[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best High Performance Bike (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/8/2006 7:18:36 PM EDT
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Ducati Yamaha Suzuki Honda Moto Guzzi Triumph Other |
| GSXR1000 or R1 would be my pick, zx10r would also be a decent choice. Triumph and Guzzi have some nice bikes but none that can compare to the rest, Duc's are nice but maintence is a serious headache. Aprilia also deserves mentioning you can find a left over RSV Factory for under $15k, Factory already comes with all the goodies, exhaust, chip, ohlins, etc. |
My next bike is going to be the Aprilia, I have TL1000R now and I want another twin, otherwise I'de probably go for the Gixxer, all the jap ones are pretty close with there output numbers with the gixxer and 10r in the front, the 1000RR is probably the best all around and alot less twitchy then the gixxer or 10r, in the end really comes down to which ones styling you like best |
that cant even come close to a gixxer 1000. |
Yeah, and a Dodge Viper will outrun an M3... but what does it mean when the M3 can SPANK it around a track. Have you ever ridden one? A Buell lightening made a true believer out of me. I liken the experience to the 1st time I trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it was eye-opening. Richard Nallen is a high-school friend of mine; he is on team Buell and still holds a few track records. Sure the jap-bikes are fast, but in a closed corse requiring the stop and go power in turns the Buell dominates. And just like BJJ, the Buell is not the winner on every front. It rules where it was designed to work, and that's in twisty curvy, stop-n-go fun driving... not flat out. Which do you think you are going to do more of on the street?  |
  ETA: Poor exhaust system characteristics, one rotor in the front, 100 horsepower out of a 1200cc bike, gas tank in the frame, oil in the swingarm, and it's belt driven? Sorry, not a fan. BTW, my vote for the Gixxer. Although, sorry to say the Kawi's are finally offering some competition to the other bike manufacturers. |
'04 Lighting rider here. Buy American |
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i have to go against the grain and say get anything thats not suzuki. thats from my personal experince. hell everyone else can seem to own a suzuki and not have any problems, thats why i kept repeating the same mistake. my buddy has a good gsxr so i am thinking i'd like one too, and every damn time i buy a gsxr i get the slowest one, made from the most fragile junk, assmbled buy the most retarded apes on the earth. maybe i'm just jinxed but when i go bike shopping(hopefuly soon)i'm not even going to look at the s bikes again. |
No shit. Even less (71hp) from my buddy's new 1200 sportster. Holy hell, my 750 Katana gets 93hp from 450cc's less displacement. Buy american, buy underpowered. |
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*cracks knuckles* "best" high performance bike? Sure, when you answer what the "best" flavor of icecream is. What's "best" for you and for someone else won't be the same thing and can be wildly different. If I had to buy a new bike tomorrow, my top three choices, in no particular order, would be an Yamaha FZ-1, a Honda Superhawk or a Suzuki SV-1000. Why haven't I listed an R1, A CBR1000 or a GSXR? A couple of reasons. I only ride motorbikes (since I was 13, I'm 40 now), I've only ever owned motorbikes, I don't even have a car licence, just a motorbike licence. In my case, a motorbike isn't something just for some weekend fun, it's my day in day out transport, rain, hail or sunshine, city peak hour traffic, and after that it's also for weekend fun. The supersport bikes like the R1, GSXR, CBR, etc, are fine bikes, truckloads of performance. Comfort isn't quite as high on their priority list though. There's also the "squid" factor when it comes to insurance as well. Picking a bike that isn't quite in the same league as the supersport bikes should give you a lower premium. The bikes I've listed as my preferences aren't quite as fast as the top of the line supersport bikes (but still fast enough to lose your licence for a long time if you're caught with the throttle wide open), and their handling isn't quite as razer edged as the supersports either, but I'm completely confident that the bikes I listed as my preferences have more performance than 95% of riders can make full use of. Any doofus can give a bike a handfull of throttle in a straight line, it's how you handle the corners that seperates the boys from the men. The sitting position on these bikes is a bit more upright with less weight on the wrists, so you won't feel like the hunchback of Notre Dame after a full day in the saddle on one. If you can ride one of the bikes I