Classic Bie?

What is the acshual definition of a classic bike?
Is it age related or that it is a rarity as only a couple of "a"
particular model was made?

Kind of scratching my head a bit?

Discuss?

Taa.

Greybeard.

 

Easy.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/opinionfiles/definition_of_classic.html

 

Bad form..
I NEED a new keyboard.

 

Hhmm.

I like the line at the end,
"Everyone will be special. And when everyone's special - no one will be"

Still leaves it a bit of open definition though.

Greybeard

 

from uk.rec.motorcycles.classic (the clue's in the namem)

What is a classic bike?
Tricky. Everyone has their own ideas. Some people swear by (or at, or
occasionally both) their old British stuff. Some go by the classic
insurance guidelines that anything over 15 years qualifies. Some point
to "acknowledged modern classics" like the Ducati 916 as not falling
into either of the above categories. Some point to old stuff like BSA
C15s which are old enough but were horrible when they were new and are
now old and horrible.


If you want one suggestion, from a certain GSXR1000-racing
hairdresser:


"classic status" = "age" x "how good was it when it was new?" x
"special
interest multiplier"


where age must have a minimum value of, say, 10 years, "How good when
new" is rated on the scale of 1 to 10, and the "special interest
multiplier" varies between 1 and 2. Let's work some examples :


400 four = 25 x 8 x 1 = 200
Suzuki RE5 = 28 x 3 x 2 = 168
GPZ900R = 17 x 9 x 1= 153
GPz750 turbo = 17 x 7 x 1.5 = 119
BSA Bantam = 45 x 3 x 1 = 135
Norton Commando = 30 x 4 x 1= 120
CB500T = 27 x 3 x 1.2 = 97.2
XS750 = 22 x 3 x 1.4 = 92.4


So, as stuff gets old, it slowly becomes classic no matter how shite
it
used to be considered, with an allowance made for 'interesting' stuff.

I reckon a threshold of 100 works. So, for a 10 year old bike to
count,
it has to be a brilliant bike. A 20 year old only has to be average.
After 50 years, almost any old shit gets in.

 

Death throw? Is that what Clarkson does when he launches a Marina from
200ft? Or the action of the Marina as it launches itself through a hegde?

 

…..you can't get quality editorial staff these days…..

 

Right???

I'm not sure I get that 400/4 is a great classic, the useless piece of
shit I had (not for very long mind) was rubbish from the minute it was
spawned from the crate.

But it does go with my feeling that a True Classic is really in the eye
of the beholder.

Greybeard.

 

I actually quite like this, except I can't see how a 400 four can possibly score
higher than a GPz900r.

I acknowledge the existence of an RE5 but I don't know anyone daft enuff to pay
money for one.

GPz750 turbo . . . Hmmm, I'd rather have the base model in my stable.

What really exposes you though is the XS750, did you once own one & still feel
the need to justify your purchasing decision?

A 'true' classic is what people desire to purchase for whatever personal
reasons, let the market decide.

 

You truly are a man of great vision and insight.

I honestly can't see "it" in the 400/4 - it's just a 70s UJM with nice
looking exhausts and a gash studded seat.

 

Given that most classics are made or broken by the biking press I would
suggest that the eye of the beholder is more likely to be the whim of the
editor.

 

Greybeard spoke:

I bet thast what Teryr Pratchit sed when he strated havnig problems!



--
Rob_P
UKRM(at)indqualtec.co.uk
uppercase(d) BBIWYMC#1 BOG#11? MRO#31 IBCDBBB#1(kotl)
FJ1200, CCM130 Benelli Cabriolet (gone)
Looks like Rab C Nesbit.

 

<not biting>

 

Secondhand prices tell their own story. But the 900R absolutely *will*
be up there. I'm still looking for the "right" one to buy, while they're
still cheap.

 

I think it's because there are thousands of them out there so plenty of
people can buy one and think they've got a classic. I'd sooner have a
decent condition 500-4 because it's an older bike and (imo) looks a lot
better with the four seperate silencers.

 

Cruel bastards.
I just wanted one because I wanted one when I was too young to have one


Now,I can look at it and then; this is the bit I like,
walk up to it and ride off on it [1]


Do I need any more reasons?
I like the exhaust as well.

1. If the batteries charged.....

 

How come this has got my name on it?

Who am I anyway

Greybeard.

 

10 years from now I reckon on the ZRX featuring in that list. The
last twin shock bike, and non fuel injected bike that Kawasaki ever
sold, and pretty much the end point of the ZZR engine line.

 

Yeah, there's reasons for that.

 

<sub-edited>