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

**justsomeguy** · 3rd January 2007, 17:07

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:12

Originally Posted by bugjuice

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.

Originally Posted by bugjuice

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:25

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:25

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

....the flexibility of the thou will do me fine.

**mstriumph** · 3rd January 2007, 17:25

Originally Posted by orangeback

.............. 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

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:40

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:45

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

**jtzzr** · 3rd January 2007, 17:47

Originally Posted by mstriumph

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** · 3rd January 2007, 17:53

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** · 3rd January 2007, 18:00

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** · 3rd January 2007, 18:12

Originally Posted by bugjuice

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

Nail on the head Buggy

**bugjuice** · 3rd January 2007, 18:13

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

**SPman** · 3rd January 2007, 18:18

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** · 3rd January 2007, 18:23

Originally Posted by nsrpaul

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..

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

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** · 3rd January 2007, 18:27

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:-)