5 Fabulous 4 stroke 3 Cylinder Motorcycles

[@paulscofield8506]

I owned a 78 Gold coloured Jota ,the only year they made it in that colour. I remember stopping in an underpass were it was safe ,taking my helmet off and revving it up just for the pure joy of the sound. A truly organic motorcycle.

[@bikerdood1100]

Nothing sounds like an early Jota

[@johnvanstone5336]

The sound of the BSA Rocket 3 is just glorious and sublime, musical bliss to my ears !

[@bikerdood1100]

They do sound brilliant

[@Deontjie]

No matter how nostalgic users of these bikes think they should be, there is no reason why there should be three cylinder engines. Neither should there be five cylinder engines.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@Deontjie hmmm 🤔 Bullshit is all I can be bothered to say to that I would give technical reasons but really can’t be bothered 😕

[@rogerkay8603]

@@Deontjie Ride my XSR900LC and wipe the grin off your face, love that triple whine

[@Deontjie]

@@rogerkay8603 There are really great three cylinder bikes. Especially that wild two stroke 750 Suzuki. My point is that anything you can do with three, is usually better and easier with a two or four cylinder. There are no practical reason for three cylinders to exist.

[@JohnCunningham-sy5ug]

The three cylinder bikes are nostalgic but in the end just a nice memory nothing with two wheels is a bad memory. God bless keep riding.

[@bikerdood1100]

And very much part of the present too Yamaha and Triumph

[@liveinaweorg]

I always wanted the Laverda RGS1000 Corsa. Loved that it only came in black. Prices now are bonkers. Great trip down memory lane, cheers!

[@bikerdood1100]

Some models seem to be stable now I’ve noticed some 3cs at almost sane money

[@barney3417]

First time I did 130mph was on an Orange Jota, got a speed wobble and thought I was going to die!! loved it🥰

[@bikerdood1100]

If going that fast isn’t scary something is wrong

[@barney3417]

@@bikerdood1100 I was 18, no fear at that age, 66 now, would shxx myself!!!

[@terryjacob8169]

Thirty years ago I used to share my daily homeward journey, down the A5 from Silverstone to Luton, with a guy on a Laverda Jota. We never got to speak, but he always allowed me to make the journey with him, me in my Toyota MR2. He would ride in my company for a mile or so, crack open the throttle and leave me standing, then wait for me to catch up again. The sound of that Jota still remains with me ; truly wonderful, like a classic V-12 F1 Ferrari coming 'on cam.'

[@bikerdood1100]

It is unique Followed one a few year back Awesome sound

[@RobJaskula]

XS850 was my first bike and I'll always look at triples first because of it!

[@bikerdood1100]

Nice

[@mikekokomomike]

Little brother had XS850 Midnight Special. Loved the sound. Seemed like it had a mind of it's own riding it. Maybe just bad steering head bearings.

[@RobJaskula]

@@mikekokomomike mine was dodgy electrics, never knew when the thing would just cut out after running out of electricity

[@johndonlon1611]

I'll still rate the 1975 Triumph Trident as the "one that definitely got away." Beautiful bike and damn fast.

[@bikerdood1100]

Always been on my wish list, It’s a big wish list unfortunately

[@michelguevara151]

love laverdas twins and triples. cracking machines.

[@bikerdood1100]

Sound very unique too Very unlike anything from Japan

[@GTMarmot]

The Laverda is desirable and the Triumph was a 90s movie star ("Blood Moon"), but the K75 (another movie star - "Fourth Protocol") is very much my favourite from this list. One of the very best bikes of the 80s. Advanced, stylish and tasteful.

[@bikerdood1100]

K75 was a cracking machine

[@rogerkay8603]

@@bikerdood1100 The Jota for me......

[@Jonathan-L]

@@bikerdood1100 I remember when the K75 was released, which was after the K100. The magazine headline was: "A chip off the old block".

[@chrisjohnson4165]

I've had 3 K75s, I've had my current one, a very low miles K75S for 6 years and love it. For me, if it was 75 lbs lighter it would be a perfect bike. A few simple tweaks make it pretty quick and satisfying to ride.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@chrisjohnson4165 BMW do like to make their bikes heavy, not Harley heavy of course but chunky

[@markrenfrow9873]

K75RT took me on my biggest adventure ever, Alaska ride in '06. 12K miles in 30 days (5 days off the bike along the way). Love that machine.

[@bikerdood1100]

Very capable bikes but somewhat underrated

[@markrenfrow9873]

@@bikerdood1100 It is super smooth, and capable. Also did a Iron butt ride on it.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The Triumph T160 was one of the prettiest bikes in the 70’s. Unfortunately good looks wasn’t enough - too little - too late.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well by 1975 the game had moved on

[@stephenkidson8639]

Triumph Rocket 3 2.3 and 2.5 liter?

[@OCCUPIEDNATION]

I'll always say it was chronic underinvestment. The development department had plenty of ideas, they just weren't allowed to put them into production.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

@@OCCUPIEDNATION Oh yes absolutely. The book “Whatever happened to the British motorcycle industry” tells a sad tale of bad management and downright stupid decisions combined with loads of arrogance.

[@OCCUPIEDNATION]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 But the key point to make is that The "British" motorcycle industry was ENGLISH, situated in ENGLAND. So was the heart of the World's investment industry, situated in London, ENGLAND. Post WWII they took a decision to invest in Japan and Germany - NOT England.

[@1anwrang13r]

I had a Hinckley Trident 900 for a while. It was a really nice bike to ride. It wasn't particularly light but the engine was an absolute peach, it was very comfortable and it did well on commuting and touring.