reccomended and then say that it's not enough, either you aren't riding it right or you should seriously consider a career as a pro bike racer. If you really want the performance factor and a certain amount of exclusivity as well, look at the Honda RC51. It's the street version of the bike that has won Honda multiple championchips in both the AMA and World Superbike Championchips and is the supersport version of the Superhawk. It also has a RRP of $12,000. There are also official Honda parts kits available to bring it up to full race spec if you're inclined, or anywhere in between street spec and full race spec. Out of the Suzuki GSXR series, it's actually the GSXR-750 that's the real gem, not the GSXR-1000. It's a bit better blanced overall and has an edge in handling over it's bigger brother. |
Right now even DUCATI can't keep up with the Gixxers, that's saying something. I want an Aprilia Millie R or RC51 for a V-twin, but the 'busa, especially after they come out with the 1500CC version, is the straight line king. |
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First of all, you can't pick a bike by reading bike magazines, or reading the internet. Many "bike fans" are "couch racers", and couldn't even come close to doing what nearly any sportbike can do, much like many "couch commandos" will never use all their "highspeed" rifle gear they have. Whether a bike can do 145mph or 189mph is totally of no consequence in real life. Whether a bike can do a 9.8sec 1/4 mile, or a 10.4 sec 1/4 mile, has no meaning. That's what a pro rider might be able to do on a good day with perfect conditions, and not what a squid can do downtown at a stoplight. The horsepower race is stupid. On top of that, it's dangerous for a squid to even get on a bike that is brutally overpowered, far beyond his abilities. A seasoned motorcyclist will pick a bike he can actually use the capabilities of, and get good service out of. Once you realize you're not Valentino Rossi or Nicky Hayden, it all comes clear. 1/4 mile times, hp ratings, top speeds, and other specs, are for bragging rights at the cafe, while it's parked outside. If someone here is a top level AMA Superbike racer, my applogies. For all the rest of us squids, try to be reasonable, and you'll get a good ride and alot of fun. If I were to pick a sportbike for under $15k, I'd pick a slightly used 2004 MV Agusta F4 750. Still has more power and top end than you'll ever need, and has the timeless beauty and gorgeous fit and finish of the finest Italian breed. A classic in the making. You could park that next to the fastest Japanese bike in the world, and nobody will even notice that the Jap bike is there. If you want to go fast, it will do everything that a GSXR750 will do, which is plenty enough for anybody(Low 10's in the 1/4mi, and about 170mph top speed). It'll get you dead real quick if you don't respect it. For a combination of very good performance, stunning looks, great handling, top quality, won't have the same stamped-out "cookie-cutter" bike everybody else has, and future investment value as a classic, for a sportbike, my money would be on a mint used MV Agusta F4 750. For a really cool naked bike with a retro-look, the new Ducati Sport 1000 is a very cool bike. Not as fast as the Jap bikes, but still plenty of power and torque for real riding. Very nice. If you want a naked bike with ultra-modern urban hooligan style with class, you can get a brand new MV Agusta Brutale for under $15k. It has their sportbike chassis and motor and suspension, with a naked urban bodystyle that is bad to the bone. These are bikes that have things that go beyond what is in the latest "SportRider Comparo Test" that is on the newsstands. These are not the stamped-out UJM rocketships that are outmoded by the next year's crop of bikes with one more horsepower than last year. These are Italian thoroughbreds with soul. If you want to know what I ride, I have an old British single-cylinder 500cc vintage racer, that would be too slow to even get listed in todays 1/4 mile times. But, I've been riding for almost 40 years, and I'm way past worrying about whether some other bike can beat me in acceleration. I have a wonderful time in the twisties, and don't go over 70mph hardly at all, and it is a beautiful motorcycle experience. I don't expect many of you to understand that for at least several decades from now. But maybe after you've logged almost a million motorcycle miles, like I have, you'll understand. |
A stock GSXR1000 vs. a stock Hyabusa, the GSXR will OWN it up to about 140mph. The 1000 has the same RWHP and is what, 100lbs lighter. Lets not even talk about handling and braking 
