Is a litre bike too fast AND quick for the street?

[orangeback]

I hope this thread produces productive informative debate.
The question 'Is a literbike(any late model literbike, ZX-10R ,R-1 ,Gixxer, Hyabushas,ZX-14's ) too fast(capable of producing too much straight line speed too quickly)AND quick(capable of manuvering laterally too quickly in traffic)for the street?

Is a literbike too fast. I'm not talking about too fast for the rider. I'm talking about too fast for the driver's of other vehicles to anticipate how quickly a literbike can move from point A to point B. Anytime I hear of a small ultra-high performance vehicle(and that's exactly what a late model literbike is)crashing into a larger,slower vehicle on public roads .

Anybody that owns a light weight ultra-high performance street vehicle knows full well that if (hard) contact is made with a larger vehicle most of the time the smaller vehicle will sustain more damage(totaled). It's been said 'with great power comes great responsibility' and that couldn't be MORE true for rider's of literbikes .

If I'm right that means it's up to us to be EXTRA sure we have room to manuver around traffic BEFORE we do so.
is the ability of the literbikes the manuver SO quickly. A literbike can make a lane change in a split second (multi lane changes almost as fast).
If you can't see enuff of whats behind you how in the world can you determine the correct spacing and speed to flow with or slightly faster than traffic or make a fast lane change?!

I'm worried about the 18-20ish year old young people lurking at these literbike sites(this one and others)that are thinking," Well I can ride my CBR250 or CR 250 dirt bike on the back lot pretty good, maybe I should buy a new literbike because there just so cool and boy it sure will impress my girlfriend"
They have absolutely NO idea how dangerous literbikes are without first getting the proper rider training AND learning to respect what's between there legs in so far as riding on public streets is concerned. If that same person wants a 200 horsepower 300 pound literbike just to truck to and race track day's FINE! if someone like that has a crash on a race track. they are in the wright place to do so

It's different riding on the street theres so many varribles (CARS, NOB Jocks Walking ,CYCLEST ,ANIMALS ,ROAD WORKS ETC
Sorry about the long post :done: :done: :done:

[kiwifruit]

this thread looks familiar......


yes, a litre bike is a massive over kill IMHO

[BarBender]

For sure they are...:mellow:

[nsrpaul]

of course its to fucken fast, whats your point

better to say do litre bike riders have small willies and do all the real men ride nsr's and black r6s(the white ones are trying a bit hard)

[The Pastor]

Power is all in your wrist.

[crash harry]

Modern ones, yes probably. Says the thinking part of my brain. Not the part that just bought the Hayabusa. That's the part of my brain that does the fun stuff.

[Gremlin]

It's all self control.

I used to think my 750 was plenty... but then you ride newer bikes, and yeee gawd, you can ride them almost as fast, without the months in the seat, just so light and responsive. Now my 750 feels slow, and I find myself waiting at times.

But do I want a 600? I'm on the big side, and going to a 600 is not really upgrading either, not much in hp, but you do lose some weight, and gain handling. Whats after that... basically a thou.

My next bike will be a thou... Does that mean I do 200 down streets? Course not. Do I have to watch how quickly I can go past 100... yes, of course.

I don't think its overkill, and the torque for around town is bloody nice. Its a do-all bike, provided the right hands and head are sitting on it.

[justsomeguy]

If you can ride a 600 you can ride a 1000.

Except on a thou second chances are rare. So you need to be alert and make sure you have a relaxed and controllable throttle hand.

Yes they are fast and after you've felt the power nothing else will do. (kinda where Crash Harry is coming from I think)

[ArcherWC]

Of course they are, but oh my god they are fun

[orangeback]

of course its to fucken fast, whats your point

better to say do litre bike riders have small willies and do all the real men ride nsr's and black r6s(the white ones are trying a bit hard)

why do we buy them ??
and yes i belive i could ride my 05 gsxr750 faster than the Bus and ZX10 ive had. and
for willies, you need a big motor to drive a shaft my size

[BarBender]

Except on a thou second chances are rare.

Second chances are rare regardless the number of cc's...but I know what you mean Uj :niceone:

[bugjuice]

If you can ride a 600 you can ride a 1000.
bollox. soz mate.

technically, a 250 is too fast for the street, so anything more than that is too much.

but, as far as realistic goes, I think a 6 is about right, and a thou is too much imho. 6oos can do over 100 in first. some thous are geared for excess of 140 in first. Just normally riding them round on the street is too twitchy. And yeah, i've ridden a thou round the street for a day.. gimme me 6 any day.

only way a 6 is out-done by a thou is a straight line anyway. Wow, you can go fast in a straight line.. have a gold star..

[Disco Dan]

hehe I skimmed the post and thought you said "litter bike" !!! flip their horrible looking things!!

[justsomeguy]

bollox. soz mate.

technically, a 250 is too fast for the street, so anything more than that is too much.

but, as far as realistic goes, I think a 6 is about right, and a thou is too much imho. 6oos can do over 100 in first. some thous are geared for excess of 140 in first. Just normally riding them round on the street is too twitchy. And yeah, i've ridden a thou round the street for a day.. gimme me 6 any day.

only way a 6 is out-done by a thou is a straight line anyway. Wow, you can go fast in a straight line.. have a gold star..


So do you ride your 600 in 1st gear everywhere except the motorway??

Did you also try and ride the thou in the same manner??

A few holes in your theory mate... better think before you post.
------------------------------------------

Orangeback - Honestly in my opinion who cares about what others think as at the end of the day it's what people want for themselves and what they want out of a ride and their bike.

Some people can appreciate a thou and ride it in a manner that is perfectly comfortable. Sure it takes experience and it would be a very wrong thing for a guy jumping off a 250 - maybe after 10K's of hard riding a 600 with about 2K's of those being done on the track in the fast group (slow group doesn't count -cos you're not pushing it).

Others feel a 250 is more than enough...... I sincerely hope you get some positive information here and the thread doesn't turn into a pissing competition.

Personally I prefer a gix750 as I'm a bit dissappointed with 600's - but that's just me.

Ciao.

[DEATH_INC.]

Yep, a thou ridden aggresevily is far too quick for the road.
A 600 is bordering on too fast too.
But the reality is it's all up to the rider...you can ride a turbo'd thou slow or a stock 250 fast, up to you.
The real problem is experience and skill vs percieved experience and skill.....

[justsomeguy]

The real problem is experience and skill vs percieved experience and skill.....

There - he summarised in one line what I was trying to say in a paragraph.

[onearmedbandit]

bollox. soz mate.
some thous are geared for excess of 140 in first. Just normally riding them round on the street is too twitchy. And yeah, i've ridden a thou round the street for a day.. gimme me 6 any day.

A whole day mate? C'mon, I ride my thou around town at 50-60 in almost any gear I choose (from 2nd to 6th) with no 'twitchiness' whatsoever. Fueling is smooth and precise. That is of course if you have good partial throttle control, but you shouldn't be riding one of these bikes if you don't have that.


only way a 6 is out-done by a thou is a straight line anyway. Wow, you can go fast in a straight line.. have a gold star..

More to it than that mate. Passing is breeze on a thou on the open road. I can choose one or maybe two gears on the hill and stick too them with the torque on tap, or I can play around on the 'box, the choice is mine. Drive out of corners is also amazing. Sure a 600 is easier to get on the gas, but when you've got hookup there ain't nothing on the road like a thou to fire you from corner to corner.

Each bike has areas where they excell. And without a doubt some 600's are quicker point to point on certain roads. But seeing as I don't ride like that everywhere the flexibility of the thou will do me fine.

[Timber020]

To fast and to quick, but totally worth it. I do 200kms on average around town (almost all 50kmph zones) on my near litre bike, it does near 130 in first and will do near 3 times the limit in top. Perhaps its wasted but its nice to have that torque and the ability to hit hyperspeed if the need arises.
I would probably ride a smaller bike faster around town, I used to ride a mix of bikes, and the smaller tended to be riden harder and faster because they felt better when the revs were higher. (the RGV250 and Zxr400 was a curse on my license at times)

[Jantar]

....the flexibility of the thou will do me fine. :2thumbsup

[mstriumph]

.............. I'm not talking about too fast for the rider. I'm talking about too fast for the driver's of other vehicles to anticipate how quickly a literbike can move from point A to point B. ..................

It's been said 'with great power comes great responsibility' and that couldn't be MORE true for rider's of literbikes ......................

is the ability of the literbikes the manuver SO quickly. A literbike can make a lane change in a split second (multi lane changes almost as fast).
If you can't see enuff of whats behind you how in the world can you determine the correct spacing and speed to flow with or slightly faster than traffic or make a fast lane change?!..........................

It's different riding on the street theres so many varribles (CARS, NOB Jocks Walking ,CYCLEST ,ANIMALS ,ROAD WORKS ETC
Sorry about the long post :done: :done: :done:

interesting post - thanks

can't vote as there's no button for 'mebbe' ... but honestly think you've covered it ... the bike on its own, no problem - add other traffic of varying capabilities etc., could still be fine ............. but then top it off with an inexpert or undisciplined rider with too much bravado and too little focus who isn't riding to the conditions .... - yep, you've got a potential problem there.

so--- what's the answer?
anyone?

[SixPackBack]

There is a shit load of reasons people choose one bike over another, to many to list and capacity is just one consideration

Comfort and ease of use are primary concerns for myself. A thou is a lazy bike, pick a gear and twist the throttle and it goes.

As to the question of 'is it to fast?'......well no of course not! without a rider the fucker can't move.

[bugjuice]

k, need to clarify some bits then;

JSG, I think about what i post mate, no worries there. I didn't say you ride everywhere in first, just pointing out their potential. I didn't have to 'try riding the bike in the same manor' cos I could feel from the word go, the extra torque in there, so there's a ton more respect there. I'd love to see you ride a thou like you ride your 6.. well, any bike!!

OAB, I didn't mean they couldn't be ridden. You just have to respect them more. I guess if you're used to the thous' power, then you just are.

personally, and from a few 6 hundy riders I've spoken to, I just like the way you can give the bike a bit more stick.

I guess a lot of this is down to personal preference. Most who ride thous say they're fine. Those who know they can be a bit heavy handed are happy to push a 6 over a thou.. I know I'm more comfortable on a 6 cos thous give less warning
go pick away :bleh:

[jtzzr]

interesting post - thanks

can't vote as there's no button for 'mebbe' ... but honestly think you've covered it ... the bike on its own, no problem - add other traffic of varying capabilities etc., could still be fine ............. but then top it off with an inexpert or undisciplined rider with too much bravado and too little focus who isn't riding to the conditions .... - yep, you've got a potential problem there.

so--- what's the answer?
anyone?

I agree with msT its sorta like " Don`t give guns to monkeys" it kinda speaks for itself.

[robertydog]

Mate they have a massive amount of power but there is something about a litre bike that i like. And no i wont lend it it to anyone for that reason.

[svr]

I hate modern litre bikes because if I try to ride to their potential they scare the crap out of me - same for 750's (and even new 600's for that matter). The problem is that if you're approaching every corner at 220+ and hard on the pics it's nearly impossible to get the corner right - and corners are 90% of motorcycling in my book.
Most of the litre bike riders at track-days would ride better and probably go faster on an sv.

[SixPackBack]

I guess a lot of this is down to personal preference. :bleh:


Nail on the head Buggy:rockon:

[bugjuice]

ouch.. i think they call that a prince albert..??

[SPman]

What SPB said!

And that power is highly addictive!...mmmmm

But, they dont change direction quiiiiiite as quickly as a 600 or even a 750.

So - logically, they are waaaaaay to fast.

But then, who buys a bike on logic!

[terbang]

better to say do litre bike riders have small willies

I ride a couple of litre+ bikes and some say I've got a huuuge willy. So your myth is busted..


But the reality is it's all up to the rider...you can ride a turbo'd thou slow or a stock 250 fast, up to you.
The real problem is experience and skill vs percieved experience and skill.....

Thats the answer...

[stevedee]

Ride what you like, my opinion of "its the right hand twist that controls it" ...bollocks, it ain't, it comes to fast and the realisation that you are in the shit, way to late.