[@bikerdood1100]

I do quite fancy put one in the fleet, but I just don’t have the room Dam it

[@sambrooks7862]

"It wasn't particularly light"? I had a mk1 speed triple, same bike really, and I didn't rate it at all. The same power as a cbr600f but weighs as much as a fj1200, all the weight is at the top making it about as nimble as a grain barge, and that bloody sprag clutch? You would have to assume that whoever designed that bike usually designs HGVs.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@sambrooks7862 a shit load more torque than a CBR I owned a a CBR for several years and on paper it had more hp than my 1100 Guzzi but in reality unless you working that notchy gearbox had it’s absolutely not the same thing There’s a massive difference between on paper and on road Life isn’t too trumps

[@1anwrang13r]

@@sambrooks7862 While it may have had the same bhp as a cbr600 it had a lot more torque lower down in the range which made it more usable. It was also 50Kg lighter than an FJ12 but you're right, that weight was held quite high whereas the FJ's was practically subterranean. It was never going to be a sports bike but I think it did well at what it set out to do. I never had sprag clutch issues with the Trident or the 900 Tiger I replaced it with (yes, the Tiger was big and stupid but it made me laugh and was soooo comfy). A few minor electrical issues but nothing show-stopping and I used those bikes a lot.

[@sambrooks7862]

@@1anwrang13r yeah it was uber reliable and the sprag didn't actually fail, I decided to change it while I had the motor out during the renovation. I had a FJ and I thought they both weighed about 240kg? The FJ was far superior in every way, I bought the triple as a project having never ridden one, honestly? If I had it don't think I would have bought it. BTW, I now own a 96 thunderace, what a bike!

[@lbrittainabrewer8241]

Wow! You are one of the best! What a great segment, as are all of yours! I gotta give you some money!

[@bikerdood1100]

No that’s not why we do it We just love bikes

[@philhawley1219]

As soon as I saw this I guessed the bikes you would show. But no Kawasaki or Suzuki triples, no Hinkley Triumph Rocket 3 and the spoof was the BMW K75! I had completely forgotten about those. Well done.

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes are in another video of their own Of course, it’s liked to this one

[@adhub3971]

In the early eighties at the age of 20 I bought a 4 year old xs750. This bikes almost were worth almost nothing at that time in the Netherlands. It costed 1000 guldens in nowadays money 500 euros. It had a fairing and a krauser case set. I'll stripped the thing and mounted low handlebars , a 3 in 1 exhaust and did some paintwork with a brush. The thing wasn't fast but what a beautiful noise it made. Later I owned more newer bikes but the Yamaha triple gave me the best memories.

[@bikerdood1100]

It’s a shame the first bikes really wrecked the bikes reputation and sales were never the same after that.

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

They were heavily discounted brand new in the UK around that time, which must have depressed used prices. A friend of mine had one (black and silver) and I thought it was OK. I liked the shaft drive although it would 'sit up' a bit when accelerating.

[@neilcollins5930]

Nice video I had an XS 750 with a Piper 3 into 1 pipe. Great sound . Good workhorse it happily took me and my wife back and forth from Torquay to South wales . Most interesting 3 cylinder’s have to be the Kawasaki 2 strokes . I have 250 & 400 great fun . Bloody dangerous 😂

[@bikerdood1100]

All about the terrible power delivery

[@neilcollins5930]

The frame , brakes and suspension on the 250, 350 and 400 were the same . H1A 500 came out with a twin drum on the front originally…🙈

[@johndelong9230]

The Widow Maker should have been in the top 5.

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes get their own video

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

With the exception of their two strokes, Japanese and German triples were disappointing in one form or another. Only Brits and Italians seemed to get the three cylinder four stroke concept right. Yet, at no time were MV Agustas. and Benellis mentioned in your comparison. 🤨

[@paulwebber1657]

The water buffalo shou;d be on the list as well

[@davidburne9477]

Note the Honda-sourced speedo and a redline that does not equate…the Jota redline was actually a lot higher - around 8500rpm. How it is #3 behind that truly mechanically and aesthetically awful Yamaha is beyond me.

[@davidburne9477]

Truly awful things to ride. Wouldn’t even go in a straight line when you were hard on the gas.

[@andyhemus2964]

I had the NS400R V3 two stroke, stonking great bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

Will definitely be in the two stroke triple video

[@johnj4130]

The classic in my day (1982) was my friends laverda mirage, such a exhaust note it was brill..

[@bikerdood1100]

Not just in your day

[@bozotro]

Nice overview. I've owned a T150 and a K75S. I've ridden an original Rocket 3. Nothing sounds quite so good as a Trident or Rocket 3 pulling away.

[@bikerdood1100]

Triples do have a unique sound indeed

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

The Rocket III is a beautiful machine. I have a 1050 Sprint GT now and the beating heart of it is true to Triumph’s legacy of excellent triples.

[@bikerdood1100]

If BSA / Triumph had ha more money to spend the original triples could have kept the company going

[@Simulera]

Triples! I had a K75RS triple that was truly wonderful; a bit “old school in weird new clothes” perhaps. But that was much of its charm. It actually felt a lineage back to /2’s in some ways. Much nicer and much more fun, imo, than the original 1 liter, 4 cylinder flying K bricks. More reliable mechanically and well behaved in corners also. The forks were a bit too spindly though, it must be admitted. An aftermarket brace helped. Otherwise it was a 100 kmile mid sized bike. The triple format was the key to its goodness.

[@bikerdood1100]

The general feeling is that the K75 is the better bike an excellent example of less is more BMW had a bit of a thing for soft front forks, I’ve heard similar comments about the R100

[@chrisjohnson4165]

I love my K75S.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@chrisjohnson4165 a very underrated bike

[@manuelstapp3359]

I enjoy my k75c smooth .comfortable ride and lots of get up and go

[@bikerdood1100]

Definitely the best K

[@MrRunner]

In the early 70's I was on my way to Turin and stopped near the town of Breganza for a rest. An almighty whoosh and two Laverdas 750's whipped by. Two minutes later you could hear it coming. The Jota. It was a blur and that glorious engine was wonderful to hear. Factory test pilots. I believe they made a special uprated version just for the UK market. I road tested an SC, which was beautifully built, handled like a dream and went like the clappers. Breganza was their home town and it was sad when the factory closed, killed by people like me who went for the CB750, warts and all. The BMW K750, (aka `the Smoker). You could spot them miles away. When on the side stand, the crankcase oil would leak past the rings, with the concomitant smoke from the pipes. I looked at one, but the price put me off. Still does. The Trident was a lovely bike. My Dutch pals loved them. I wouldn't go near the things. I was fed up fixing British oil leakers

