What is alluring about a sports bike?

[Spaz]

Why do/did you (presuming that you own or have owned a sports bike) own a sports bike?

Pretty broad question I wanted to ask lately. I would also like to hear what has stopped some of you from buying a sports bike.

Cheers,

[Coyote]

Cheaper than a motard

[madboy]

Speed

[tl_tub]

Cornering at speed

[HDTboy]

I wanted a bike cause they're better bang for buck than a fast car, so a CBR was the quickest 4 stroke I could legally ride on.

short answer: Speed

[Spaz]

Do you find much time to speed? I'm trying to gauge the value of a sports bike when commuting looks like the most use it will get.

[bugjuice]

Do you find much time to speed? I'm trying to gauge the value of a sports bike when commuting looks like the most use it will get.

if you're commuting, sprotsbikes are ok for that, but if it's only commuting, then you might want to find something a little more suited to that. It's the weekends that make it worthwhile

as for me; speed, cornering/handling, bit-a-bling/sexy (have you seen my bike..??), and speed.

[Riff Raff]

They're sexy and fun to ride. Simple really!

[Spaz]

Seems that the answers arn't as broad as I first figured. Obviously a sports bike is the safest bike to travel at high speeds through corners on. but would you buy one if the only time you would do that was on the weekend? Is the allure of fast sweeping corners on the week end enough for you to put up with the painful wrists (edit) for the rest of the week?

[bugjuice]

painful wrists? nah, you get used to it (and your back and neck). I used to commute on mine for a while, and you just get used to it. You harden up in the places you need to. Then the weekend comes, and it's just a whole new world. No traffic to contend/dodge with, the wind in your helmet, bugs on your visor.. tis wicked. I moved closer to work, so now the bike is pretty much just for the weekends or when I need it.

There are other bikes and cruisers that can carve up the best of corners, it's not just for sprotbikes. It's got to be what you find comfortable, and want to ride. It's more of a style choice, rather than a function. Most peeps with cruisers want cruisers, most who want sprotbikes want sprotbikes..

[Blackbird]

Gosh! Multiple posts and not one of the GSX-R boys have been on the site waving their willies about and saying that mine is bigger than yours

I really wanted a Fireblade but Mrs Blackbird sat on the back of one in the shop and was moved to remark with watering eyes that if I got one, then I'd be travelling solo everywhere. You might think that this would be cause for celebration but a smart ripost could have lead to withdrawal of conjugal rights or possibly something sharp buried in me. Hence the purchase of a "semi-sports" bike with genuine two-up capability over decent distances and a not inconsequential performance. No regrets at all and harmony continues in the Blackbird household.

[madboy]

Do you find much time to speed? I'm trying to gauge the value of a sports bike when commuting looks like the most use it will get.

My personal best on the way to work is a little over 260, and my personal best on the way home is a little under 260. Those speeds were achieved during rush hour. Does that answer your question?

The toughest choice with a sportsbike commuting is tyres. The bikes themselves have no problem with it, they're nimble enough, narrow enough and economical enough. But tyre choice is a major issue. Sticky tyres are good for the weekends, but you have trouble getting temperature into them for commuting, and they'll wear square really quickly and handle like shite. But if you get touring tyres then they're sacrilege on the weekend. Don't wanna turn this into a tyre debate by getting into specifics though!!

[Motu]

A sportsbike is too narrow focused for me - I ride everything from SH1 to single lane trails or on the beach....I come from the ''one bike does it all'' era,a bike has much more than one function for me - so dual purpose it is.

[James Deuce]

Seems that the answers arn't as broad as I first figured. Obviously a sports bike is the safest bike to travel at high speeds through corners on. but would you buy one if the only time you would do that was on the weekend? Is the allure of fast sweeping corners on the week end enough for you to put up with the painful wrists (edit) for the rest of the week?

Safety has nothing to do with the bike and everything to do with the grey matter inside the skull, inside the helmet. Cornering speed has everything to do with the same lump of porridge.

What painful wrists? Set your bike up correcty and you can remove wrist pain from the equation entirely. Sit properly and use the muscles designed for it, instead of leaning on your arms and shoulders and the issue goes away. I can do 400km+ days on the R6 with one stop for gas and food, until the knees scream enough though. Too many sporting and motorcycle accidents.

Why do I like sportsbikes? Because I do. I like standards, and cruisers, and trail bikes, and motards, and super motards, and Paris Dakar bikes, and classic bikes, and vintage bikes. Right now I want a sports bike. Is that OK(insert "Lou" smilie here)?

[madboy]

Is the allure of fast sweeping corners on the week end enough for you to put up with the painful wrists (edit) for the rest of the week?

Only pain in my wrist was a result of coming off the bike, wasn't from being on it. As BJ said, you get used to it. It's like going from running to playing squash, an acquired fitness thing.

Oh, and before comments come it, there's more to the rush hour high speed story that what I've posted, I'm not completely insane.