Fine ride a litre bike, I want one someday, but don't ever lul someone into thinking if they can control their right hand they can control a litre bike. Shite!

spd:-)

[kiwifruit]

Fine ride a litre bike, I want one someday, but don't ever lul someone into thinking if they can control their right hand they can control a litre bike. Shite!

spd:-)

i honestly believe the only "problem" with modern thousand cc race rep bikes is the person controlling the throttle.
The litre bikes i have had the pleasure of riding have been very easy to ride apart from requiring alot of restraint (throttle control).

[TK3]

No more than a 300Kw Holden or a 310Kw Falcon.

It all depends on the rider.... A NSR 250 is dangerous and to fast of the road in the hands of an idiot..

[imdying]

Each bike has areas where they excell. And without a doubt some 600's are quicker point to point on certain roads. But seeing as I don't ride like that everywhere the flexibility of the thou will do me fine.


personally, and from a few 6 hundy riders I've spoken to, I just like the way you can give the bike a bit more stick.

Suzuki have heard you both, and they're both fine points. Now they supply a GSXR1000 with a 600/1000 switch... with a 750 switch thrown in the middle just for kicks.

[Kornholio]

i honestly believe the only "problem" with modern thousand cc race rep bikes is the person controlling the throttle.


Yeah most of those guys I know are idiots anyway :dodge: :dodge: :gob:

[imdying]

A NSR 250 is dangerous and to fast of the road in the hands of an addict..And thus why the two stroke will always rule the roost :yes:

[kiwifruit]

Yeah most of those guys I know are idiots anyway :dodge: :dodge: :gob:

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No more than a 300Kw Holden or a 310Kw Falcon.

It all depends on the rider.... A NSR 250 is dangerous and to fast of the road in the hands of an idiot..
good point, welcome to the site.

[TonyB]

Litre bikes have always been regarded as too quick. I remember magazine articles from the 80's asking the same question.

*A quick aside- I also remember commentators in the early 90's saying that only a handful of riders world wide had the talent to ride GP bike to its limits- I would think the current crop of litre bikes would be comparible in outright performance to GP bikes of that era.... but thats beside the point.*

But a modern litre bike is also a whole lot easier to ride than it's early 90's equivalent- massively so in fact. Who knows if we need all this power? Hopefully it remains a matter of personal choice.

[Nicksta]

first question... why the question?

second... is a RS250 not an insane bike or any other 2 stroke for that matter.... bikes on the whole are dangerous especially in the wrong hands, shit my 600 is nuts to ride.....

Its up to the rider... I happen to know some very good and sensible riders who ride litre bikes.... its the rider that makes all the difference.... its using the grey matter that counts.... Bruce and I had discussed this on more than one occasion.....

[Animal]

My two cents worth... it's all about self-discipline. Having the capability of doing insane speeds doesn't mean you have to. I think Death Inc. summed it up well.

[stevedee]

You know that I do not contribute much to the forum but.....

No more than a 300Kw Holden or a 310Kw Falcon.

Well if you take the average driver in a "No more than a 300Kw Holden or a 310Kw Falcon" unleash them on a Holiday Road going public you have pretty much what the road toll is all about. Especially if they have followed a Maui Mobile Home or mum and dad from Invergargill with thier caravan for the last 10Ks. Restraint ain't what the average Kiwi is about.

I have seen many riders handle thou bikes well...way beyond my skill level... But for the ones that "Step up" I pray they are aware of what they are stepping up to.

No ABS , no traction control, no magic air bags. The comparison between a car and a bike?

spd:-)

[Bleck K6]

Yep, a thou ridden aggresevily is far too quick for the road.
A 600 is bordering on too fast too.
But the reality is it's all up to the rider...you can ride a turbo'd thou slow or a stock 250 fast, up to you.
The real problem is experience and skill vs percieved experience and skill.....


Dont give Death a 400 he is quicker on one of those than his bloody 750.

[SixPackBack]

I cringe when reading the American biker sites [gixxer.com as an example]. Young lads questioning if their first bike should be a 600 or a thou. Teenagers that have never ridden a bike before.

Now that is certainly a recipe for disaster.

[stevedee]

Oh and by the way I uphold the right of any motorcyclist to ride what she or he wants, I am not into legislation of any sort regarding what you can ride. ( I guess with the proviso they have the appropriate license).

spd:-)

[nodrog]

you hit a truck head on a 250 or a 1000, either way its going to fuckin hurt.

[Shaun]

No, a litre bike is not to fast, a bike only goes as fast as the rider twists the throttle

YES the litre bikes are bloody fast, but it is up to rider to kep it between the white lines

[Jantar]

....The problem is that if you're approaching every corner at 220+ and hard on the pics it's nearly impossible to get the corner right - and corners are 90% of motorcycling in my book....
Why do you assume that because the bike is capable of "approaching every corner at 220+ and hard on the pics" that that is way it is always ridden? I would say that in general I don't approach any corner any faster than I would if I was on a much smaller bike, but I may sometimes accelerate out faster, and I will often go up hills faster or in a higher gear, and I will carry my wife as pillion and enough luggage for two weeks away at a time etc etc.
As OAB said, its the flexibility that counts, not the raw top speed.

[Nicksta]

I cringe when reading the American biker sites [gixxer.com as an example]. Young lads questioning if their first bike should be a 600 or a thou. Teenagers that have never ridden a bike before.

Now that is certainly a recipe for disaster.
i agree... scared the crap out of me talking to friends when i was there.. . one who learned on an R6..... and a GSXR600 is considered a learners bike...
i like our graduated system here... i even think thou's should be restricted to people who have had their licence a certain time... and have an age restriction... (maturity counts for a lot in this game)

[Pussy]

All personal choice/self discipline....realizing consequences. I've had four gixxer thou's, and recently jumped ship and bought the K6 GSX-R750. I reckon I'm having a whole lot more fun riding the fiddy than I ever did on the thou's. Probably if we had no restrictions and weren't sharing the roads with dickheads, I might still have the bigger gixxer... but as things are, and probably will always be, the smaller gixxer is the best bike for ME

[SimJen]

I ride 70-80km's total to work and back.
In the last ten years or so, I've owned and ridden many bikes on these same roads.
The only time I made a real time difference was switching from my derestricted NSR250SP to my GSX-R600. It knocked a few minutes from my average time. These are open country roads with only a few decent corners. I dictate my own safe speed and consequently, whether riding a 600 or the couple of thous I've owned the safe speed is pretty similar. Only thing I do more of on a 1000 is pull a few more wheelies and accelerate harder out of corners.
I still wouldn't recommend a litre bike to learners though (as in some of the US sites), but then thats not going to happen in NZ anyway.
Work up to the skill levels required for a 1000cc bike, if you are still alive after the various capacity changes 125-250, 400 or 600 then you should be able to safely control it.
Remember the throttle goes both ways......no matter what you ride.

[The_Dover]

yer all poofs.

the only bike they should be allowed to sell should be the gsxr1000.

[nudemetalz]

No, as the definition of a "litre-bike" is too vague. My bike is 1100cc but only puts out 91hp at the crank. It's all entirely usable hp too for the street.

[Pussy]

Oh, and the $575.00 every 3500kms for tyres helped me with my decision

[SimJen]

Oh, and the $575.00 every 3500kms for tyres helped me with my decision

you must ride your 750 like a pussy then ;)
I get the same mileage from my 1000's tires as my 600, give or take a few hundred km's. My NSR was pretty similar too.

[Pussy]

you must ride your 750 like a pussy then ;)
I get the same mileage from my 1000's tires as my 600, give or take a few hundred km's. My NSR was pretty similar too.

You must be riding your 1000 like a pussy then :scooter:

Only done 1200km on my new fiddy so far. Looks like the hoops may last longer than the thou's

[madmal64]

Its a little like saying guns are dangerous and kill people.
No problem with a gun until someone pulls the trigger with a bullet in the chamber at the wrong time in the wrong place.
Same on a thou..... pull the trigger at the wrong time and the wrong place and it could be dangerous and may end in tears.
Its the top 6 inches of the controler that makes the difference.

[Finn]

yer all poofs.

the only bike they should be allowed to sell should be the gsxr1000.

Indeed. The Model T of motorcycles.

[Kornholio]

Oh, and the $575.00 every 3500kms for tyres helped me with my decision

Giddy up :D

[SimJen]

You must be riding your 1000 like a pussy then :scooter:

Haha thats entirely possible, but I tend to choose tires that suit the bike/my riding style so they all end up lasting similar amounts of time.
1000's do tend to chew sprockets/chains a little quicker though.....but i don't give a shit.
My 1000 is lighter than my 600 was (easier on tires, but more power all evens out) so with an extra 60hp at the wheel, its easier to ride and as the revs are lower at the same speed I'm getting ever so slightly better gas mileage too :)
Only problem is the insurance is a fair bit costlier, still litre bikes rock as far as Im concerned. I'd still own a 675 Trumpet though, but wouldn't trade the thou on one :)

[Mr. Peanut]

Indeed. The Model T of motorcycles.
More like the Ford Pinto...

[McJim]

The problem as I see it is twofold.

Many cage drivers are morons and blind morons at that - even 50cc scooters accelerate too fast for the fuckwits to anticipate.

So the first problem is the environment.

Then it comes down to the rider as many others have said - the discipline to observe the speed limit. In some hands a Litre Sportsbike is as safe as any other vehicle on the street. In another's it's asking for trouble. And it's not about skill - it's about judgement.

[miSTa]

No, as the definition of a "litre-bike" is too vague. My bike is 1100cc but only puts out 91hp at the crank. It's all entirely usable hp too for the street.

Agreed, my 1150 is only 85hp but the torque isn't too far off what I had on the ZZR1100 - thats the real world: torque.

[The_Dover]

put it this way.

the average vagina is about 3 inches deep (an index finger will reach the bottom)

but is a 12 inch cock too much?

(i wasn't referring to you finn, you've got to be about 2 feet tall)

[Denniso]

One motorcycle is not enough . you gotta have a selecton of bikes , in many cases a thou is ideal , long road trips are so much easer as gear changing isn't as much of a problem , point & squirt ride the torque. and there is nothing that quite compaires with giving a thou a fistfull of the fun regulatior on the odd occasion ,and laying the occasional black line can be addictive. Having said this a thou can be a bit of a liability at times and a smaller bike can be a lot more fun on tight roads or shingle ( which rooted the paint on a bike of mine , had to have it resprayed as it was down to plastic in places ) So I guess my answer is yes and no .

[enigma51]

put it this way.

the average vagina is about 3 inches deep (an index finger will reach the bottom)

but is a 12 inch cock too much?

(i wasn't referring to you finn, you've got to be about 2 feet tall)

Never had any complaints so it must be alright then :innocent:

[Bulldog]

I'm sure most bikes are too fast for the road but hey! I just like having the 'raging hulk' power in reserver :P That way I can embarrass ferraris etc.

[DMNTD]

Not too fast when ridden at the speed limit...as with any CC rating.
If you want to twist the wrist you're inviting a higher risk,painfully obvious really innit? Pretty obvious that it doesn't matter what sized bike you're riding too.

As far as commuting in town on a litre bike...bloody fantastic mind you I have a -1 front sprocket.
Jumpy/twitchy in town? Nope but then again I know how to ride the bloody thing ok. I'm sure that any bike ridden by an unskilled or unqualified rider would have troubles in any circumstance.

[Hitcher]

A one litre bike is like any other bike. Whether it is "dangerous" or not largely depends on the monkey that may be astride it.

[Mr. Peanut]

"Placeholder for witty reposte Re: Two strokes"

[terbang]

Whats big and hard and throbs between a blokes legs..?
His motorcycle..!

[Toaster]

yes, a litre bike is a massive over kill IMHO


YEAH its overkill, but why not aye, ya only live once!!

[Toaster]

A one litre bike is like any other bike. Whether it is "dangerous" or not largely depends on the monkey that may be astride it.

The man has spoken.... well said dude.

[Toaster]

put it this way.

the average vagina is about 3 inches deep (an index finger will reach the bottom)

but is a 12 inch cock too much?

(i wasn't referring to you finn, you've got to be about 2 feet tall)



Nice one Dover :rockon:
Me-thinks I'll walk up to some chick and say "Hey bend over... I gotta try a couple things here....."

[Blairos]

I love my 1.2 litre - end of story...:done:

[SixPackBack]

Nice one Dover :rockon:
Me-thinks I'll walk up to some chick and say "Hey bend over... I gotta try a couple things here....."