[@bikerdood1100]

Smoking was worse on early models of left standing for a while It’s very sad when any bike plant closes but Laverda is particularly tragic. I was out on my Guzzi when one came past Awe inspiring sound

[@mikekemsley1531]

Cool posting. Memories! So how I find myself being 72. During that time I have owned over 200 different bikes. A sickness? Probably, but a fun one. I believe I have at one time or other owned one of every model year BSA and Triumph triple including 2 different Hurricanes. Some were great, others not so much. But my all time favorite bike was a 1974 Laverda 3C that had been fettled by Lance Weil aka Rickey Racer. Cams, head work etc. At the time I also rode a GPZ turbo which was a bit fast and more civilized. The Laverda was way more fun but like an idiot I sold it. It's the only bike I regret getting rid of. Gotta love them triples.

[@bikerdood1100]

I’ve suffered the same illness Only cure is another hit As far as I’m aware 😂

[@EdBrock785]

Laverda is a most legendary and beautiful Bike 🤩.

[@laverdajota8089]

Agree , I met my first Jota when I was 15 , never forgot that sound as it went down our narrow street

[@bikerdood1100]

My boy’s favourite all time bike He’s always talking about them Hence that video

[@EdBrock785]

@@laverdajota8089 ,the sound of no silence 😁.

[@ashermil]

A friend of mine picked up a late-series orange Jota when we were in high school and then held onto it for another umpteen years. Amazing, beautiful, terrifying bike! No balance shafts anywhere near the thing!

[@harrothepilot]

The poor old K75, to quote an Australian Motorcycling mag of that era, was akin to releasing a Mullet into a school of Barracuda ( the big 4 Japanese 750 sportsbikes of the day ). Its way more appreciated now for its attributes and mile eating capability, than it was then. I bought my K75S new in '93 and still have it to this day. Beautiful bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well despite the nonsense of journalists who were becoming increasingly sport bike obsessed the little K75 sold rather well I have a healthy disrespect for Journalists of all kinds

[@davefrench3608]

Had 2 K75RTs, seriously reliable and durable. The 750 triple was turbine smooth. Top gear is identical to my Honda CX650ED - 6000 rpm = 82 mph

[@bikerdood1100]

To a Guzzi V twin owner that sounds like a lot of revs

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Sounds wrong about the revs. I fitted a final drive from a K100 which calms the bike down nicely. EV14 injectors restore any loss of acceleration and top gear becomes overdrive.

[@mikerider58]

The Kawasaki triple from 70s was IMHO the best and most beautiful motorcycle ever made. These were bikes that attracted a crowd, not just the odd bike enthusiast. I did love and admire most bikes but the Kawasaki stood out, l even loved the name Kawasaki so much l wrote it on my army surplus school bag 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

2 strokes get their own video next, including the corner hating Kwaker 😂😂

[@terryjacob8169]

A race car preparation place I used to work for, circa 1971, used to regularly repair the fairing of a Kawasaki 500 H1 factory production racer belonging to a guy who normally raced Manx Nortons. Virtually every week he used to bring the fairing to us in tatters and we'd repair it with glass mat and resin. After around a month of this I got talking to him. "How does it handle ?" I innocently asked. "How does it handle !!!!" he replied, " I might be able to f*cking tell you, if I ever complete a test lap on the f*cking thing at Brands........!!!!"

[@derekdingwall]

It would be nice to see some two stroke triples,although I found your 4 stroke range interesting 👍

[@bikerdood1100]

Part 2 of course 🙄

[@derekdingwall]

@bikerdood1100 I look forward to that ,amazing work your doing 👍

[@mikefishhead]

I had a midnight special 850 it was a nice cruise bike wasn't a rocket but worked for me and dog . It was comfortable to ride and had an interesting roar.

[@bikerdood1100]

They were indeed never rapid

[@brianperry]

My ride is a 2014 Triumph Street Triple 675R...sweet motor, sounds fantastic when given a 'bit o' wellie' handles beautifully.... Back in 77/8 l used used ride a leMans when a friend of mine rode a Jota, what an Italian Stallion that was, still is..

[@bikerdood1100]

Italy have made some great machines over the years

[@buzzinadventures4217]

Knew a guy back in the late 70's had a Jota, LeMans and 900SS - always said the LeMans was the best of the bunch and the best around corners. Sadly was killed on his Jota by a 'I didn't see you'............... Had a K75S, over 100,000 miles in 8 years with minimal maintenance...... wasn't a bad touring bike........ took me all over Europe and to work/college and back most days..

[@jayartz8562]

XS 750 triple, loved that bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

Nice styling but never a big seller unfortunately

[@helenloughton2418]

Love my 955 speedtriple 2000 model owned it for 17 years now longest I have kept same bike it's got character

[@bikerdood1100]

Triples are different

[@iandann6196]

Many years ago I was a member of a Motorcycle sidecar club that also had solos, I was probably 17 at the time, I went away on a weekend rally with the club and a lot of other clubs in the federation of Motorcycle Side car clubs, at this point I had never been in a side car, so my friend who was at the time the Foreign contact for the federation arranged for someone to take me out in a side car, well I was shown to a Watsonion paired up with a Rocket 3, so my ears were not far of that glorious 3 cylinder, and boy did it sound loverly, especially when it was pulling hard when accelerating to keep with the group.

