Ha, made me smile - caught a bit of a program last night about a chap finding his way round this sceptred Isle using an ancient guide book.
He managed to get somewhere where there was a bike meet and interviews old British Biker type, discussion then follows about motorcycling where Ye Olde British Biker comes out with " well that bike ( Cafe racer Trident type ) does 130mph ( probably has a push bike speedo ) , where Jap bikes can only do 160mph - so they haven’t come very far in 30 years have they?"
At least we’ve got somewhere! If The Japanese hadn’t given motorcycling the kick up the arse it needed back in the sixties we’d all probaby still be riding around on slightly evolved bonnevilles and commandos. ;)
That’s if the British Motorcycle industry hadn’t walked out on strike then all got laid off in the mean time.
The Jap motorcycle invasion (thanks go to Mr Honda) has ment the industry is healthier than ever. I didn’t think I’d see the day a new Norton was produced, yet they go on sale soon.
Lol last I heard Jap bikes can do 200mph *ahembusa!And anyway anything past 130mph as far as I know its all about wind resistance, grip and thrust so lets all have more motorbikes that look like a chewed up toffee which has been left in the sun too long with supercharged big bore engines and rubber the size of my sofa. :)…actually that doesn’t sound half-bad
As far as top speed is concerned, the old boy isn’t a million miles away from the truth. but the biggest and most significant developments are in the frame, suspension and tyre technology.
Respect is due to the old brit bikes IMO, as without them, there would be no Jap bike industry as they’d have nothing to copy and develop;)
