I’m with Lee 😎

Couldn't agree more. I'd love to see more road tests of these classic sport bikes. Great job Boothy.

I'd like to see the unloved models too, like cbr600f3, gpz900, maybe a FJ1200.

I'm with you on this one Lee. I'm a few yrs older than you mate so I appreciate the old classic sportsbikes too. I think the boys should do some more features like this one.

Think a few YT channels are starting to test older bikes, Bikeworld, TMF and Lambchop. Think there are plenty of us (40s) that grew up with Blades/YZFs in the mags/our youth!

GodBless! BEST story/memory posted in this thread! Cheers

That was you ?, (tearing down the lane, on a road-bike, wearing a bell moto3 helmet?)..I used to borrow my brothers moto3 for bmx...he had the bell beanie too.

Wales aren’t even the same side as Italy these days.

😂😂😂

Watching on a small screen I was initially trying to figure out which country he was in. Sure looks a lot like the UK I thought... 😂

Very jealous!

absolutely....the 916 was the second generation....once all the other factories figured out how to build light(mostly), powerful, agile bikes that looked as good as they went.....but yeah, this is the one that changed the game..

Definitely- way before blades/916s/fzr etc. and bloody lovely too

The 916 was pretty gamechanging though. Just like the R1 and many years later the S1000RR.

@@atthesummitMTBskills Back then the original Blade was road only as it didn’t fit into any racing category. I had one as my street bike whilst I raced GSXR-750’s. The original blade however on the roads was an absolute weapon. Bikes today do produce more power, have much improved rubber, however so many rider aids. When ABS, used to be two fingers on your right hand and traction control was same hand using your wrist. 👍😎🇦🇺

If only Honda’s VR750 was obtainable 🥲🥲🥲

Ha ha same here but a squat in brixton!

I agree about preferring the '87. The first one was a bit too race focused, and what was thought to be best for the track back then didn't necessarily translate as well to the road. It was a bit of a homologation special is how I see it. I'm only going on a brief "have a go" ride back in the day. Like any bike with more time in the saddle you learn to adapt. Stepping off the very neutral handling first gen VFR, probably didn't help impressions. My current bike is an 87 GSXR750 . I love the look of them and from that past experience I was surprised how much the ride feel had changed more to my tastes in just one generation. Another pro for the 87 model is it is not stuck in a cross ply tire rut like the first gen, the 87 was amongst the first bikes built for low profile radials. 2022 tires on an 1987 bike is the best of both worlds.

86/87gsxr same bike, basically. not noticeable dif, if any. Same wheels too. I remember the 86 vfr. I rode/raced them all back then. I have a bunch of 86/750's right now. I raced a borrowed 86/750, i remember riding an 88 (second gen) 750 racebike and it was nite/day from the first gen. Whole different animal. By 1990, you couldnt give a 1st gen away, lol. The 86/87gsxr BEST looking ad Most important sportbike ever made.

@@AREA-51moto I'm getting my model years mixed. Wasn't aware either of any significant changes to gen1's so I though 87 must have been the first gen2. As you probably guessed mine is an 88 gen 2 with its radial tire wheels. Pretty sure the one I got to ride was a first release of the gen 1and that is the only impression I can speak to of that model. Gen 2 is indeed a different animal, more to my taste as a previously only Honda rider. Got my gen2 about 20+ yrs ago, still had a soft spot for 750's, it was my price, and it was my favourite looking of the 80's 750's.

2nd gen Smoked first gen in every category. I raced an 86 (borrowed), and had my own 89 racebike. The gsxr name/model was ruined when they went to the water cooled bikes, Super heavy w/ Miami vice graphics. They took a racebike and turned it into a street squid bike. Heavy POS. At that point, need to be on a cbr900rr! 1st gen gsxr, most historically important and unique look. 2nd gen way better bike. 86 vs 88 = 6 of these, half a dozen of those.

