I wanted this bike immediately I read the Bike magazine road test report that found it was the fastest production bike available at the time – at 138.8mph – but talk about bursting the bubble. Porous head, soft valve seats, bendy frame, crap handling (so much so that Phil Todd did good business selling replacement moncoque frames for them), dodgy electrics, poor finish - with the thinnest chrome plating ever to have been applied to a silencer, too heavy, top heavy, prone to tank slappers etc. Being awesome in a straight line wasn't enough. I'll never know how Slater Bros and Roger Winterburn were successful on the racetrack with the bike. Must have been heavily modded. Or was I unlucky? Did anyone have a better experience of ownership. (Loved the noise of course - but it did tend to attract some unwelcome attention...)
One of my best bikes... A previous owner had spent a lot of money getting the engine and suspension sorted, so it was a bloody riot to ride. Too much of a riot really; after three nickings in a month, that would attract prison sentences these days, I reluctantly got shot. Wish I still had it.
Commuting - Pah! Used mine for Trans European touring although assumed a slightly different gait for a week or so after a pilgrimage to Breganze. Not the most comfy seat or riding position....
Monty's, several of my mates had them as well, 30 odd years ago the Montjuic Mafia could muster five or six for a run out at the weekend. Neighbours must have loved me, especially when my drive was used to get the final bit of pleasure from a rear tyre before replacement.....
That MrBumble is the coolest thing ever on this forum period Get ElT to close the site we are done here
wish I still owned her,she ended up with ohlins forks and shock,damper,pc3,durbahn air vents,330mm disks,flapper mod,pair valves removed, and more that I cant remember.once set up it was knee down any corner you wanted, wheelies all day long. had an rc30 at same time and the sp was twice the bike ........just my opinion though.
Two of my past bikes Duke 2 went in 2007 got nicked. KTM 690 Enduro R traded in 2012 for Streetfighter
My guilty pleasure. Had one 35 years ago, bought this one 5 years ago and got it back into excellent condition. This is probably the only Jap bike I look at as long as I look at my Ducati's
The end of the line. I saw an immaculate Z1B at Box Hill last year. I can remember wanting one of those so much it hurt!
Bought this little balance bike for my nephew for his xmas and birthday present. The only problem is he wont touch it, he's shit scared of it! i think it looks at home sandwiched between the pani and the R1.
In the top photo yes! Easily confused with a wheelie receptacle. But the orange motor looks as if it might be the Marina's nemesis - a Hillman Avenger.
