to ride bike was an RD400 (full race mode) was light and fast. I'm 72 and I now ride an electric motorcycle, fast and dead silent, my neighbours hear nothing when I go out early in the morning. I'm in Canada and most of the bikes on your list we never saw. Thanks and take care.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
the shaft torque reaction issue is one that fascinates me in all honesty. despite all the so called explanations some bikes that shouldnt seem to suffer more, other bikes much less, i have never felt it on the Nighthawk S at all 🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free
@user-ol3ot4pu3m 7 ай бұрын
Good work. Loved your presentation.
@barebonesmc 7 ай бұрын
Thanks for your support mate 🙂 the feedback does help me and i do appreciate it
@upsidedowndog1256 Жыл бұрын
I LOVE my 85 Kawasaki 750 turbo! It is a brutal beast, well ahead of it's time (and tire technology). I also have an 03 Suzuki SV1000S, the TL's offspring. I think they sorted out the TL's issues pretty well with the SV version.
@floridaboiwoody Жыл бұрын
You have great taste in bikes.
@upsidedowndog1256 Жыл бұрын
@@floridaboiwoody Thanks! I also have a 71 CB350 twin hotrod, a 77 KZ000A, an 01 KLR650, and a 12 VStrom 650 "hybrid/hooligan".
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
The SV's are a great bike, a bit tamer than the originals :-) I had a Navigator with same engine too, a proper hooligan it was
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
tell me more about the hooligan strom :-)
@upsidedowndog1256 Жыл бұрын
@@barebonesmc My wife bought it new and rode it without incident until she got hit by a car on it, destroying the front end. I replaced the front wheel, fork tubes, fender and put it back together with no fairings or other bodywork from the seat forward. I put a single projector headlight on it, modified a Harley windshield mount to hold a flyscreen, and fabricated a mount to hold the original gauge cluster. Last week I installed a Delkevic exhaust. It looks like nothing else, handles well, is comfortable on long trips, fast enough to be fun, and gets 60mpg on long rides. I left the dent in the tank that broke her knee.
@chuckallison6228 Жыл бұрын
Yup, TM 400. Rode right around the guys on 360 Yamahas and still had both feet on the pegs! It may have been over powered and under suspended but it was a blast to ride. I never had an issue with the bike. Sold it to a friend who stretched it and made a hill climber out of it.
@barebonesmc Жыл бұрын
I bet it took some bracing to turn into a hill climber 🙂 cheers for watching mate
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