Since the time you were born what do you consider to be the major motorcycle historical breakthroughs?
For me:
1964 ---- "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ----- suddenly motorcycling became mainstream and cheap. As kids we now could get a hold of something with a motor in it that was semi acceptable by our parents though we still lusted after Triumphs, BSA's and Harleys.
1965 --- Harley Davidson introduced the electric starter on their big bike, making their brand accessible to thousands of people who would not otherwise be able to start the bike by kicking it over.
1969-70 --- Kawasaki unleashes the H1 500cc Mach3 triple. As the very first ad stated "$999.00 A lot of people will be able to buy it. Not many will have the balls to ride it" --- How prophetic, I never saw more crashed motorcycles in my life than that one but the high power high speed drive got kicked into full gear.
Quote from: mac900 on August 02, 2008, 09:49:55 PM
Since the time you were born what do you consider to be the major motorcycle historical breakthroughs?
For me:
1964 ---- "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ----- suddenly motorcycling became mainstream and cheap. As kids we now could get a hold of something with a motor in it that was semi acceptable by our parents though we still lusted after Triumphs, BSA's and Harleys.
1965 --- Harley Davidson introduced the electric starter on their big bike, making their brand accessible to thousands of people who would not otherwise be able to start the bike by kicking it over.
1969-70 --- Kawasaki unleashes the H1 500cc Mach3 triple. As the very first ad stated "$999.00 A lot of people will be able to buy it. Not many will have the balls to ride it" --- How prophetic, I never saw more crashed motorcycles in my life than that one but the high power high speed drive got kicked into full gear.
....and then came the H2..... ;D
Quote from: ducpainter on August 02, 2008, 09:56:42 PM
....and then came the H2..... ;D
One of which threw me off in a sweeper at about 75 mph. The gravel on the shoulder helped too. Evil bastard.
1998 Suzuki TL 1000 introduced me to the addictive v twin sportbike [thumbsup]
Quote from: mac900 on August 02, 2008, 09:49:55 PM
Since the time you were born what do you consider to be the major motorcycle historical breakthroughs?
1974 - Motorcycle Safety Foundtion safety course starts teaching it's first students.
The biggest news I remember is when the Hayabusa hit the pages of a motorcycle magazine ~
JM
The 916 was released.
John Britten lived and died.
Moto GP goes four stroke.
Quote from: NeufUnSix on August 04, 2008, 10:15:43 PM
Moto GP goes four stroke. (Again)
Fixed. [laugh]
All this is good stuff guys. How about the dates that all this occured.
When was it? 1970 that Yamaha introduced the 250cc DT-1? A whole new interest in dirt riding started after that. 2 years later Honda, Yamaha & Suzuki had full on motorcross bikes available for racing effectively ending the era of Maico, Husky, CV and Bultaco.