Hmmmm.....me thinks you'll get a clip...and no jiggy!!:shutup:

[BarBender]

No, as the definition of a "litre-bike" is too vague. My bike is 1100cc but only puts out 91hp at the crank. It's all entirely usable hp too for the street.

Seems like the theme coming through assumes that a thou is only as fast as its rider. :done:

In saying that (and assuming' I am an experienced and mature sort :no: ) I'd feel safer on a Bus, ZX12R or a 14 than on a thou that weighs 165kgs and puts out the same kinda juice.

[mynameis]

In my opinion yes they are too fast and powerfull for road use. Of course the bike isn't fully utilised whilst commuting/road use.

Sure the bike will only go as fast as the throttle is twisted but having said that I think one of the main points here is when bikes are made that powerful there is always a tendancy for it's owners to push it to it's limit.That's just a natural human instinct. And that's where things turn ugly.

Why own a thou for road use when you aren't fully going to use it on open roads. Yeah then again there is just the simple plain answer "because I can" and that we don't fully use other bikes on open roads but obviously a litre bike will be on the other end of the scale.

I have been on 250's for over a year now and my next bike will be either a 400, 250 Two Stroker or 650 V Twin for about a year before I get a 600 which I suspect I will keep for a few years before getting a 750. As for a litre bike maybe after 5 years from now or after 100 000 k's.

This way I will have experience on a range of categories/bikes in terms of power and appreciate them. 40 to 80 hp and then 90 to 110 hp and then 120 to 140 hp on a 750 and above 150 hp on a thou. (Generally speaking of course hp will vary in bikes)

Hopefully that way I will learn and know what the real beast is before I jump on one, because the last thing you'd wana do as a biker is get a litre bike and ride around like a pussy on the roads!

mynameis

[bluninja]

What's wrong with riding a big bike like a pussy on the roads???

Maybe that's the real problem with litre bikes...nothing to do with power...more to do with attitude.... the presumption that to ride a big bike like a nana on the roads is wrong.

Though I can appreciate that one should have experience of bike riding before moving on to bigger/better/faster/heavier riding a litre sports bike is like a whole new world to learn.

I rode a 200cc 2 stroke over the last year...It was capable of exceeding the speed limits and would beat cars from the lights (albeit by covering them in billows of white smoke) so why would I need a big sports bike? Funnilly enough it stops fast and it handles well. I feel much safer at all speeds on the RSVR than on the small sports bike (well it was when suzuki brought it out in 1980). Getting back on the RSVR I have had to relearn my stopping distances and speed perception. After 2 months and 10,000kms I've still got a way to go.....but it's damn fun relearning.

I guess in a few years time we'll be having this debate about 800cc sportsbikes:gob:

or maybe not.....the pollys in Europe/Us are demanding tougher emissions controls. Typically these drain the power and so you need more cubes to get the same output. Won't it be strange to see HP figures on new bikes going backwards!! How will they sell that one?

[Fat Tony]

All depends how you want to ride at the end of the day... screw the nuts off a 600/750 (yes please) or take things a little lazier on a 1000 (not for me thanks)

[Nutter34]

When I had my 600, I was convinced a 600 was all I'd ever need. Then I got the Z. It's just so much more useable than the 600 ever was. I could ride with the same pace for less effort. If you want to thrash it, go for it but it'll bite.
I've been riding a ZX10 too. Now the Z feels gutless when in the twisties, just beacause there's less grunt out of corners. It doesn't mean I ride harder or faster, just easier for any given speed.

Easy fast is the way I'd describe it.

Easy fast, that's about the way I see road riding. Having a nice rythm ride and rolling on and off the throttle has become more fun than point and squirt stuff. If you want to thrash things to their limit, go to the track.

And for those who are still on 250's and smaller, how the fuck can you express an opinion when you've never experienced riding a bigger bike, specially those knocking them! If you all think a thou is bad, I'd suggest you examine your riding habits and self control...

[DEATH_INC.]

yer all poofs.

the only bike they should be allowed to sell should be the gsxr1000.
Teh only bike you should be allowed to own is a gn250 :Pokey:

[DEATH_INC.]

I find the grunt argument interesting, a large no of bikes have way more 'grunt' than the thous......
The real issue still comes down to the fact that a thou (the gixxers,r1's,zx10's and cbr) will leap up to over 200k before you can say 'oh shiiiitttt',and they handle so well that you often don't realise how fast yer going, and in reality a lot of the guys on them don't truly know how to cope with this sort of performance and when it all goes wrong they're in big trouble. The issue of rider control is true, but the reality is that a small amount of misjudgement can bite very hard.

[DEATH_INC.]

Easy fast is the way I'd describe it.
This is it in a nutshell, and your Zthou is slow compared to the proper sprotbikes. Too bloody easy.
Don't get me wrong though, I have nothing against thou's, it just scares the shit outta me seeing some of the guys that ride 'em .

[The Pastor]

I lernt to ride on a thou. Grow some balls.

[Lou Girardin]

Litre bikes are just fine for the riding Gods equipped with huge titanium testicles that ride them.
The trouble is that quite a few are bought by wannabees.
Mind you, they're bloody fast riders in a straight line.

[limbimtimwim]

The manufacturers don't make them that manic. The only litre bikes I have ridden were an 05 Fireblade and an 03 R1. They were total pussycats (Especially the R1, it wasn't strong enough to tear wet toilet paper at the bottom end) if you didn't ask anything of them. And the fuelling of the Fireblade, very very smooth.

But jam the throttle open and holy fuck! Monos for Africa! Nice :) .

Respect them, and there is no problem.

[DingDong]

I dont think they're too fast... they have the potential to go way too fast but your in control (or should be)

In the wrong hands a mini bike can be too fast for the street

[BarBender]

I find the grunt argument interesting, a large no of bikes have way more 'grunt' than the thous......
The real issue still comes down to the fact that a thou (the gixxers,r1's,zx10's and cbr) will leap up to over 200k before you can say 'oh shiiiitttt',and they handle so well that you often don't realise how fast yer going, and in reality a lot of the guys on them don't truly know how to cope with this sort of performance and when it all goes wrong they're in big trouble. The issue of rider control is true, but the reality is that a small amount of misjudgement can bite very hard.

Death hits it on the nail again.

[ceebie13]

It's interesting that the majority of posts in this thread (the originator in particular) quote in sportsbike language. Hardly a mention of anything without a fairing. I subscribe to Hitcher's theory that it's all down to the rider. With 1300cc between my legs I feel reassured that I have power in reserve rather than worry that my machine is too fast for public roads. In fact I think that the words "too fast" don't even come in to it.

[bluninja]

I was assuming the thread starter was referring to modern sportbikes.....
otherwise we'd have the 1500 cc Valkyrie, the 1800 cc Goldwing, or......the 2300 cc Triumph Rocket III in the reckoning.

The question then would be is a 1500 cc plus bike too fat and quirky for the street

[Aitch]

600 or 1400....ford or holden....rotary or herringbone....db or lion....league or union....pantyhose or stockings.....get the idea?

[avgas]

Yes litre bikes are too fast for the street...
......but you dont see me complaining.

Just like V contains too much sugar and caffine, two stroke smokes too much, concerts are too loud for the average ear.........all good points - but i dont give a shit if it feels good

[avgas]

The question then would be is a 1500 cc plus bike too fat and quirky for the street
Not really, cos i still want my munch mammut. Its like the animal equivalent of a rhino. Not slow, not small, not easily stopped

[jade]

How nice to come back from holiday and find this argument, Ive been wanting to discuss this issue for a while now,
Motorcycles are my complete passion, i love them, I want to be good at riding them and am constantly trying to learn more
Ive had about 9 crashes I reckon - (ranging from 30kph lowsides to a 60kph impact with a car to overshooting a corner at 110
those are from the age 18 to today (my 21st birthday)
Having 3 2 stroke bikes may have contributed to this number but in any case I feel that ive now used my 9 lives and as I go up to bigger faster bikes there isnt going to be a tenth.
Crashing should not be a part of motorcycling, my biggest fear is another impact and im going to do everything in my power to prevent it
My goal is to never crash again !
My RS250 by most boy racers can be considered fucking quick and by litre bike riders - quick through the twisties
but like most people have said it comes down to self control and I am constantly drilling this into myself everytime I ride my bike now,
Most of my riding is done on the north shore, I know hundreds of these roads everywhere and I am out there alot - there is so much going on - its dangerous out there and it is war with these incompetent cage drivers.
Sometimes,if the conditions are right (empty fastlane on the motorway) then yes I will occasionally push the tempo toward 200 but it is only now that I am teaching myself the self control needed for 50 k zones because when I move up through the ranks I need to stay at the same speed,
I seem to be riding to the rule that my speed in the fifties is ok - 60 and above is not
I cant imagine the power of a 1000, but I imagine that its more than I and most people will ever need in our lifetimes, however I see what you are saying about it being easier to ride, and I think I will one day own one.
Im on the fence about my next bike as I wonder if I will get bored
Its between an 05/6 zx6r or or a k6 750
All I know is im not upgrading to nada until I feel I have mastered self control
and I think Ill probably go the 636.

Sorry to rant so much but to summarise I guess Im saying that a litre bike is not too much power in the right hands, but like anything its fucking lethal in the wrong hands.
I like our graduate system for the capacity of motorcycles and I think Its all about self control
Until you master this you cannot go onto a 600 let alone a 1000

ps. it is judgement over skill.

[mynameis]

What's wrong with riding a big bike like a pussy on the roads???

There's nothing wrong in riding around like a pussy on a big bike, I mean hey we all gotta stick to speed limits aye! What I meant was if and when you get a "big bike" which probably has more than 150 hp then you should also have the ability to handle it as well if in case you do get closer to using all that power and hey if in the wrong hands it's like a weapon.


And for those who are still on 250's and smaller, how the fuck can you express an opinion when you've never experienced riding a bigger bike, specially those knocking them! If you all think a thou is bad, I'd suggest you examine your riding habits and self control...

Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups and makes an ass of you and me. Maybe these 250 riders who have made comments on litre bikes have ridden them and hence made comments and perhaps they wouldn't if they haven't.

I think there's a fine balance between two things here. Saftey balance control suspension brakes are better on the litre (which is an advantage)where as you have those extra hps which can make it dangerous and on the other hand the smaller bikes have less of those above i.e. braking suspension ect..which can be some what of a disadvantage but again you don't have those extra hp to make it as lethal as a thou.

And I am sure vice versa can be argued as well but oh well. Just my little opinion :)

mynameis

[beyond]

I am against all legislation that determines what we can and can't buy so I am not against large bikes. Hell, I just love my 1.4 litres worth :)

What's the difference between a professional hunter creeping around the bush with a 30.06 and the same gun in the hands of crim creeping around your neighbourhood at night, on P with an itchy trigger finger. Same gun, one's responsible, the others downright dangerous.

You cannot ride a litre bike to it's limit on the road "for long." No matter how good a rider you are, one day there will be a patch of gravel on the corner you are taking at 250+ or a stray cow, a tractor pulling out of a farm gate a camper van taking the corner wide, a car full of P addicts on your side of the road on a blind corner etc etc.

However, you can't ride "most" bikes to the limit on our roads for too long, but there are times when you can. Very few between mind you. The ZX14 I tested, bounced off the rev limiter in first at 185kmh!!!! Too fast? Yeah.
Fun? Oh yeah!!! Would I do it again? Oh yeah!!!!!!

The facts are, if you've got power between your knees, you will use it. It might be once, it might be many times. Most blokes like to know that the top speed posted for their bike, is what they can get out of it too.

I say again and again. Do not test the limits on your bike until you have covered at least 5,000kms, preferably 10,000kms, be careful where you do it and watch the road for morons. Everyones out to get you.

Having said that, powerful bikes are loads of fun, safe as a 125 in experienced hands but of course they are too fast for the road and that's why we buy them.

[scracha]

Agree with Beyond about the legislation thing. Litre + bikes are a complete cock extension on the road and utterly pointless. They're just not happy at 100kmph and pootling about at legal speeds doesn't do them any good.

As for the "they go as fast as your wrist argument".....Maybe 1 in 50 riders have the self control not to go bansai with them once in a while and I'm not one of them.

[Jantar]

They're just not happy at 100kmph and pootling about at legal speeds doesn't do them any good.
Utter rot. My 1 litre bike will sit at 100 kmh in 5th gear quite happily, and it doesn't suffer any harm at that.

