A bit of banter between flatties

[Mully]

given your sig I would have expected you to say that 1000 was too much, and 900 was ideal....

Oh bollocks.

1000 is far too much. 937 is the perfect amount.

Incidentally, RF900s are 937cc

Better?

[bogan]

Oh bollocks.

1000 is far too much. 937 is the perfect amount.

Incidentally, RF900s are 937cc

Better?

still too many, ideal number is 647, and no more than two cylinders, ever

[Voltaire]

Ever seen how far a 125GP bike can lean over, and the corner speed they can carry? Now have a look at the width of the tyres. More contact patch is only important when putting down more power, something the CBR250 doesn't really have to worry about. In saying that, my money is on the bike with the better chassis and suspenders.

I've been wondering about the cornering benefit of wide tyres....I have a 900ss ie and I find that requires more effort to corner on than my old bevel drive 900...the older bike steers thru a corner far easier.
I thought I was imagining it....until I bought a 72 Commando and its the same, far easier in corners.
So is that why you see guys having to shift weight and hang off ?? to compensate for such a large tyre?
I'll do a mythbusters test later with a football and a tennis ball and measure the angle...

[koba]

I've been wondering about the cornering benefit of wide tyres....I have a 900ss ie and I find that requires more effort to corner on than my old bevel drive 900...the older bike steers thru a corner far easier.
I thought I was imagining it....until I bought a 72 Commando and its the same, far easier in corners.
So is that why you see guys having to shift weight and hang off ?? to compensate for such a large tyre?
I'll do a mythbusters test later with a football and a tennis ball and measure the angle...

You are correct and I think skinnier is OK on a road bike, they certainly steer better and faster.

BUT the problem comes when you are trying to put maximum permissible power down as early in the corner as possible.
Having a good grippy rear and the ability to use it can see a less powerful bike beat something quite a lot more powerful, even on the straights.
It's probably one of the biggest limitations to track performance, it is certainly very important in a class where most bikes have similar power.

[Metastable]

So is that why you see guys having to shift weight and hang off ?? to compensate for such a large tyre?

You don't need to hang off, you just need to counter steer more. However hanging off for me is a comfort thing, not a steering thing ... it's what you have to do a the track. My knee is a gauge for how much lean I have left and can and has saved my butt from crashing.... but I almost $#!T my pants. Mind you hanging off on the street is more for comfort... I rarely get the knee down while street riding.

However, I rented an F650GS and that did not feel right hanging off, so my butt stayed planted on the seat ... it took some getting use to though (not hanging off).

[Voltaire]

You are correct and I think skinnier is OK on a road bike, they certainly steer better and faster.

BUT the problem comes when you are trying to put maximum permissible power down as early in the corner as possible.
Having a good grippy rear and the ability to use it can see a less powerful bike beat something quite a lot more powerful, even on the straights.
It's probably one of the biggest limitations to track performance, it is certainly very important in a class where most bikes have similar power.

Shouldn't be problem with the Ducati Darmah and Commando as they only have about 55 HP.... great midrange and lots of torque though. Good to know I was not imagining the difference, for road riding I'm more than happy with 55 hp, skinny tyres, no fairing and flat bars. I'm sort of over the SS....its on TM but the arse seems to have dropped out of bike prices at the moment. Should probably keep it and take it to track days

[avgas]

I just realised something, the CBR runs gear driven cams! daytona has no chance

Depends who tuned the carb on the CBR........vs EFI

[R-Soul]

You are correct and I think skinnier is OK on a road bike, they certainly steer better and faster.

BUT the problem comes when you are trying to put maximum permissible power down as early in the corner as possible.
Having a good grippy rear and the ability to use it can see a less powerful bike beat something quite a lot more powerful, even on the straights.
It's probably one of the biggest limitations to track performance, it is certainly very important in a class where most bikes have similar power.

Bigger tyres have more weight. More weight spinning means more gyroscopic effect, and more difficult to tip in. Hence carbon fiber rims. But its not just the wheel and tyre weight that affects tip in- its also the steering geometry, if you are under braking.

Its also a trade off- you want a bigger tyre for bigger contact patch for increased traction for bikes with more power - else it will just rip the top layer of rubber off without actually moving the bike as much as it could. So you want big contact patch, but less weight... trade off.

[imdying]

When the 1992 Fireblade was released, it had:
- The power of a 1000 (yeah, an old CB1000 or similar)
- The handling of a 600 (yeah, maybe an old FZR600)
- The steering of a 400 (uh huh, CBR400 Aero that is)

Marketing... lies and more damned lies.

[Firefight]

A few years ago, I witnessed a cbr250 overtook an R1 out the very twisty bits around whangamata. Both were ridden by skilled mental nutters with deathwish.

So, yes it is possible. But very rarely.

wud that have been the man form Nepal ?

[Marmoot]

wud that have been the man form Nepal ?

Close, but no