Back When You Wanted a Kawi
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Had to pull that card, didn't you? lol
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Smart advertising.
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9,103 Posts
There are some talented indviduals in that picture. Skilled at things all of us would enjoy, no doubt a lifelong memory would await anyone lucky enough to experience just a few minutes of their time.
The riders were pretty good too.
The riders were pretty good too.
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Wanting a Kawie street Bike started in 1980 for me...
1980... Z400FX Kawasaki... Japanese 4 unique to the home market... I
painted the wheels School Bus yellow and installed a Honda fairing and
tail cowl... It was deemed the Circus Wheeled Kawasaki by the Honda
factory workers at the Saitama Honda Plant they christened the frame
with a sticker "Made by Honda Motors LTD"...
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Sweet Mary my High School sweet heart...
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1981... While stationed in Wichita Kansas I ordered a new GPz550 from
East Side Honda... 3 days later I was off for a 1500 mile round trip
to New York and back... next summer I rode home to California and
back... I got the 3 spoke magnesium Dymags direct from Harris
Performance while on a TDY to England courtesy of the USAF...
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1980... Z400FX Kawasaki... Japanese 4 unique to the home market... I
painted the wheels School Bus yellow and installed a Honda fairing and
tail cowl... It was deemed the Circus Wheeled Kawasaki by the Honda
factory workers at the Saitama Honda Plant they christened the frame
with a sticker "Made by Honda Motors LTD"...
Sweet Mary my High School sweet heart...
1981... While stationed in Wichita Kansas I ordered a new GPz550 from
East Side Honda... 3 days later I was off for a 1500 mile round trip
to New York and back... next summer I rode home to California and
back... I got the 3 spoke magnesium Dymags direct from Harris
Performance while on a TDY to England courtesy of the USAF...
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9,103 Posts
I wonder how the premium Nankai leathers Chandler used (as well as a Doohan his whole career) compare to leathers today, only 15 years later?
For example, the gloves Doug has here look extremely simple, almost rudimentary. And yet back in the day I bet they cost as much as Dainese Full Metal do today. Tough to comment on the leathers, but it obviously doesn't even have a back hump, did he use a protector?
I look at bargain custom suits today (around $600 on Ebay with matching gloves), assuming the stitching and leather are the same quality, frankly they seem at least equal to what #10 has on above.
$600 today, or twice that (or more) in the mid 90's. Protective gear seems to have gotten cheaper over the years.
For example, the gloves Doug has here look extremely simple, almost rudimentary. And yet back in the day I bet they cost as much as Dainese Full Metal do today. Tough to comment on the leathers, but it obviously doesn't even have a back hump, did he use a protector?
I look at bargain custom suits today (around $600 on Ebay with matching gloves), assuming the stitching and leather are the same quality, frankly they seem at least equal to what #10 has on above.
$600 today, or twice that (or more) in the mid 90's. Protective gear seems to have gotten cheaper over the years.
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