[@bikerdood1100]

The do sound fantastic

[@OCCUPIEDNATION]

I owned a Polaris Red K75S for 10 years and commuted on it for 5 of those to Manchester city centre and back, about 35 miles. Through rain, wind and snow. Never let me down, was extremely easy to work on, especially for plug changes or valve checks. Had a fair turn of speed when the occasion demanded. It was also easy to get off the line for a relatively heavy bike, possibly the dry clutch - I remember racing a Bandit 600 away from the lights once - he was two-up and you could hear his drive chain slip in a vain attempt to keep up with me. The only real issue I had with it was the screen I had fitted funnelled the wind against my helmet, which made 80mph motorway riding, 2-up extremely tiring on the neck. It might have been an aftermarket tinted item that was slightly cut-down. The sound at low speed with the early electro-mechanical fuel injection and 3 cylinder exhaust note made it sound almost like a turbine, especially if you were on a narrow road between buildings. Occasionally a pedestrian would look at it and wonder what kind of engine it might have when I was sitting in traffic.

[@bikerdood1100]

The K75 seems a very underrated motorcycle these days

[@OCCUPIEDNATION]

@@bikerdood1100 Too true. It was probably a motorcycle of its time, serving its purpose extremely well. It was also quite rare having never sold in huge numbers and not really appealing to the average motorcyclist back then, most of whom were getting into crotch rockets or cruisers. Mine got snapped up when I came to sell it about 2008 and the purchaser got a full restoration done on it, by ex-Speedway World Champ Peter Collins.

[@davidpatterson9840]

I've owned two Triumph T150V Tridents. Great machines once sorted, and the wail of that engine at speed is addictive. I also owned one BWM K bike. I thought that it was bulletproof, but the drive shaft broke at around 36,000 miles!

[@bikerdood1100]

Ouch !

[@davidpatterson9840]

@@bikerdood1100 Turns out that it was the lower U joint which failed. I expected better from BMW.

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

Always wanted a Jota, couldn't afford one back in the day & definately can't afford one now! A Jota is a Spanish dance in triple time. Very ingenious name by Laverda.

[@bikerdood1100]

I have a feeling the UK importer came up with the name

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

@@bikerdood1100 yeah I think Slater bros had a hand in it. Better name than 3C.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@Free_Ranger_CT110 yes 3C Not the most imaginative name ever

[@rogerkay8603]

XSR900.........my dad had an XS750 to which my 900 is the spiritual successor but I'll never forget his XS

[@bikerdood1100]

Feature the XS in the first video of the series, a very different bike

[@MrAndrew1953]

Laverda Jota 1000 my favourite all time bike. Once one in a Slater Brothers frame early 80s.

[@bikerdood1100]

My sons too He’s constantly talking about the things Obsessed

[@ducatobeing]

That was very interesting! I must admit that I was unaware of the Moto Guzzi triple. I have either owned or ridden all the bikes reviewed here, the Trident T160 rather than the Rocket three, but they are very similar. The Jota was a real brute, but very charismatic, the XS 750 was the victim of lack of development, sadly a feature of too many Japanese bikes of the time. The K75RS was a lovely refined machine, but is was big and heavy, it was very comfortable and had long legs.

[@bikerdood1100]

Went for R3 over the t160 so I could sneak the Hinckley bike in One company one bike were possible I think May struggle to stick to that with the strokers however

[@johncunningham4820]

You completely overlooked the EXCELLENT Suzuki Triples .

[@bikerdood1100]

No I didn’t I’m doing the two strokes in there own video

[@johncunningham4820]

@@bikerdood1100 OK . All good .

[@stevenmoran4060]

1970’s Honda disc brakes worked well in the wet if you had them drilled. Remember sending mine off to Leeds for drilling and never had a problem in the wet again.

[@bikerdood1100]

It did make ventilated disc popular but fundamentally the Japanese used the wrong materials for their breaks

[@rogerjohnson8540]

Mmmm, nice vid, but for my list I would have included at least 1 of the two stroke triples and added the Yammie MT09 as well, and dropped the XS 750 and K75 to make space for them. That’s the fun thing with lists like this, no two people will agree!

[@bikerdood1100]

Naaa Two strokes are getting their own video.

[@rogerjohnson8540]

@@bikerdood1100 yeh, that’ll be fun to disagree with too! Look forward to it. Ride safe, mate.

[@speedtriplerider7853]

I had that first Trident the blue one from 1999 to 2021 and it never let me down ever, it was a brilliant bike. As the guy said top heavy but once you got used to it no problem. The engine was a peach and surprised many a sportsbike rider from the lights. Ran out of puff compared to the sports bikes at about 90 but it got there pretty quick. I saw 140 on the speedo on the autobahn. I sold it for a song to a mate so i could grab a bargain on the last of the speed triple 1050 rs black n yellow. my missus just wouldn't go for me having 2 bikes so the trident had to go. at least it went to a good home at my mate's. genuinely great bike though and even though my speed triple is way better it kinda lacks a bit of character.

[@bikerdood1100]

Always fancied adding one to the fleet

[@carlarthur4442]

Great video, you don't see many K75c now days I bought one of a mate 15 years ago , he'd owned a K1000 but then got a k75c he said the k75c was smoother and better ride , I've been riding my K75c for 15 years with no problems , their easy to work on doing my own services & cheap to do in comparison with more modern bikes , their a bit of a marmite bike you either like or loath them , but on a practical note you get over 50 m p g they go forever cheap insurance and if you've owned one they grow on you , they can gallop along as well .😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Yes definitely better than the 1000 Where are they now I wonder

[@triumphrider9796]

The Laverda is just gorgeous. While the Trident line was significant in the resurrection of Triumph, the T595 Daytona and T509 Speed Triple are a bit more fabulous; granted I'm biased as I have a '97 T595. Clean sheet design, nothing in common with earlier models, motor developed in conjunction with Wilcox Engines (I sourced my exhaust from them, wish I'd popped for the full engine kit that bumped it up to 142hp at the crank, no longer available at the time I inquired about it.) Totally intoxicating sound and feel. Good to see the Yamaha, a friend had one.

