Superbikes With Soul - Classic Sportbikes

Freddie Spencer and Cycle World test the greatest superbikes, old and new. How do the superbikes of the 80's and 90's stack up against today's modern sportbike.
Featuring the following vintage sportbikes
1989 Yamaha FZR750RR 0W-01
1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 0W-02
1992 Ducati 888 SP4S
1991 Kawasaki ZX-7R
1990 Honda RC30
2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE
1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 LE
2012 Suzuki GSX-R750 Yoshimura LE
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[@exnihilo415]

This video needs to be 50 minutes long and not 5. This is like sprinting through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tell us more!

[@franklinwilkerson2061]

That's exactly what I was gonna say!

[@Gma7788]

This is why they've invented simulations. You get to experience them and tune them.

[@MrIh8hondas]

The ZX-7R and R7 OW02 are hands down the two best looking bikes in this. I love the RSV4, but nothing will compare to the 7 with hoover tubes or the timelessness of the OW02.

[@techo61]

I'm hearing you...

[@peterkwakman7440]

Yep i had 2 hoovers,and the handling of the J1 was so much tighter than the H2

[@cliftonmanley3882]

@@peterkwakman7440 J model had the biggest headstock of any bike at the time.... the front axle was HUGE and it was hollow.... no other sport bike at the time had such a good front end.... none... the J2 was by far the best handler of all the ZXR750s released... up until today.... they still haven't matched it

[@Nycocor]

Bought my zx-4r almost just for these hoover tubes ^^

[@0121cole]

id go for a old school bike over a modern bike any day

[@curvecrazy]

Yes. Much more satisfying riding an oldie fast than the latest greatest. Makes other riders who’ve spent $20K or so on their newest greatest feel pretty stupid too. FTR

[@ManOfAttitudeLP1998]

Also because of no cats and carbs best Sound

[@LEllis-ui3lx]

@Polaris sportsman really?? I have ignorant mind that fi is 'easier' and don't wanna deal w carb bike bc I just wanna get up and go. Tell me why I should go to carb n not be scared

[@christopherking2128]

@@curvecrazy I keep telling my new mate his 2014 🔥 Blade its b/s slow & won’t keep up with a dirt bike , around town or on a mountain road . He Doesn’t comprehend the idea of a high-side.

[@vxlgsi]

Ride a v4 tuono that will change your mind... epic

[@stevecobblestone8829]

i got my zx7r brand new and still have it today....8nt never sellin it...

[@R1000BLUE]

my very first superbike was a 1991 ZX7R love the way it look, took it out to the backroad the very next day and crashed it, insurance salvaged it and I bought the 1991 CBR F2, saved my life :)

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

i always wondered: how those engine cope with high miles? good?

[@PHILIPWATSON82]

Love the 90s early 2000 bikes 🏍

[@Gma7788]

Two different eras. That approach isn't possible. They're very different machines and philosophy.

[@jdm2626]

Love the color schemes and those boxy headlights and double headlights.

[@TheCashman007]

R7 so beautiful

[@mavrick62910]

I miss my kawasaki zx750 so bad.. was my 1st ever street bike.. perfect bike I learned on... I took so good care of my bike.. I could actually keep up with most bikes and people were shocked.. I beat a dodge viper in a race. Dodge owner was shocked... Unfortunately someone ended up stealing my bike at my work.. had everything on camera, Unfortunately it was at night.. was hard to see the license plate on the truck.. Long story short, cops called me 2 months later to tell me they had my bike. Went to go look at and I walked right by it, didn't recognize it because it was just the frame, gas tank,tires and wheels.. everything else gone. Cops idenfied it by Vin number on frame.. I was completely heart broken.. ended up getting anouther bike yrs later. Got a 2002 929rr Honda cbr.. sick and even faster bike.. loved it. Ended up having to part ways 6 yrs later, due to new edition to my family and my daughter meant more to me to be 💯 percent dedicated to her as her dad... :) still miss riding though.. maybe some day I'll get anouther bike.. 🏍.

