It's all about the sound track. With the two stroke ring and power band, those machines were awesome.
A parallel twin? Even with a can, doesn't make for sweet music.
An in-line 4 would be cost prohibitive.
I think the more small displacement offerings the better. And I would pick one up assuming they sold a huge number and the used market had plenty available cheap.
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And I would pick one up assuming they sold a huge number and the used market had plenty available cheap.
I get what you're saying, but that's not exactly a vote of confidence for the product. Not digging the whole Modern-Retro thing that manufacturers are banking on these days. Like the new Rebel, it just comes across as awkward IMO.
From the first '73 RD350 to the last 1975 RD350B, Yamaha's overachieving pocket rocket humiliated triples and fours packing over twice its 347ccs on racetracks and backroads all over the planet.
Back when bell-bottoms were cool and Harley's weren't, most anybody's big-bore multi roasted the RD in a straight line. Horsepower was cheap, and any fool could twist a throttle.
But motorcycle handling was still an oxymoron in Japan...except at Yamaha.
When seventh-morning services convened at the shrine of the divine apex, street or track, all bowed to the RD. For the proletarian canyon commando, laying down $3000-plus for one of 50 1974 750SS Ducatis was like Led Zeppelin playing the next freshman/sophomore mixer: very bitchin', and highly unlikely. Kawasaki's very fast, very large Z-1 wore a $1995 price tag. But a 1974 RD350 sold for $908: Moet Chandon on a Schlitz budget. Racetrack handling for the masses.
P2 can sound good with an offset crank like the latest 270's or Husky Nuda 315. I have never really liked the 180 and 360 P2 sound.
only by those running 1+Ks that have to haul a lot of load..... but now a 750 is considered too small by most to tour anywhere.
only by those running 1+Ks that have to haul a lot of load.
The whole modern retro thing is kind of bogus save for two aspects imho. These bikes look to be much simpler to work on. I can have my Triumph down to the frame in very short order. I get a headache at the mere thought of digging into plastic covered CAD generated bikes.
I rode my 600 Bandit through the states and to the Cabot Trail and back fully loaded with 3 Givi cases and had no want for more power or a bigger bike. Maybe if I had been two up as well, but even with an average sized passenger it would have been plenty of bike.