Superduke versus Kawasaki H2

OK, so as we all predicted the two bikes are incomparable.

There's nothing to compare between the two in any sense of fair appraisal. If you did this then the SD wins. On every level. Of course it does.

But as to the riding experience and the buzz you get from riding then there is a healthy debate to be had. Been riding about on the H2 for over a week now and it's been a full on regression into memories of my early biking years and nostalgia for times gone by. As I posted before, there are many things that you have to get used to, the shit brakes, the slow way it turns, the suspension that is barely more advanced than a horse and cart. But it has some characteristics that are not to be found on modern bikes.

Throwing your leg over, it's small and flat, like getting onto an ironing board. No sense of 'sitting in it", you just spread your legs over a plank, but the seat is so comfy and well padded, it's like an armchair. US spec bars feel like a chopper and it's so low that both feet easily place flat flat on the floor. Starting procedure is nostalgic, petrol on, choke lever pressed, footrest up and kick-start lever out. Big kick lever, bit too high for comfort, high compression when cold with a risk of kickback, nothing like a four stroke but still respectable and worth being aware of. Prod, prod, prod. Takes about three kicks from cold then fires into life with a cacophony of clatter, rattle and smoke. Choke off and blip the throttle to clear everything up and warm the engine.

Into first, (up on the lever, it's a five up gearbox with neutral at the bottom), then up the revs and off. Don't need too many revs to clear the engine, less than you'd think, it has loads of low down torque, more than my 400S3. Turbine smooth with that unique triple induction sound from the standard air-box. I remember it much louder with K&N filters but as standard it feels like a jet engine. Hit 4000 RPM and things start to change, surge of power and the vibrations increase. By 5-6RPM the engine feels like it's going to vibrate itself to bits but it's still on the up and the power is just coming on. Then madness till the red line. Bonkers!

Handling is so much better than I thought it would be or remember from my old days on these bikes. I think the legend has overtaken the reality. It aint that bad. Skinny tyres, rudimentary suspension, thin frames, whatever. This bike is OK, it's pretty steady, compared to modern bikes it's a very slow steerer but the wide bars help muscle it about. Tyres are old style but modern compound, probably still shit but given the restricted ground clearance are OK. Got both sides of the pipes down on my first outing so there are definitely limits to cornering that you have to adjust to.

Brakes are absolutely my major problem. There aren't any! Seriously, they are truly shit and the inability to stop or plan for reactive, evasive action in an emergency really disturb me! Already on at the triples forums to try and find out what to do about this. Don't care about originality or anything, I need to get a decent brake set up on here or it will affect my enjoyment of using the bike to it's potential. I remember these wooden, feeble excuses for brake set up - I think they caused more crashes and deaths of my friends than any other factor in the 70's and '80s.

But when you get riding there's nothing like it! The noise, the smell, the vibration. It's all part of a package that brings back so memories to me, battling with Yamaha LCs, Suzuki GS750s, Honda CBs and all the RD250 and X7s for dominance of the roads to our local bikers hangouts round the B roads of Lancashire in the late '70s and early '80s. Petrol consumption is truly terrible, not worked it out yet but it's between 25 and 30 miles to the gallon.

Anyway, set off to London yesterday and broke down four miles from home. Ignition failure on central cylinder so I had to limp home on two.

Not to be deterred I set off again on the Superduke, first time for over a week. What a difference!! Sorted brakes, rail-like handling, much more power and torque - a different league altogether. Got there super fast, no mechanical problems, no worries. Made me fall in love with the 990 all over again!

It makes me glad that I have the option of which bike to ride.

nah, like driving a Model T Ford. sure it would be fun initially but id miss the huge improvement modern technology has brought.

No, it's like driving a 1970's AC Cobra.

yeah but Cobras are still considered fast!

Don't be mean! It still feels fast, especially when you know it can't stop

+1 what SDnerd said..
B 4 I read SDnerds comments I was going to say look for a whole front end to swap it out with. Save your parts for when you want to sell it.
Modern forks, disk brakes, new hub, alloy rim with spokes minus tube. That should set you towards this day and age more so. Updated shocks in the rear and Bobs your Uncle

I had a ride on an RC30 recently , old bikes look awesome , however anyone thats reshagged an old gilrfriend will realise that you imagination has bigged up your memory of the event.
The bike was really wank to ride in comparison to what i envisaged it would be

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

Best two old bike I have ridden were both Honda's. A VFR400 and a CBR400 baby blade from the late 1980's. The blade especially was light, handled great, made 60HP at 14K rpm and was a total giggle to throw about if you were happy to wring its neck.

Would like to have an old two smoker if I had room in the garage. With drops, loud expansion chambers and a knife edge power band it would look and smell great but mostly as an object than an actual riding experience. Glad you are loving the Kwakker Bic, that's all that matters really

Here's the thing as I see it. Double up the disks and good master, maybe look for a Z1 front end to keep it looking stock. But now those, (guessing), 35mm forks will be showing how stiff they aren't. You'll start riding faster and need more clearance, you'll need those Denco chambers now. Pushing it in the corners and seeing how much frame flex there is, ( and why they were considered poor handlers), it's time to modify the frame, hell even full frame swap maybe. Modern fork swap at least with a set Ohlins rear shocks. Next, mat black carbon and the rest of the bike blacked out
I think you should have bought the tuned bike. Some of the work and expense would have already been done

Just jealous, my 750 was a fun beast. Nice wide power band. Not like my built rz350 that had a narrow band that hit hard and could surprise, not always in a good way...


Edited for autocorrect errors...