[@Homerdog42]

Brings back so many good memories.Late 80s early 90s Zx 7s, gsxr 750s cbr's. vance & hines and kerker exhaust

[@motomehanicar459]

Very nice to see these classics. You should make some comparison of classic bikes like GSXR 1100 1990 with some of modern bikes. That would really make a lot of us happy.

[@curvecrazy]

Get one in good mechanical shape, do a little suspension work, and every summer Sunday the rest of your life you can do your own comparisons with riders on the latest greatest hardware. That one could take a 1216 kit and set up right it would be a force to be reckoned with.

[@RickyJr46]

After getting used to its riding position I really loved riding my '92 ZX-7R. It was extremely confidence inspiring and fun!

[@Gma7788]

But medium revs. Sorry but for me, a pure sprinter, the high rev suzuki brand is the inspiring bike. If the revs are low, I'm in lazy mode.

[@getoutofthetimetrap5435]

Honda and Freddie just go together.... like forever......! Was there in June ‘93 Laconia NH to see Fast Freddie and Doug Polen and Scott Russel duke it out awesome time to be alive.

[@Gma7788]

Why is it so?

[@RickOAA]

Very cool. These bikes span my personal interest in sport bikes to the present.

[@sgt13echo]

I have a 1986 Suzuki GSX-R 750 and love it. The first GSX-R I had back in 1986 was red and black. The one I have today is blue and white.

[@NzbikersCoNzNZBikers]

great to celebrate the history and lineage of the bikes that brought us this far..

[@armydog1002]

Any chance of doing an old school v-twin showdown? Tl1000R, RC51, Ducati 996, SV1000R, etc.

[@michaellukic8156]

Wow the zx7r is so cool looking wish I had one

[@x-105strikefreedom]

love those twin headlamp styling! i always lust for these Japanese dual headlamp styling!

[@turbo311]

Too bad this wasn't a longer more detailed video. Gorgeous machines!

[@woooster17]

These are absolutely my kind of bikes.. shame they’re so expensive. I have a 99 Fireblade, GSXR750 SRAD, ZX12R, Aprilia RSV & ZXR H2 750.. and love them all. Would love these bikes.. gorgeous 😎

[@Gma7788]

You're not right. Limit yourself. Control yourself. Make a choice in life. You're unsuitable for most of these bikes.

[@Valkyrie11b]

@@Gma7788 Who are you to say what's suitable/unsuitable for him?

[@Joe-wv3pe]

Freddie Spencer is a true legend in two wheeled motorsports

[@cisforconnor6508]

I've had a lot of bikes and I must say, my old 1994 ZX7R was my favorite.

[@TheKelzer]

Well done guys! Wishing it was longer in duration, but cant complain otherwise. Bravo!

[@gorflunk]

The original GSX-R was an endurance racer. That explains the higher bars. Still, going from a GS to a GSX-R was like going from a propeller driven plane to a jet fighter back in 86.

[@jaygdav]

0W01 -- favorite!

[@jesusamador4661]

One thing I notice is how the Honda FireBlade is usually the bike used to compare the rest. It may not always be the fastest or the best handling but the impact they did to motorcycle racing is legendary. And they aged really really well.

[@polok890]

Saying the cbr900rr wasn't the best handling is putting it lightly. Horrible front end feedback and you could lose the front or rear end at any moment with no warning. But, what an awesome wheelie machine and incredibly fast and just beautiful to look at

[@jesusamador4661]

@@polok890 that’s the 900rr. I had thr 919 which was a quicker version of the original but the 954rr handles much better.

[@briandehaven2213]

I have 2001 zx7r I think it takes a different Rider to rock the old school I truly love this bike

[@Edison73100]

I have a 1997 916 and a 2008 1098R and I still want a RC30! The last new one I saw was at a dealership in San Bernandino in 1990 and I could not afford it and it sat there for month! Some lucky person finally bought it, I think out of state. I think parts for them are very rare and expensive though if you can even find them anymore.

