What is classic? What is modern?

coppertop · 11-26-2012, 04:30 PM

Right now, newest street bike in my garage is an '86 XL600R. Every once in a while, I hear I should get a "modern" bike. So just what is modern, anyway? I can think of several ways to draw the line, and I think (based on an '03 XR100) that year of manufacture is not a particularly useful metric. What say you? What does a bike have to have to be "modern"?

anotherguy · 11-26-2012, 05:21 PM

Disc brakes,single shock rear/cartridge forks,liquid cooled. Pretty much does it for me. I know there are a few that have some of that that are old/classic but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Walterxr650l · 11-26-2012, 05:25 PM

Well If I was the one drawing the line. I would set it around 1969 when the first of the Japanese inline fours went into production. Depending on make the line might vary a year or two.

Walter

LuciferMutt · 11-26-2012, 05:41 PM

I make it easy on myself. Any bike with EFI is a "modern" bike.

khager · 11-26-2012, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anotherguy

Disc brakes,single shock rear/cartridge forks,liquid cooled. Pretty much does it for me. .

The only thing I would add to that list is EFI or fuel injection.

chazbird · 11-26-2012, 06:30 PM

Classic: a bike where you can see the engine and easily do most, if not all, of the maintenance, which often times meant relatively frequently.

Modern: a bike where you frequently can't see the engine and have a difficult time doing any of the maintenance, which often means relatively infrequently.

coppertop · 11-26-2012, 06:53 PM

Just throwing out a few generalizations: Radial tires=modern. Spoke wheels (and tube-type tires)=not modern. Liquid-cooled=modern. Air cooled=not modern, but Nikasil plated bores=modern (!?). Digital instruments=modern. Pushrods=not modern. Kickstarters= awesomely not modern. Points ignition= horribly not modern. And I agree that EFI=modern.

I recall reading in a motorcycle magazine from the late 90's about how handling took a huge step forward with the start of the 600cc wars, and that if you had only ever ridden older motorcycles, you really owed it to yourself to try out something from about '86 onward.

I probably should not have used the term "classic" in the original title, as I didn't mean to suggest classic and modern are opposite ends of a single spectrum, but feel free to chime in with what makes something classic too...

ddavidv · 11-27-2012, 04:14 AM

It's a classic, because it's air cooled.
No wait...it's modern because it's fuel injected, has electronic ignition and disc brakes.
But it's a classic because it's got spoked wheels.
But...er...oh who gives a shit.

OrangeYZ · 11-27-2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khager

The only thing I would add to that list is EFI or fuel injection.

For street bikes I agree. For dirt bikes I would give it another 10-15 years. I don't think anybody considers the 2011 530EXC or the 2013 YZ250F "classic"

Quote:

Originally Posted by chazbird

Classic: a bike where you can see the engine and easily do most, if not all, of the maintenance, which often times meant relatively frequently.

Modern: a bike where you frequently can't see the engine and have a difficult time doing any of the maintenance, which often means relatively infrequently.

Classic

Air filter: zero tools
Brake pads: 1 tool, possibly zero
Remove seat and tank: 1 tool
Oil change: 2 tools

Modern

Air filter: 2 tools
Brake pads: 2 tools
Remove seat and tank: 3 tools
Oil change: 2 tools

Uh huh.

motorat · 11-27-2012, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddavidv

It's a classic, because it's air cooled.
No wait...it's modern because it's fuel injected, has electronic ignition and disc brakes.
But it's a classic because it's got spoked wheels.
But...er...oh who gives a shit.

this is where you get modern classic along with the t100 and thruxton.

vortexau · 11-28-2012, 02:34 AM

Modern

Trying to retain a classical appearance, and still be modern.

Cheating.

Classic, but unwieldy.

coppertop · 11-28-2012, 05:25 AM

Just my opiniorn: The one that is trying to maintain a classical appearance and still be modern looks like a plow ought to be an available accessory. I'd like to see the "classic, but unwieldy" done up with a small rear tire and seat behind/above the drive wheel... like the old penny-farthing bikes, but I'd still never dare try it out.

Bill Harris · 11-28-2012, 07:40 AM

Classic:

Modern:

:)

--Bill

High Country Herb · 11-28-2012, 07:54 AM

Legally speaking, the term classic means 20 years old or older, so our XL's are there now. Just ask any kid with a flat brimmed hat.

In 17 years, my computer controlled, drive-by-wire, smog complient Aprilia will be a classic.

OrangeYZ · 11-28-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

In 17 years, my computer controlled, drive-by-wire, smog complient Aprilia will be a classic.

