Compared to modern bikes...

Just for grins! I have just the one bike, my 650 Maxim, and I haven't even really ridden it yet. It's been 3 years now since I took the bike course, so I'm a little nervous and a bit hesitant. Not to mention I'm not too eager to get out when it's 104 degrees outside... But I've been entertained watching bike videos lately and it got me curious about how any of the new stuff compares to our cool classic bikes.

One that I saw in particular, the FZ 07, looks like it has pretty similar specs. Got me wondering about what really is different about riding new vs old? What new bikes are similar to our old Maxims, if any? If we lined up 500 random bikes from anywhere and anytime, and 500 riders got to choose their rides for the next week or so, how quickly would someone pick the Max? LOL...

Anyway, I'm not looking to buy a new bike or anything, just curious about some things as sort of an aspiring bike rider. No doubt you guys will be biased and I probably will be too, if I ever get off my butt and actually go ride instead of watching videos.

Share your thoughts, please!

 

Newer machines are lighter and make more power at the same displacement (generally), have niceties like ABS and Traction Control (usually), have far better suspension components and brakes (though that also varies based on price point), and most importantly (in my opinion) produce fewer airborne emissions because of the addition of catalytic converters and vapor capture devices.

That said, keeping already built machines on the road is more environmentally friendly (generally) than building and shipping a new machine.

As with all things it comes down to compromise and fitness of purpose for your use case.
Up until the mid 1980's the fastest production motorcycle had been built in 1953. In the mid 80's it was still a very fast machine, but no longer the fastest.
That title has changed many, many times since, because of technological advances. I can't use all of that speed on my commute though.

So....compared to modern bikes, the XJ series is modern. It's not top-of-the-line modern anymore, but they are very much entry-level to midrange modern in most respects.