[XP@]

Yeh, for sure they are overkill for most uses, as Hitcher says it is the monkey behind the bars...

Even my ponsy 650 Transalp can become a heat seeking missile of doom when I put my brain in a jar on the shelf in the garage next to the wd-40. Even without going stupid I have to hold back every day to stop the tax inspectors taking an interest in my licence.

For me the real kick i get from the Transalp, is that i can really ride it (anywhere)!
That is travelling with the throttle open for a good amount of time. I dunno about you but having the throttle open is good and closed is, well, just not the same. Riding faster bikes it seems that you spend most of the time slowing down or watching for the cops, or both and just not enough time riding.

Has anyone got a bike i can borrow for the sprints in feb? or the next BMW adventure? Nope, ah well, I'll just use my bike, I won't be winning anything but I can still have a lot of fun doing the ride.

[SPman]

After the, customary, 2 GSXR 1000's,..:whistle:... which seemed all about total iron controlled throttle discipline on most roads, I dropped back? to a ZX9R. It was so much FUN after the 1000. I could get on the throttle earlier, concentrate on going quicker when I wanted to, not when the bike wanted to. It didn't seem quite so much of an effort to keep the speeds reasonable. It felt like the old 750SP - more input into the actual riding of the bike, without the feeling it was going to kill you, if you made just one little mistake. (although, no doubt, it would)

Part of this is being an old prick, who would like to get even older, whose reaction times are just a tad slower than they used to be.

The fun is even better now, with the 1300 - just like the old days, considering every bumpy corner as a challenge....."will this twisting, gyrating heavy pile of metal get around this corner without tying itself in knots and tossing me off? Lets see now.....squirm, gyrate, wiggle....yeeha!" Well - it'll stick with 996 Ducs up our local twisty bit of road up to 160 kph with luggage on.........and thats more than enough to get into deep poo!

I find it interesting that most bike testers over 30, consider litre sportbikes extreme overkill for public roads. Enjoyable - oh yes indeedy, but, riders not being able to use anywhere near their full potential on the road and expect to stay alive, long.

With a disciplined experienced rider on board - they are fine. With someone who thinks they are shit hot or with no discipline, like all bikes, they are an accident waiting to happen - only usually, harder and faster.

Me - that Cagiva Mito 500 is looking very appealing..

[NinjaNanna]

One small point, I'M TOO TALL FOR A 600!!!!

My ZX-9R fits nicely and I'm sure a 1000 would be fine.

Plus I fully fit with the guys that like to cruise with torque rather than jamming it up and down through the gears. I doubt I'd ever be happy on a 600

My 2c

NN

[idleidolidyll]

A mate of mine, an ex top notch overseas racer, tells me often that all you need on the road is 50BHP.
For most people he's probably right but that's not the issue.
It's about choice. Do we want restricted HP bikes in NZ like in Europe had? (they had a 100BHP rule).

IMO a bike is only as quick as the rider and how fast they twist the throttle and how fast they can corner. It's about as easy to die on the roads on a gutless 50cc as on a 160BHP superbike.

Even a 600cc bike can do more than double the speed limit on the open road: are ya gonna talk banning all bikes that can do more than say 120kph?

What about young hoons in 250BHP Subarus etc? Should these cars be taken off the road along with all Ferraris and Porches?

[mstriumph]

............................ Well - it'll stick with 996 Ducs up our local twisty bit of road up to 160 kph with luggage on...................

yeah - i was bringing up the rear of the bunch, enjoying the unfolding scenario ............:innocent:

.............and i have to tell you, peoples - those Duc guys kept glancing back, horrified, at this retro bike piled high with luggage just cruissssssing up/down/thru the twisty bit after them ......

.....seemingly effortlessly keeping pace [well, as some of u know, this guy looks disGUStingly laidback while he's riding ...:love: ... sooooooo relaxed :zzzz: ]

- then they'd return to the job in hand and, increasingly desperate, attempt to pile on a few more revs [riding getting ragged, some of em] glance back again triumphantly and ........

THERE HE STILL WAS :Punk:

they seemed very young .......musta been a nightmare for em

bloody good laff

[Whynot]

What about young hoons in 250BHP Subarus etc? Should these cars be taken off the road along with all Ferraris and Porches?

just leave it for a few years .... the subarus will get themselves off the road pretty quickly

[_intense_]

the old saying -with powere come great responsability rings true.
im working up the ranks myself, i dont considermyself ready for an inline4 litrebike, im still shit scared of the thought of THAT much power, have almost been on the cbr600 for a year, and its got more than anough to scare me shitless. The only truely safe setting for that sort of a display of power is a racetrack.

[Mr. Peanut]

Manufacturers should not be burdened with imposed limits, the technology that goes into flagship 1000s filters down into other bikes.

I can see myself using a 1000 quite sensibly.

Though it is obvious that you don't need that kind of power for the street, do you need bikes at all? Go buy a corolla...

[Coyote]

I'm worried about the 18-20ish year old young people lurking at these literbike sites(this one and others)that are thinking," Well I can ride my CBR250 or CR 250 dirt bike on the back lot pretty good, maybe I should buy a new literbike because there just so cool and boy it sure will impress my girlfriend"
They have absolutely NO idea how dangerous literbikes are without first getting the proper rider training AND learning to respect what's between there legs in so far as riding on public streets is concerned. If that same person wants a 200 horsepower 300 pound literbike just to truck to and race track day's FINE! if someone like that has a crash on a race track. they are in the wright place to do so
Haha, I'm 17 and admittedly I'm kinda like that. I'm getting tired of my 150 and how it's lacking in power and maxes out at 150k. And I want to be able to take pillion passengers without the rear end bottoming out and hitting the pegs on a slight lean. I've mentioned several times on here that I want an SP1 mainly cause they're freakin awesome, and I've made excuses like the powerband is linear and I learnt to ride on a KX80 with a lightswitch powerband, etc. I do believe I'm intelligent enough to respect the bike and not to kill myself, but I'm also smart enough to realise my primal speed freak subconcious mind will overcome my sensible side. Like today, I went 150 past a cop, he didn't come after me cause the motorway barrier was in the way I think. Even so I was pretty stupid

I'm most likely to get a Motard this year as my upgrade bike (cause it'll be possible that i can race it aswell as ride on the road with it), but if I can manage to afford a litre bike I'd be awfully tempted

[onearmedbandit]

They're just not happy at 100kmph and pootling about at legal speeds doesn't do them any good.

I'll bite as well, have you ridden a late model thou? Or are you just assuming. Ridden my thou at road legal speeds on plenty of occassions (err, all the time, honest) and she purrs in 6th gear. Need to pass someone, indicate, look, twist and go. And it gets 'tested' enough times to ensure it gets used as it should.


As for the "they go as fast as your wrist argument".....Maybe 1 in 50 riders have the self control not to go bansai with them once in a while and I'm not one of them.

Ha, these bikes teach self control, it's not an option. If you're stupid enough not to realise that, you get what you deserve. I've thrown my thou away at over 130km/h pushing it hard, but I was on the track during an open day (we have them every Tuesday and Friday down here, great to stretch the throttle cable on the thou!) so I know how hard they bite. But on the road I've had no issues, never once over stepped the limit but had the time of my life.

When I owned my GSXR750, my first decent bike after my big accident, I thought the thou's were overkill for the road, too much power and just a waste of money. My 750 was fast enough. But after spending some time on the thou I can honestly hand-on-heart say that right now I wouldn't consider going down to a smaller bike.

The thou has the ability to dop everything I want with ease, everything the 750 did. But it is a bike that has more, and requires more. And that is something I enjoy. You have to work yourself more, be mentally sharper. And that feeling gives me a rush like nothing else.

[SimJen]

I love my thou, and wouldn't/couldn't go back to a smaller bike.
Its physical size is smaller than my previous 600, and it handles/stops better.
Anyone who thinks thou's are too much on the road, can eat my shorts!
I just hope that all these peeps saying 1000's are too fast have actually ridden one for a distance, and aren't just saying it cause they got off a 250cc and scared themselves shitless on a thou - Speed is relative.
600's are generally too much for the road, as so often is a tuned 400 (ZXR etc) or even a 250 two stroke.
1000's are what makes freedom a wonderful thing and motorcycling such a great past-time.

[Coyote]

Ha, these bikes teach self control, it's not an option. If you're stupid enough not to realise that, you get what you deserve. I've thrown my thou away at over 130km/h pushing it hard, but I was on the track during an open day (we have them every Tuesday and Friday down here, great to stretch the throttle cable on the thou!) so I know how hard they bite. But on the road I've had no issues, never once over stepped the limit but had the time of my life.

When I owned my GSXR750, my first decent bike after my big accident, I thought the thou's were overkill for the road, too much power and just a waste of money. My 750 was fast enough. But after spending some time on the thou I can honestly hand-on-heart say that right now I wouldn't consider going down to a smaller bike.
So you're recommending 1000cc bikes, but maybe not to someone like myself? Or would I be fine so long as I retain my self control?

[onearmedbandit]

I'm not recommending anything to anyone off here, as I don't know their temperment, their ability, their experience etc. If you are considering a thou, think lots of power = lots of speed = things happen much quicker. More power than you know what to do with. They will teach self respect, but that's coming from a guy who hopped off a 120hp GSXR750 onto a thou, not from a 250 or similar. I still believe in baby steps on bikes, get fast on small bikes first and work your way up.

[Coyote]

Fair enough. A Motard sounds like the smartest option by far for me then

[The_Dover]

I love my small penis and will accept no other substitute or form of compensation for my sexual inadequacy.

[RM125king]

hahaha dover.

yeah i love my R6 and sometimes wonder about " what if i got the thou?''

But everytime i take it out i love the feeling of thrashing the fuck out of it into the corners and not have to so much worry about the front coming up at 150 km/h as you exit the corner unlike some of these thous. go the 600's. how much faster do you need to go? The 600's these days are doing 0 - 200 in 7 seconds. A 600 can almost have the same top speed as a thou just doesnt get there as quick if top speed is what your thing is. Granted the 600s lack in tourqe and you have to keep changing gear all the time but that adds to the character of the bike.

Its exactly like comparing 2 strokes vs 4 stroke moto x bikes. the 2 strokes are light and you can thrash the fuck out of them and love to rev high where as the 4's have the tourqe but dont really like to be thrashed in high rpms and dont rev as high.

it comes down to what your into and is not just a speed thing.

[Big Dog]

It is not the bikes that are too fast for the road it is the rider.
Many RR's are too aggressive for the road, but if you want liquid power, smooth delivery and a roomy seat you can't beat the 'busa.

It is however an exercise in self control.

That's ok it just means that the bike is more of a bike than I am a rider.
That just means when the chips are down there will always be something left.

[Mort]

I think 1000's are as safe or as dangerous as any other bike. Its down to the rider. Any bike on the road you need to know what you are doing and the faster you ride the better rider you need to be. Its not the bike its the rider.

After that its down to personal preference. Personally I love the absolute speed and ability of a 1000cc sports bike.... there's nothing like it. It does it for me... but if your thing is a 600 or a harley or a goldwing... good on yer.... its what does it for you that counts and nothing else.

[justsomeguy]

What we need are pictures and reviews - (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3149&Page=1) note some of the reviewers are relatively inexperienced riders too.

A few pics, one for you Dover.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

i think that each individual has to work up to a big bike .if you are a large unit you need a large bike for comfort and practacality .the busa is happy at 50km around town as well as 90 km to 200 km on the open road .wright you self a list of what you wan,t from the bike long distance work/2 up/
trackdays/day tripping or just for work but don,t get one to be a posser you can buy the fastest bike and the flashest gear but you cant buy natural tallent and abillity .

[crash harry]

well put bp.

IMHO, having ridden the ZX9R for a year as a commuter/tourer/go anwhere do anything bike, big litre bikes from the 90s are cool all rounders. That probably counts V twins as well, from TLs and Firestorms to SVs etc, though I haven't ridden them - similar power and weights really.

The busa is something else. I find that I have to respect the throttle so much more. It consumes a lot more of my attention. Probably something that I will eventually get used to, but things like low-speed first gear intersections are a bit harder than they are on a less powerful bike.

I think it's interesting to note the number of comments saying that thous+ are too fast for the road, coming from people on 250s. I assume that in most cases that means you're still on a learners or restricted license. So you ain't been riding all that long. So WTF would you know about it? I don't mean that as an insult, just that your perceptions will change considerably as your skill level rises.

