Very interesting! Both your history and your new R3. I put a Niko Bakker kit on my 84 Ninja 900 after I wrecked it at Texas World Spoeedway back in 86. I had no idea anyone was making a kit for the R3!
Experienced Rider, New to the R3
First post here on the forum, so hello!
Today marked the beginning to a new chapter of motorcycling in my life, so bare with me. Before I learned to ride, I restored my first bike, a '75 CB360T. Down to the frame, lacing and truing the wheels, forks, electrical, rebuilding carbs, engine... every nut and bolt accounted for and touched. For the better part of over a year my good friend who I consider a father figure in my life guided me as I undertook the restoration. Before even taking BRC and after getting my permit, I rode with him in a K-Mart parking lot for a month, five days a week after work. "Any rider can go fast in a straight line. It's slow speed that shows a riders' skillset." On that bike I put 5k miles in half a year. Man, did I learn a lot. Close calls, different environments and weather, roads, etc. I owe him for the foundation of my knowledge and skillset.
After that, I sold the CB360T and bought a CB750K6, and did the same restoration treatment, with more of a performance-based theme. Reduced the weight, period correct race components, the full nine. I then took that bike on my own to parking lots every weekend, freeways and canyons to follow, travelling up and down the coast of Cali. 10K miles later, I have dialed the servicing schedule, can hear the bike talk to me in terms of maintenance, and keep up on it. I still own that bike.
Currently I'm undergoing a slow and painful restoration of a '76 CB550F Super Sport.
Now, the R3.
For years, I rode nothing but vintage Honda CB's. Dreamed of making a true 70's GP bike. The term "Classic Bike Bro" is literally me, until I rode my Dad's Yamaha R3 Superbike... and if I had a word to describe it? Insert profanity here. Until that point, I never rode anything new past 1976. Even the car I learned to drive, a '66 Mustang Coupe in manual, and my current daily, a '75 Stingray. So, with that backstory, I hope my perspective here will be interesting to all of you. It is like someone who grew up as a teenager in the 70's, time travelled and bought an R3. So here she is:
![Tire Wheel Fuel tank Automotive fuel system Vehicle]()
She's a 2015 Yamaha R3, named "The Spirit of '72," which happens to be the debut bike for the folks at GG Retrofitz. I bought it because I have always loved the 70's GP fairings, and was interested in my first modern day mode of transport. The rep rolled it outside, I signed the papers, threw on my gear, shook his hand, and fired it up. Smooth, like my 750. No thumping like my 360 twin, vibration, smells, nothing. The engineering is incredible. The power is unlike anything I have ever experienced, accidentally doing a small nooner dropping into second coming onto a freeway. The term "Nimble" is redefined in my eyes. CC's of fifty years ago, do NOT mean the same these days, but I already knew that from watching videos online. Plenty of braking power. Well MORE than enough to get into trouble quickly.
If you're on this forum asking around if this is a good purchase for a beginner bike, I'll say this. It's only a beginner bike if you're a beginner rider. This will be my track day bike, and I plan on not ever selling it. This year, I will be finishing my steps to becoming an MSF instructor, and will also be beginning my path to Circuit riding. This is a platform that is easy to control and is fast enough to pass traffic going 80 MPH on the freeway, so with that said, it is perfect for intermediate and professional riders to have a fast and nimble mode of transport.
...and with gas prices going up and electric becoming the norm, who wouldn't want to purchase one of these?
![Tire Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle Automotive fuel system]()
Today marked the beginning to a new chapter of motorcycling in my life, so bare with me. Before I learned to ride, I restored my first bike, a '75 CB360T. Down to the frame, lacing and truing the wheels, forks, electrical, rebuilding carbs, engine... every nut and bolt accounted for and touched. For the better part of over a year my good friend who I consider a father figure in my life guided me as I undertook the restoration. Before even taking BRC and after getting my permit, I rode with him in a K-Mart parking lot for a month, five days a week after work. "Any rider can go fast in a straight line. It's slow speed that shows a riders' skillset." On that bike I put 5k miles in half a year. Man, did I learn a lot. Close calls, different environments and weather, roads, etc. I owe him for the foundation of my knowledge and skillset.
After that, I sold the CB360T and bought a CB750K6, and did the same restoration treatment, with more of a performance-based theme. Reduced the weight, period correct race components, the full nine. I then took that bike on my own to parking lots every weekend, freeways and canyons to follow, travelling up and down the coast of Cali. 10K miles later, I have dialed the servicing schedule, can hear the bike talk to me in terms of maintenance, and keep up on it. I still own that bike.
Currently I'm undergoing a slow and painful restoration of a '76 CB550F Super Sport.
Now, the R3.
For years, I rode nothing but vintage Honda CB's. Dreamed of making a true 70's GP bike. The term "Classic Bike Bro" is literally me, until I rode my Dad's Yamaha R3 Superbike... and if I had a word to describe it? Insert profanity here. Until that point, I never rode anything new past 1976. Even the car I learned to drive, a '66 Mustang Coupe in manual, and my current daily, a '75 Stingray. So, with that backstory, I hope my perspective here will be interesting to all of you. It is like someone who grew up as a teenager in the 70's, time travelled and bought an R3. So here she is:
She's a 2015 Yamaha R3, named "The Spirit of '72," which happens to be the debut bike for the folks at GG Retrofitz. I bought it because I have always loved the 70's GP fairings, and was interested in my first modern day mode of transport. The rep rolled it outside, I signed the papers, threw on my gear, shook his hand, and fired it up. Smooth, like my 750. No thumping like my 360 twin, vibration, smells, nothing. The engineering is incredible. The power is unlike anything I have ever experienced, accidentally doing a small nooner dropping into second coming onto a freeway. The term "Nimble" is redefined in my eyes. CC's of fifty years ago, do NOT mean the same these days, but I already knew that from watching videos online. Plenty of braking power. Well MORE than enough to get into trouble quickly.
If you're on this forum asking around if this is a good purchase for a beginner bike, I'll say this. It's only a beginner bike if you're a beginner rider. This will be my track day bike, and I plan on not ever selling it. This year, I will be finishing my steps to becoming an MSF instructor, and will also be beginning my path to Circuit riding. This is a platform that is easy to control and is fast enough to pass traffic going 80 MPH on the freeway, so with that said, it is perfect for intermediate and professional riders to have a fast and nimble mode of transport.
...and with gas prices going up and electric becoming the norm, who wouldn't want to purchase one of these?
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