PS mixed issue sampler - last updated Jul18

Oddball bikes
Aimed squarely
at the USA,
yet still wilfully
weird
Yamaha FZX750
1986-1988 749cc liquid-cooled, dohc,
20v inline-four, 94bhp, 204kg
What is it? Factory hot-rod powered by Yam’s
epic 20-valve inline-four; if the V-Max and FZ750
got it together, this would be the result.
Why so odd? Like corn-dogs, waxy chocolate and
reimagined historical events, the FZX Fazer was
aimed squarely at the American market. Lazy
raked-out steering, nitrogen sealed-cell twin
shocks, awkward blocky styling, and bizarre
16/15-inch wheels were never going to have
Europeans reaching for their wallets.
Why you want one: The FZ-derived motor is
an absolute peach. Flexible, powerful and
willing to launch a tidal wave of torque in any
gear and any revs, it suits the FZX’s street rod
intentions to a tee. Launch this thing away
from the lights and little else will keep up. Just
don’t expect to whip around the fast
approaching corner with any ease.
Values: £500-£2500
Harley-Davidson VR1000
1994-1995 996cc liquid-cooled, dohc, 8v
60-degree V-twin, 135bhp, 176kg
What is it? All-American superbike, ultimately
doomed by a lack of on-track success and a horrific
price tag.
Why so odd? It looks like nothing else, and its
development story saw all sorts of left-field ideas
(many from Erik Buell when he was involved, like a
fuel-in-frame design that was eventually dropped).
It’s very un-Harley, too – whether that’s good or
bad is up for debate – having had everyone from
Harris to Cosworth involved in the build process .
Why you want one: Underneath it all, however, is a
sweet-handling superbike that’s refreshingly and
deliberately unlike its European or Japanese rivals.
But only 55 were built for homologation purposes
and at $49,000 new (later reduced to $34,000),
finding one could be a life-long search. And when
you do, it ain’t gonna be cheap or anywhere near as
good as a Ducati.
Values: £30,000-plus
Ducati Paso
1986-1992 749cc a/c, (904cc l/c) sohc, 2v
90-degree L-twin , 72bhp (90),195kg (205kg)
What is it? An Italian sports tourer; the result, we
suspect, of an extremely boozy lunch.
Why so odd? There was never going to be a time
the world would be truly ready for the Fabio
Taglioni designed Paso. It looks as deliberately
bonkers today as it ever did, and that is a large
part of its distinctive charm.
Why you want one: Go for the later 907ie and
you’ll have a comfortable, capable, if slightly
daft-looking, continent crusher with an undeniably
Latin flavour. If you’re going to buy Italian, you may
as well jump in with both feet, right?
Values: £2500-£4000
“IF YOU’RE
GOING TO BUY
ITALIAN, YOU
MAY AS WELL
JUMP IN WITH
BOTH FEET,
RIGHT?”
Named after the great
Italian rider Renzo
Pasolini. Not sure he’d
have been too happy
about that
Blame Bimota
and theirTesi
for efforts
like this
Yamaha GTS1000
1993-1994 1002cc liquid-cooled, dohc,
20v inline-four, 102bhp, 246kg
What is it? Tech-packed sports tourer that was
just too far ahead of the curve to be a success
back in the 1990s. A pig to work on, too.
Why so odd? There hasn’t been a satisfactory
upgrade on the humble telescopic fork as yet.
Many have tried, but none have proven
significantly better to consign the tele to the
dustbin of history. Yam had previously shown
us the Morpho 400 concept bike, but the
production version – the GTS1000 – wasn’t
any better than, say, a CBR1000, despite
all its tech.
Why you want one: It’s unlikely any
manufacturer will build a bike like the GTS
again. It represents a moment in history, albeit
an unsuccessful one. Even so, the GTS isn’t a
bad bike, and as a comfortable tourer it excels.
Having an EXUP motor doesn’t hinder it either.
Values: £1500-£3000
Yamaha Zeal 250
1991-1992 249cc liquid-cooled, dohc, 16v
inline-four, 40bhp, 145kg
What is it? Short-lived Japanese market street
four with a strange mix of old and new tech.
Why so odd? Any bike styled to mimic a swimming
dolphin, as the Zeal apparently was (we can’t see it
either), is by definition a bit odd. Despite an
FZR250 derived engine with a 14,500rpm rev
ceiling, the Zeal is softer than a marshmallow on a
bed of feathers. Even in Japan’s monstrously
gluttonous home market of the early 1990s the
Zeal only managed two years in the range before
being given the flick.
Why you want one: If rarity value presses your
buttons you may well covet this strange Yamaha,
but if that’s the case hang out for a Honda Hornet
250 instead. It’s a better bike in every respect.
Values: £800-£2500
Honda VF750S
1986-1988 748cc liquid-cooled, dohc, 16v
90-degree V4, 82bhp, 225kg
What is it? A whole lot of trouble, and the worst
possible showcase for Honda’s then new V4 layout.
Why so odd? Honda’s V4 tech was always
supposed to be the springboard for a new range of
sports and race bikes, so the firm’s decision to
Nice leathers, not so
sure about the lid, dead
certain about the bike
though – shocking
launch its first road going V4 in the
semi-cruiser 750S was odd to say the least.
It proved horribly unreliable and even a step
too far for the Americans. A disaster in every
respect. It almost sank the whole project.
Why you want one: Trust us, you really don’t.
Ever. An early VF750F with its factory recall
mods, now that’s a different proposition
entirely.
Values: £700-£1800
Kawasaki Xanthus ZR400
1991-1992 398cc liquid-cooled, dohc, 16v
inline-four, 53bhp, 168kg
What is it? Barking, that’s what. No manufacturer
has built anything like the Xanthus (Achilles’ horse
in Greek mythology) before or since – a shame.
Why so odd? Back in ’92 with its twin-stacked
silencers and multi-sectioned aluminium frame the
Xanthus screamed modernity in a way that made
even cutting edge sportsbikes of the time look
ordinary. Almost a quarter of a century later the
Xanthus still packs a mighty visual punch.
Why you want one: ZXR400 motor in a bonkers
chassis, stripped back and naked for all the world to
see. Being a home market model, and only here as a
grey import, this 400 Kwak is a rare find too, so it’ll
always pull a crowd. The stock cans are a must.
Values: £1500-£3000
70 Practical Sportsbikes
Practical Sportsbikes 71