After zooming around on an 899 or 1199 for the last few months or so... thought I would take the old girl out for a change. Considering the 851, when I bought her back in 1992, was a revelation in handling (compared to the FZR1000 Exup I chopped in after one too many tank slappers), blimey.... felt like I was steering a wheel barrow full of potatoes in comparison to the two latest bikes. Front end very heavy and slow, was pushing the front too. Evolution..... eh?
Translated:- Lets spend time and money on an old one when you can have a younger one that's maintenance free and goes faster ? Let me think about that for a bit....
Seriously though, how poor is it in comparison? I've owned back to mid 90s 748s and ridden earlier 750ss etc and yes there's a handling progression etc, but nothing that would make me walk away shaking my head. Only ask as since moving to Sweden, there seems to be quick a few tidy 888 and 851 kicking about at reasonable money, and it had crossed my mind to pick one up if the right deal popped up.
Somedays its not about the speed or the maintenance. I have a 916 and an 1198. But some days i just like to take the 916 for a spin. I do understand your point though. Your 851 is lovely and oozes cool. I would say oozes more class on those days when speed doesnt matter. In a couple of years or so the pani will be dated. The 851 has passed those days and now just looks cool. Some things, like wine and whisky, get better with age. Your 851 is like that. Had I money and you were selling, I'd take her off your hands and lather her up. Shes pretty.
True. Sometimes I just fancy a sedate ride out so I take the SS instead of the Pani. It's a different experience. The handling isn't as good, the brakes aren't a scratch on the Pani's and the performance is nothing like the newer bike, but it's a pleasure in a different way, the SS feels a bit retro, has character and nothing to prove, it burbles away with bags of torque under the throttle and like the 851 it will become a classic that will continue to appreciate with time.
I have a 1983 Pantah and while compared to anything modern it feels very heavy and ponderous to steer I don't think I have ridden anything that holds its line as well through a bend and that is on skinny bicycle tyres . Wouldn't want to spend more than an hour on it though as it all starts to get a bit painful. Some of the older bikes are lovely, just in a different way.
