Roadster (motorcycle)

Norton 850 Commando (YOC 1973)

Triumph Bonneville T120 (YOC 1965)

Roadsters [ ˈrəʊdstəʳ ] are street-legal motorcycles in which both the drive and the chassis are uncovered and their equipment is reduced for pure driving on paved roads. Roadsters are a sub-category of naked bikes , which also do not have fairings or wind protection. The chassis geometry and the appearance of classic roadsters are similar to motorcycle construction in the 1960s.

classification

Roadsters combine the chassis geometry of classic motorcycles with high-torque two- to four-cylinder engines . The engine, frame and chassis as well as a windshield are usually not covered in favor of a low curb weight and "original driving experience". Since permanent speeds of over 160 km / h are uncomfortable due to the lack of cladding, roadsters are designed for high elasticity , dynamic power development and pulling power instead of maximum performance and top speed.

The vehicle geometry with a steep steering head angle and the resulting short caster and wheelbase is designed for high cornering maneuverability. Seat heights of less than 65 cm make it easy to get on and sit upright. A low, wide and soft seat increases seating comfort during long journeys. A low center of gravity with a corresponding weight distribution improves handiness. A holding device for luggage rack systems, to which side cases and a top case can be attached, is usually not provided. The driver assistance systems such as anti-lock braking systems and traction control , if available, are mostly only implemented in a basic version. A roadworthy tire tread improves road holding and cornering. Nominal outputs of 35 kW (48 PS) to 110 kW (150 PS) with a displacement between 600 and 1200 cm³ are common on the market.

Sales description

Motorcycles such as the Norton Commando 750 Roadster (1970–77), BSA B44 Victor Roadster (1968–70), Honda VRX 400 Roadster (1995–96), Cagiva Roadster 125 (1994–2000), Sachs Roadster 800 (2000–2004) , Voxan Roadster 1000 and Horex VR6 Roadster lead the classification in their sales designation.

Demarcation

Scramblers have a high exhaust system and are a bit more terrain-oriented compared to roadsters. Choppers have a lower seat and higher handlebars. Cruisers have a longer wheelbase, wider tires and a larger-volume drive. Cafe racers have short, downward angled clip-ons.

Modern roadster

Two-wheel manufacturers categorize their bare, street-oriented motorcycles differently. Triumph Motorcycles refer to the Speed ​​Triple and Street Triple series as Roadsters, while the Bonneville and its derivatives are offered as Classic . BMW markets all unclad motorcycles in the F, R, K and S series as roadsters, with the BMW R nineT coming closest to the definition of a classic roadster. Yamaha categorizes all naked bikes as roadsters. The Italian two-wheeler manufacturer MV Agusta describes the MV Agusta Brutale 800 as "the most versatile roadster". The Japanese motorcycle manufacturers Honda , Suzuki and Kawasaki do not market naked bikes as roadsters.

Conception

According to Andreas Bildl, the manufacturers have different approaches to the concept: "While Triumph and Kawasaki skilfully cite their own past with modern designs, Harley and Moto Guzzi embody the original concept, which is kept alive but constantly evolving."

photo	Manufacturer	model	drive	Sales start
	BMW	R nineT	2 cylinders, boxer engine Displacement: 1170 cm³ Output: 81 kW (110 PS)	2014
	Harley-Davidson	XL883R Roadster	2 cylinders, V-engine Displacement: 883 cm³ Output: 39 kW (53 PS)	2002
	Honda	CB1100	4 cylinders, in-line engine Displacement: 1140 cm³ Output: 66 kW (90 PS)	2013
	Kawasaki	W800	2 cylinders, parallel twin Displacement: 773 cm³ Output: 35 kW (48 PS)	2011
	Moto Guzzi	V7 Classic	2 cylinders, V-engine Displacement: 744 cm³ Output: 35 kW (48 PS)	2008
	triumph	Bonneville T100	2 cylinders, in-line engine Displacement: 865 cm³ Output: 50 kW (68 PS)	2002

review

“There was a time when a motorcycle could just be a motorcycle. Far from all class constraints, without any pressure to perform. Driving, experiencing, being on the move - getting around between two places could hardly be more multifaceted than on two wheels. […] Motorcycles that will neither break records nor set new records. They just want to bring back a bit of originality to their crew. "

- Sascha Zdrahal : Motorbike

“Pure motorcycling is very popular: the technology is reduced to the bare essentials, the use of it is calm and yet highly emotional. [...] Instead of a fully clad, high-tech sedan chair with a navigation system, cruise control and luggage set, more and more motorcycle fans are looking for puristic roadsters that are reminiscent of the legendary café racers of the sixties and look like a factory. Instead of neon-colored safety armor, half-shell helmets, leather jackets and jeans set the tone. "

- Ralf Schütze : Focus

“[The Roadster] fulfills a longing. After the pure vehicle; according to a technique that is manageable and comprehensible as before; for a character that results from “look, sound and feel”, as the tradition experts at Harley say. An apparently growing section of the motorcycle community is bored of the competitive race. He is not interested in ever more extensive electronic fanfare. All the assistance systems, the attractions that are in the menus of on-board computers and can be activated at the push of a button and are undoubtedly a step forward, but distract from the essential, leave him indifferent. "

- Walter Willi : Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

“Italy, France, England, even Germany: Vintage is the big trend in the motorcycle scene everywhere. Roughly speaking, this is based on the love of old iron - and the longing for the purism of the early years. The old bikes are usually chopped, i.e. freed from superfluous things. A good example are the old two-valve boxers from BMW. A whole scene of customizers shows how you can get to new coolness with a straight seat, short fenders and clipped rear sections, regardless of whether you are building a café racer, a scrambler or a bobber. "

- Peter Schönlaub : Courier

Web links

• Peter Fahrenholz: Retro bikes: pure pleasure . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung . April 24, 2015.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Walter Willi: The boxer of hearts. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . January 29, 2014, accessed March 15, 2014 .  
2. ↑ ^{a b} Sascha Zdrahal: Landliebe. In: motorcycle . Edition 10/2001. May 2, 2001, accessed April 12, 2014 .  
3. ↑ ^{a b} Ralf Schütze: Purism that connects generations. In: Handelsblatt . January 23, 2014, accessed March 17, 2014 .  
4. ↑ Fred Siemer: 1967 a real superbike. In: motorcycle . August 13, 2013, accessed March 17, 2014 .  
5. ↑ Thomas Schmieder: Comparative test: V2 roadster. In: Motorrad , issue 15/2011. July 7, 2011, accessed March 15, 2014 .  
6. ↑ MV Agusta: Manufacturer product information on the Brutale 800 ( Memento of the original from March 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved March 17, 2014. 
7. ↑ Andreas Bildl: Comparative test: Retro-Bikes 2012. In: Motorrad , edition 13/2012. June 6, 2012, accessed March 17, 2014 .  
8. ↑ Ralf Schütze: Purism that connects generations. In: Focus . January 24, 2014, accessed March 15, 2014 .  
9. ↑ Peter Schönlaub: Classic, but not from yesterday. In: Courier . March 22, 2014, accessed March 31, 2014 .