[@bikerdood1100]

I felt the earlier bike more significant and I kind of like their chunky styling

[@triumphrider9796]

Cool. No argument there, style preferences are largely personal opinion. I happen to think my Daytona is one of the more beautiful designs for a road bike, not in the same league as a Ducati 916 or MV Agusta F4 though. I saw an MV Agusta F4 Senna on the sales floor of a local dealer a few years ago, that is one beautiful bike. First time I saw a 916 I thought, that's not a motorcycle so much as a piece of sculpture you can ride.

[@touchingthecloth]

I had both the Jota- absolutely wonderful, tho slightly dodgy electrics and the yam xs 750- light, easy to ride, but guzzled oil and ultimately munched its' pistons and con rods...

[@bikerdood1100]

Yamaha did seem to have quite variable built quality backing the 70s some found the XS solid some terrible with a great number somewhere in between I like the style and design of the Yam but the Jota is on another level entirely

[@wymple09]

The 850 variation from Yamaha was a wonderful piece. This list is incomplete without the Suzuki Water Buffalo.

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes are in the next one

[@petergort3697]

One little mentioned factoid about the Laverda : its alternator did not charge the battery below 3,500 rpm. Not a problem on the highway but could be really annoying around town. A friend owned one...a first model Jota hotted up a bit.

[@bikerdood1100]

I’ve heard that strange I wonder if the gearing to the alternator was compromised

[@mickkent1826]

The exhaust growl from the classic (69-75) Triumph Trident/ BSA Rocket 3 is awesome. Pity we didn't hear them in full roar. Time has been kind to the initially derided styling.

[@bikerdood1100]

Styling looks cool now but ott in 69

[@MrPlownds26]

The Jota is the only bike that freightened me. Big ,top heavy, ground out on bends and brutally quick. I didn't feel the k75 was good for hustling through the twisties but it went O.K.

[@bikerdood1100]

Don’t believe BMW thought about the K75 as a sportster in the true sense

[@alistairshaw3206]

I have never owned a 3 cylinder machine. Singles, twins, and fours. I did have a poster of an XS750 on my bedroom wall as a teenager. I was looking at a BSA Rocket 3 a couple of years ago. I was waiting for the owner to kick start it, but I was disappointed as it had been converted to electric start😮

[@bikerdood1100]

I expect the electric start was pretty expensive

[@davidrochow9382]

That green Triumph Trident looks very much like my 95 Yamaha XJ 900 Diversion minus 1 cylinder . Right up to the black rubber grommets on the motor.

[@bikerdood1100]

Interesting because of the course the Triumph is older 🤔

[@margaretparminter7987]

I have a friend with a Laverda Mirage.....I know when he is coming to visit when he gets to within about 3 miles 😂

[@bikerdood1100]

Sounds about right

[@mrsilbo6499]

Where's the H1 or H2 Kwak then? 🤔 I went to the NEC show one year on the back of a mate's XS750. That seat was like a plank.

[@bikerdood1100]

Four strokes first then two strokes in the next video

[@124SpecialT]

Hopefully we’ll see them in part 2? 😀

[@bikerdood1100]

That’s the plan

[@mrsilbo6499]

@@bikerdood1100 Excellent. I've had an S1C 250 and an S2A 350 Kwak over the years. Cracking bikes!

[@Jay_Speed]

My brother had a Yamaha XS750, very good bike never any problem. He had the model with the 24L tank so excellent range. The bike was killed of and almost my brother with a drunken woman running a red light and going in to his left side.

[@bikerdood1100]

That’ll do it

[@mrblanche]

I had a Yamaha 750 3. It was the biggest bike I ever had. The "torque jacking" effect of the shaft drive was pretty annoying, but it was a beast, no doubt about it. I have always wanted a Suzuki water buffalo 730 3, but it hasn't happened.

[@bikerdood1100]

Had almost exclusively shaft drive bikes, the jacking thing is barely noticeable if I’m honest and invisible after a while as you get use to it

[@mrblanche]

@@bikerdood1100 I've had both chain drive and shaft drive bikes, and both the Yamaha 750, and to a lesser extent the Honda 500 V-Twin, had the jacking effect. I haven't ridden anything like a GoldWing or anything more modern to compare them to.

[@steverogers1036]

I had an XS850 years ago, full fairing and 3 into 1 pipes. Was a brilliant touring bike and I put 130ks on it in 6 yrs, unfortunately I sold it to a mate in Adelaide and hvent

[@steverogers1036]

Nd I haven't seen it since 😢

[@bikerdood1100]

Good mileage for a bike of the period

[@patchthesinclair5896]

A video on the subject of British v twins of the 1930s would be of great interest to me. The best known engine being the JAP but Matchless, BSA and others (?) produced examples too.

[@bikerdood1100]

BSA did do some nice V twins including the 500 supplied in god numbers to the MOD

[@peterjohn3123]

I owned a 80 xs 850,never had a problem with it. It did start leaking oil from the middle cylinder,but it did not cause a issue..

[@bikerdood1100]

850 was much the better bike

[@michelguevara151]

beware XS750s, they had a factory recall for self dismantling gearboxes and any engine number not over stamped, indicating this mod, should be avoided. they also had a big problem with overheating on the centre pot, causing head warpage and in extreme cases, blowing up the centre pot. I know all of this because I bought one, and blew up the centre pot. I only bought it because I had wanted a motorbike since I was 6 years old and saw one in hapstead in london when it was brand new, and thought to myself, "I'm going to buy that when I grow up." turns out the one I bought was exactly the same bike I had seen, reg STD700S! to cure the overheating, you will need to upjet the centre pot to make it run cooler, then, as long as you gearbox has the mod stamp, it's a stable and torquey plot that's fairly frugal to run. the seat is enormous and can easily carry a family of five, the shaft drive makes knackered swingarm bearings a discovery in 'maleable steering', in left handers you can tighten your line by easing off the throttleand the whell banks more than you do lol

[@bikerdood1100]

True Covered a lot of these in another video Overheating was improved with a switch to Electronic ignition Was a common problem with all triples in the 70s Trident Suzuki GT Kawasaki etc

[@michelbrown1060]

