Author Topic: Greatest Ever Motorcycles: Discover Channel (Read 6794 times)

bri · **on:** June 05, 2010, 05:55:13 pm

72westie · **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2010, 06:18:00 pm

No Vincent Black Shadow? No Manx?

Sam Simons · **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2010, 06:32:58 pm

That would have been a completely accurate list....had it been titled:

" Discovery Channels' Favorites"

Otherwise,nah,not hardly.........

1Blackwolf1 · **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2010, 07:26:05 pm

Got a kick out of the Honda Cub. My first bike was a 90 step through. Thrashed and trashed it but it always ran. Best $35 I ever spent on a bike.

PaulF · **Reply #4 on:** June 05, 2010, 09:51:23 pm

I like the T100, but since it's only been around for about ten years and motorcycles in general have been around for more than 100, I don't see how it even qualified to make the list in the first place.

Oh well. Ask a thousand people, get a thousand different opinions.

luoma · **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2010, 10:21:35 pm

I could think of many that coulda shoulda woulda made that list: 1948 Indian Chief, Hinda CL77 (305 scrambler), Norton 850 interstate, Vincent Black Lightning...

I could go on, but so could any of the rest of you.

The Garbone · **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:19:08 am

I don't pretend to be an expert but you would think a BMW twin would be on that list someplace.. The basic design has been in production for over 70 years...

But then again a bimmer is not a bike but a "driving machine"... So.....

PhilJ · **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2010, 02:19:17 pm

Uh, just a note, bimmer refers to the autos, beemer is bikes. And yes that was my first thought about the absence of BMW.

Jinx · **Reply #8 on:** June 06, 2010, 02:51:59 pm

Vincent= Yes, Alot of "new"technology
Knucklehead= Nope,There were already OHV engines
HD 45 flathead=Yes,They made them from the 30's to the 70's
CB750=Yes"First" Jap supperbike
Rodak=Yes,Rotary engine motorcycle? Hell yea.

ace.cafe · **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2010, 03:49:14 pm

From my view, I disagree almost entire with that list.
I *might* agree with ONE of the bikes on there being in the top 10, and even that one would be questionable.

PaulF · **Reply #10 on:** June 06, 2010, 04:00:09 pm

Quote from: ace.cafe on June 06, 2010, 03:49:14 pm

From my view, I disagree almost entire with that list.
I *might* agree with ONE of the bikes on there being in the top 10, and even that one would be questionable.

Yeah, and the Britten? I mean, John Britten may have been a genuine genius, but did he even sell any of his motorcycles? Popularity of the make and model must be part of the criteria. Am I wrong?

rideOn · **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2010, 04:13:22 pm

i agree with maybe a few. vespa was a surprise, but as a brand as a whole, maybe. when a guy drives one from miami to LA and back to myrtle beach on $9 in service parts? that's a good quality for two wheels.

the gimmick bikes? no!

for long term contributions and innovations to the industry? how about aprilia, indian or maybe a different guzzi? and there are others

no real measurable rubric was established for this rating. seems like a lot of opinion

bob bezin · **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2010, 10:50:19 pm

well then lets make our own list . ... well every one has their own tastes and experiences.so it just might be impossible.

PaulF · **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2010, 12:18:16 am

I'll start. 1903 Harley-Davidson. First production motorcycle in the US. I'm not even an H-D fan, but it deserves it. Agree or disagree?

rideOn · **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2010, 12:41:31 am

i think indian was the first us bike

Rick O'Shea · **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2010, 12:48:27 am

Honda 350 twin

j byrd · **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2010, 01:58:53 am

Well !!!, seems obvious to me! The greatest bikes ever built were only the ones I wanted and bought. You guys have had 'em too, I'll bet. Even if the Hodakas forks bent, the Vespa seized, the Hondas carbs stayed stopped up, the Harleys leaked, the Norton never would start, the Guzzis brakes could not be freed up, the Ossa had no compression, the T-500 had a hole in the right hand piston, the Puch "twingle" wouldn't do ANYTHING, the BSA had a mean, violent, kicking temper, the Triumph electrics were, well, Truimph electrics, the Cushmans carb always hung wide open, etc., etc., you know, GREAT bikes, had to have 'em. Now, what is worrisome, I'd do it again. And no, so far the RE hasn't done anything wrong except the smoke if you don't TDC it. Now, that was fun.- - -and all true. John

r80rt · **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2010, 03:12:20 am

Oh my God, we had a 250 Puch twingle when I was a kid, we didn't know how to pronounce the name so we either called it a "Push" or a "Puke" if you rode it you had to push till you puked to get it started! That bike taught me that liquid solder wouldn't seal a leaky gas tank. Don't forget the Harley 250 sprint with the stripped spark plug hole, I would bend a beer tab over in the hole and screw the plug in, it would go for a mile or so before blowing the plug out. Then there was the Triumph tiger cub, I still wear scars on my knuckles from that thing. The BSA headlight that would come back on if you slapped it hard enough, the list is endless and I think you are right!

