Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I consider the Triumph Bonneville and midmount Sportsters to be pretty
'standard'...

In fact, the Sportsters are almost identical to what they used to be in the 70's and 80's. Although it looks like you have something against Harley, so I guess that option's out.

Congrats on finding the best bike ever made!
I bought my '93 Nighthawk 750 off of Craigs List...had to travel about 100 miles to pick it up, but it was totally worth the effort.
This is was my first bike...bought it with 14700 miles on it last April. In less than a year, I've put over 13K miles on it...I commute just about everyday and ride almost every weekend.

I run fully synthetic oil and changed to a K&N air filter...everything else is stock. I'm not sure what the top speed is, but I know it will do at least 115 mph.

Like you, I recently turned 40 years old...must be a pre-midlife crisis thing. ; )

If you ever buy another bike, hold on to your Nighthawk...there's nothing else like 'em.

Remember: rubber side down!

A standard bike... a few a produced like the posts below list...... However, you've probably noticed, like me, that they are styled like crotch rockets and sometimes have similar riding positions. You might consider some BMW bikes in the 1200 series or the Yamaha FTR. These are now called "adventure - touring" bikes..... and are like standard bikes in many ways...... but I think I know what you are talking about, because they appear as a semi-crotch rocket style.

Italian standards:

Moto Guzzi Breva 750 & 1100
Ducati Monster 695
Ducati GT1000

Maxi scooters are pretty much a standard riding position too. They may have taken the place of true standards in the market.

There are a few bikes kicking around that i wouldn't personally call a standard. At least pure street bike wise. The US trdnd is to make everything either as sporty as possible (seems like anyway, its an opinion just like an a-hole) or as cruiserish as possible.

When i think standard i think.....bonneville, ws-650, nighthawk, 80's gs's. I know the sportsters, ninjas, sv-s, and dual sports qualify technically.... but eh....

At least in the US. other parts of the world still seem to get decent bikes that dont try to be either super cruisers. Or waspish sport bikes.

roscowgo wrote:There are a few bikes kicking around that i wouldn't personally call a standard. At least pure street bike wise. The US trdnd is to make everything either as sporty as possible (seems like anyway, its an opinion just like an a-hole) or as cruiserish as possible.

When i think standard i think.....bonneville, ws-650, nighthawk, 80's gs's. I know the sportsters, ninjas, sv-s, and dual sports qualify technically.... but eh....

At least in the US. other parts of the world still seem to get decent bikes that dont try to be either super cruisers. Or waspish sport bikes.

I think you pretty much hit the nail right on the head with that post.

To me "standard" means more than just riding position alone.

I just found another one today, the Kawasaki Z series, they had the 600 and 750 in 05 and 06, but this year they only have the 1K... either way, they're standard seating positions, I4 motors, and are basically the ninjas without having the supersport seating positions...
Wrider

May I suggest the incomparable Honda 599.

Well yeah, but what decent, self respecting biker would want a Honda 599???
Wrider

One who has seen the light.