This is a part 2 to the first Bombproof bikes video here
the first one concentrated more on ease of maintenance whereas this one looks at long term reliability with value for money as the main focus. So they also link in with the bargain bikes of the 80s and Bargain bikes of the 90s video’s here
full article is here
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:20 Honda VFR750 and VFR800
05:00 Yamaha YZF R6
08:50 Triumph Bonneville 865
11:30 Honda ST1100 and ST1300 Pan European
14:30 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
17:30 Suzuki GSX750F Katana
19:30 Yamaha MT01
22:50 Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 and ETV1200
25:20 Kawasaki ZRX1100 and ZRX1200
28:00 Kawasaki W650 and W800
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21 Comments
The opening comments about the R6 could be copy and pasted onto Honda CVBR600F4i II am one of those long-term owners of a VFR800 ( 21years and counting from new.) but the day I rode a mate's F4i I was very impressed.
I still think the xj900 diversion. I one of the best bikes for every kinds of things wich you mentioned at the start of this Video. By the way great Videos!
Gday mate I'm afraid that I will have to disagree with your vfr 800 , I had to ride one for a friend for about 6hours and I can honestly say that it's a terrible ride position that needs you to bend your head up as high as possible to be able to see the road. You have to look under your arms to change lanes. The fairing doesn't do much to keep your legs warm as it's a water cooled motor with no warmth coming from the motor for the rider on a cold day.
Hay don't get me wrong thinking that I'm knocking Honda around I've owned many of them and one I would recommend is 2010 cb 1100 reto absolutely fantastic to ride and so much more comfortable than the vfr, and no it's air oil cooled and won't corrode out like your water cooled motor can. Anyway thanks for your videos and I hope that you all enjoy your motorcycles for years to come, I'm coming up 70 and still own a few take care mate andy
I had a VFR -92 RC36, best bike I ever owned. And so good looking. Red, with red saddle and white wheels. But then I was turning 50 and got the stupid idea in my head that I would quit riding as life at that time did not leave much time for riding and I sold that bike. Got back soon enough but it has been cruisers after that and that is ok but confess to missing a good sport bike from time to time.
This video includes legendary motorcycles and many of my personal favorites. I’m a big fan of the channel. Thanks for creating these great videos. Oh and if I have any voiceover work I’ll be calling.
Good to see the Teapot / Baboon's bum / Dog's dick /…..Canatuna( must we?) made the cut this time! No huge surprises on the list, apart from the Capanord. Food for thought 🤔……or maybe I should just get a Vstrom?
Love your vids, keep 'em coming.
😅😅
I am six feet tall and my inside leg is 29 inches. All these bikes are quite useless to me.
When I worked at a 5 star honda dealership I had a carbonated cbr1100xx blackbird. I did so many mods that the dealership put the Duncan special on the work orders it was a total rework of the crabs…… I'm taking standup power wheelies in 4th gear !! I changed the cam overlap to take the power to redline and on my personal bike built a ram air system that came on the fuel injection injected over heating crap. With the float bowls connected to the air box and a wiff of extra fuel and nitrous I think I was getting 180 hp no way of knowing as the dyno only showed 155hp with the small jet. That said it would berry the speedo in 6th we also had a turbo changed blackbird a friend and I built that was in the 7s in the quarter. This was before apr made studs for everything. He worked for a defense Contractor who he had make some studs for it with rolled threads it never lifted the head again and I tigged up the swing arm and the triple trees after we racked it out. Cop friend clocked it ar 235ish mph!!! This was on 635 in Dallas. We are crazy here in Texas and proud of it. I used to ride every day unless it was ice outside and I learned that the hard way. I always said there are 2 kinds of riders those who have gone down and those who will. It's just a matter of time 😂I miss my younger days though my 450whp s2000 Sloth2k racecar is a nice replacement with vmount supercharger setup and more areo than it will ever need I outrun bikes all the time. I have 3.9 diff with Cabon clutches that will hit 178mph at 9k rpm and 21 psi of boost. I usually shift at 8500rpm or less. Thanks for the videos I've had fun watching.
Oh I still have a Suzuki gs1100e that was raced in 82-84 I rebuilt it and it is a 1167cc with 10 to 1 compression mega Cycle cams and a falicon crank trued and welded with titanium rods. It will do 185 mph due to chain swap to 535 size . It is a scary bike too!! Keep it pavement down out there.
Not surprised to see many Japanese bikes.
One note for the VFR, electrical issues do occur. My friend had 800 that would not start a couple times a year. We ended up replacing the ENTIRE wiring with a kit made by a guy we found on the web. He purposely built VFR kits to remedy the issue.
If you like adventure models, the Vstrom are hard to beat. Low prices, super easy to work on, no complicated tech or gadgets, it is perfect for many riders the 650 is smooth for new riders.
I was surprised to see an Aprilia in the list. I am in Canada, poor dealer support and parts availability plague the brand. I guess it’s better in Europe.
How about easy maintenance bikes?
Goldwing 1500, has hydraulic valves, same with a lot of cruisers.
The vfr is a nightmare to work on, in comparison..
Moto guzzi, are easy to maintain, ('till you need to made the clutch)..
Air coold ducati are reliable, but a lot of work….
I'll be happy to hear your take, on that subject…
Thanks a lot
Amazing content 👌
interesting perspective, especially as a follow on from the first video, cheers for the time you put in
Another great list. Although I strongly disagree with your assertion that stainless steel bolts make for easy maintenance, quite the contrary, I would suggest. SS and aluminium are not compatible at all. Aluminium gives up electrons to SS in a process called galvanic corrosion. Copper slip/dielectric grease isn't always used by people when they install these kits, often resulting in a nightmare. And if these products are used, fasteners are often over torqued. Tread with caution when either installing these or removing them.
Where is that ride at the start of the vid? Looks brilliant.
It can be the most reliable bike ever built but if it looks like a transformer like most new bikes do I’m not interested.
Honda 750 ace is the one I have and it has been a very dependable it is a 2001 model and the only thing I have done is regular maintenance and it is a great bike to ride and I am 70 years old
Never owned or rode a bike but I do know a well put together vlog ,very informative well made ,loved it
While its a solid list, omitting the ZZR11/1200 (US ZX11/1200) which is directly on par with the blackbird (exceeded by the BB by a mere 3 mph) is a error. While the ZRX is on par with these bikes it is air cooled, not water cooled like the ZZR model was which was capable of greater feats in the hands of a good carb/ecu tuner.
first edition yamaha fazer 600.
No FJR ?
Hats off and many thanks for doing your sports riding out in the canyons. Away ,for the most part,from innocents in Cages. Too many squids do this in traffic ,impressing all one of their friends. Seriously ?