Japanese V-twin sport bikes

HardDrive · 03-03-2010, 10:32 PM

I'm curious if anyone knows all the Japanese V-twin sport bikes (crotch rockets) that have been produced? I'm familiar with the Honda Superhawk.

What else? Lets say nothing older than 1995ish.

varmint · 03-03-2010, 11:04 PM

the RC51 was awesome.

Honda RC51 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jim Bremner · 03-03-2010, 11:19 PM

Suzuki TL1000R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tiller!

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Honda Hawk (NT650?)
Superhawk (996 cc?)
Suzuki's SV650 and SV1000 (and their S variants)
Suzuki TL-S and TL-R
Honda RC-51. The RC30 and RC45 were V-4s, IIRC.

Honda's VF streetbike series was a V-4, also (VF550F Baby Interceptor, VF700F and VF750F Interceptor, and the VFR750).

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

This is bound to be a short list.
How about V-twin sporty bikes instead? All the twins I can think of are more of a second level affair to their manufacture's four cylinder model (not to call them beginner's bikes but for a given cc a twin comes up short on power).
Jim

Schumi · 03-04-2010, 03:32 AM

The day I find a VFR-400 for sale in the United States.... lord only knows...

Jeff Higgins · 03-04-2010, 05:57 AM

The only one that qualifies as a true "sport bike" is the RC 51. Awesome machines. Highly prized by their owners, though, so they don't come up for sale all that often. When they do they tend to be spendy.

There were two beautiful examples down at Goldie's last night for our VME (Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts) meeting. I noticed a bunch of guys checking them out as I sat waiting to turn left into the parking lot off of Airport Way. They all quit looking at the Hondas as soon as that loud old Ducati pulled in, though... I'm just sayin'...

vash · vash's Garage

vtwin? that cuts out all the VF's from honda..those are fours.

wasnt there a suzuki SV650 in an "R" package? the regular SV650 is the miata of the motocycle world. i have seen some ridden very very fast. GREAT BIKE! i like it as a japanese twin wayyy better than that portly RC51.

vash · vash's Garage

i did learn how to pull smooth wheelies on an RC51. gobs of torque.

David · David's Garage

I don't know of any pre '95, besides the 650 Hawk and VT500.

71T Targa · 03-04-2010, 06:55 AM

I loved my Hawk GT, but I wouldn't call it a sport bike/crotch rocket.

How about a V4? The VFR's are great bikes:

creaturecat · 03-04-2010, 07:14 AM

The only Japanese V twin sportbike i can think of is the Yamaha MT-01. What a beautiful noise.

Schumi · 03-04-2010, 08:47 AM

This is a friend of mine's Hawk GT- or at least it used to be. There isn't much left that is original. I helped him with the carbon fiber work:

HardDrive · 03-04-2010, 08:51 AM

Thanks guys.

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-04-2010, 11:31 AM

Have to admit the RC51 is on my short--very short--list of Japanese bikes to (someday) own.

jwasbury · 03-04-2010, 11:39 AM

Not a V-Twin, but a parallel twin offered by Yamaha in the mid to late 90's...the TRX 850. I always thought this was an interesting machine. Trellis frame like a Ducati. I don't think it ever was imported to the US. It had pretty much the same engine as the TDM850 which was available here in the US, though never sold very well. I think the TDM850 was similar in concept to Ducati's more recent MultiStrada.

scottmandue · 03-04-2010, 11:39 AM

If I were buying a bike it most likely would be a Suzuki SV650 or SV1000.

Jeff Higgins · 03-04-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creaturecat

The only Japanese V twin sportbike i can think of is the Yamaha MT-01. What a beautiful noise.

Very cool bikes, but a bit heavy to be a proper "sport bike" in the truest sense of the word. I've gotta say, though, (as a big twin addict) that is one very intriguing machine.

scottmandue · 03-04-2010, 11:45 AM

Haven't looked at bikes in eons... but come to think of it a V-4 would be really nice too.

Sigh... if I were a rich man

NutmegCarrera · NutmegCarrera's Garage

When I decided to start to ride a little, instead of wrench a lot - I bought an SV650. (Sold a '68 BSA)
Mine was a 2001, and was carburated. Newer models have FI.
SV650 was a ball - but they benefit greatly from upgrades in the fork & shock.
Only work I did to mine was jetting and a Yoshimura Ti pipe. (Weight difference was huge, and torque increase was good).
I rode with a couple guys on their 916's, but once we got partway through town - they had to stop to rest their wrists. The SV was a comfy ride for some decent distances.

I'd highly recommend one.