My TOP FIVE Classic 1970s Motorcycles

Wobbly Phil looks back at the 1970s motorcycles he's owned and picks his top five. Plus a bonus wildcard that will surprise you!

#classicmotorcycles #nortonmotorcycles #triumph

[Kysushanz]

I production raced the Honda CB750/4 in the very early 1970's. Absolutely loved that machine. Took out the baffles, removed the air filter, jetted it up two settings, changed the drive sprocket, took the timing plate off and put a washer under it before tightening it back down and sat with a Strobe and Dwell Meter until I had it really crackling and with Honda parts which passed scrutineers I was electronically timed on a back straight at 132.16 mph !! All the guys with Z900 protested. The 750/4 was redlined 8, 200 to 9, 200 rpm [If I recall correctly] and mine topped out at 11, 000 at the end of the dial. I just got one out of the box. Wished I never sold it. Have had a couple 750/4's since and really love them. Now, well into my 70's I have no bike having not long ago sold the first of the Double O/H Cam CB750/4's. Still got the urge to get another one. The Honda CB 750/4 has to be the bike of the century.

[edwardzpad]

I like that you included the Lambretta. Good stuff.

[stevezodiac]

Great selection - I had a blue 400/F directly after my Suzuki T350 - word of difference and I loved it! in the early 70s a chap down the road from my granny's house seemed to spend most weekends working on his Norton Commando - which I found inspirational! And I got to know him a few years later. But the Trident is still No.1 dream bike for me!

[slim]

Still got my 1970 650 Bonneville which I bought in 1974 at age 20. I'm 70 now and still love it! For a more modern experience I bought a BMW R1100S which is a fantastic bike but the very firm suspension hurts this old body. I always go back to the bonny!

[davidpatterson]

I've had two T150VC Tridents. Wonderful bikes once sorted.

[dereksmith]

Hear, hear! I had a 1972 Dunstall 750 Combat Commando. The most memorable bike in my 50 years of riding here in New Zealand. Unusually reliable, quick and smooth and the best sounding bike I have owned (although an MT-01 with Akropovics takes top prize for best sound ever, a Commando on steroids)

[Gabbottube]

Brilliant videos and great to see Peter and I remember his rebel phase. Drop me a line next time you’re in Broadstairs for a catch up👍

[savingclassicmotorcycles]

Absolutely brilliant video can’t go wrong with a Commando, the advantage is for sure the parts availability currently, having had the Nortons I’ve got from 1927-to the 650ss an Commando then an elsie an having had a rzv500r an rd250c an gsx750et so a mix of all the eras, the commandos parts availability and knowledge base is head and shoulders shoulders above the rest, great handling brilliant engine and soundtrack that is just sublime :) great list and great video.

[deadunion]

Absolutely smashes that subscribe button half way through this/ Mate, cant tell ya why, but, we would be friends. Loved this vid mate!

[lesjones]

Love my 1972 T120R 650, easy to work on and sounds Grate!

[lepod]

Loved my 750 commando. It had 32mm amals and once I replaced all the wearable out bits it started and ran beautifully.

[mrsh]

Brilliant video. The Triumph Tiger looked and sounded amazing. Shocked the BSA Bantam didn’t make the list!

[frankmarkovcijr]

I have aVespa P -150 in my favorite color orange. Fun little bike. Have a dozen bikes in my collection.

[jamesonpace]

Dad had a Lambretta, my English pal a '72 Commando & I a '78 750 Bonnie. Lovely, but I do recall bits falling off on the 1st ride after a 90% resto. Little things, like the huge crown nut of the slip on, the battery, battery tray & all hardware, but a good trade off for setting off car alarms in 3rd gear roll ons....

[johnbrereton]

I've had many different bikes, but after buying a 1959 Royal Enfield Super Meteor when I was 17 I became a firm RE fan. Later when I was around 20years old I bought yet another one, this time a 1959 Constellation which I still have, over 50 years later. The RE parallel twins are great brutish bikes with a lot of low down grunt which is released with its distinctive majestic growl though quite rare these days.

[frankmarkovcijr]

I learned how to ride on a Honda CM-185 in 1977. Then l bought a new Honda CX -500 Deluxe. Had the bike for 10 years and 250, 000+ miles. I have had my 1967 Triumph TR-6 for 40 years with a hard tail and a magneto. Reliable and dependable transportation.

[wan]

Had a Vespa 180cc with which I travelled in 1967 with friends to Yugoslavie.
Advantage of the Vespa was also that I could manoevre her through the corridor of my parents house to the backyard 🙂
With the Triump Thinderbird 650 that I had afterward, this was no more possible.
Best regards from the Netherlands.

[mrandyknight]

I’ve got a Tiger 750 which I’ve owned for 43 years. Had the crank balanced, fitted roller crank bearings and the proper camshafts. Vibration cured and pulls like train. Also fitted ally callipers and floating discs the thing stops just like a modern bike. It’s a bit of work but these are fairly cheap to own and improve.

[rickconstant]

Some good choices. I had an 850 Commando Interstate, new in 1974, but sold it 2 years later to buy a car. It was a lovely bike to ride, but I was only 19 when I bought it, and not keen on all the maintenance you had to do to stop it shaking itself apart.
Fast forward a few years and I bought a low mileage 1978 T140V, which I've still got 31 years later. It's a much more practical and reliable bike to own (it helps that I'm a retired mechanic, so it gets the attention it needs), and I love riding it, despite the vibration.
My only venture into Japanese bikes since my very early experience of a CB160 (passed my test on it in 1974) is the Suzuki GS550 I bought 3 years ago as a cheap runabout for the winter, and I love riding that too.

[geoffreypiltz]

Triumph did late on make a 750 twin with rubber engine mounts using a different system to the Commando that didn't require the maintenance. Not very many were sold, mainly to the police. I rode an ex-police one and it was smoother than the Commando (I also owned an ex-police Commando at one time). It felt weird really after my own Bonny. What I have always wanted is a 750 Tiger with a 90 degree crank like most modern vertical twins have. I think you could get a 90 degree crank from Weslake at one time.