Riding a big grunter is what life is all about at the end of the day!

[scracha]

It's about choice. Do we want restricted HP bikes in NZ like in Europe had? (they had a 100BHP rule).
I think that was just Switzerland.




What about young hoons in 250BHP Subarus etc? Should these cars be taken off the road along with all Ferraris and Porches?
Er...yeah...I think the ones who've been driving less than 4 or 5 years or who've lost their license a few times should.

[scracha]

I'll bite as well, have you ridden a late model thou? Or are you just assuming. Ridden my thou at road legal speeds on

I haven't always ridden $hite old bike's you know :-) but the fact is I find the ease of getting up to silly speeds on my SOB or a modern 600 bad enough.

Fizzy thou (ok, it's not a "late model") was a waste of time even in the UK with the 70mph speed limit (read that as "cops don't bother below 140kmph). Cousin's Thunderarse had pretty much the same engine and was just the same. RSV millievanilly thing I borrowed for a couple of days to go to Scotland:- Completely and utterly $hite below about 90kmph.....no friggin way could I see the point in owning the thing in New Zealand.



plenty of occassions (err, all the time, honest) and she purrs in 6th gear.

You're basically saying that you tend to go above legal speeds on your litre bike (or are you being sarcastic). My basical point wasn't that litre bikes were dangerous. It was just that they're a waste of time on public roads ridden at legal speeds. For sure, they're not so much of a waste of time at > 100kmph.



Ha, these bikes teach self control, it's not an option. If you're stupid enough not to realise that, you get what you deserve. I've thrown my thou away at

Quite agree on that last point. The problem is that a lot of guys/gals get litre bikes and are too stupid to realise they'll need some form of self control AT ALL TIMES on one of these things. Forget your self control on a litre bike for a few seconds and viola...you're doing 200kmph. Just look at the number of crashed "big bikes" in the breakers or read some of the "I've dropped my bike" threads on this forum.



something I enjoy. You have to work yourself more, be mentally sharper. And that feeling gives me a rush like nothing else.
Ok then. I'll say 1 in 20 riders have got the self control, reflexes and "mental sharpness" you have (no sarcasm intended). I certainly don't. I guess the proof would be with a poll such as "have you ever found yourself overtaking a line of cars doing >150kmph on your 1 litre bike?".

[Insanity_rules]

Theres a too fast now? When did that happen, was I at lunch?

Seriously my last bike before legalising (and trading down)was a 94 cbr600 and I always thought that was pretty quick, not too many litre bikes could catch it on the twisties. But once you got a straight a litre bike would eat me alive in no time.

My buddy threw me the keys to his VTR 1000 not all that long ago and admittedly it was the first thou I've ever ridden, really opened my eyes!

I thought I had to have a well developed reign it in reflex on the CBR but the VTR was something else again. Not quite as corner friendly (Tyres maybe) but I could easily see how you could come to grief. Fun though, love the twin sound and power.

[onearmedbandit]

I haven't always ridden $hite old bike's you know :-) but the fact is I find the ease of getting up to silly speeds on my SOB or a modern 600 bad enough.

I wasn't really assuming anything, more provoking a response. Without a doubt a SOB or 600 is well and truely capable of getting up to silly speeds very easily, and obviously a thou will do it moreso. As we both agree, self control is the secret.


Completely and utterly $hite below about 90kmph.....no friggin way could I see the point in owning the thing in New Zealand.

Maybe it's the flexibility of the GSXR1000, but I can cruise at 70km/h for as long as I need on my bike if that is required. Smooth fueling, linear power delivery etc make it all easy.



You're basically saying that you tend to go above legal speeds on your litre bike (or are you being sarcastic). My basical point wasn't that litre bikes were dangerous. It was just that they're a waste of time on public roads ridden at legal speeds. For sure, they're not so much of a waste of time at > 100kmph.

I'm not admitting anything on a public forum!! :innocent: However, my bike still goes around corners at the speed limit, still rides fine, so I'll argue that it is not a waste of time.


Quite agree on that last point. ........ Forget your self control on a litre bike for a few seconds and viola...you're doing 200kmph. Just look at the number of crashed "big bikes" in the breakers or read some of the "I've dropped my bike" threads on this forum.

To be perfectly honest, it takes more than just a few seconds to get to 200, it requires the will to do it as well. (ie, pinning the throttle.)



Ok then. I'll say 1 in 20 riders have got the self control, reflexes and "mental sharpness" you have (no sarcasm intended). I certainly don't. I guess the proof would be with a poll such as "have you ever found yourself overtaking a line of cars doing >150kmph on your 1 litre bike?".

Believe me, I am not the master of my thou. I'm the rider who realises the potential of what I'm riding and respect it. Sometimes it even catches me unaware, but like a 6th sense you know what's happening.

[Jantar]

.... I guess the proof would be with a poll such as "have you ever found yourself overtaking a line of cars doing >150kmph on your 1 litre bike?". This is one reason I like the more powerful bikes. Less time on the wrong side of the road while overtaking. :done:

[Gremlin]

You're basically saying that you tend to go above legal speeds on your litre bike (or are you being sarcastic).
not necessarily... a modern gix thou will sit at 110 ish, 6th gear, quite happily. Just gurgles along. However, watch your hand on the throttle... the slightest adjustment will see you doing 10-20 more in a blink.


Ok then. I'll say 1 in 20 riders have got the self control, reflexes and "mental sharpness" you have (no sarcasm intended). I certainly don't. I guess the proof would be with a poll such as "have you ever found yourself overtaking a line of cars doing >150kmph on your 1 litre bike?".
You don't even need a litre for that... even a 10 yo 7fiddy will do that, just takes a bit longer...

Around town, yes, a 1000cc modern sportsbike isn't exactly required, you could have a vtwin, or 600, or something. But most of us aren't lucky enough to have a bike for each use. You certainly don't want to have a sv650, and then ride it in the country (apologies to those that ride em, but soz, I personally found it crap).

The advantage of the thou, is that it is actually docile enough around town, indeed, I found it heaps easier than my 7. On the weekends, you can then suit up, and take it into the country. Its a do-all bike... besides trails :mellow:

[sAsLEX]

This is one reason I like the more powerful bikes. Less time on the wrong side of the road while overtaking. :done:

Time exposed to danger.

Yip I keep it small as that's the safest option.

Cops don't agree and to try and pass within the realms of the law most passing lanes and straight sections of road become irrelavent as they are not long enough to go past the prick who has been sitting on 80 for the last hour and just sped up to 98 on the passing lane!

[Swoop]

Never purchase/ride a bike that will take you to a corner that your brain has not already reached 2 seconds before...
For some of us a Honda cub is suitable, for others a 1000cc bike is just fine.

[Jantar]

Its a do-all bike... besides trails :mellow:

So why can't I do this with my litre bike?

[The Big J]

isn't that second one just your driveway?

[Jantar]

isn't that second one just your driveway?

Haha, Close, but not quite. The first one is on the north side of the Dunstan Range at around 3500 ft and above the old Bendigo gold fields. The second one is on the edge of my irrigation pond, my driveway is in the background. However, to get there does require riding across a grass paddock and up the bank of the dam, so does qualify as trail riding to some extent. :yes:

[Shadows]

What about young hoons in 250BHP Subarus etc? Should these cars be taken off the road along with all Ferraris and Porches?

I totally agree that they should be.
Before you know it there will be deck chairs, pot plants, BBQs, patio heaters, man, all kinds of stuff all over the place on blind corners and shit if those idiots who keep building goddamned porches on the road aren't kept in check.

[Edbear]

Never purchase/ride a bike that will take you to a corner that your brain has not already reached 2 seconds before...
For some of us a Honda cub is suitable, for others a 1000cc bike is just fine.



Sums it up nicely! Most posts here are right on the money! My 600 gave me a "moment" as a returning biker, it has twice the power, but fortunately twice the handling and brakes of my old T500 way back in the '70's! I found myself overcooking a corner as I wasn't prepared for the rapid acceleration while chasing a Porsche over the Waiwera hill and came to the top about 20km/h too hot. Braked hard while leant over and the bike made it around! Lesson learned!

The modern thou's would, of course, make my old 'F' look like a slug, but I concur with most here, it's experience and a controlled right wrist that make the difference. I'd love a ride on the GSX1000R, but without that experience I find the 600F ideal for the road and for my skill level. 80hp is enough for me and the bike is comfortable for long distances. I'd probably find the grunt of 150hp+ to be rather addictive, though, were I fortunate enough to have a go on one...

[aaron01]

My only experience on a litre bike has been a mates 86 k100, although not a modern bike I find it a lot easier to ride then my VT250, ON the K I'm never in the wrong gear going through twisties, on the Vt I'm having to change gears all to often and find myself in the wrong gear often.
Overtaking is a breeze on the K, always plenty of power when you need it.
overall I think I'm alot safer riding the bigger bike except for the fact I'm quite short and have to tiptoe when stationary on it

[boomer]

of course its too much... only 'cos i don't have one :angry:

[The_Dover]

if any of you fags are unable to ride a GSXR1000K6 in a controlled manner and within the speed limit then you've either got parkinsons disease or are just plain fucking retarded.

the throttle isn't that twitchy, it's not hard to control and you don't need a lot of skill to ride it within legal limits.

to ride it hard is a different matter but it requires no more restraint or any less awareness than a 250.

i just wouldn't recommend one for michael j fox.

[scracha]

if any of you fags are unable to ride a GSXR1000K6 in a controlled manner and within the speed limit then you've either got parkinsons disease or are just plain fucking retarded.

Well pretty much everyone on a GSXR1000K5/6 [*1] is a retarded fag then.



the throttle isn't that twitchy, it's not hard to control and you don't need a lot of skill to ride it within legal limits.

Read the fuggin thread. The whole point is that they're usually not ridden within legal limits.


[1] And what sort of pedantic gaylord quotes model numbers like this. It's a gixer thou innit?

[iwilde]

Well pretty much everyone on a GSXR1000K5/6 [*1] is a retarded fag then.


Read the fuggin thread. The whole point is that they're usually not ridden within legal limits.


[1] And what sort of pedantic gaylord quotes model numbers like this. It's a gixer thou innit?

Mate, relax up a bit. I think the point that most are trying to get accross is that any bike can go over the speed limit. It's up to the rider to control the urge.

[onearmedbandit]

Read the fuggin thread. The whole point is that they're usually not ridden within legal limits.




And what bikes are? Are there bikes out there in the 250cc and above range that are limited to 100km/h on the open road?

Oh yeah, went out for a ride last night to Akaroa. Decided to try cruising at 100km/h in 6th for a distance, not a k over. Bike purred along, fueling beautifully, no 'snatchiness', accelerated smoothly when I opened the throttle. So to re-iterate, no a 1000 is not too fast or quick for the road. Just to add to this the the latest Superbike mag has a shootout between the Triumph 675, GSXR750K6 and GSXR1000K6 (all Superbikes class winners) for bike of the year. The 750 came first, the thou second and the Triumph last. Anyway, they seriously suggest anyone looking at a sportstourer to try a GSXR1000 as it is such a versatile bike. Great power for when it's needed, excellent low speed manners, great comfort on long distances. And yet it's still the best supersport open class bike.

[Big Dog]

Biggest fright the 'bus has given me was when I had only had it about a week and in second gear a car slowed to turn into a drive way and I gased it to get around and back in line before the motorway on ramp and before the line of cars in the other lane.
used what would have been normal taps on my gsz1100f.
Well, when the back wheel stopped spinning my eyses sucked in to the back of my head as I found myself at 130kmph in the blink of an eye.
I have never since forgotten just how many ponies hide under the cowls.

[mstriumph]

.......................[1] And what sort of pedantic gaylord quotes model numbers like this. ............?

hey you! :angry:
... that's THE DOVER you are slagging off at ....

only those of us that know him and appreciate him are allowed to refer, even obliquely, to his sexual persuasion ...........

[scracha]

hey you! :angry:
... that's THE DOVER you are slagging off at ....
only those of us that know him and appreciate him are allowed to refer, even obliquely, to his sexual persuasion ...........
Is just bufties that are allowed to call folks ghay? :innocent:

[SimJen]

Well pretty much everyone on a GSXR1000K5/6 [*1] is a retarded fag then.
Read the fuggin thread. The whole point is that they're usually not ridden within legal limits.
[1] And what sort of pedantic gaylord quotes model numbers like this. It's a gixer thou innit?