PaulF · **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2010, 06:31:21 pm

Quote from: rideOn on June 07, 2010, 12:41:31 am

i think indian was the first us bike

Hey, you're right. Beat H-D by 2 years.
Oh well. Nevermind.

1 Thump · **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2010, 10:37:19 pm

BMW R series .

Drifter · **Reply #20 on:** July 20, 2010, 10:46:29 pm

Indian was first here! Indians first V-twin was 1906 harleys Copy was in 1909 and it would not run and was pulled from production and re issued in 1911. Most people dont know HD was a Major reason Indian is gone due to dirty deals with the government!

The Honda cub should be there its the most copied engine and has the highest production numbers of any bike by far! i think the first motorcycle should be added to the list dont you think

Kawasakis 1973 Z-1 started the whole superbike era thats still going strong.

The 1959 Bonneville should be added also for putting the entire british bike industry on the world map. The Urals have been produced in large numbers also. Lots of bikes left off the list.

Blue Ridge Wheeltor · **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2010, 02:02:13 pm

Hey, where's the Ural?

single · **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2010, 02:14:02 pm

Y'all will finally realize just how daft ol'Single is,but I wish I could have another Honda 750 Automatic.It would be a perfect partner with the RE,niether being able to do what the other can.

Ice · **Reply #23 on:** July 27, 2010, 01:28:05 pm

Suzuki GS 1000 of 1978, same size and weight as everyone elses 750's but a full litre of displacement with superb handling and braking.

1Blackwolf1 · **Reply #24 on:** July 27, 2010, 06:27:19 pm

But remember the CB750 sandcast model of 1969 was the beginning for the big multi craze. Had a 70 wish I would have kept it, very low maintenance and a rock solid performer. The Suzy I have memories of was my buddies GS 1100S, that was a smokining tire burner of a sled.

cyrusb · **Reply #25 on:** July 27, 2010, 09:06:13 pm

Bennelli 6 ?

RBHoge · **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2010, 05:36:52 pm

My vote has to go for the 1972 Honda CB 450 K6. I had one from '72 to '79. It was most dependable, only had one problem with it in when the carbs started going rich and funky. The dealer kept it all one summer trying to sort it out.

When I asked if they had installed the new air filters I had ordered, they suddenly figured out the broblem.

I rode that 450 for 86,000 miles till an idiot turnned left from the right lane and knocked me off of it.

I rode all over Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia on that bike.

What with Nixon's 55mph speed limit on the interstate (back then) my weekend commute from Nashville to Atlanta, to visit my fiancee were quite pleasant.

I did get pulled over in Calhoun, Georga for cruising along I-75 at seventy once

.

dogbone · **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2010, 09:02:39 pm

112,000 miles 1967 cb 450,, over reved,missed gears beat the piss out of it, probably is still running. it would do a ton,with a tailwind

clamp · **Reply #28 on:** August 07, 2010, 04:05:30 pm

I saw that on telly me self. I don't care what the list is, its the way they killed off the Honda cub that got me. They drained the oil and filled the case with old chip oil then loaded it with pizzas and all sorts of stupid things then finally when all else failed they threw it off a 40 foot building then tried to start it and ride it.

guess what? yeah it did and it would if the wheels were'nt smashed in.

Bloody stupid programme.

Did you see that one where they drove over a perfectly running Mercedes with a silly monster truck. I hate this cruelty to vehicles it makes me sick to my stomach. what else do these people do?

Have you seen that youtube !! these guys get a old chevy and fil the engine with water and put a brick on the throttle, uh thats just disgusting.

These people are sick and probably agree with gay marriages as well.

2bikebill · **Reply #29 on:** August 07, 2010, 04:26:29 pm

Let us remember the humble Honda 50. Surely a minor classic. There were hordes of em on British roads in the mid sixties. A 50cc bike with gears? Astonishing at the time. A moped with lunatic revs that could keep up with a lambretta!
An early sign. The Japs were coming.....

1Blackwolf1 · **Reply #30 on:** August 08, 2010, 12:30:24 am

My first bike was a Honda 90cc step through 3 speed trans, what a blast. Less than 50 dollars into it and rode it HARD three summers. Even put dirt bike type tires on it for off roading. Traded it in on a Triumph Bonnie chopper. Best bang for the buck I ever got.