[@brufnus]

I know this is about sportbikes, not sport tourers like my GSX 1100 EF (GS 1150 in the U.S.). However, as some of you know, this was the bike that took over where the Katana left, and at it's introduction it was the fastest series production bike to leave a factory. When it was introduced in Denmark in 1987, I was still educating as a truck mechanic and, thus, didn't have much money. However, I instantly fell in love with it, and during idle periods in the workshop I sat and drooled over the sales brochure. When I finally took the step and approached the dealer in the autumn of 1987, I was kindly told that it would be quite a lot cheaper in the spring of 1988, since the model was being discontinued - but they only had one left! So I paid a deposit and they promised to keep it for me. :-D I've had this bike ever since, and after a not-so-good period with little time and cash for maintenance or even driving it, I finally restored it in 2010 - an event which marked the beginning of a new era for the both of us. For years, I've travelled to much of Eastern Europe and Asia on it, in all sorts of environments. Especially the Caucasus region has given me some of my best experiences. I've had a few problems, but the bike as such is still going strong - and I've upgraded it with quite some items by now, and more are to come. The only "modern" bike I've ever had, is a GS 500 F, which filled the gap while I needed to restore the 1100. Frankly, the newer designs don't really appeal to me - they're probably much better in many ways; ABS, wide alu frames and broad rear tires, liquid cooled engines with injection, etc. etc. But I have a hard time believing they have the soul my oldschool Suzuki does. Besides, it's comfortable, good looking and has more than enough torque and horsepower to do the job at any load in any gear! :-D Even now, 30 years later, I'm still in love with my Suzuki.... :-*

[@Gma7788]

You say 'the job' but what is that? It's just how you go around corners and in a straight line. If you want to experience a racing way of travelling, just buy that product. The corners aren't changing. The way you experience them is. You experienced the touring way of going around a corner. Tourers are sort of holiday bikes. Racing bikes are for going round and round in circles. They're cornering and over taking bikes.

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

That fzrr though... beautiful

[@markmywords312]

Oh God, my dream garage!

[@allansrensen1480]

The superbikes back in the day was so much better looking than todays superbikes

[@justinsorci5998]

I own a 92 Ducati 888. Something that I would add to the info in the video is that you can accelerate much earlier on corner exits, because the 90 degree V-twin has 270 degrees of dead cycle between ignition firing, which allows the rear wheel to stay hooked up.

[@Gma7788]

Rubbish. With bikes, you're setting up corners 2 corners prior to the actual corner. You must do 2 corners in a particular way to get into position to corner the 3rd corner correctly. The faster you go the more planning you must do to get around the track safely. Those 2 first corners, you're not doing them as if they're single corners. You're going around them slowly so you can get into an ideal location on the track to execute the 3rd corner in the ideal way.

[@aikidragonpiper71]

You forgot the Eddie Lawson's 1982 Kawasaki KZ1000R, & the later ZRX 1100 & ZRX 1200R . The 80s super bike feel.

[@Gma7788]

Thousand CC bikes are all about reducing the bikes ability to get around the corners. Once you get around the corner, the bike springs back up to its highest ability level. They don't behave in the same way as the smaller bikes.

[@MrSimplesimon007]

The RC30 really was something else, my friend had one and it was just so special it did everything you wanted it to do, I had one ride but never pushed it because obviously didn't want to deck it, far superior to anything in its day, hence the price tag...

[@ZoneTelevision]

So epic. RC30 FTW !! ✌️😎

[@bowches]

The honda RC30's indicator is about to fall off at 4:04

[@RT22-pb2pp]

90s bikes had soul and style and at a glance ypu knew one brand from another. Enough tech to be fun but rider still controlled the bike. And best looking bikes ever made.