Who cares if they are ridden within legal limits......I have never ridden any bike I have owned within legal limits at all times, as have probably 90% of those on KB.
I ride sensibly and within the law in certain areas such as town, past schools etc, but get on an open bit of clear road and if safe anything can happen.
A pedantic gaylord is someone who's not up to play on model designations of certain bike models.
This thread is now completely pointless and a waste of webspace, lets start a learner bikes are too fast thread, as well as a 250's too fast, 400's too fast, 600's too fast, Harley's too fast......oh wait that's not right???? :whocares:

[mstriumph]

Is just bufties that are allowed to call folks ghay? :innocent:


ghay? do you mean ghey? not on the same wavelength ...... although he IS a Scot, i believe

or are you implying 'gay', as in stark staring lemon?, poofta?, horse's hoof?, ginger beer?, shirt lifter?, faggot? ..........?

and what, pray tell, is a 'bufties' when it's at home?

:cool:

.
*sigh* i need to get out and RIDE ... .. *sigh*

[imdying]

ghay? do you mean ghey? not on the same wavelength ...... although he IS a Scot, i believe[/SIZE][/I][/B]According to the internet, ghay is pronounced gah hey. Essentially it means he isn't calling them a homo, but a raging ass raping faggot. Or so I'm lead to believe. :done:

[The_Dover]

Well pretty much everyone on a GSXR1000K5/6 [*1] is a retarded fag then.

There's a big difference between unwilling and unable, aresemonkey.


Read the fuggin thread. The whole point is that they're usually not ridden within legal limits.

No, the thread was, is a litre bike too fast or quick for the road.

The answer was no. It's not. There's no such thing as too quick.



[1] And what sort of pedantic gaylord quotes model numbers like this. It's a gixer thou innit?

not really, the K3 is quite different to the K5/6. never rode a k1/2. You don't know what you're talking about. You're shitty 750 does double the speed limit. is it too fast? or are you just too poor and rebellious?

[NighthawkNZ]

In the governments eyes anything faster than walking pace is too fast...

[The_Dover]

In the governments eyes anything faster than walking pace is too fast...

fuck man, my eyes are a bit like that tonight.

[NighthawkNZ]

fuck man, my eyes are a bit like that tonight.
mine too... i need nana nap i think

[avgas]

just a quick scan here, and i need to review here.
Rather than red rep im just gonna be blunt in the forums.
Anyone who thinks a thou+ is a cock extension, is a whiner. People ride 1000+cc bike for 1 reason.......cos they want to. I rode about 100 bike before getting mine, and i can say blatantly that not only did my dick get any bigger, but i didnt ride any faster. Im sick of whining bitches on 600-850 class than say 1000's are not worth it. If i believed your opinion on such a matter, i would own such a bike. but as it stands, my bike is my bike, yours is yours. leave your petty comments at the door - cos i arent going to disrespect your bike.
Fact of the matter, i rode alot faster on smaller bikes back in the day, then i do now. Im horrible when it comes to two strokes, cos im addicted to power bands and power valves (god bless em).
Ride what you want, when you want, fuck what other people say - isnt that the moto of motorcyclists?

[NighthawkNZ]

Ride what you want, when you want, fuck what other people say - isnt that the moto of motorcyclists?

Thats what I thought... Like you I use to ride a lot faster on smaller bikes back in the day too...

I have said this many times I respect anyone on two wheels and also respect the bike, I may not like the style of the bike but thats just my freedom of choice, but I still have the respect... :scooter:

[Ixion]

,,,
Fact of the matter, i rode alot faster on smaller bikes back in the day, then i do now. Im horrible when it comes to two strokes, cos im addicted to power bands and power valves (god bless em).
,,

Yeah, but you can't compare a litre bike to a two stroke. Litre bikes just go really really fast. Two smokers go bananas.:Punk::wari:

[Skunk]

I'm talking about too fast for the driver's of other vehicles to anticipate how quickly a literbike can move from point A to point B.In this context I'd say yes, a litre bike is too fast and quick. But then most bikes are faster than Joe Average driver thinks.

Outside of this context it's up to the rider... :done:

[Hillbilly]

There are many factors other than mere displacement. What about all the 1600cc - 1800cc bikes? Are they "too much" also? And what about that little Aprilia RS250. I mean, it's only a 250cc bike, right?

[Karma]

it's all in the twist of the wrist eh...

besides, I'm still stuck in the dark ages, mine's only a 2.1 pinta.

[DEATH_INC.]

I think you're all missing the point, anything can be ridden at 100k, and something built to do 300 will be safer than something built to do 200 when ridden calmly. :yes:
BUT when the average smo starts trying to screw some performance outta it (unless he's on the motorway) it's gonna get messy. :bye:
btw, I've been riding about 25 years (shit is it that long!!) own a 200+hp turbo, and have owned a ZX12, and ridden both of bruces thou's. I'm also faster than most. I may well know what I'm talking about too. :dodge:
I'll say no more on this.:done:

[Grahameeboy]

I think you're all missing the point, anything can be ridden at 100k, and something built to do 300 will be safer than something built to do 200 when ridden calmly. :yes:
BUT when the average smo starts trying to screw some performance outta it (unless he's on the motorway) it's gonna get messy. :bye:
btw, I've been riding about 25 years (shit is it that long!!) own a 200+hp turbo, and have owned a ZX12, and ridden both of bruces thou's. I'm also faster than most. I may well know what I'm talking about too. :dodge:
I'll say no more on this.:done:

Geeze I am glad I missed your ride the other day......

Seriously, you are right. A 250 needs to be ridden hard to go fast whereas a litre bike does not so in some ways is easier and less stressful to ride..both can get you in trubs and Dover will testify to that with the Gixxer.

I like my SV cause it is fast but relaxing. None of that inline rushy feeling.

I guess like all things it is about bikattitude.

[NighthawkNZ]

Geeze I am glad I missed your ride the other day......

Seriously, you are right. A 250 needs to be ridden hard to go fast whereas a litre bike does not so in some ways is easier and less stressful to ride..both can get you in trubs and Dover will testify to that with the Gixxer.

I like my SV cause it is fast but relaxing. None of that inline rushy feeling.

I guess like all things it is about bikattitude.

Just like the colour of my vtr that why I bought it...??? :gob:



hehehhe :D

[Lou Girardin]

but is a 12 inch cock too much?



I have 12 inches. I don't use it as a rule.

[Lou Girardin]

They don't seem to keep the stats in NZ, but in the UK, most single bike accidents are sportsbikes.
Kinda proves the premise of this thread, doesn't it?

[onearmedbandit]

Bent, Lou?

[onearmedbandit]

They don't seem to keep the stats in NZ, but in the UK, most single bike accidents are sportsbikes.
Kinda proves the premise of this thread, doesn't it?

No, no it doesn't. Might pay to take in to account sales figures as well (although that might work against me). And your claim is regarding sportsbikes, whereas this thread is to do specifically litre bikes (implying R1, Zx10R, GSXR, CBR etc). Also sportsbike riders, regardless of cc rating, are more likely to push their bikes more as that is the nature of the beast.

[doc]

I have 12 inches. I don't use it as a rule.

Cmon Lou just got of the phone to your missus and she said "We only have metric ruler and Lou has misplaced his glasses". Sounds like you've got a full 12 centimetres there Lou, but obviously really proud of them.

[avgas]

hehe take litre out of the forum and see if anyones opinion changes? same .sh at the end of the day. i even had a gp125 over the ton and it was faster than my vauxhall.

[Lou Girardin]

Cmon Lou just got of the phone to your missus and she said "We only have metric ruler and Lou has misplaced his glasses". Sounds like you've got a full 12 centimetres there Lou, but obviously really proud of them.

I TOLD her it was inches. Ya just can't trust women, can ya?

[mstriumph]

They don't seem to keep the stats in NZ, but in the UK, most single bike accidents are sportsbikes.
Kinda proves the premise of this thread, doesn't it?

my grandad used to say there are liars, damned liars and stataticians [it wasn't original ....]

i mean - the 'stats' over here show that most accidents happen within 15 km of the victim's residence ............... so, really, all we have to do is make it unlawful to park within 15kms of home and we've significantly reduced the road toll? :dodge:

[mstriumph]

I TOLD her it was inches. Ya just can't trust women, can ya?


............. and my GRANDMA allus used to say "give a man an inch and he'll think he's a ruler "


and no, THAT wasn't original either ........:done:

[Dai]

I am a firm believer that the biggest safety asset a bike has is its acceleration.

How many times have you avoided trouble by a twist of the wrist and thereby leaving the problem behind.

We dont corner as well as a car, we dont brake as well as one either. All we have left is our power to weight ratio.

Is a litre bike too big. A definite no to this.

What I do think is that it is too big for a beginner to learn on.

Basic skills first then on to one of the big boys as long as the learner bike has enough power to get the learner out of trouble.

I remember in the UK when kids under 17 could only ride mopeds restricted to 50kph max. In the early 8o's there was a spate of them hurt or killed because they didnt have the power to get away from trouble.

[Dai]

put it this way.

..
but is a 12 inch cock too much?

(i wasn't referring to you finn, you've got to be about 2 feet tall)

Dover I hope you are using a measuring device and not going by the width of your delicate little girlie hands!!:innocent:

[Lou Girardin]

............. and my GRANDMA allus used to say "give a man an inch and he'll think he's a ruler "


and no, THAT wasn't original either ........:done:

My Grandpa said, "I used to have 6 inches and a wrinkle, now I have 6 wrinkles and an inch".

[scracha]

Rather than red rep im just gonna be blunt in the forums.
Anyone who thinks a thou+ is a cock extension, is a whiner.
Fuck...you've found me out:dodge:

[slinky]

2 fast, but il still ride one

[mstriumph]

erm :confused:

is this thread in danger of turning into one of those chest-beating, testosterine-charged, testicular-bullshit sessions we swore to avoid after last year? :shutup:

just asking ...........

[Finn]

erm :confused:

is this thread in danger of turning into one of those chest-beating, testosterine-charged, testicular-bullshit sessions we swore to avoid after last year? :shutup:

just asking ...........

Exactly. I don't need a litre bike to impress the chicks. My personality and good looks do it for me.

[mstriumph]

.......... not to mention your modesty
............and your mastery of grammer ............:dodge:

[Finn]

.......... not to mention your modesty
............and your mastery of grammer ............:dodge:

............???..............

[limbimtimwim]

My personality and good looks do it for me.My personality and good looks turn me on too.

[ManDownUnder]

A thou can be to fast for the streets, or can be just fine. It's over to the rider. I'm only on a 900 (as if that's not enough) and love the pulling power from low down - no flipping up and down gears all the time.

Each to their own. As buggy mentioned, a 600 will suffice for most applications. If you want speed and handling a thou will probably be too big.

From a cager/other road user perspective. Anything bigger than a 250 could be deemed too fast. The speed and handling, combined with anyone wanting to carve up the traffic will result in surprises for other road users. Basic lesson here - if they don't see you, they might kill you.

To each their own. I see no need for anything bigger than a thou personally, but I don't see anything wrong with one either.

[Hitcher]

and your mastery of grammer

Or his mastery of grammar...

[NighthawkNZ]

:yawn: :zzzz:

[SwanTiger]

I don't believe any motorcycle is too fast and / or quick for the "street", I believe a litre motorcycle is to fast and / or quick for 90% of riders who will only "effectively" use 20 - 30% of its actual capacity on the street.

[N4CR]

To quote SPB - a throttle works both ways...

Modern litre bikes are so smooth and easy to ride untill you start pushing ya luck.. enough said.

If you don't have self control and or skill, a 50cc scooter is too much, enough said.

And don't just discriminate against the litre bikes... 600's do the same 1/4mile times anyway... hahaha.

Enough said.
:done:

edit: and yeah as death mentioned, pushing the utter absolute shit outta the old 250 was much more dangerous than riding the new bike at the same corner speeds... modern suspension and handling. Although i'd still whup my butt at under 40k corners on the 250 :)


some thous are geared for excess of 140 in first.
The 10 does 165 off the limiter, r1 does 170ish... gixxer anyone?

[Lou Girardin]

Jeez, I spent 6 months on a bike with 75HP, what the hell would I do with 150?