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+1 on that. If Buell/Harley would ever put a _real_ motor in their bikes, they might have a chance. With those sorry hawgly suckison motors in them all they're good for is vibrating themselves apart while you watch. By the way... on the subject of "buy american"... have you been in an HD dealership lately? I've been in a couple of pretty big ones in alabama and I have to tell ya... half the building is the shop... 'cause they're all broken down... and of the other half of the building 1/4 is an actual motorcycle showroom and the rest is t-shirts for babies and women mixed in with some leather jackets. The really REALLY funny thing about it (or sick as the case may be) is that most of the clothing is not american made! The labels say: "Made in Pakistan", or "Made in Mexico", or "Made in China". Hell, I think I saw one that said BUY AMURICUN on it, and it was made in Hong Kong! - And let's not forget about the actual motorcycles... while the engines and frames might be made in the USA, the suspension and carbs, etc are largely made in japan or elsewhere. So much for "buy american". HD is a sorry excuse for a company. Hell, look at the new Buell/HD XB-RR "race bikes" they just _tried_ to put on the race track. 1200ish cc's of pure shit. They're running against 600cc jap bikes (AMA FX class) and the japs SPANK their ASS. Hell, most of the time those damn HD motors just blow up half way through the race. When they do actually finish by some miracle, they're down in about 37th place.  I guess that's what happens when a company is more interested in selling "WWE RAW image" than in spending serious R&D money on building a compettitive motor. But what the hell... the HD t-shirt company makes great money. Why bother updating the actual motorcycles, right? What a JOKE. |
They tried that with this and still got SPANKED!!:  They hired the best riders ( Duhammel, Picotte, Ru$$ell) and got engineers from F1 to help in the program. I think the best it ever did was a 2nd or 3rd. Harleys can't compete with the Italians or Japanese on the track. Neither can Buell. ETA, you want to read up on a true GENIUS in motorcycle design and racing, read up on the Britten 
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I've never seen a Harley with 100,000 miles on it. Has anyone? I've seen plenty of Jap, and BMW's for that matter that have. Without racing R&D, you are left with using the technology of yesterday. In Harleys case, it's more like 80 years ago. |
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Gentlemen, I have been involved in the performance motorcycle world for nearly 15 yrs. Most of my experience is with the "street legal" drag racing type. As of now the Hayabusa rules the world end of story. But these are far from stock and barely street legal. The Hayabusa engine lends itself to upgrades very easily (if you have the money). As far as the GSXR1000 vs the Busa at the drag strip--I don't care what a Bike rag says. Stock for stock with the same rider (that is a pro dragbike racer) the Busa will post a better time. I have seen this many times. And the Harley/Buell, they should stick with the cruiser type bikes. And before someone brings up the NHRA prostock bikes, and why the Harley were winning. Be advised that all the Harley entries had a cc advantage as well as a weight advantage so they could compete. Kawasaki ZX14 is the current bright spot for Kaw. But it is a little late as, Suzuki will soon be marketing a new Busa. I have my own criteria when I buy a motorcycle, as I am sure most people do. I can not leave anything I ride stock. All my bikes have had built motors, NOS systems and altered chassis (wheel base and suspension). This is just my $.02. |
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While I'm no fan of HD, they do have an established market niche and loyal following. All the Japanese manufacturers have copied HD to one extent or another, and so have Moto Guzzi in Italy. Have a look at the Nevada Classic and tell me it doesn't have similarities to HD. www.motoguzzi-us.com/Nuovi_modelli/nevada/specifiche.asp?modello=nevada&%20pagina=spec Having said that I'm not in a hurry to buy a HD, or a "cruiser" from any other brand either, but I think all the HD hating is a bit much. It's not as if people are being forced to buy them at gunpoint. They're buying them out of stupidity.
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I couldn't agree more. <---- 
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I have to disagree with you on the Hyabus vs. GSXR1000 Off the showroom floor, not lowering tire pressures, lowering or tying down the front or rear, etc. the Gixxer has the advantage. Same power, 100 lbs less. Grated, the rider will make alot of the difference, but machines vs. machine, how can you say that the Hyabusa is quicker when the Gixxer has the same RWHP and pretty much the same torque while being a 100lbs lighter?
