British bikes ruled. Period. And the testing ground was the GP race - Isle of Man in particular. In the '50s the "World's fastest Standard Motorcycle" == their sloan and a fact: was Vincent.

But the ruler for handling, for 500 cc class racing was ever the Norton ('featherbed' frame and with Magnesium alloy goodies, as well as after-market race bits as would always appear - for any model). Migawd, there were.. BSA, Matchless/AJS, Ariel [square four and others), Triumph, Villiers, Velocette... and the 128 mph Vincent Black Shadow = in 1951 yet. (I owned several brands and several Vincents incl. the 500 cc single = half a 1000 cc Vee twin). These ARE the story of "actual motorcyles" appearing in Murica, after all the years of trucks - killing all those State Troopers and others. We always confuse Size with Good.

British bikes were the group targetted by Honda et al (Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and a few oddities like a Japanese copy of a BMW (!))

Just as the MG TC brought to the attention of returning vets from WW-II, the Fact that a car could be light limber and Fun - so was the Brit bike invasion the corollary for 2-wheels. Freed from the evil-handling Harley trucks, natural Murican innovation occurred. One was for Show and oil stains wherever parked - the others were for actual superb handling and a bit fewer oil stains.

Honda made the oil stains go away and Much More. (as Harley has now - on their 15-25 THOUSAND dollar Gucci gowns for those who want to be Seen). Most of the Brit bikes mentioned - outhandled the early Hondas. Tales of Norton Dominator 88 or 99 (500, 600 cc vertical twins) to confirm that-all.

ie I'd opine that Honda would have had *no* market here, had not the British created one - via machines which acknowledged that the laws of physics are stern: and a bloated 700 # behemoth with girder forks and foot clutch - just won't cut it.

(No, I don't know where this fits in with computer analogies; I rank M$ more simply):

Machiavelli + G\ufffdbbels eat everyone's lunch via rapine, massive lies and the support of fellow Repos everywhere - who idolize 'success' of this kind - especially in Murica, where no one cares How you Win or who you kill enroute \ufffd

Cheers,

Ashton

PS - I doubt the Yuppie Harley riders even adjust a chain = it's all Service Shop and.. detail it while yer at it. Wrenchers are poor, or racing - or riding Other bikes, which handle. (or a few ancient folks left from the early days = also poor. Still.)