power/Speed on m/bike!

[Chris Stevens]

Maybe worth bearing in mind the question asked originally by OP? My feeling is that its pointless to own a 200bhp bike which cant be ridden anywhere near full performance on the road, and that a cheaper, lighter, better handling 600cc machine makes more sense for anyone wanting to ride rather than impress mates down the pub.

 

[Richard.]

It was a track bike and anyone in the know will appreciate the modifications that I made to the bike would of made it much more "rideable" on track.

Mine was on a road bike.
The odd days it was put round Cadwel and snet I had to change the preload and damping.
To firm up the rear and soften the front slightly. Then reverted back before going on the road.
First time round I had it set for me by a guy who knew his stuff. After that I just copied it for track days then reverted it for road riding.

 

[Member 66061]

Why get a 600 when you can have a thou, that was what i thought. I saw it as how hard you have to work riding a bike. A 600 could keep up with me on a twisty enough road where i couldnt open it up and pull away, but i could let the revs drop and change gears less and the smaller bike rider would be playing it like a fiddle to keep up. The road dictates the speed you can go, not the bike, and i felt i didnt have to work as hard on my CBR1000rr as a someone on a smaller bike would.
I really used to howk my 01 Mille and the Blade on the roads, sitting doing a ton was normal and just felt like doing 60 in a car.
Anyways, you do enough of it, and get away with it for long enough and the thrill of it is gone, for me anyways.

 

[daleyd]

No not suggesting a race bike for the road, just that if you ride a 1000cc road bike to anywhere near its full performance on the road, then you are going to need the sort of suspension and brake set ups used on the IOM, which I would guess are going to cost £15k +. This being the case, a 600 seems a better choice.

You do realise a stock 600 out of the showroom will top 160mph? If you ride a 600 near it's limits on the road your going to need the same suspension set up Chris, I don't think anyone here has suggested riding a TT lap on the roads that would be madness.........


In regards to your point, I actually in some ways agree with you as I prefer a smaller bike, being easier to throw around and handle, but that's my preference and can totally see the attraction of a big thou.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

A slight change of tack but I can never understand why some bike riders think that noise equates to more speed, they take a perfectly good exhaust off and change it for something that blows the eardrums off anyone close at full chat.
I have no objection to someone risking the instant loss of their licence by breaking the speed limit by insane amounts but why do they have to announce the fact to everyone in a 5 mile radius.
The only reason I can see is that 'look at me, look at me!' mentality.

 

[MattH]

Maybe worth bearing in mind the question asked originally by OP? My feeling is that its pointless to own a 200bhp bike which cant be ridden anywhere near full performance on the road, and that a cheaper, lighter, better handling 600cc machine makes more sense for anyone wanting to ride rather than impress mates down the pub.

But the flip side of that is which is safer? Riding a 600 on the road at 90% of its performance envelope or a thou at 60%

 

[Member 66061]

But the flip side of that is which is safer? Riding a 600 on the road at 90% of its performance envelope or a thou at 60%

Its just not that simple, but id say riding a thou at 60% is safer

A slight change of tack but I can never understand why some bike riders think that noise equates to more speed, they take a perfectly good exhaust off and change it for something that blows the eardrums off anyone close at full chat.
I have no objection to someone risking the instant loss of their licence by breaking the speed limit by insane amounts but why do they have to announce the fact to everyone in a 5 mile radius.
The only reason I can see is that 'look at me, look at me!' mentality.

Most often changing the cans saves loads of weight, plus flows better

 

[Chris Stevens]

But the flip side of that is which is safer? Riding a 600 on the road at 90% of its performance envelope or a thou at 60%

You can always get away with more on a smaller lighter bike, with better brakes and handling, so the 600 is safer on the road..............

 

[Richard.]

A slight change of tack but I can never understand why some bike riders think that noise equates to more speed, they take a perfectly good exhaust off and change it for something that blows the eardrums off anyone close at full chat.
I have no objection to someone risking the instant loss of their licence by breaking the speed limit by insane amounts but why do they have to announce the fact to everyone in a 5 mile radius.
The only reason I can see is that 'look at me, look at me!' mentality.

