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

[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

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

[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?