Future classics - what do you reckon ?

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by boot

Off the top of my head, I'd have to say Ducati Monster, Harley Sportster 883, BMW F650GS and Honda VFR 800 would be good future classics.

Nice topic for debate.

Dear god why? The harley is same as any other harley you would be daft enough to buy, the BMW noone cares about now never mind in future and the VFRs get wrapped up in cotton wool so there'll always be millions of them about.

Originally Posted by neio79

Classics IMO are bikes that stand the test of time in design and looks and are great all round .

The original R1 is one such bike and IMO so is the 02-03 one the letterbox tail light R!, still i regard it as the best looking R1 ever.

the SV a classic nope never , it is what it is a buget small sporty bike. Its not a design classic nor a big advance in technology.

I'd agree about the R1. New ones look naff.

But about the SV becoming a classic I'm not so sure... look at the RD350LC, that was nothing too new, it was budget (you think SV forks are soft...), looked nice but was not worshipped for its looks. They were bought cheap to hack around on, by people on their way to bigger things. And look at that now, well sought after.
I reckon in 10-15 years people will be paying silly money for mint, uncut curvy exhaust systems. Original RD350LC pipes worth a fortune now!

I reckon the curvy frame is a design classic. There's nowt like it without paying daft money for a spondon or izax or similar.

Originally Posted by hardhat_harry

Cast Iron future classics: -

SP1 (or SP2)

GSXR SRAD

I completly agree with the SP1 / SP2. I go giddy and weak at the knees when I see and hear one.

Not sure about the SRAD GSXR. I think the ZX7-R would be more of a classic, because its basic design did not change at all for so many years, where as the GSXR had several major alterations (FI, restyling etc etc) in the time kawsaki were selling the ZX7

Bike design and updates are so frequent nowadays that its hard for something to be established long enough to become a future classic. PB loes the 2005 GSXR1000 for example, and they talk about it like it was a boyhood dream bike from 20 years ago! So its hard.

[yorkie_chris]

SRAD was first incarnation of modern GSXR, beam frame, water cooled aggressively downdraft engine. New ones aren't that much different.

i think a*hero hit the nail on the head with the 7r tbh if not just for the already classic look of it.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

But about the SV becoming a classic I'm not so sure... look at the RD350LC, that was nothing too new, it was budget (you think SV forks are soft...), looked nice but was not worshipped for its looks. They were bought cheap to hack around on, by people on their way to bigger things. And look at that now, well sought after.
I reckon in 10-15 years people will be paying silly money for mint, uncut curvy exhaust systems. Original RD350LC pipes worth a fortune now!

Exactly. Every old man bikers dream is an uncut RD..so why not an SV.
What old man RD really wants apart from paying for original pipes is one that has matching engine and frame numbers. So many of them crashed, bashed, and blown up that an all original RD is a rarity.

A bit like a curvy SV wouldn't you say..they get crashed, bashed and blown just the same. I've still got a cracked fairing as black ones in good condition are as rare as hens teeth.

i dont think the sv will be a classic

and the yamaha R7 is/should be a classic

Buell have just been ditched by Harley, so they'll become classic on rarity value and individuality, in a similar way to a Laverda is today. They'll be the only thing on the concourse with a Harley engine, a belt drive, and those rim mounted brake discs. Unless Eric Buell finds new finance and goes it alone, can't imagine him being content to let his bikes die away.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

But about the SV becoming a classic I'm not so sure... look at the RD350LC, that was nothing too new, it was budget (you think SV forks are soft...), looked nice but was not worshipped for its looks. They were bought cheap to hack around on, by people on their way to bigger things. And look at that now, well sought after.
I reckon in 10-15 years people will be paying silly money for mint, uncut curvy exhaust systems. Original RD350LC pipes worth a fortune now!

I reckon the curvy frame is a design classic. There's nowt like it without paying daft money for a spondon or izax or similar.

Aye but isnt it the case that it was the most powerful bike someone could get on L plates? It was also the bike that changed the law because there were so many accidents involving them... That kinda history certainly helps to make a bike a classic. Innovation is another id say.

[yorkie_chris]

No, for a long time you could ride 250 on L plates. But the 350 was always big-boys territory AFAIK.
(though the 350 and 250 engines shared many parts, easy to be naughty but still look legal-ish)

One that caused the big legal shuffle was the suzuki X7, it would do nearly 100mph on L plates with minor mods.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

No, for a long time you could ride 250 on L plates. But the 350 was always big-boys territory AFAIK.
(though the 350 and 250 engines shared many parts, easy to be naughty but still look legal-ish)

One that caused the big legal shuffle was the suzuki X7, it would do nearly 100mph on L plates with minor mods.

Ah yea sorry, my bad, I meant the 250... Stories from my old man. As you say, I know some people who ran 350 in 250 bike. Bad lads