Ha ha you'd of hated my last zx10r. She was fitted with an Akra evo ti pipes down to an Austin racing Gp can.
Your absolutely right, for the unnoticeable tiny gain you might get it it's a show piece. For me it was I admit. The noise and flames and look was what it was about. The standard cans were not perfectly good mind that I do disagree. Huge in size, huge in weight, very ugly and very restrictive. Let em breathe I say.

 

[MattH]

You can always get away with more on a smaller lighter bike, with better brakes and handling, so the 600 is safer on the road..............

I don't agree. I would say my S1K was more sure footed and safer that my 675r.

I would also suggest that the majority of the sports bike world agrees as Supersport sales have been declining for a long time now compared to Superbikes.

 

[norlander]

the smaller bike rider would be playing it like a fiddle to keep up.

and that is exactly why some of us like the smaller capacity bikes they are more involving, my 748 ducati was way more satisfying than my 916;

Riding a 600 on the road at 90% of its performance envelope

I'd reckon if you could ride a 600 at 90% on the road you'd be up for TT ride????

 

[Member 66061]

You can always get away with more on a smaller lighter bike, with better brakes and handling, so the 600 is safer on the road..............

If the 600 rider is having to work harder and do more things to keep up, playing their bike like a fiddle, then theyre more likely to make a mistake.
Its all about how hard you have to work to go fast to me.

 

[MattH]

I'd reckon if you could ride a 600 at 90% on the road you'd be up for TT ride????

Ok, I'll added the words "for the sake of argument".

 

[MattH]

Ha ha you'd of hated my last zx10r. She was fitted with an Akra evo ti pipes down to an Austin racing Gp can.
Your absolutely right, for the unnoticeable tiny gain you might get it it's a show piece. For me it was I admit. The noise and flames and look was what it was about. The standard cans were not perfectly good mind that I do disagree. Huge in size, huge in weight, very ugly and very restrictive. Let em breathe I say.

Lol:

 

[Richard.]

At the end of the day the brakes the suspension most of the time don't even need to be changed. Especially if it's spending it's life on the road. You'll find that having it set up correctly for the riders weight and style and keeping it maintained with decent rubber doing the leg work is one of the best mods you can do. My gsxr brakes lacked feel and initial bite. The first mod I did was a set of front lines at £40. This resolved 60% of the problem before I spent. Hundreds and hundreds on the other 40% which I only did because I was enjoying my track time.

 

[Chris Stevens]

At the end of the day the brakes the suspension most of the time don't even need to be changed. Especially if it's spending it's life on the road. You'll find that having it set up correctly for the riders weight and style and keeping it maintained with decent rubber doing the leg work is one of the best mods you can do. My gsxr brakes lacked feel and initial bite. The first mod I did was a set of front lines at £40. This resolved 60% of the problem before I spent. Hundreds and hundreds on the other 40% which I only did because I was enjoying my track time.

If you want to ride gently, keeping an eye out for plod, then std parts are fine. But if thats the case why the need for 200BHP and 1000cc?

 

[MattH]

So your argument boils down to: a 600 not being pushed is somehow inherently safer on the road than a 1000 not being pushed?

 

[MattH]

If you want to ride gently, keeping an eye out for plod, then std parts are fine. But if thats the case why the need for 200BHP and 1000cc?

Why need a 2lt car when a 900cc triple will achieve the highest speed limit in the country?

(All my fast riding has been done on track).

Why get anything more that a 125?

 

[Richard.]

Lol:

Mine was identical lol I'll hunt for a pic.

 

[MattH]

It's worth pointing out to sofa riders that 600cc supersports are far more racing focused that litre Superbikes.

In reality they are in no way better suited to the road, in fact that are far more suited to the track (unless you are a fatty like me).
Arguments re 600cc vs 1000cc at pointless. Both will kill you dead at 35mph.