| Author | Message | ||
     Sportsman |
I'd love to ride a R1 on a sunny day that I felt rested and alert. I know for me it would be a mistake to buy one since I'm aware of my limited self control and I'd end up doing 172 in the dark, or down the interstate to work, or going to the store, or....till I hit something or got caught. But, the bike, must really be something. If RRW can run a near stock R1 in AMA and do reasonably well, I'm impressed. Buell doesn't need to try to compete with that. But a near race ready lightweight would be nice! Oh, I think the 200 mark is where airodynamics starts to make racing more like russian roulette. It would not surprise me if Moto GP cut them back somehow. | ||
| Sbelleque |
I really started looking for a new bike about 8 months ago. I had a short list of bikes that I liked. (mind you these were ones I thought I could afford so certain bikes I REALLY LOVED aren't on the list) 1. R1 2. Triumph Speed Triple 3. Buell S1 Lightning 4. Kawasaki zrx1200 5. Kawasaki z1000 The funny thing was going to the bike shops that had both Yamaha's and Kawasaki's in the same shop and the sales guy asks me what I was looking for. The guy has to tell me the R1 isn't really the same type of bikes as the others. No? Really? So friggin what. I still like it dipshit. My friend let me ride his and it was a blast, want one. I got the 98 S1. Two months later, my buddy asks me if I want to buy his 2003 R1. Hell yes I do. So now I have it too and this is a good thing. I ride them both. I commute to work on the Buell and go on joy rides on it too. Its like the little wood block full of knives, sometimes I need a big meat cleaver (The Buell) sometimes I need felet knife (R1). | ||
| Jasonblue |
Talk about bad kharma, took the XB out to look at some land in Magnolia and got a ticket for doing 80 in a 65. Turns out the officer wasn't a speed freak. While we are on the subject- When the officer ran my plates he said the bike came back listed as a Harley. I told him I bought the bike at HD, and THEY are the ones that gave me the plates. He said "Well maybe thats how they are classified, I'm not gonna mess with it." So whats the deal are Buells classified as Harleys or did the dealership screw up and give me the wrong plates or fill out some form wrong? | ||
| Socoken |
sorry to hear about the ticket man some people like to see others pulled over and laugh at them, i hate to see it, ive been there, its costly, it sux. thats what you get for saying you had a bigger schlong, the truth hurts.  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Both of mine said HD on the title as well as the insurance papers. | ||
| Jasonblue |
Yeah tickets always suck, but I may get lucky yet. The wife's aunt is a state trooper, and it was a trooper that gave me the ticket. Gotta love family connections. | ||
| Rocketman |
More speed does not provide one with an inane clarvoyance to tell what an Afgan cab driver is about to do. The intoxication of the ability to go fast seems unrivaled in how it displaces common sense. Court, this is were you and I disagree. An experienced rider worth his salt will always display common sense in abundance the faster he goes. The proof is there to see the world over on any Sunday when 99.99% of sports bike riders return home, but ridiculous as it seems, no one uses such statistics to strengthen our biking freedoms, yet most everyone watching uses the one dead guy in the Armco to restrict those same freedoms. That is why I consider your comment negative Court. Rocket edited by rocketman on July 06, 2004 | ||
| Daves |
I have also sold used Yamahas,Suzukis,Ducatis,Kawasakis,Hondas and new Excelsior-Hendersons(before they went belly up)along with quite a few Buells and a whole •••• load of HDs. I am in the MOTORCYCLE business. As long as it has 2 wheels and a kickstand it's OK with me. If it's a race bike it doesn't even need to have a kickstand! I've sold quads and dirtbikes too. My favorite brands are Buell and HD, that's why I choose to work in a Buell/HD dealership. It's not like I couldn't work at any brand store I choose. But that doesn't make the other bikes bad. I tell people all the time, it would be hard to buy a bad motorcycle these days. There are models I don't really care for, Goldwings(too much plastic), custom choppers(can't really ride them anywhere)trikes(not really a motorcycle)bikes with sidecars(ever ridden one?) Doesn't mean that those who like them are wrong, they just aren't for me. I take ANY bike on trade and then will turn around and sell that bike to someone that wants it. Dave | ||
| Koz5150 |
What about dogs??? I got a dog I would like to trade in??? ha ha just kidding... Daves, I will be doing up your graphic samples tomorrow. I got delayed as my wife's car was smashed over the weekend. I spent the day dropping it off at the repair shop and dealing with insurance companies... I hate insurance companies... | ||
| Koz5150 |
Dyna.. Check out this month's issue of Sport Rider. It has a great article on how overstated speedometers really are. (up to 14% on some bikes) The Yamaha R6 they tested was pretty far out of wack. You may have been only doing 150 something. Not that that is slow by any means (or any cops standard for a good ticket) | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
I know full well how optomistic speedos are. I also know they radar test all the latest bikes in the mags & both the ZX10R & the R1 are running 179-186 verified depending on the day, who ran the bike, hell even each bike is a bit different. Eventually when I do tuck & top this thing out I know it will be in the upper 170's at least. No hurry tho, I have the rest of my life & am in no hurry to speed that process up. | ||
| Daves |
Koz, Is everyone OK? Don't even tempt me about trading for a dog, I don't need 3 dogs! Dave | ||
| Koz5150 |
Daves... My wife would kill me, but how do you feel about a 1987 Honda elite 50cc scooter??? That's gotta be a good down payment on a V-rod right? Dyna, Actually all the test were done on a dyno at 30,60,90,and 120mph. | ||
| Aesquire |
I've had a couple of Suzuki's ( 3) a Yamaha, A Kawa I never got paperwork for ( sellers mom didn't want him to ride ) & donated to a buck a hit for charity at a biker party. I've never had & would like for my dream collection: 'Busa, for solo touring GSXR-750, 3/4 litre bikes rule! H-D with sidecar, for dog BMW R100RT, for touring slower. still room in garage? then I wanna...... It's all good. (except bikes made in commie slave countries, but I won't knock a Ural owner, and this isn't the politics thread) Sportsman's right, self control is an issue. I probably shouldn't own a 'Busa or a GSXR. Or fit on one. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
An 87 Honda elite? Brand new those things were what, 800-900 or so? I bought my wife a new one in 90 & paid just under $1000 for it. I think today it would bring about $300. And I know they do the dyno test for the speedo deal, I am talking actual desert high speed runs with calibrated radar guns. All the testers use similar setups now days. | ||
| Blake |
Dyna, I posted my race related comment in rebuttal to Rocket's comment that...
