What's in a name?

Our attachment to our motorcycles is often obsessional. One way it manifests itself is by naming our individual machines, but this can snowball into certain much loved or revered motorcycles acquiring almost universal “nicknames”.

In 1965 Honda launched the CB450 twin. With its double overhead cams, 12V electrics and electric start it was miles ahead of British machines. Very soon after launch the press and public named it the “Black Bomber” and the name stuck. Honda were not so lucky in the late 1980’s when the water-cooled, shaft drive CX500 V-twin was introduced. The unusual looking CX was much loved but that did not stop it being dubbed the “Plastic Maggot” thanks to its unconventional looks.

suzuki should have perhaps predicted that the GT750J of 1971 with its three cylinders enclosed in coolant jackets would end up being called the “Kettle” and, perhaps worse, “Water Buffalo. That said it sold in its thousands and has reached iconic status. Later the entire GSXR range would be referred to as “Gixers” and become cult classics which, for Japan at least, leaves Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Kawasaki arguably took the top spot in terms of cool nicknames – even if it was somewhat morbid. The 1969 500 triple was marketed under the name Mach III model H1 but quickly earned a fearsome reputation thanks to warp speed (for the time) acceleration and somewhat marginal handling due to narrow tyres and basic suspension.

There is scant evidence that it was as uncontrollable as the myth suggests but the name “Widowmaker” attached itself firmly to the 69-horsepower air-cooled three cylinder machine and helped Kawasaki gain the most extreme image of any Japanese manufacturer.

From Gixers to Kettles and Plastic Maggots to Black Bombers, CMS has the widest range of genuine parts for all these machines, so check our website to bring those names and memories back to life!