It sounds silly to say it like that now, but in 17 years when it's a gas burning, non-flying Aprilia it will be a classic!

11-26-2012, 04:30 PM	#1
coppertop ^OP occasional meanderthal Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Oddometer: 217	What is classic? What is modern? Right now, newest street bike in my garage is an '86 XL600R. Every once in a while, I hear I should get a "modern" bike. So just what is modern, anyway? I can think of several ways to draw the line, and I think (based on an '03 XR100) that year of manufacture is not a particularly useful metric. What say you? What does a bike have to have to be "modern"?

11-26-2012, 05:21 PM	#2
anotherguy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: in the foothills now.... Oddometer: 4,315	Disc brakes,single shock rear/cartridge forks,liquid cooled. Pretty much does it for me. I know there are a few that have some of that that are old/classic but they are the exception rather than the rule. __________________ When injustice becomes law,resistance becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson

11-26-2012, 05:25 PM	#3
Walterxr650l Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Donald, Oregon Oddometer: 1,025	Well If I was the one drawing the line. I would set it around 1969 when the first of the Japanese inline fours went into production. Depending on make the line might vary a year or two. Walter __________________ "How much a dunce That has been set to roam Excels a dunce That has stayed at home."

11-26-2012, 05:41 PM	#4
LuciferMutt Rides slow bike slow Joined: Aug 2008 Location: New(er) Mexico Oddometer: 9,524	I make it easy on myself. Any bike with EFI is a "modern" bike. __________________ You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitro glycerin plant! Cobbie Award Winner

11-26-2012, 06:53 PM	#7
coppertop ^OP occasional meanderthal Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Oddometer: 217	it is a fuzzy, fuzzy line... Just throwing out a few generalizations: Radial tires=modern. Spoke wheels (and tube-type tires)=not modern. Liquid-cooled=modern. Air cooled=not modern, but Nikasil plated bores=modern (!?). Digital instruments=modern. Pushrods=not modern. Kickstarters= awesomely not modern. Points ignition= horribly not modern. And I agree that EFI=modern. I recall reading in a motorcycle magazine from the late 90's about how handling took a huge step forward with the start of the 600cc wars, and that if you had only ever ridden older motorcycles, you really owed it to yourself to try out something from about '86 onward. I probably should not have used the term "classic" in the original title, as I didn't mean to suggest classic and modern are opposite ends of a single spectrum, but feel free to chime in with what makes something classic too...

11-26-2012, 06:30 PM	#6
chazbird Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Oddometer: 2,052	Classic: a bike where you can see the engine and easily do most, if not all, of the maintenance, which often times meant relatively frequently. Modern: a bike where you frequently can't see the engine and have a difficult time doing any of the maintenance, which often means relatively infrequently.

11-27-2012, 04:14 AM	#8
ddavidv Thrifty not cheap Joined: May 2009 Location: Elizabethtown, PA Oddometer: 782	It's a classic, because it's air cooled. No wait...it's modern because it's fuel injected, has electronic ignition and disc brakes. But it's a classic because it's got spoked wheels. But...er...oh who gives a shit. __________________ '04 Wee Strom '89 KLR 650 (sold) KLR Chronicles, list of my Ride Reports in PA/MD: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...2#post18782262

11-28-2012, 02:34 AM	#11
vortexau Outside the Pod-bay Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Just off the Warrego, S.E. Queensland Oddometer: 1,431	Modern Trying to retain a classical appearance, and still be modern. Cheating. Classic, but unwieldy. __________________ '77 BMW R100RS with Ural chair '08 Suzuki AN650A Burgman (and trailer)

11-28-2012, 05:25 AM	#12
coppertop ^OP occasional meanderthal Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Oddometer: 217	Just my opiniorn: The one that is trying to maintain a classical appearance and still be modern looks like a plow ought to be an available accessory. I'd like to see the "classic, but unwieldy" done up with a small rear tire and seat behind/above the drive wheel... like the old penny-farthing bikes, but I'd still never dare try it out.

11-28-2012, 07:40 AM	#13
Bill Harris Confirmed Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2008 Location: backwoods Alabama Oddometer: 3,881	Classic: Modern: :) --Bill __________________ '73 R60/5 Toaster

11-28-2012, 07:54 AM	#14
High Country Herb Olds Cool Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Sierra Nevadas Oddometer: 2,673	Legally speaking, the term classic means 20 years old or older, so our XL's are there now. Just ask any kid with a flat brimmed hat. In 17 years, my computer controlled, drive-by-wire, smog complient Aprilia will be a classic.

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