Which & why???

[R.M]

Which of the follwoing would you choose...

ZX6-R
ZX7-R
ZX9-R

I'm thinking of buying a bike,but can't make up my mind.
Thanks for any comments.
R.M

[Ballyfermotman]

To all the bikers out there,who can tell me what the
OW 31 was?

This was the ultimate at the time and originally only 7 were built.

Clue. It was a jap machine.

[Eirik]

It's a Yamaha racing bike. Since so few where made, my guess it's a two-stroke from quite a while back, but I don't know the designation.

[Eirik]

As the 600/750/900 question, here's some answers:

Unless you have been riding for years and put lots of miles behind you, neither bike is for you unless you are serious about injuring yourself. If you are experienced, these guidelines may help you:

The 600 is the fastest bike both on track and on the road for 99 out of 100 riders, sinply by being less intimidating and overall easier to ride.

The 750 is the fastest in very experienced hands. We are talking about at least top national level racers here.

The 900, the new one, has suffered massive attacks from the press fro having serious handling flaws. It has more engine than chassis, always had. It is a brute made more for impressive acceleration than good handling.

Neither bike is really good for street riding and only makes sense at ultra-illegal speeds. And if can't ride it properly, you will look stupid.

A perifer friend had a ZX7-R while I had a GS650L (cruiser). My Suzuki was down 50 horses and hampered with a chassis made for nothing having to do with brisk riding and everything to do with sedate cruising. (The Kawa made the SS1/4-mile in the high tens, mine in the high twelves. The Kawa had a top speed of about 160mph, the Suzuki struggled to reach 115mph. Brakes also gave the Kawa a big advantage). Anyway, on a very tight and winding road, I left my GS in top gear all the way, with speeds ranging between 15 and 90mph. I never braked hard and I never used full throttle. The bloke on the ZX7 used all he dared of brakes and frequently hit redline in the lower gears. Yet I easily kept up with him and could have passed him about everywhere, but I didn't dare because I feared he might get surprised and do something stupid.

What I'm trying to say that how well you ride is much more important than what you ride. The bikes you mention are about expression, like wearing a Levi jeans instead of some unmarked pair. Both pair of jeans will keep you equally comfy and warm and last as long, but one is considered cool, the other not. Well, I wear unmarked jeans and low-style bikes and giggle every time I leave a wannabe racer far behind. And I can actually push my bike to the limit from time to time without breaking every traffic law ever made. Can't do that with a race replica - they are too good for public transport.

Sorry to be such a spoiler http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/naughty.gif

[Ballyfermotman]

Erik,
once more helmets off to you.
The OW31 was a 750 cc Yamaha launched around 1979 if my memory is right and at the time was a whole new experience.
There was nothing to touch it.
As to who rode them I think Kenny Roberts(the da) and my hero in those days Johnny Cecotto the youngest man ever to win a world championship, the 350cc at 18 years of age.

As far as I know Yamaha were hoping to tempt Mr Sheene.

And now for my question today is, how many times was Giacomo Agustini world champ.?

Oh another one what type of bike was the AS3.

[Eirik]

Well, Bally, why don't you share some of your obvious information instead of testing us all the time ;)

Giacomo Agostini won fifteen World Motorcycle Racing Championships, fourteen on MV's and one for Yamaha. He also achieved 10 Isle of Man wins and 122 Grand Prix victories, 68 of which came on a 500 (no second or third place finishes in that class, just victories and DNFs!) this makes Italian Giacomo Agostini the most successful motorcycle racer ever. Doohan has 54 500cc victories and has won 12 concecutive victories, Agostini won 11 in a row, I think.

As to the AS3, I don't have a clue. I think Kawasaki used similar names back in the 60s, but that's probably completely wrong.

[Ballyfermotman]

Well Erik I suspect the answer about Agostini was taken straight from a book but how and ever.

The AS3 was a Yamaha 125cc twin which in the mid seventies every red blooded youngster would have sh1t himself for.
Up to then a large jap bike was the 175 Honda and the AS3 was just a revolution.

I seemed to have upset you with my questions so I sign off.

Happy biking.

[Eirik]

Upset? No! I just think it would be nice for you to let us learn something from your obvious vast knowledge, that's all. If you prefer to do so by asking questions, please do ;)

As to the AS3, was it related to the LS2? LS2 was a 100cc twin in Norway and 125cc elsewhere, I think. Looked just like the old RD350s right down to the beautiful paint scheeme. And the sound! http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/naughty.gif

Just one more thing - 50% of the Ago part I read about (total victories), but the other half came from my tiny head :)

[This message has been edited by Eirik (edited 13 April 2000).]

[Eirik]

I'm not sure if the 125 version was called the LS2 or something else, but at least big bore kits were available by the truck loads (100cc was the limit in Norway until recently for those under 18, restricted to 7hp and 50mph).

I supect the AS3 was based upon the larger CS3, which was a 200cc model with nearly identical looks to the LS2, only bigger in every respect. It also had a black engine, the LS2 had a normal aluminium coloured unit.

[Ballyfermotman]

Erik,
I'm not sure about the LS2 but I do know that before the AS3 we had in Ireland the AS1 or more commonly known as the YAS1.
There was a Yamaha I think called the LS1 or LS2 but was a 100cc single.
As for the appearance, you are right .The AS3 was just like its big brother the 350(YR5).
As for the sound I still drool.
Oh to be 17 again.

[Ballyfermotman]

Erik,
You are right about the engine colour.
I remember when the AS3 first came out the black engine made it stand out as the AS1 was an aluminium engine.