Tamiya 1/12 motorcycle kits. old or new?

In my opinion, there are no bad tamiya motorcycle kits. The older kits just build a bit different than the newer kits. Their engineering is better on the newer Kits, but it’s just a matter of going through the instructions and planning your build you will do fine on the older kits. Just take your time. I tried one of the aoshima kits last year and they are nice kits also. I built the 1973 kz900h2 and I loved every minute of it. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, if there is an upgraded forks set available (and they are available for several newer kits) then it's probably worth the money.  They come with turned metal fork tubes in the correct colors and the top fork nuts as well as a few other baubles.  No surgery to the kit is required; you simply substitute these parts in.  

 

Here's a good inbox review of 14001 - Tamiya's first 1/12 motorcycle kit, only difference here is it comes with the rider (14026)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWauzDG5jvY

 They only get better from here :)

Great to hear. I did get the upgraded forks like I did with my Ninja. 

 

I just made the Ducati 1199 Panigale Tricolore. Great kit. Get the uograde  for fork. Can’t figure how to attach photo. 

I just finished the ninja #14109 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR and it was a really nice kit with upgrades available for the forks and other details and some fine engineering.  I built 14034 - Suzuki GSX750s Katana years ago and it was great.

I just purchased a lot of 3 bikes with riders on ebay and one of the kit is 14001 (the first Tamiya 1/12 motorcycle) - looks really nice.  All the same screws, vinly hose etc.

I have their most recent kit - the Ducati 1199 Panigale on order.

Like was said earlier - hard to go wrong with these beautiful kits.

Don't remember the kit number, but I built one in the late 70s.  Great kit even back then.  I drilled out all the spokes and replaced them with pins.  Dirt bike, and I really weathered it.  Haven't built a motorcycle kit in over a quarter century now!

 

I can't speak to kit numbers, but I haven't had a 'bad' Tamiya motorcycle kit yet.  If it's so old the shrink wrap is yellowed, then maybe avoid those.  But even the oldest kits are pretty good, at least the ones I've bought/built.