@@AREA-51moto Yer those later graphics where garish (I was going through a Mazda rotary phase during all that.) Water cooling was inevitable I guess with the usual bike horsepower wars. The oilers could take a decent tune in race kit form but probably wouldn't work as well on the road as water cooling jackets for city riding with a lot of waiting at the lights. The first water cooled GSXR should have beaten the Fireblade to the punch in power to weight. Suzuki has been a bit of an also ran since with the occasional brilliant engine but no real design direction that sets them apart like the old days. As I remember the early 80's the factory teams were stuck with making race bikes for billiard table smooth race tracks from 750 road bikes designed for riding through pot holes and bumpy curves. Optimising them for high speed agility on a track and staying with the frame restriction mod rules had Honda putting 16" front wheel bikes on the road for instance. When Suzuki went all out with the gen1 GSXR it had a ridiculously short wheel base (at the expense of swing arm length) for road use, coupled with a steep rake angle and that was their solution to making a successful race bike platform. I looked up the GSXR750 gen1 upgrades and the 86 model got a 25mm longer swing arm, and the 87 came as standard with a steering damper. That confirms my impressions of riding the 85 model, but like I said you get used to that sort of thing. I remember nearly falling over on the first turn from the showroom after picking up my new 16" wheel VF750F, but it soon became part of my riding style to enjoy aggressively counter steering it to make it drop fast into corners.

Sorry, although im a 44t regular watcher, l have to disagree about the review, even accepted that the roadtest might have been 'rushed' and 'impromptu'.

Bet you regret selling the RG too?!

@@FortyFourTeeth It was blown engine and been crashed twice, but probably still worth more than my current 2016 Z800 today lol. Sold it to a mate for £500 back in 1993.

First one I saw one (the same colour) was in the summer of '85. Hill Farm Garage, A30 between Stockbridge and Sutton Scotney. Just fueled up me Fizzy when this beast pulled in. Jaw dropped when I saw it was the late, great John Robinson riding it. He grinned when he saw me and my mate drooling over the bike, then gave it the berries up the road for our benefit. Great memory.

The RG was a better bike

@@galenkia You rode it the way it meant to be ridden. $$$$ Can't buy that! You win in that deal! Cheers

I was thrown the keys to one in '85 by the dealer. It was amazing. I didn't like the looks as much as the FZ750 though.

You don't know where a grab rail for a 86/88 GSX-R 1100 is do ya? its the last thing i need to finish the restoration of mine, I'm in NZ and can't find one anywhere.

同感です。

The 'memories' of riding that bike the way it was meant to be ridden, back when it was current... far outweighs 'owning' one now! Cheers

Flatties are the best though for overall response, you just have to know how to roll on or have the accelerator pumps tuned right.

Bingo.

The U.S market model 86-87 GSX-R 750s (they never got the original 85 model) had CV carbs, very similar to the 1100s 34mm CV's, they were also about 5 hp down on the UK, Australia, NZ, South Africa models. The poor over legislated Swiss got it the worst tho, their 86 1100 slabsides barely made 70 hp, they also had a single rectangle headlight instead of the iconic duel round ones.

@@uhtred7860 Fuck that, the Mikuni 29mm flatslides still kick arse in mine ; )

@@jimmyjames2383 Yeah they are the superior carb for the 750 slabby. Getting hard to find good sets now.

Aw man I loved the red and white GPZ600s'. Nice one 👍

He doesn’t had ‘it’ but he’s heard a lot about it. Totally agree, he’s starting to come into his own and it’s great to see

had a 1999 GSX750F, always thought it was mega ugly, especially in maroon lol but I loved riding that thing, had excellent top end in it, never failed to see 150mph on the clock, used to call it my mini busa 😁. Would definitely recommend it to others. Finally got myself a hayabusa now but they definitely handle very similar!

@@MotoGuy-ul6lp yeah looks are subjective lol. They certainly were "unique". I think they felt way better than they should have given the price point. Remarkably comfortable too.

@@morley3810 yes your right, only paid £1500 for mine with one owner and 20k on the clock. Definitely a very underrated bike. 👍

£2999 OTR in the UK in '85, if memory serves?

@@NotNowCato1254 I got an F model in 85 for £3200 with a bit of discount . You could not get them for love nor money at the time in the UK . Saw an add in MCN GSX 750 R for racing only .Phoned the dealer and he said he could get them from France in French spec . Kilometer clocks ,RH dipping otherwise the same . Can you put it on the road for me ? Well I shouldn't really ! . I will pay cash ! Oh ok then . 5 days later I am riding home on it feeling like the dogs bollocks . Had it for nearly 30 years , track days , visited 5 TT;s well thrashed wonderful bike my best M/C years It was getting a bit tatty at the end , dropped a couple of times . Sold it to a guy who thankfully restored it to show condition . Now 78 and still ride ( just ! ) a 2000 R1 .

Yep on my bucket list.