As you said, in some venues more suited to the Buell, it isn't impossible. Nuff said. How about this... Me and my race rubber shod Cyclone on any track versus you on your R1 with street tires? That might be a good race even at Road America. Who do you think would win, assuming we are relatively equal in ability?  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
R1. With equal riders the rubber wouldnt make that big of a difference at a big hp track like RA. | ||
| Blake |
Heheheheh. Not only wrong but so wrong you wouldn't believe it. | ||
| M1combat |
RA's got some pretty long and high speed corners doesn't it? That would put the advantage to rubber. Do you know what's generally on the BOTTOM of the wish list for race drivers? Power. Top of the list? Handling and grip. Weight only becomes number one when you aren't already at the class limit. I would imagine it's much the same for motorcycles but I have less experience in the area. | ||
| Rocketman |
The R1 has a massive weight advantage. It's better aerodynamics. The brakes are top notch and have the less weight advantage too. As if that isn't enough, an 04 R1 has 50% more horse power. There's no way in hell a slick shod M2 is gonna beat an R1. Not even a 100hp slick shod M2. The M2 is to far disadvantaged for a set of slicks to make up the difference. Blake's on a fishing expedition, that's all! Rocket | ||
| Court |
>>>An experienced rider worth his salt will always display common sense in abundance the faster he goes. Agreed. I see an excess of Darwinian exspose's. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
There's no way in hell a slick shod M2 is gonna beat an R1. Not even a 100hp slick shod M2. The M2 is to far disadvantaged for a set of slicks to make up the difference. Blake's on a fishing expedition, that's all! Thats an accurate statement  On a big track like RA the dunlop 218's would work just fine against a race slick shod M2. Not saying the dunlops are a great race tire by anymeans, but with the amount of distance the R1 would be able to put between itself & the M2 the tire choice wouldnt be a factor because the M2 simply wouldnt be able to make up enough ground in the corners to overcome the loss of all the straightaway speed. Blake, you really need to try a true superbike for one of your races & I mean really try. Open your mind & you will see the huge difference. On a track like OHR or Blackhawk the bike choice isnt so critical since they are such small tight tracks, comes down to rider ability & knowledge of the track & his bike. But at larger venues where the bikes are allowed to show more of their performance vs rider ability its a whole nother ballgame. | ||
| Blake |
What is a Dunlop 218? The top Dunlop street tire is the D208 ZR. Is that what the R1 OEM tire is? My M2 is significantly enhanced. Still significantly down on power compared to a stock R1, but it will go down the track quite well. Rocket is wrong as are you in underestimating the effect racing tires have on lap times, even at Road America. Let's compare the Road America race lap times for Supersport versus Superbike. That will give us a good idea of how the HP difference between a stock R1 and my M2 will will affect their relative lap times. Best lap time for SB was a 2:14.04 by Miguel Duhamel. Best lap time for SS was a 2:20.34 by Tommy Hayden. Roughly a six second difference. I guarantee you that putting D208 ZR street tires on Miguels SB would cause his lap time to increase by more than 6 seconds. If you've never ridden on race tires, you simply cannot imagine the amount of increased grip they provide. I was doubtful myself before I switched to racing tires. Don't take my word for it. Ask any racer. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Blake...the 218 is the new top of the line tire & yes its standard on the R1. Note I never said oem tires would compare to a race tire. I said use race tires on your M2 & the 218's on the R1 & you would lose. Using your analogy I could put race tires on my wideglide & give the R1 a run for its money. And you dont seriously consider an M2 a supersport do you? | ||
| Socoken |
i think you guys should run em. we could start a fund to pay for your track day, and travel expenses. and start a betting pool. I got 20 on Blake! | ||
| M1combat |
Lemme take a look at that track map again... | ||
| M1combat |
 | ||
| M1combat |
Well, it looks to me like you would be able to make a good bit of time on the front straight and back straight. POSSIBLY kettle bottoms but I think it's a little more kinky than this pic makes it out to be (If I remember correctly). The rest is all about torque and handling. I think maybe Blake's bike has the torque and handling (ESPECIALLY with race tires) to pretty much hand it to an R1 on this track. You have to remember there's only two maybe three places that you can use your advantage and the rest will give the advantage to Blake's bike. Of course, this is MO and YMMV. $20 on Blake. | ||
| Bomber |
I've raced that track (on 2 wheels and 4, but not in this century) . . . . . $50 on Dyna | ||
| M1combat |
One thing I have learned from racing cars is that the line is nearly THE most important thing. It's all about being able to get on the power real early. How much does your bike weigh Blake? |