[Finn]

Jeez, I spent 6 months on a bike with 75HP, what the hell would I do with 150?

About 3 months

[mstriumph]

Or his mastery of grammar...

a bite!

.. or a bit of a bite anyhows .........

unfortunately t'wasn't your worshipfulness i was fishing for? *sigh*

[NighthawkNZ]

a bite!

.. or a bit of a bite anyhows .........

unfortunately t'wasn't your worshipfulness i was fishing for? *sigh*

or was that byte...???

[EZAS]

1000cc is excessive. Fun but excessive.
I rode my GPX250 faster (crazier) than I did my zx6 .. and yet my zx6 was written off inside of about 2 weeks of owning it (cage pulled out without looking).

My only issue with thous' were that they used to weigh alot. Newer bikes are so light, I'd prefer a 04-05 zx10R over another 250 (Once I can ride again).

[mstriumph]

or was that byte...???

or a killer-byte mebbe? :dodge:

[SixPackBack]

The 10 does 165 off the limiter, r1 does 170ish... gixxer anyone?

About the same I think....not that I would know of course:shifty: :whistle:

[NighthawkNZ]

or a killer-byte mebbe? :dodge:

thriller killer byte???

[SixPackBack]

Exactly. I don't need a litre bike to impress the chicks. My personality and good looks do it for me.

Sure isn't the physique.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=41215

[Sensei]

Why do you think Crazy Steve is laughing at him !!

[N4CR]

Why do you think Crazy Steve is laughing at him !!

HAHAHAAHAHAH! Finn.... sheeiesh! wHERES WINJA? Steve is a big ****** though :x

[Lou Girardin]

About 3 months

Do I get a soap on a rope?

[SimJen]

And don't just discriminate against the litre bikes... 600's do the same 1/4mile times anyway... hahaha.
The 10 does 165 off the limiter, r1 does 170ish... gixxer anyone?

600's don't do the same 1/4 mile times. Most 1000's are at least a second quicker! Fact.
I'd rather be able to go faster than not! and I will!
Sure plenty of people buy 1000's just for the status, others buy them to ride them how they should.....I try to ride mine how it should be ridden, but I'm always learning as all motorcycylists are.
I'm sure lots of 600's are just bought and kept in sheds with the odd sunday ride at 20% throttle too.....

[mstriumph]

thriller killer byte???

nahhhhhhhhhh - this is HITCHER we are talking about?


i mean, i'm SURE he's a LOVELY person but ...........:innocent:

[FilthyLuka]

yes... a litre bike is too fast for the road... that just makes it cooler!

[Dodgyiti]

Having commuted on a CBR thou for a year, I would have to say YES!
Go over a bump and jolt the throttle, next thing you either pop the front, spin the back or in the wet- both. Not the best in a 50kph zone in traffic :gob:

[NighthawkNZ]

Having commuted on a CBR thou for a year, I would have to say YES!
Go over a bump and jolt the throttle, next thing you either pop the front, spin the back or in the wet- both. Not the best in a 50kph zone in traffic :gob:

I will admitt i do have that problem... tried to explain that to the cop... he didn't believe me... hes never riden a bike before

[N4CR]

600's don't do the same 1/4 mile times. Most 1000's are at least a second quicker! Fact.
For the average rider yes fair enough, with the right rider they are pretty similar...

Performance:
ZX-6R ('03)
6/03
1/4 mile 10.67 @ 131.0
60-80 mph 4.34
80-100 mph 4.3
top speed 158.5 mph

04 10r gets 9.92 http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_0406_2004_literbikes_strip/

I've seen timesheets of 600's getting low 10's with just a pipe, as do litre bikes. Sure on a roll the litre bike will kill a 600 (saw the difference last night infact) but all in all they ain't really much slower down the strip. I see alot of average riders getting 11's on them though so your comment is valid for most riders.

[mstriumph]

yes... a litre bike is too fast for the road... that just makes it cooler!



erm :confused:

is this thread in danger of turning into one of those chest-beating, testosterine-charged, testicular-bullshit sessions we swore to avoid after last year? :shutup:

just asking ...........

I rest my case .......

[Dodgyiti]

I should have added that I am not a newbie rider though, 20+ years of high mile 750+cc all weather riding.
And that CBR was gonna assist in finishing off my gammy old arse eventually :bye:
So I bought an 1100 but with under 100 horsies and heaps of low down grunt.
That is another issue, if the power only kicks in at 8000 rpm and only sludge below that, then it's a pain in traffic anyhow.:done:

[NighthawkNZ]

I should have added that I am not a newbie rider though, 20+ years of high mile 750+cc all weather riding.


yeah i better add that too :yes:

[Sketchy_Racer]

Yes litre SPORTS bikes are way to fast for street use. but then most sports bikes are

I can understand people with hand injurys wanting a big sports bike, so they dont have to change gears as much.

I dont believe touring litre bikes or too big, as it sucks to try be touring ringing the nuts off a bike. It just aint fun.

Personally, Im not going to get a sports bike bigger than a 250. Its too easy,even on a 250, to get yourself into trouble. Plus, To ride a small its so much more rewarding, when you get everything right, and pass big bikes.

Shame about the ones that have to proove they are the 'big man' when they get passed by a little 150 or 250, and then do stupid speeds passing you back

(cept the one, that passed me back, then got nabbed by cop furthur down the road haha)

[The_Dover]

Having commuted on a CBR thou for a year, I would have to say YES!
Go over a bump and jolt the throttle, next thing you either pop the front, spin the back or in the wet- both. Not the best in a 50kph zone in traffic :gob:

horse shit. have you got your wrists pinned or just your arse?


HAHAHAAHAHAH! Finn.... sheeiesh! wHERES WINJA? Steve is a big ****** though :x

you can laugh. you look like a 12 year old girl with no tits.

[Finn]

Steve is a big ****** though :x

Anybody looks big sitting next to me. Crazy Steve is only 5'7". By the way, he's not laughing. He always looks like that. He's crazy.

[Finn]

you can laugh. you look like a 12 year old girl with no tits.

Cool. Can I have his number?

[vmx1200nz]

more cc's mean more ridable uselly.
600 and 1000cc are race replicas.
1100 to 1400 are big bore blasters but more comfort
1600+ cruiser

if the power is just starting at 7 thou.......then its about (mind) control.:whocares:

[Paulus]

Having commuted on a CBR thou for a year, I would have to say YES!
Go over a bump and jolt the throttle, next thing you either pop the front, spin the back or in the wet- both. Not the best in a 50kph zone in traffic :gob:

I've ridden most of the R1 models and the manic 04 ZX-10R and none of them exhibit this behaviour. My old 98 R1 will occasionally lift the front gently under hard acceleration in first but that's about it. It will spin up in a straight line occasionally when the back tyre is stuffed but it's not a common occurance (assuming a good road surface of course). If you want a crazy wheelstanding, sliding, spinning monster ride a 250 2 stroke MXer.

[NighthawkNZ]

I've ridden most of the R1 models and the manic 04 ZX-10R and none of them exhibit this behaviour. My old 98 R1 will occasionally lift the front gently under hard acceleration in first but that's about it. It will spin up in a straight line occasionally when the back tyre is stuffed but it's not a common occurance (assuming a good road surface of course). If you want a crazy wheelstanding, sliding, spinning monster ride a 250 2 stroke MXer.

Its only happened to me once... but will admit I had only had it for a week and still getting use to the quarks of it and it was a pretty big bump in the road and caught me by suprise... (i avoid that road now ;) ) and now have learnt the quarks of the VTR so no problem now...

[SixPackBack]

throttle sensitivity- 1000 vs. 750
<HR style="COLOR: #6a7fb8" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Copy and Paste from Gixxer.com.....these type of posts come up frequently:gob:


so im turning 16 this summer.

bikes have been my life since i was alot younger. i have rode dirtbikes from the beginning.

this passed year, i started gettin real serious into off-road riding, and have lived on the trails with my 250X. so after i really start to live on the rear wheel on my 250X, my old man decided to trust me more. (im a "good" kid, all responsiable, headstrong and such..lol) and he really trusts me alot.
He decided let me ride his 06 1K. and as of now, i ride it at least once a week.
just down the streets right down from my house.

i get on it though, im not at all afraid of the bike. no bike scares me. but i do have TONS of respect for it. and im already very comfortable on the bike, as far as feeling at home on it.


so to stop the giant post....

i want to buy a 2006 gixxer 750 this summer after i sell my 250X (get out of the payment)

YELLOW AND BLACK of course. my favorite colors. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/smilies/cheers.gif


im just afraid for one key reason. i love the hit his gixxer 1 has, it has the TRE, so first 4 gears (where i ride when i ride it) are insane.

im afraid if i do buy the 06 750, instead of an 05 1K, i will miss the just raw power of the litre bike.

so im hoping, some of you guys have rode both 750 and 1000 and can give some true perspective on the real difference in throttle snap and overall full pull.

to be sure were clear here, i know that i wont get boreed with even a 600 as my first bike of my own, i will be learning basics from basics. BUT what i fear is that i am a very fast learner, and i adapt very quickly to bikes. so im worried that if i ride anything smaller than a 1K (even though i know i can be much faster on a 600 or 750) i will just have that lag, and want more.


just need to know i wont miss the hit of the 1K since im already used to how it rips the minute i hit 6K rpm and doesnt stop pulling.

open to all and any input please. sorry for the long post. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/smilies/sleep1.gif

[adiddy]

depends on hus riding the damn thing lol...
some thous are for touring and two-up right? im sure a smaller bike would be a little more uncomfortable and unresponsive on the hills and behind cars..

ridden a 600 but not a 100. dont plan on doing so for a while......
its all up to the rider
ad

[Madmax]

I think you're all missing the point, anything can be ridden at 100k, and something built to do 300 will be safer than something built to do 200 when ridden calmly. :yes:
BUT when the average smo starts trying to screw some performance outta it (unless he's on the motorway) it's gonna get messy. :bye:
btw, I've been riding about 25 years (shit is it that long!!) own a 200+hp turbo, and have owned a ZX12, and ridden both of bruces thou's. I'm also faster than most. I may well know what I'm talking about too. :dodge:
I'll say no more on this.:done: bruce had a go on my 10 ( ive been riding about as long )was just after his hands got better (mine never hav)

[SimJen]

For the average rider yes fair enough, with the right rider they are pretty similar...

Performance:
ZX-6R ('03)
6/03
1/4 mile 10.67 @ 131.0
60-80 mph 4.34
80-100 mph 4.3
top speed 158.5 mph

04 10r gets 9.92 http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_0406_2004_literbikes_strip/

I've seen timesheets of 600's getting low 10's with just a pipe, as do litre bikes. Sure on a roll the litre bike will kill a 600 (saw the difference last night infact) but all in all they ain't really much slower down the strip. I see alot of average riders getting 11's on them though so your comment is valid for most riders.

Still virtually a second off though, put a pipe on a thou and get lower too....
Top speed is 20mph faster on a 1000 too (GixThou).
Gixxer K5/K6 1000 = 1/4 mile 9.7 @ 148mph
Gixxer K5/K6 600 = 1/4 mile 10.6 @ 130ish mph
Kwaka ZX6 06 = 1/4 10.8 @ 129mph
Kwaka ZX10R = 1/4 mile 9.7 @ 149mph
These are from http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_performance_numbers/index8.html and http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_performance_numbers/index5.html
I don't bother with dragging anyways, waste of time. The bikes were made for the track or twisties.

[NighthawkNZ]

whippy a whole second... big huge difference on the open road when you are only allow to do 100k...

on the track kewl...

on the open road :whocares:

[onearmedbandit]

All he is saying is that there is a difference between 1/4 mile times of the two cc groups. On the open road it's so much more than that, as I said before I can twist the grip in top at 100km/h and pass like the cars going backwards. On a 600 it's not the same.

[SimJen]

who sticks to 100 everywhere? I ride to suit the conditions, sometimes those conditions dictate I can go faster, yes its illegal but I take the risk as do many others on KB.
Jeez the world would be a boring place if we all lived by the rules.
Point is stock litre bikes are faster, and considerably so! not just on the quarter mile but everywhere.
Not knocking 600's, but thems the facts and noone can dispute it.

[NighthawkNZ]

All he is saying is that there is a difference between 1/4 mile times of the two cc groups. On the open road it's so much more than that, as I said before I can twist the grip in top at 100km/h and pass like the cars going backwards. On a 600 it's not the same.