About the XS-750 f from 1979 I had one for many years. . Yes if you were not causcious on a 1- 2 shift, it would fail in the first year. . But for all the rest, In Canada,s model, at least, among it's piers. it was the fastest on acceleration, torque, comfort , a real sofa of a seat, and it had the higher top speed of all the 750 air cooled of the year ☺Oh yes; the SOUND 🤩. . the most pleasing sound of the industry. . And a true fun to experiment the tunel's resonnance frequency 🤣

[@bikerdood1100]

Not sure about the top speed looking at the publications of the time but definitely a good sound

[@michelbrown1060]

@@bikerdood1100 Among the other air cooled 750, I was fastest not by much but none of my friends could keep up with me. . sometimes barely a walking pace speed advantage but I was the king , , then the 4 valves per cylinders arrived and I was done. . .😏

[@brodiejones2028]

3 cylinder engines sound so good. Gary Johnson's MV Augusta at the Isle of Man is surely one of the all time great exhaust notes. If you're lucky enough to have been to a current MotoGP event, the Triumph engined Moto2 bikes are far and away the best sounding bikes in the paddock. The V5 Honda's and in particular, the Kenny Roberts V5 sounded better but they were sadly replaced with the current crop of aurally inferior 4's.

[@bikerdood1100]

I still miss the strokers but the triples do sound v nice

[@Jay_Speed]

The sound of the MV Augusta on Francorchamp was unbelievable, especially on Masta. But than the Yamaha XS1100 with Pat Evans on the Nurburgring was great as well.

[@pauldavies3764]

Neither my commando or T150V leaked a drop. But having changed oil in roadster i put slightly too much in tank and it threw it straight into new airfilter i had just received,COD,from Pride & Clark!

[@bikerdood1100]

Yep Some Guzzis can do the same thing Best not to be too generous with the oil

[@ivanrowland6353]

CB 175 and CB 200 please I preferred the 175 at the time first bike I thrashed one the road 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Main thing I remember about the 175 was how big the thing looked at the time

[@adrianrouse5148]

Honda nsr 400.???

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes next time

[@vipertwenty249]

I rode a Laverda Jota back in about 1980 or '81. Took it up to 120 and it started a slow fish tail weave so I shut it down. Doesn't like a light rider. Rode a Ducati 900ss ('76 model) a short time later and it was as solid as a park bench at 130. An old friend - now sadly no longer with us due to cancer - said the correct pronunciation of Jota was Yot-a - with the Yot as in Dot. He was a motorcycle dealer back in the late '70's and early '80's so I assume he was correct.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well the Jota was designed by a big guy for other big guys

[@vipertwenty249]

@@bikerdood1100 Yeah that's the conclusion we came to too.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The correct pronouncation of Jota is something like Hhotta as the italian J is pronounced as an H. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@vipertwenty249]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 With the 'o' as in hot or as in bone?

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

@@vipertwenty249 As in "hot".

[@jeffward9174]

You could have mentioned Triumph T150 & T160 and Suzuki GT 750.

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes in part 2 I mentioned the R3 instead as it’s essentially the same machine of course and I wanted to include the Trident 900 in particular because it was a sales success in contrast unfortunately to the T160 which is shown in the R3 part

[@jackbach8968]

Une bonne vidéo, merci à vous

[@bikerdood1100]

Merci 👍

[@thomasempacher9337]

The size of that ABS pump on the K75. Crikey!

[@bikerdood1100]

It is very last century

[@georgebarnes8163]

shows its car engine origins

[@paulmcb9070]

"Somewhere between twin cylinder and four cylinder..." You don't say.

[@bikerdood1100]

Yep In terms of behaviour, not cylinder numbers, I did hope the listener would have the intelligence to understand the point . It seems I was wrong 🙄🙄 I do love a nice dumb comment gives us all a good laugh

[@paulmcb9070]

@@bikerdood1100 I got it...

[@bitey6709]

If you'd ever ridden the Lav. for very long , you'd know why they weren't that popular. The weight of the clutch lever was OTT.

[@bikerdood1100]

Don’t forget the top heavy feel and level of commitment needed on the corners Heaven clutch is standard 70s Italian in my experience 😂

[@TheNobbynoonar]

My Suzuki GS750 was a right bastard! It used to run on 3 cylinders on a regular basis, does that count?

[@bikerdood1100]

No But electronic ignition is bloody marvellous Most of the time

[@petergort3697]

What about the mighty 2.3/2.5 litre Triumph Rocket 3, they certainly qualify as fabulous, and they've been around for a few years now.

[@bikerdood1100]

Do they though Or just morbidly obese 😂

[@Impulse5596]

Perhaps a Japanese import special. I have a Yamaha R1-Z 250cc two stroke

[@bikerdood1100]

I’m doing two Stoke triples next

[@timfeeley714-25]

I assume you're doing two strokes separately? You can't forget the GT 380 and 550 Ram Air.

[@bikerdood1100]

Of course

[@1067MarkB]

So the "fabulous" Yamaha XS made the cut but somehow the iconic Kawasaki 750 & 500 triples didn't? Yikes, ok.. 🤔

[@charliepatterson9321]

I can't help but to wonder the same . I don't know near as much about nomenclature or history as this man does although I thought I was going to see kawasaki featured here . I'm thinking the kawasaki was dubbed the " water buffalo " because it was also liquid cooled ? I can't remember ???

[@bikerdood1100]

Obviously I’m giving two strokes their own video 🙄

[@markbrown4127]

I had an XS750, truly one of the worst bikes I've ever owned, so unreliable you'd think it was made of chewing gum

[@alanhardy3374]

GUY DON'T LIKE 2 STROKES

[@charliepatterson9321]

@@alanhardy3374 tell us you haven't seen many of his videos without telling us you haven't seen many of his videos.

[@steveparish9210]

I loved laverda s!

