What Motorcycle Manufacturers got it right

[peterscotts]

What Motorcycle Manufacturers got it right?

We all know Suzuki got it right with the GS500

Though who else got it right...

And with what models? 

[codajastal]

Honda CT110
Honda XL250
Honda Cub50
Yamaha TT250
Yamaha TT350

[Twisted]

Ducati Monster (biased opinion  )

[peterscotts]

Honda CT110
Honda XL250
Honda Cub50
Yamaha TT250
Yamaha TT350

There the bikes you've owned Cods? YES?

I had a XL 250 back in the day... around 1980..  Bullet proof! 

[peterscotts]

Ducati Monster (biased opinion  )

Not one of these.... His words  "this motorcycle is the shaZam!!!!! ducati monster diesel !!"  pic.twitter.com/0LicxQWU

[Big Rich]

Don't forget Suzuki's original 4 stroke parallel twin.....the 1976 GS400:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html

Which brought the GS425, GS450, GR650, and finally the GS500.

Honda CB350 - if you don't have one, somebody within 5 miles of you does......

Yamaha RD350 - the 2 stroke that gave birth to the Banshee.

[peteGS]

Suzuki also got it right with the Katana...

[Suzuki Stevo]

At one point I thought... 

'67 Honda CT90
'73 Honda XR75
'73 Honda CB350F
'75 Honda CB400F
'76 Yamaha MX125C
'76 Maico 450
'77 Yamaha YZ80D
'77 Yamaha YZ250D
'77 Yamaha DT250D
'78 Yamaha YZ80E
'79 Honda XR185
'79 Suzuki GS750L
'80 Honda XR80
'81 Honda XR200R
'81 Honda XR100
'82 Kawasaki KZ1000K2
'97 Honda SR50
'02 Honda CH80K2
'05 Suzuki DL650K5
'06 Honda PS250
'07 Suzuki AN400K7
'07 Suzuki GS500F
'08 Suzuki GSx650F
'10 Honda SH150i
'10 Kawasaki 250R
'13 Yamaha WR250R

[sledge]

Good question 

However...it could easily turn into a thread containing just lists of personal favourite rather than bikes that have actually received widespread recognition and acclaim for something.

A few landmark machines that spring to my mind include....

Honda in 1958 when it launched the Cub.....over 60m sold.
Honda again in 1969 with the CB750....the bike that put the final nail in the coffin of the British bike industry.
Honda again in 1978 with the CBX, the first (and only) production 24 valve in line 6.
Honda again in 1982 with the CX500T.....the first production turbo machine.
BMW in 1932 when it launched the R32, their first model with a flat twin shaft drive layout, still used today 90 years on
The Kawasaki Z1, regarded by many as the first superbike.
Kawasaki again with their range of 2 stroke triples in the 70s, OK on the straight but forget about going round the curves
HD with their iconic V-twins.
Ducati 500 and 750 V-twins.....won at Imola in 1972 and established them as world players.
Yamaha TZ series every racers favourite and the road going RDs...every potential racers favourite.
Suzuki RE5...a total flop but technically advanced and a very brave move at the time.
Suzuki RG500 a square 4 watercooled disc valve 2 stroke that won every trophy on offer.
The Scott Squirrel of 1926....some say the GT750 was the first liquid cooled bike....WRONG!

I will give the GS5 a mention because it had a production run of 24 years during which it was virtually unchanged 

Interesting to see what anyone else can add......and why

[peteGS]

Can't remember the year but the first Suzuki GSXR750 also, the one with the twin round headlights. That set the bar for the modern superbike if I recall correctly.

Then of course they did it again with the first GSXR1000 of the modern era.

[johnny ro]

All of them.

wee-strom
burgman 650
w650
NSU 125
original Monster
tw200
others, oddballs mostly that I want.

classics-
blackbird
goldwing
vision
CB750
z900
ex250
ex500
ex650
xj600
fireblade
thunderace
fjr1100, 1200,1300
vfr except 1200
r25
r1
r6
gsxr anything
on and on.

Cruisers, not much to say there. Original Virago is a good start for a custom. Virago 250 is cute as a pin. I am told some people like Harleys. Tend to clog up Craigslist.

[Kijona]

XL250 - same as XR250 I believe? One off-road, one on-road?

I had the XR250...1986 model. Was as solid as a boulder.

[peterscotts]

Good question 

However...it could easily turn into a thread containing just lists of personal favourite rather than bikes that have actually received widespread recognition and acclaim for something.

A few landmark machines that spring to my mind include....

Honda in 1958 when it launched the Cub.....over 60m sold.
Honda again in 1969 with the CB750....the bike that put the final nail in the coffin of the British bike industry.
Honda again in 1978 with the CBX, the first (and only) production 24 valve in line 6.
Honda again in 1982 with the CX500T.....the first production turbo machine.
BMW in 1932 when it launched the R32, their first model with a flat twin shaft drive layout, still used today 90 years on
The Kawasaki Z1, regarded by many as the first superbike.
Kawasaki again with their range of 2 stroke triples in the 70s, OK on the straight but forget about going round the curves
HD with their iconic V-twins.
Ducati 500 and 750 V-twins.....won at Imola in 1972 and established them as world players.
Yamaha TZ series every racers favourite and the road going RDs...every potential racers favourite.
Suzuki RE5...a total flop but technically advanced and a very brave move at the time.
Suzuki RG500 a square 4 watercooled disc valve 2 stroke that won every trophy on offer.
The Scott Squirrel of 1926....some say the GT750 was the first liquid cooled bike....WRONG!

I will give the GS5 a mention because it had a production run of 24 years during which it was virtually unchanged 

Interesting to see what anyone else can add......and why

Good reply 

[Juan1]

At different times "getting it" has meant different things.  Now days I think "getting it" means making a bike that is both better than the sum of its parts, fun, and much better on the streets than on a track.  Meanwhile manufacturers like Yamaha appear focused on making their street bikes into track bikes with cheaper components.

In the early and mid '00s Suzuki had it figured out with the SV650 (cheap, small displacement fun) and the Bandit 1200 (an inexpensive, bullet-proof touring and hooning machine).

After years of not getting it right I think Honda has figured it out with the new CB500 line, though I need to see the reviews first. That said, I still lust after the 919.

BTW, here is a short list of technologies manufacturers think I need that I don't:

Engine as a stressed member - I don't need the extra vibration this transmits through the frame, give me a full frame with added weight and reduced vibes!
High horsepower - Great, now you've placed the power band in a place I have to do 60+ to really access. Give me power at legal speeds (torque)!
Light weight at all costs - I prefer lighter to heavier, but most of all I prefer comfortable ergonomics and reduced vibration.
Racebike ergonomics - I don't like having a sore back because I rode my bike for 15 minutes.  Also, I have legs that are longer than 15 inches.