But you can still pass all the cars... it may take a second longer and you need to change down a gear :whocares: I could do that on a GN doing 120... took longer and I had to judge the distance more...

By law even during a passing manouver you are not allowed to go over the 100kms (though I sorta disagree with this it is the law, because it is easy to misjudge the speed of on coming trafic, and sometimes you do need the extra burst...)

If all vechiles and drivers could travel and drive at constant 100ks (even in corners) then no one (in theory) would not need to over take. Traffic would flow and less accidents caused by reckless manouvers. But alas :( and yes it is a boring speed for a well maintained bike and good rider that can handle that bike (any bike)

So now back to the orginal question. Is a litre bike too fast AND quick for the street? Yes.... anything (bike, car, truck...) that can do over 100k (under present law) is too quick for the street (and open road). If you ride or drive that vehicle at the posted speed limit then then no ist not, it comes back to self control.

That covers the legal side. :innocent: In reality and at the end of the day, we don't need vehicles that can do 250kph, only on a race track.

As for, is it safe? can our roads handle it? can you handle it? can other drivers and vehicles handle being zipped passed at a gilzon miles per hour? ... blah blah blah thats a whole other thread.

[onearmedbandit]

But you can still pass all the cars... it may take a second longer and you need to change down a gear :whocares: I could do that on a GN doing 120... took longer and I had to judge the distance more...




That's just one example. There are many reasons I prefer my thou over my 750 (relating to the power it makes). I still disagree that a thou is too fast for the street. Same reason as yours however, it comes down to self control. Just on a thou you need more self control.

[NighthawkNZ]

Just on a thou you need more self control.

yup... tell me about :Oops:



:Police:

[avgas]

erm :confused:

is this thread in danger of turning into one of those chest-beating, testosterine-charged, testicular-bullshit sessions we swore to avoid after last year? :shutup:

just asking ...........
Hope so, cos im really getting sick of beer forums :)

[avgas]

Is a LADA* too fast for NZ roads......hell yes, those things do 110

[dawnrazor]

taken from a recent(ish) copy of PB, with reference to the GSX-R1000K5/6, seems to answer the question for me:

"There are plenty of reasons why detractors reckon you'd want a GSXR1000K5 or K6. Most of them are to do with a precieved manhood inadequacy, a compensation for less-than-average riding ability or even that you have more money then sense of self preservation.

But sometimes its all to easy to forget the pure joy of owning the ultimate, and then riding it to work everyday."

:yes:

[NighthawkNZ]

Is a LADA* too fast for NZ roads......


yes... mainly because ladas are to fast for them self the start falling apart at 95, and by 100 become unstable and by 110 out control...



:rofl:

[SPman]

Just on a thou you need more self control.
On the road,to get the most from a 1000, you need to be very self disciplined.
I've ridden with some riders on 1000's, who where excellent in that regard - Sensei, Uncle B, DMTD, Death, his mate Sam, spring to mind. There are others as well, but, generally,they all showed self discipline where it mattered and all are/were pretty capable riders.

I've also ridden with some who were not!!

Ridability has a lot to do with it. I had a K4 GSXR and found the throttle too sensitive by half - like a hair spring trigger - had to ride with my throttle hand braced, particularly in slower, bumpier bits of road, to maintain any semblance of throttle control - yet, the K5 I rode was a pussycat by comparison! Just so easy to ride, and ride fast, compared to the K4! Well. the K4 was fast - you just had to work at it a bit more - more of an edge!

That is what makes the 1000's so good, yet so dangerous - they are so deceptively easy to ride at ballistic speeds, that almost anyone can get on one and go, yet not realise just how fast they are going until they have to do something - corner, brake, avoid an obstacle and if you haven't had a good basic riding grounding, you're gonna be more f**ked than someone who has had the experience, who has got more idea of just how fast these things things are and disciplines himself accordingly.

The race track is an entirely different ballgame!

[EZAS]

If a thou is to fast for the street, then for every reason that a thou is to fast for the street a 600 is too, in exactly the same respect, I'd even say a 400cc would be as well. Only for the reason that they can hit un-needed speeds.

From a legal perspective, a thou is just as good/safe as a 600 because you can only do 100kmh as posted by NighthawkNZ therefore both are very capable but it comes down to the rider. If the rider isn't able to show restraint, then they may find themselves playing wheelchair basketball with me :)

[mstriumph]

But you can still pass all the cars... it may take a second longer and you need to change down a gear :whocares: ....................

hell - i can do it in a BARINA

testosterone anyone? :innocent:

actually i agree with this post - but it's been a while since i mentioned the cage and this seemed an opportunity too good to miss .......

[Unit]

Well Ive only just got back on KB (thats my excuse) so I havent read through all 11 pages of this thread but
WHAT A STUPID QUESTION Sorry but, of course they are. All I ride is litre bikes (I never refer to them as that, they are 1,000cc's). Thats pretty much all Ive ever ridden. They are designed to go way faster than the law permits. What I find is a safety feature about their power is, when you overtake, you can do it quickly and efficiently minimising the risk to all concerned, when its really windy their extra weight holds them on the road better. Ive just bought the Aprilia and Ive no idea how fast it will go, no doubt way too fast for what the law and other citizans on the road would like, but Im too much of a nanna to test that out. Accordingly I will vote yes, because the answer is obvious to this particular question

[The_Dover]

Ive just bought the Aprilia and Ive no idea how fast it will go

I got a text last night that said something about 247km/h......:shutup:

[Sensei]

Seen 258k on my Factory

[The_Dover]

do you want a chuftie badge?

[justsomeguy]

I got a text last night that said something about 247km/h......:shutup:

If 600's do 276 at redline at 6th without hitting the limiter- that thou rider better put some bloody effort in.

[terbang]

I got a text last night that said something about 247km/h......:shutup:

Jeez a good handful in 4th gear eh..! Wonder what it'll do in 6th..?

[Big Dog]

taken from a recent(ish) copy of PB, with reference to the GSX-R1000K5/6, seems to answer the question for me:

"There are plenty of reasons why detractors reckon you'd want a GSXR1000K5 or K6. Most of them are to do with a precieved manhood inadequacy, a compensation for less-than-average riding ability or even that you have more money then sense of self preservation.

But sometimes its all to easy to forget the pure joy of owning the ultimate, and then riding it to work everyday."

:yes:
It may not be the ultimate any more or even in some peoples eyes ever, but there is something to having everyone go wow when they see it. Not to mention speechless when they find MY daily rider has never had a ticket.

[limbimtimwim]

Seen 258k on my FactorySomething wrong with it then. Check your tyres are not flat or something.

[Lou Girardin]

If 600's do 276 at redline at 6th without hitting the limiter- that thou rider better put some bloody effort in.

Only in the owners fantasies. (Or down a vertical mineshaft)

[BarBender]

Is this thread still going? :dodge:

[Jimmy B]

Well Ive only had 2 litre bikes CBR1000F and CB1100SF. I can honestly say that the move up from previous 750s (CBR Hurricane and XJ) has been a step in the right direction.

With the 750s I felt as though I needed to ride more aggressively and over longer distance this aggressive style took its toll (for me anyway) in terms of general fatigue and concentration.

I enjoy the smooth delivery of the bigger bikes and in many ways this allows me to ride in a more controlled manner, kind of set and forget. The way the litre bikes plant the power is very prediciable and I believe that I am less likely to light up the X11s rear than on the Hurricane where I rode at peak output most of the time (>6000rpm). The Hurricane was not a grunter by any stretch but it went OK.

Those that know me would say that I ride at sensible speeds for the most part and the size of the bike makes very little difference to me in this respect. To echo some of the other Riders, its not the machine....:rockon:

[Finn]

Well Ive only had 2 litre bikes

Shit, they must be way too fast AND quick for the street. Show off.

[Jimmy B]

Shit, they must be way too fast AND quick for the street. Show off.

I know Mate just cant help myself 1 litre is just not enough you know, will give myself a bunch on the teefs

[Madmax]

I had Z1 rtc f**king thing had the chain off heaps clutchs bits all over the place as well, had a few good times on it as well one time the chain smashed my foot in two places though

[justsomeguy]

Only in the owners fantasies. (Or down a vertical mineshaft)

Are you talking out of something you read in a magazine or from personal experience you've had on racetracks, the open road - speaking to Kawasaki dealership owners, other 636 riders etc?????

[limbimtimwim]

Are you talking out of something you read in a magazine or from personal experience you've had on racetracks, the open road - speaking to Kawasaki dealership owners, other 636 riders etc?????Bikes numbered 11 and 12 here: http://www.cliffhanger.org.nz/results/sprints_2006_sept.htm are 2006 636s going through the speed trap on their limiters. Made a cool noise, if you don't mind mechanical abuse :)

And some academic observations:
Bike 14 (2nd from top) was a 2006 Yamaha R1 that was not being ridden to the breaking in rules in the owners handbook.. ;)

Bike 13 is a GSXR750K6 with maybe 2000rpm to go, but it didn't want to go much faster... Gah..!

[The_Dover]

Bike 13 is a GSXR750K6 with maybe 2000rpm to go, but it didn't want to go much faster... Gah..!

only cos of the fat knacker riding it......

[RoadRocket]

Bikes numbered 28 and 12 here: http://www.cliffhanger.org.nz/results/sprints_2006_sept.htm are 2006 636s going through the speed trap on their limiters. Made a cool noise, if you don't mind mechanical abuse :)


I think you mean 28 and 11:doh:

[justsomeguy]

Bikes numbered 28 and 12 here: http://www.cliffhanger.org.nz/results/sprints_2006_sept.htm are 2006 636s going through the speed trap on their limiters. Made a cool noise, if you don't mind mechanical abuse :)

And some academic observations:
Bike 14 (2nd from top) was a 2006 Yamaha R1 that was not being ridden to the breaking in rules in the owners handbook.. ;)

Bike 13 is a GSXR750K6 with maybe 2000rpm to go, but it didn't want to go much faster... Gah..!


Aha - thanks for that - so my speedo is out by 16kms then.:angry:

Interesting to note that you could only do (taking into account the 2000rpm more you had) just a bit more than the 636's. Do you think that was simply because you didn't want to abuse your new bike - or you reckon the 750 can only do close to 260+?? Cos they do have almost the same weight but a bit more power than the 636's.

[NighthawkNZ]

Aha - thanks for that - so my speedo is out by 16kms then.

my speedo is supposidly out by 9km... ?? :slap: but the all the test i done its 5 or 6k... :scratch:

[justsomeguy]

my speedo is supposidly out by 9km... ?? :slap: but the all the test i done its 5 or 6k... :scratch:

Perhaps - but mate in all fairness :whocares: .... just getting close to the redline in 6th does it for me.:scooter:


The only thing faster I know is a headfirst dive while skydiving where you can reach 400kmph - working my way to that:Punk:

[limbimtimwim]

I think you mean 28 and 11:doh:Oh, I've changed it.. And I think you ment 11 and 12. MD is number 12.

[limbimtimwim]

only cos of the fat knacker riding it......13 is a fatty.

[Smorg]

Wow, you can go fast in a straight line.. have a gold star..

Thanks I'll take it

[Wolf]

Of course a litre is not too fast for the street - it's just a matter of control on the rider's part. i.e. if you're pathologically incapable of riding somewhere without ripping the throttle open in as many gears as possible, it's probably going to get you dead or licence-less in next to no time - but you could achieve the same results on an RG250 or a large number of other fast sub-litre bikes so it might pay to buy aomething gutless like an LS400...

To me, the engine power/power-to-weight/top speed is inconsequential in town - providing it can at least make the 70-80 km/h some sections of town permit - as it's a matter of throttle control to rectify anything: if it's a 50cc slug, rev the shit out of it and give it hell; if it's a 1200cc rocket, take it gently.

My concern - depending on the size and style of the bike and your own physical stats - would be whether or not it is too big/bulky/heavy for the street (or the local supermarket car park). Some litre bikes would be far too bulky for town use (I had a CB550 Four that was too unweildy around town for someone of my stature) but others would be OK, or at least OK for taller, heavier-set people.

I found the CB550 a pain to manouevre into and out of car parks, perform low speed turns, push backwards without dismounting etc yet I tried out a Suzuki Intruder 1400 that was easy to handle at low speed.