[@Porsche996driver]

Freddie is cool as a cucumber but crazy fast. He’d just outlast guys ha. Great collections of bikes. I need to ride a V4 one of these days ha. ✊🏼🏁

[@Sebastian_]

I just bought CBR 600 F PC23 from 1990 - mint condition from Swizerland dealer Honda( 15000km = ca 10000 miles ) This is my first bike since i did Driver licence 2 month ago ;) yeah . I'm 41 , and i tell you this baby thrill me so. 4 cylinder engine , and this noise up 7000 rpm - AWSOME ! Classic rulez yeah ;)

[@CASIUS242000]

nice video! please do some more and add some two stroke bikes

[@gandrazmaj8137]

Freddy Spencer the man the legend

[@michaellukic8156]

I love the 92 zx7R

[@cicciuzelite]

For not forgotten ✌🏻✌🏻

[@Krrrimmi]

1:13 1989 YAMAHA double headlights was my dreambike in highschool. Because of watching Kamen Rider. 🙌

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Keep up the classics, they never get old. How about my favorite, Kawi 750 turbo?

[@PHILIPWATSON82]

I think the 90s bikes look epic 😍🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆💯💯💯🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@and30ers]

Excellent video!

[@JojoCrazyCat]

I like the double headlight, you have a spare if one gos out.

[@AlexRib]

I was hopping to see a cbr 900rr from '92

[@shmSawi]

im in luv with this bike

[@raysanchez5267]

that Kawasaki and Yamaha rr, stunning

[@markgrice8088]

Fast Freddy Spencer :)

[@markusweber7445]

i bought a stock zxr J (like in the Video but not the RR) 3 Years ago for 1200 Euros, destroyed it on the Race Track in the same Year. It still hurts to see one, i really loved the Bike in the Time I had it. Now you pay 3 to 4000 for a good R and 5 to 6 for a RR which is still cheap compared to most bikes in the Video.

[@cbr600rrturbo]

old school bikes are fun as f*ck, the young punks will never get it

[@LOLTROLLKING968]

I know right.

[@zipper978]

And what exactly makes them more fun. I think you are mistaking nostalgia for fun

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

ZIPPER978 A lot of the early 90's stuff was very mechanical, which is something you can feel when you pilot the machine. I love new bikes, they're absolutely amazing, but they do not compare in sensory stimulation and feel to the older stuff. I spent a day at Thunderhill in 09 on a 1992 ZX-7RR and it was unquestionably the best time I ever had on a track with a bike (and I've ridden plenty). The bike was very fast, gave me NOTHING, and had more personality and soul than anything made today.

[@homoKaliptus]

***** what is new for you will be old for the next generation . so today's young punks will say the same about their actual bikes in the futur ...

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

HOSSAyNE Morocco Hell man, in 30 years I hope to reflect about how the 2016 R1S was so old school and analog because it ran on gas and had a shifter, and I'm 42.

[@schmuppetify]

Who broke the RC30's indicator?

[@andycruzatx3387]

I wanted to see the R7 in action. Man I wish they made those still.

[@peterkwakman7440]

Got a 2000 model ZX-9R three years ago,nostalga and unfinished business,what a fire cracker! But can somebody define if this was a millenium special,it rings a bell,i cant find out for sure,but it was what the seller said,who's way younger than me.This has a carbon can and is so well tuned,i do wonder,as at that time there was a lot happening...YZF-7R e.t.c.

[@jeanmour5483]

je possede une ZXR (L) de 1994 ( juillet 1994 )que j'ai entierement démonté et restauré de A à Z " .. je me régale une conduite presque sport avec une goutte de GT " sa va super bien ; à 61 ans le matin je vais à mon job avec le smilles...!!! aller les petits jeunes ; il faut suivre le vieux !!!

[@sulekhavishwakarma3905]

We must have the option to ride these classics

[@kembarajalanan1976]

Nice video

[@thescbaron]

No 1993 CBR900rr?

