Back in 1985, after riding a scooter for a few years, I bought my first motorcycle, a Honda Shadow. But a friend who had several years of riding experience bought another new Honda that year, one that seemed pretty daring to me as a novice, a 750 Nighthawk. A few months later on a ride with this friend we switched bikes. The Nighthawk seemed pretty amazing to me, and I was told it was the true "Universal Japanese Motorcycle" that could do most anything. I'll admit that at the time I was really impressed, if a bit intimidated compared to my smallish cruiser. Had I had the money to do so I would have traded in my Shadow for a Nighthawk, but that wasn't my situation. Over the years I have thought about that bike and often thought that if Honda ever made a new version, with modern updates like fuel injection, disc brakes, etc, it would be about the perfect all around bike to own. I haven't seen one on the street in years, and I wonder how much my fond memory is just nostalgia, or was it really as great a motorcycle as I think it was?
Just nostalgia, or were those UJM really as good as I remember them?
vito
61 - 69 of 69 Posts
My 2 cents, yes they were, one point to make. Most bike frames today are cast aluminum (I know, not all), the older bikes were heavier, yes.. but could be straightned and still used on most cases when wrecked. worst thing you had to worry about was serious engine damage, or the steering head damage. Frames today get into an accident, and they crumble lke a crumb cake..
As the post above me suggest, I had a friend that bought a wrecked seca 2, found the frame was tweaked.. still rode it for two years as it was. I dont se that with some bikes today.
As the post above me suggest, I had a friend that bought a wrecked seca 2, found the frame was tweaked.. still rode it for two years as it was. I dont se that with some bikes today.
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13,526 Posts
I do not need to remember, I ride more than one quite often. I even rode the stuff that preceded the JA Pan bikes. UK
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25 Posts
I had a GS 400 Suzuki..
Later on traded up to the gs1100....
I miss that 400 the most.. loved that bike.
Later on traded up to the gs1100....
I miss that 400 the most.. loved that bike.
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116 Posts
OK, I`m nitpicking here, but Honda started it with the VF 750 Interceptor in 1983.
Not even close...
The first factory touring bike as we know it was the Electra Glide.
My first new bike was a `71 Honda CB450, the only bike I have wrecked (guy turned in front of me at an intersection).
I bought a new `73 Suzuki GT 750 water buffalo that had dual disk brakes up front (I think this model was the first to have dual disk), but in the rain It had zero braking up front...
That Water Buffalo was a great bike, I rode it through just about every state east of the Big Muddy.
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13,526 Posts
Thinking of the future:
I will likely want to ride a bike that weighs less. Until then my 79 XS11 Yamaha is a nice bike to ride. Yami has enough power and the brakes are good. Engine is smooth and I have plenty of spares. There are many many newer bikes that are not much of an improvement if any. Most will handle a bit better. But there is nothing to temp me to part with a lot of money to improve on what I have.
In the light weight group, 400 cc bikes. The only bike that makes more power than my 83 XS400 is the Kawasaki Ninja. 45 to 49hp. The Ninja will handle and stop better. But the improvements are not enough to get me to buy one.
I can paint the XS purple, and today I bought a pipe bender to makes my own pipes in 022.
So the UJM will keep me happy for a while. Yami also has a frame that I can attach Inder the sidecar to. I have spare frames. I have a spare engine for the XS400 too.
But, you might say, wot about the performance of a modern sport bike. I have that covered with a 96 Triumph Trophy for two up riding, and a 006 412 pound SV1000S just for me. 108 rear wheel hp. Works for me. UK
I will likely want to ride a bike that weighs less. Until then my 79 XS11 Yamaha is a nice bike to ride. Yami has enough power and the brakes are good. Engine is smooth and I have plenty of spares. There are many many newer bikes that are not much of an improvement if any. Most will handle a bit better. But there is nothing to temp me to part with a lot of money to improve on what I have.
In the light weight group, 400 cc bikes. The only bike that makes more power than my 83 XS400 is the Kawasaki Ninja. 45 to 49hp. The Ninja will handle and stop better. But the improvements are not enough to get me to buy one.
I can paint the XS purple, and today I bought a pipe bender to makes my own pipes in 022.
So the UJM will keep me happy for a while. Yami also has a frame that I can attach Inder the sidecar to. I have spare frames. I have a spare engine for the XS400 too.
But, you might say, wot about the performance of a modern sport bike. I have that covered with a 96 Triumph Trophy for two up riding, and a 006 412 pound SV1000S just for me. 108 rear wheel hp. Works for me. UK
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6,465 Posts
Of course you're right but Honda only invented the Interceptor...OK, I`m nitpicking here, but Honda started it with the VF 750 Interceptor in 1983.
Kawasaki invented the term for all sport bikes, Ninja.
Back in the early and even later days of "Ninja" you could ask any guy on the street and most would tell you that your Honda Interceptor setting there is a Ninja.
It was public perception that sport bikes were Ninja's, and Kawasaki's too.
Brilliant (or lucky) marketing by Kawasaki to call their new sport bike Ninja. Same with the Yamaha Wave Runner. It is a Jet Ski... Brilliant.
Maybe closer than you think...
If I could keep from looking like I'm H/D bashing I might point out that long range riding on a comfortable couch that ain't going to cause any problems and doesn't need any maintenance at all and can be comfortably ridden all day every day for days on end requiring only gasoline is THE definition of a touring bike but that might hint on H/D bashing so I'll not say anything of the sort.
S F
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116 Posts
You are doing a lot of arguing here, but the two points I made are fact, not opinion.Of course you're right but Honda only invented the Interceptor...
Kawasaki invented the term for all sport bikes, Ninja.
Back in the early and even later days of "Ninja" you could ask any guy on the street and most would tell you that your Honda Interceptor setting there is a Ninja.
It was public perception that sport bikes were Ninja's, and Kawasaki's too.
Brilliant (or lucky) marketing by Kawasaki to call their new sport bike Ninja. Same with the Yamaha Wave Runner. It is a Jet Ski... Brilliant.
Maybe closer than you think...
If I could keep from looking like I'm H/D bashing I might point out that long range riding on a comfortable couch that ain't going to cause any problems and doesn't need any maintenance at all and can be comfortably ridden all day every day for days on end requiring only gasoline is THE definition of a touring bike but that might hint on H/D bashing so I'll not say anything of the sort.
S F
The VF 750 came out a year before the Ninja, a simple fact.
Cycle World
The Electra Glide was the first factory touring bike. Fact, whether you like them or not.
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6,465 Posts
I like the Electra Glide way better than I like any G Wing.
The first Ninja 600 was total junk. The 900 wasn't much better but as I said the name Ninja was Brilliant.
I don't think we disagree on anything other than perception...
S F 🏍
As always, different folks have different needs so they don't like U.J.M.'s then or now .
If you want to ride fast and hooligan get a Super Motard and put some really sticky street tires on it, nothing brings out the stupid like that will = .
I like U.J.M.'s but not 4 cylinder bikes, to each their own .
Some guys who see me ride tell me I'm fast but no ~ they just never see anyone hustling a parallel twin up and down the twisties .
I know fast riders and all I ever see of them is their taillights rapidly vanishing ahead .
If you want to ride fast and hooligan get a Super Motard and put some really sticky street tires on it, nothing brings out the stupid like that will =
.I like U.J.M.'s but not 4 cylinder bikes, to each their own .
Some guys who see me ride tell me I'm fast but no ~ they just never see anyone hustling a parallel twin up and down the twisties .
I know fast riders and all I ever see of them is their taillights rapidly vanishing ahead .
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