[@bikerdood1100]

Many do

[@lesklower7281]

You didn't include the GT750 GT550 and the GT380 but l do remember all these motorcycles and K series BMWs because with the 750 and 1000 for all there range it was the same bike just with the fairings and paniers bolted on very smart of BMW

[@bikerdood1100]

Next video

[@lesklower7281]

@@bikerdood1100 Very good l owned a GT380 and a GT750 looking forward to the video

[@bikerdood1100]

@@lesklower7281 out this week

[@lesklower7281]

@@bikerdood1100 Good

[@Francey4782]

I coulda sworn my mate's Laverda was a 750 triple. Coulda been a twin, it's a long time ago.

[@bikerdood1100]

If it was a 750 it would have been a twin

[@jamesweber4938]

The Jota got a lot of attention when it appeared on the market.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well it was pretty much the fastest bike in production before the CBX

[@jamesweber4938]

@@bikerdood1100 For me the attraction were the Jota's styling, not the high speed figures.

[@timbenesh3053]

My Triumph Sprint GT 1050 is a triple has 130hp and supposedly does over 160mph. Not with me on it but I've done over 135 with 1 gear to go...

[@bikerdood1100]

Tut tut

[@rover100bunson]

now you have to do the 3 cylinder 2 strokes

[@bikerdood1100]

I started on it before the four stroke video was published Of course 🙄😂

[@michelbrown1060]

My sister had a K75 sport model. . . A hard wood plank of a seat and an annoying delay on acceleration. . 🙄

[@bikerdood1100]

Probably the efi They were in their infancy

[@michelbrown1060]

@@bikerdood1100 right. . .

[@tcrtcr2848]

My cropredy liberator jota clocks @3m57s :)

[@bikerdood1100]

Er ok 😎

[@investigatechannel]

the common 4 cylinder (4T) engine has one ignition every 180 degrees of the crankshaft, up to here so far so good, the only way to overlap the power strokes to make an engine more powerful, efficient and smooth running is to add more cylinders, here typically the option is to go for an even number of them in order to spread the sits on a crankshaft such as 6 or 8, and arrange them in "V" configuration to shorten the crankshaft, camshaft, manifolds, block, etc. ... some manufacturers go for a "cheap way to achieve this" with 5 cylinder engines making their own-and-everyone-else's life complicated with 720 degrees/5 cylinder = 1 ignition every 144 degree turn of crankshaft and all the weird design features to save 1 cylinder per engine (like a cheap 6 cylinder engine somehow achieving the overlapping of the power strokes). I can understand big engines are a bit of a pain to fit in a motorcycle frame and due to the limited weight of them (motorcycles compared to cars) smaller 4T engines with no overlapping of the power strokes as an "affordable sacrifice" (4 or less cylinders), ...now; what I fail to understand is that having V4 engines (with a block as long as a 3 cylinder) someone still goes through the trouble to design one when with a two-cylinder engine would suffice without looking like "a cheap and complicated 4 in line" (or half a V6 if you ask me) if you just don't want to fit a four cylinder engine, I honestly fail to find anything practical about it, I was always told that the best rule in engineering is to "keep it simple".

[@bikerdood1100]

Of more pressing importance to a motorcycle builder today would be cost effectiveness The classical 4 firing order is as much about simplicity as anything else after all if you waste a spark then you only require two sets of points in the old days. 6s are all well and good but very expensive Ditto V4s There’s a good reason parallel twins are on the rise

[@investigatechannel]

@@bikerdood1100 quote "There’s a good reason parallel twins are on the rise". totally get the feeling on that sentence, as I would choose so myself if there is no chance for a 4 cylinder (I ain't much of a racer myself, and I have to admit I prefer twin cylinder engines). you crack me up talking about motorcycle builders now a days after seen the classics in the video, manufacturers and customers naturally look at the relation between quality-price each one from a different side of the equation, shame that "having the money to pay for it" does not imply "knowing what I'm about to buy", if so being a manufacturer would be way more difficult. cool motorcycles in the video nevertheless I have to admit.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@investigatechannel I do prefer a twin myself if I’m honest I do own both modern and older bikes and am interested in bikes of all periods Had a lot of fours over the years and do find them a bit So so I think compared to the industry of the 90s for example there simply isn’t that much money in the industry and this is showing in the move always from 4s and in the poorer overall build quality now evident in the industry

[@investigatechannel]

@@bikerdood1100 for "things of life" I do not have a motorcycle right now (maybe soon) but I had a few over the years, my first bike as a young fella back in my country was a Ducati road 250cc '75 (I bought this one in a box taken apart and I put it all back together myself with the little notion I had), then I moved to UK and got myself a VT700 (some grey American import), then I had a VF 500, a VF750 and finally a VF1000, while I was studying engineering at south London and I'm a great fan of classic British bikes, they are the only ones that make me turn my head and not look in the direction I'm going, but life pushed me to end up working on cars and industrial machinery/tools, and on 2020 I moved back to Spain (did my own version of brexit) I have watched some of your videos and seen you are British and also seen some of your bikes, my upmost respect mate, I miss all that.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@investigatechannel we are now into double figures The problem isn’t buying motorcycles It’s being able to let go and sell one to make room 😂😂

[@keithroberts5611]

My best mate bought à Laverda jota back in the day,Nothing but trouble in regarding reliability (Italian) But the carburetor gave the most grief, From sticking flot slider to niddle size, And many flat spots in engine performance, I think my mate said they should change the name from Laverda jota to Laverda joker,!! 😅

[@bikerdood1100]

Well laverda didn’t make the own carbs of course Hade the same type on a Guzzi which were fine The idea that all Italian bikes are unreliable was put around by those who couldn’t afford them a brought an alleged reliable Honda ( cam chain ) Which of course didn’t look or sound nearly as good Italian poor reliability is as big a myth as German reliability

[@danweyant4909]

Had a '91 K75s for nearly 10 years- thats a long time for me. Great bike. Comfortable, Excellent in the wet. Fast enough. I missed seeing any of the Suzuki triples - had a GT380 as a high schooler, it stayed under control inspite of myself and I think their family of triples- the 550 and water Buffalo were significant, despite being two stroke. (I know, read the comments first) Lastly - You gave all of the relevant dates for the Yamaha, but none on the Laverda - I'm just curious how they compared time-wise.