[@garrettsc]

thescbaron Not a superbike. Superbikes were 750cc and up to 1200 in VTWIN. The 900RR was an open class sport bike.

[@brittanyjackson1718]

The 929 and the 954 were sure as hell superbikes dude! I beat a lambo in a highway race with my 954

[@Psychonaut_]

Wait..... no first Gen Fireblade???? This test is incomplete.

[@krysistheabyss]

That aprillia is beautiful

[@sbklvr]

Niiice vid, love it. Gotta do a ycrs laguna 2018.

[@tonykartracer8032]

That Honda RC30......... ooooh-wee! :)

[@robertbassett5810]

I.HAD.A.93.900RR THAT TRIED TO KILL ME EVERYDAY BUT IT WAS GREAT BATTLE

[@masz6323]

Wher's the 96 Suzuki 750 SRAD?

[@frankyegi457]

I love my ZXR 750 !

[@michaellukic8156]

I want that zx7r so bad

[@rogernilsson_Swe]

Missing Yamaha RX 500, in My opinion it would be here!

[@markblackman2542]

freddie was brilliant on any Honda he was racing, 500 2 stroke v4 was the best tho

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

R7 may have been under powered. But it had F1 racing technology in that fuel system, setup..

[@darrellpoetker1635]

Good picks but no RC51?

[@Bucky916]

What about the 900rr and the 1000rr SP Such great bikes . Like the Vid CG guys !

[@sandertwist]

+Bucky96570 Lol 1000rr SP. Thats not a legendary bike at all.

[@Bucky916]

+Sander Twisk ehhh maybe not . Still a badass machine tho ... 900rr was a pretty badass bike in its time . I own a 99 currently . Great daily and canyon carver .

[@randyhobson6343]

just bought a 91 gsxr 750 2 days ago i love it i have a video up on my channel

[@planet6393]

Randy Hobson just bought my second Fzr 1000 it being a 1989 and the one I like best is my 87! Love em

[@stevenleek1254]

Motorcycle Royalty!

[@stanscheire2358]

Really nice collection, hoped for a more in depth comparison. What did they say actually? it's an inline 4, it's a v4, it's older, they're both nice, an rsv4 brakes good, blablabla... We already know those things! But thx anyway for the free video :)

[@GoodBalak]

Excellent motorbikes... Pity, I'll never get to ride most of them bikes... :

[@miragespl]

The FZR looks fucking beautiful. I'd love to own one even just the FZR250!

[@TheInfantry98]

I find it funny you guys have old guys riding old motorcycles. Lmao man

[@cenmike82]

First bike I owned 1990 zx750 Kawasaki brutally fast and hard kick 2nd 3rd but when u red lined it incredibly stupid speed lessons learned no abs no rev control u controlled this bike it didn't controlled u it just made u a better rider like it or not newer bikes u can turn drink a coke cola no problem lol

[@peterkwakman7440]

That year was my first Superbike,yeh ZXR,was amazing piece of kit!

[@fukkinkana]

cenmike82 that's the last zx7r i need to check off my list. I've had a 93-95 model. And I'm picking up a beautiful 96-03 model on thursday. And now i need to get a hold of a 89-92.

[@amonGustavo07]

Thats why old bikes are shit, because they arent comfortable lmao

[@michaellukic8156]

The zx7's are nice

[@billallen4793]

Those 750 kawi's with the air tubes in the fairing....mmmmm...from Wyoming USA 🔫🤠🇺🇸p.s stay safe

[@rarecat1716]

l Gring off a few grams of material off my Clip on Bar End Weights, Let Alone the Simple Front Peg feeler's .🚑😎🤓🛵🏍 l use Said Bar End Weight's Three fold Vibration damper's & they keep the grip's on & Don't need to Add unsprung Ride Weight & Don't Screw in upper fairing Socalled Slider's /Crash / Low side dumps Damage limiter's. those Bar end Grinder's keep me from low Sliding & pop me back up most of the time if the road is banked the right way.

