Here's one for ya. What makes a classic bike?

[Crofty]

so, what is it? does it just have to be old? how old? or rare, or influential or waht? british? (my brother refuses to accept Jap classics!) What is the mos important criteria, my maximX is far harder to find than a bonneville, but not nearly as influential, but then the Munch Mammoth (powered by an NSU car engine) was not nearly as influential, but are impossible to find, and worth thousands! I think the bandit may be a "classic" in the future, or fireblade?
Who knows? let us have it then!

[krammer]

for me, the z900 must be regarded as a classic bike. when it burst onto the scene in 1974? shock and awe!

[Nitrowing]

for me, the z900 must be regarded as a classic bike. when it burst onto the scene in 1974? shock and awe!

It gets difficult with Jap bikes, seeing as they are better made they don't vanish like the old Brit stuff. So for a British bike that's pre 65 to just exist is going to make it a classic.

With Jap stuff there has to be something 'special' about it - the Z's, the Katanas, LC's - all cult bikes that may become classics - but doubtful as people are still out thrashing and modifying them, once their spares dry up and enough are written off THEN they will acheive classic status (as that is what happened with the Brit bikes).

[davesatan]

mines the kh250 with dyson sprint body kit mmmmmm i got one

[Jonnyfp]

1.GPZ900
2.RD350
3.T309sp (biased)
4.Z1
5.Laverda jota

6.BSA 500 goldstar.

Based on my own preferences. :D

[Bosun]

mmm the problem with this is so many "bread and butter" british become "classic bikes" there needs to be that certain spark to make it a classic.Also if its memorable

ie bonneville is a cross over early ones classics latter usable

a goldie is a classic but a M20 is a workhorse

my 2p anyway

[Nitrowing]

5.Laverda jota

Now this is a good one - I can still remember hearing one of these with Lanfranconi (sp?) 3-1-2 pipes giving it big licks near where I used to work. Gorgeous. :o

[Alik Windrush]

As someone who has written for classic bike mags.... The term 'Classic' is somwhere between seminal machines which were exceptional and changed the way of current motorcycle design; and bikes that were so bad that most people threw them away so they became so valueless that tightfisted tweedcappers got them for nowt and claimed them as national heirlooms.
The Aerial 3...? I rest my case....

[Alik Windrush]

Incidentally: The best bike I have ever ridden was a 1930 Ariel 500cc. It was the first of the 'Square Four' engines with OHC, girder fork and revved like a banshee. Unfortunately the materials they were built from weren't up to the job and most examples ate themselves alive.
However: I'd consider it to be the first true superbike despite everything. Well ahead of it's time.

[Friar Tuck]

My Dad would agree with you there, Alik! He's now 82 yrs young and still wants one!

I want a Sunbeam S7! Anyone know of one going cheap (ish?)?

[Crofty]

Incidentally: The best bike I have ever ridden was a 1930 Ariel 500cc. It was the first of the 'Square Four' engines with OHC, girder fork and revved like a banshee. Unfortunately the materials they were built from weren't up to the job and most examples ate themselves alive.
However: I'd consider it to be the first true superbike despite everything. Well ahead of it's time.

When i first read about the square four (I've never seen one ridden outside a museum-poor me, I'm 20) i thought it was a great design, the main bugbear was overheating wasn't it? It'd be nice to se a watercooled version in a modern bike I think. Not too likely though. V4's are only a little longer, and they don't have the complexity of twin crankshafts. I'm gonna say my maxim X is a classic, here in blighty, anyway. There's not many about (around 50-60 came over i'm told) They were a clever design (20-valve head and good suspension on a cruiser) they were only made for 2 years, that's all. thanks to the ILLEGAL American aembargo placed on anything above 700cc. Grr

[Tiger Lily]

I want a Sunbeam S7! Anyone know of one going cheap (ish?)?

My other half had a Sunbeam S7 for a few years, but he hardly ever rode it, it always seemed to break down. They are lovely to look at though. :)

I always thought "Classic" was used to refer to any bike older that 25 years, and "Vintage" was older than 50 years. Or something like that. :p