[@bikerdood1100]

I felt the two strokes deserved their own video

[@danweyant4909]

@bikerdood1100 I got that

[@BanjoLuke1]

A good list, although most are unknown to me outside photographs and occasional sightings. The XS750/850 was briefly a courier favourite (no chain wear). I used to visit regularly a bike shop next door to Motodd in the late '80s. That was the strange basement furnace where they built some of the ugliest, most beautiful Laverda triples. Strange, metal monsters that sounded strange, loud and a bit Satanic. I rarely saw one other than at the shop. The only one of your list I rode a fair bit was the K75. It was always deeply uncool, but I thought it did everything extremely well. Not a bike to get emotional about, but a very sound machine - and more engaging, nimble and rideable than the slightly lumpy K100. I thought it would sell well, but it was one of those evolutionary cul-de-sacs. Good video with some nice noises. 😊

[@davecooper3238]

I nearly purchased a new K75 but the fact that it cost more or less the same as a K100 put me off.

[@bikerdood1100]

Always quite likes the K75s much less blocky looking that the 100

[@davecooper3238]

@@bikerdood1100 There were a couple of people on rally scene who ran K75s engines apparently even smother than the K100. I borrowed a K100 for a couple of days just after launch. It was like riding a big electric motor. Power all the way up to full revs. Also much, much smoother than my CX500.

[@BanjoLuke1]

@@davecooper3238 "Electric motor". Spot on. The perfect comparison. It was almost forty years ago and I can feel it (or not feel it) still. Hit the nai right on the head.

[@john-wq8kf]

Rode a laverda jota before I bought my ducati 900 ss from a kam motorcycles NorthShields the laverda was all hyped up back then but I thought it handled poorly and as for speed no way would I have liked to have taken it over 100

[@bikerdood1100]

We’ll definitely more powerful than the Duke, with a top speed of 137 in the mid 70s it was a fair bit quicker than the Duke, the Duke was certainly more nimble. Mr Laverda was well over 6ft so the bike is designed to fit him. So for those under the 6ft mark the can be a handful But slow Naaaa

[@john-wq8kf]

Well I’ve been riding since 1964 my Italian scenario came in 1976 I was hyped by the so called Jota but after riding it down the A 19 I certainly made a decision that the Ducati 900 was better in every way. The 900 felt and handled far better than the lumpy clunky Jota and yes I had the experience to make that decision. I nearly bought the MV Augusta that kam motorcycles had in their shop, but it seemed a very complex bike for servicing etc. So that’s my take on all the hype around the Laverda as well as my Ducati I also had a little Moto Morini 350 v twin now that was a good little Italian bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@john-wq8kf well it’s designed by a very tall guy for other very tall guys For them it’s fine And could be intimidating. But still extraordinary fast by 70s standards

[@allwinds3786]

"joeta"😂

[@bikerdood1100]

It’s a Spanish Dance I know but I’m not pronouncing the thing as per the original Spanish I do hate pretentiousness So tiresome Don’t you agree ?

[@marcwiart5657]

Thank you for the Laverda triple love 180 or 120 crank been memorizing me from the age of 17. The rocket's exhaust weird pipes must have paved the way for the re5's wack jobs.🤭

[@bikerdood1100]

More fireball XL5 to me ( a 60s puppet show )

[@Cantabinexile]

The Yamaha also handles like a pig. The Hinckley Triples are a great bike to ride and sound great with a 3 into 1 aftermarket exhaust

[@bikerdood1100]

Yamaha did seem to struggle with this bike early on

[@harriseppanen5207]

Where's the Suzuki GT series? 380,550 and 750.

[@bikerdood1100]

2 strokes are the next video

[@harriseppanen5207]

@@bikerdood1100 OK, thanks for the update.

[@simonmetcalfe861]

GT750? and the range of smaller units, Kawasaki triples including the 250 which introduced a whole generation of 17 year olds into multi's

[@bikerdood1100]

Two strokes in part 2

[@michelguevara151]

kawasaki designed the triumph engine, the spine frame was also used by kawasaki on their GPZ900R. I was only interested because a pal of mine bought the very first trident 900 off the line. I wasn't pleased. I had tried to sell my design to john bloor, he just took my ideas and flipped me off. I would never buy one because of this, despite the trident being the production version of my original design. I also introduced the concept of modular design in the motorcycle world, as evidenced in triumph's first series, suspension changes, different camming, same frame, same engine, a tourer, a roadster and a trailie. whish I'd known more about copyright, it makes patents look like a scam to take your money.

[@bikerdood1100]

Kwawsaki did not design the Triumph engine Although they did visit the factory in Japan so there is some influence but that’s about it Anything else is pure pub myth If you look at a frame it closely resembles the old T140 OIF chasis which isn’t surprising as some of the Truimph designers had previously worked at Meridan So did Kawasaki copy the Triumph spine frame from 1971 ? Is a more appropriate question incidentally the Laverda Jota frame is also very similar so member Kawasaki copied that ??

[@Errol.C-nz]

well.. that was a bit one eyed mainstream.. not a 2-stroke triple & their unique wonderful sounds anywhere.. Triumphs monster longitudinally mounted Rocket3 or mention of another 2ltr plus monster the glorious sounding Feuling W3.. Aprilias first attempts 900 triples in the motogp 800 class rule

[@bikerdood1100]

Well it’s for road bikes and I’m doing two strokes next because they need their own video Obviously 🙄 You can’t go out and buy a MOTOGP bike so again should have their own video, I only include 5 bikes at a time to limit run time so only so many per video

[@michaeltelemachus5112]

The Jota was a great machine, but the green Mirage version was a better bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well the 120 crank bikes were better really but everyone prefers the sound of the earlier machines 🤷🏽‍♂️bikers ?

[@michaeltelemachus5112]

@@bikerdood1100 The green Mirage was 180 crank