[@draki12]

Can anyone tell me what the starting soundtrack is

[@SandervV555]

nick llenats ? offcource i know who Freddie is, but that guy from cycle world ?

[@fluffycat087]

Lol, er iconic 916 seems to be missing.

[@claudebaron9525]

Not necessarily the RR, but a simple ZX-7 R 1991/1992 , I’m a kinda tall size for sport bikes at 6’’2 and 240 lbs, but the ergonomics of the ZX-7 1991 was just kinda perfect for my size especially with the handlebars being far and low, my knees where cramps but from the knees I can safely say I never was comfortable from the legs but having my arms fully strech, it’s on this bike that I did my best breakwheely, but evide not with the 1991 tires, but around 1996 I had a ZX-7 1991 but with new Metzeler racestires , sur I’m not the best but I did pull a breakwheely at around 160/140 km/h, and I had many different bikes obviously I had Kawasaki in my hart having had almost every ninja ever existed 😂😂😂😂 But thisZX-7 R as a special places in my hart. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Gma7788]

No, well, there's a red version also. Don't you act like there was only the green version. You're not allowed to complain about bike fit. Tell your doctor about your complaints. These aren't beginners bikes. Complaints about fitment, ended many bikes ago.

[@Hieloxx]

Excellent video.. But for the records, that's not an RC-30, that beautiful bike is the NC-30, or also known as VFR 400R The RC-30 is the little brother of the RC-45 RC-30 = RVF 400 RR (this model have 2 air intake who came straight from the panel and end up in the Fuel tank) RC-45 = RVF 750 RR (same deal) In Japan, Europe, and some countries in South America such Chile has these little brother's version of these 90's beauties.. To me, if you really wants to ride or feel a real Superbike, you gotta have at least the experience of a 90's bike, that's the best age of the Super Bikes: FZR 400 RR SP "3TJ" (my favorite) CBR 400 RR Hurricane CBR 400 RR Gullarm ZXR-400 RR GSX 400 RR VFR 400 RR "NC-30" RVF 400 RR "RC-30" Big Brothers: CBR 900 RR Fireblade GSX 750/1100 RR Slingshot/ SRAD ZXR 750/900 RR FZR 750/1000 RR YZF 750 RR (93') and the most beautiful creation of HONDA: HONDA NR-750 I'm a 90's kid, and I will remember that until I became a grand father and I can tell crazy stories to my grandkids!!

[@Hieloxx]

***** You absolutely right man, I was kind of sleepy when I was watching the video yesterday, like almost 3:00am (I work night shifts) I remember the RC-30 now, thats the name of the VFR-750.. RVF400RR is "NC-35"

[@tonykartracer8032]

RC30....... from someone who actually knows bikes, and knows how to race them. Honda #1

[@homefront3162]

Eniron 929/954 and Rc-51 in the next one please

[@sirmasteryan4958]

noticed the r7 and the 750 ninja first

[@borri68]

Back when bikes were kick ass looking.

[@rocket2811]

how about the ZX7R ?

[@viveremilitareest9281]

I have a '92 facelift FZR 250. Absolutely awesome zippy bike, would floor a modern ninja 250 no worries. But the damn thing is only firing on 3 cylinders and i cant afford to repair it :( RIP

[@kritromulus6851]

'OLD SCHOOL' OF THE SUPERBIKER'S TEACHER ..'FAST FREDDIE' !?

[@irelandjam]

I've never heard of an R7 before.

[@AT2Productions]

Predecessor to the R1, it's also called the OW-02. It was a limited production just to get the bike eligible for WSBK races.

[@PHILIPWATSON82]

Kawasaki looks best

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

i have to agree with that

[@joshuaklein4151]

No 1993 cbr 900rr???

[@SolamenteVees]

Freddie picks a Honda? 😆 Me too, but give me the OE livery, please.