Motorcycle...ing?Follow

There really is no appreciable difference between a 180hp bike and a 165hp bike in the same class, as far as riding on the streets is concerned.

Can a person really tell the difference between going 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and 2.8 seconds? Or running a quarter mile at 139.6mph instead of 140.2? How often are people stupid enough to actually run a bike up to its top speed? And, will the 4mph difference that extra 15hp provide actually appease you?

And, the nature of a lot of these bikes, like the new R1 for example, requires that the bike be doing in excess of twice the allowable maximum speed on the freeway before the Ram Air has sufficient oxygen being pumped into the engine to deliver maximum horsepower. How often are you really going to use that?

In my opinion, manufacturers should start emphasizing handling; titanium springs, mass centrilization, lower tanks, inverted forks, etc. I'd much rather have another 10 degrees of horizontal lean than another 10hp. I saw a video where a super-minibike (50cc) ran through a slalom faster than a Gixxer 1k AND a Gixxer Sixer. I understand the mini has a significant handling advantage on a really tight course, but that just seems wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I love the new bikes. They are beautiful, and the technology behind the bike is so advanced it just confirms my theory that nobody on the planet but those yellow monkey-faced Nips should be making motorcycles, because they're the only ones that know how to do it right.

I'm not opposed to more HP, not at all.

And if I can't have better handling, I'd sacrifice another 20hp for 10 more lb/ft on almost any super-sport liter bike out today, with the possible exception of the new ZX10R.

Buying a 180hp bike is like buying a Cray Supercomputer to play Everquest. If you can afford it, and you enjoy the bragging rights that such an acquisition is accompanied by, then by all means, go out and buy it. Just remember that it won't run EQ any better than a 3,000 box, and contrary to popular belief, it will not make your ***** any larger.

Btw, Prae, I realize your post was made at least partially in jest, I just thought I'd take this opportunity to expound on my earlier theory.

BMW makes a fantastic bike.

Not cehap either, though, and who isn't going to get the Ducati instead at that price point.

Well, I guess it depends on your point of view. If you ride in low temperatures at all the BMW is absolutely bulletproof even in the snow at zero degrees.

Of course they're not competively priced. If they were, Japanese bikes wouldn't have the market share they do now. Nothing's competively priced in those terms.

Me too.

That's why I ride a Honda. You meet the nicest people on them too.

Nah, an '01 CBR-XX.

I do like the 919 a lot though. That whole cafe job look apeals to me. I went for the gaudy HP number that I never use bike though, because it was a great deal used.

I like the look, but the reality is the fairing is worth it on the Highway, especially in the NE where I keep the bike. If I just rode around in a city I'd definately go for something more like the 919, but I get hit with enough debris going 80 as it is that I'd really rather have the plastic there.

Yeah the 919 is windscreenless I believe. Might be wrong about that, but my wife's sister rides one and either she removed it or it doesn't have one.

VFR uber alles. Ok, maybe the Yammie FJR is more uber alles, but still, the Viffer is a nifty keen bike.

Totem

No, they're still ******, sorry.

The Speed Triple is a terrific bike.

Cad, have you changed your fork springs or oil weight on your Suzie yet? I'm a Cult member too, and gave the bike to my son when I got the Vif, but he finds as I did that while the bike is an absolute hoot to ride, the forks dive at every bump in the road and each and every time you brake.

It's the one thing I'm planning on changing on the bike.

Totem

Sadly, my son's friend just got his permit and asked if he could learn to ride on the Cult-o-matic, where, after an hour's riding he laid it down, bent the forks, trashed the bodywork, snapped off the shifter, and ruined the handlebars.

:(

Gladly, it wasn't my bike.

On a good note, his folks said they'd pay for any repairs that need to be done. Oh, and he came away with road rash and bruising, mostly to his ego.

Totem

I don't think so, since I took it for a short ride and other than a rightward cant of the bars it feels like it's tracking straight. It's at the shop right now where the mech is looking it over from stem to stern for any potential catastrophic damage.

The handlebar stop tang was snapped off much to my surprise when I was moving it around on my driveway. I got my hand pinched between the tank and the grip. That'd be a nasty surprise in the event of a tank slapper, lol.

My son is majorly bummed since that was his primary mode of transportation and he's having to ask all his buddies for a lift everywhere. I trust him on my Viffer, but since that's my primary mode of transport he doesn't get to ride it much. I suspect this'll teach him to be very leerly of allowing others to hop on his ride.

Totem