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In all honesty the two bikes are completely different animals. The GSXR1000 is a great bike, and will outperform a Busa on a road course with ease. But to quote a phrase in the drag racing world "there is no replacement for displacement". I do not/will not start a flame war over which is the better bike. For me and the kind of riding I do, the Busa is my choice. shootemup, being from FL, you should go to the AMA Prostar World Finals and see the "Street Bike Shootout" series. It will open your eyes, and is awesome to see sub 8 sec. 1/4 mile streetbikes. I realize that what I ride and why I ride, is not what the average Joe wants or desires. My last bike, a Busa, made 230 RWHP all motor and 290 HP on the bottle (NOS). I no longer have a bike because I can not leave them stock. If I had spent my money on guns instead, I would have many transferable M16's, even at current market value. |
Good to see someone else remember the Britten. It's a shame he is no longer with us. I loved that bike and for a guy who knew almost nothing about motorcycles when he started designing it he did a great job. As far as the buy American statment that is a load of crap. Half a harley is built using jap parts or parts from other sorces but it has been years since I have kept up on it. Suspension, wheels, electicial, carbs/fuel injection componets, instruments. About the only thing made here is that pile of crap motor, frame and bodywork. Too bad they didn't put enough into their superbike and continue it's development as it would be nice ot have another choice in sport bikes but they are happy with their cruiser crowd so it never happened. Eric Buell is a good designer but is handicapped with that crappy motor. |
Being an Ex-Road Racer that is why I choose the GSXR1000 Different strokes for different folks 
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I have had 8 bikes. The GSXR 1000 is a great bike, but hardly comfortable for more than an hour. The Busa is more comfortable and a better all around bike for the street. Also I believe the insurance is cheaper on a Busa since it is considered a sport tour bike. I have had mine to 180mph with more still to go. It does everything I ask in stock form, wheelies, rails, and is pretty fast and comfortable. The Busa which has hardly changed in 8 years is still the best overall bike in my opinion. I bought a new 06 black busa a few months ago. I could not be happier. |
I agree with most of what you said, I am so far from a HD apologist, and think that buells are a f-ing joke, but the reason half of the HD shop is a service dept. is that most HD owners spend more of their time "customizing" their bikes than riding them (see next post). However I have to say that the HD twin cam (not in buells) is a very reliable motor, if HD owners would just ride them instead of fucking with them they would have a much better reputation. |
I hate to call you on this one but I have seen several HDs with over 100K, and the highest I have seen was over 400K. However these are by far the exception to the rule. Most HD riders are under 1K/yr  Edited to add: Hds have no place in a performance bike thread, sorry to have wasted your bandwidth 
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Pssha, but my 71 CB175 will still smoke it
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There is no "best bike" for everything. In the 600cc class, the metric bikes are all so close together you just pick the one that fits you best, they're all great at what they do, but what they do doesn't really do anything for me. Not enough torque, too peaky, too twitchy. The GSXR 750 would be my pick for a "fun bike" for an experienced rider who wanted more than an SV650 could give him, I mention the SV650 because I ride one, and although best performance bike isn't a title it would ever hold, most fun to ride on the street is. I might buy one (750) someday. Liter inlines are all pretty good, better powerband than the 600s, IF and it's a really really big if, you're experienced and disciplined enough not to do something fatally stupid on it, I know I'm not. Liter twins, now we're talking, pretty much the same power/weight ratio you get with a 600 but with all the advantages of the twin. Twins are way better bikes than the spec sheets can relate, the advantages are difficult to quantify, but easy to understand if you ride one on a track once. An SV1000 would be an excellent choice, or the Duc if you can afford it, the maintenance costs are overblown unless you're so mechanically inept as to be completely at the mercy of an unscrupulous dealer to do such simple things as torque bolts. The 'Busa, and the ZX14, are really nice bikes for what they are, but I don't think they're what you're looking for if you're a cruiser rider looking for something different, 'busa's the long distance performance touring champion, a bike for spirited riding two-up or freeway blasts at felony speeds, not for carving canyons and having fun. By the way, the longer chassis on the 'busa allows it to pull Gs that would loop a liter if you made the slightest mistake, that's its big advantage on the strip IMO. So I guess i'd recommend the GSXR750 or one of the liter-twins, but there are lots of best choices. The little SV650s regularly beat the Buells running almost twice the displacement (at twice the price) on the short tracks, there are definate advantages to a sport-twin on the street, but the buell is still the poorest example on the market. |
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O.K. If my Guzzi is a H.D. copy, why are my Cyl. Heads out in front of my knees???
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K5/K6 GSXR 1000 is pretty much the benchmark for the litre sportbikes in terms of outright performance. CBR1000 RR--a little down on power compared to the GSXR (down on power is relative here), but is a great all around bike, and plenty fast (with a pipe and remap, you should see 160+ rwhp), and should be much higher in build quality. I've fondled them at their dealers, but not ridden either one. The Honda oozes quality. The Suzuki seems less busy, and has a more sensible riding position. If I were buying a new litre bike right now, I would get the 1000RR. Those two are the best of the ultra high performance street bikes out right now, according to almost every bike mag and reviewer in the U.S. and Great Britain. |
Yours must be one of the ones assembled after a Friday lunchtime at the factory. The cylinders aren't supposed to stick out like that. Ask the dealer to fix it by rotating the engine 90 degrees and remounting it correctly. Trust me, you'll thank me for it after it's done. 
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