Are there motorcycles with a the perfect amount of power?

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by Nungboy, Sep 21, 2009.

  1. Nungboy

    Nungboy New Member

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    There are many motorcycles that have moderate to moderately high power (lets say horsepower between 60 and 110 horsepower) and plently of liter bikes and liter plus bikes (with horspower in the 140-175 range) but where are the bikes in between? There are relatively few (and several of them are twins--not my favorite type of engine). What bikes can you come up with in the 125-135 range? And why is there such a gap? The venerable Suzuki 750 is one of the few bikes I can think of. Ideas?
     
  2. steven113

    steven113 New Member

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    GSXR 750. uncomfortable but just right as far as performance!
     
  3. John451

    John451 Member

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    Couple of older sports bikes now relegated to Sports tourers like the Daytona 955 or zx9-r spring to mind or although a Vtwin have a soft spot for the TL1000R as an amazing sounding thing with the right end cans. :thumbsup:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    Oh no, No more of TL.... it's in my nitemares.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    It's not the amount of power, it's the maximum amount that you are able to efficiently exploit.
     
  6. Fizz

    Fizz New Member

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    Second Generation FZ1.

    130RWHP. 150 at the crank. Which figure were you looking for to fall within your specified brackets?

    EDIT: But I'm just biased because it's what I ride.
     
  7. betarace

    betarace New Member

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    +1 on the GSXR750, best bike I have ever owned. Would suspect an RVF400RR would be a winner too due to it's lightness.

    ever seen this?
    Free Image Hosting - www.sharefile.org

    50 best handling bikes of all time... VFR listed 'nach
     
  8. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    The VFR would have a perfect amount of power if it weighed 200 pounds less.
     
  9. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    mine has the perfect amount of power...............for me....thats all I need to say
     
  10. Richard Thompson

    Richard Thompson New Member

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    2001 Yamaha R1:At 127.8 bhp (95.3 kW),[2] top-end output remains the same but changes to the engine management system are supposed to result in a smoother, broader distribution of power.
    [​IMG]
    source: wikipedia yamaha R1

    oh yeah...shes a bad girl...riding the 01 was waaaay scarier than the 05. this thing had scary bottom end power...
     
  11. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    nothing is perfect. there will always be things to bitch about...
     
  12. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

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    Nungboy,

    What's your definition of "perfect"?

    Are you talking about track or street "perfect"?

    Carry On ~
     
  13. SlideSF

    SlideSF New Member

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    Perfect power is the exact power you want when you want it. There is no such thing. Some bikes have too much, more have not enough. On almost any bike you will get just what you want once in a while, on other bikes you will get it more often. I think what the OP means is optimum amount of power, which in today's standards might be about 115rwhp - 135rwhp, and maybe 85 - 95 ft/lbs of torque. This standard changes over time. 20 years ago, 80rwhp might have been considered pretty good. So taste and preference is definitely a factor here.

    Another factor to consider is: power for what? Are you riding on the track only? Commuting? Pleasure rides in the mountains? These all require different power delivery. and that is not including such factors as comfort, suspension, steering geometry or weight and ability to carry cargo or passengers.

    So if you are looking for a "perfect" bike, you're dreaming. You can either get "perfect" (or the closest to it) for a specific purpose (racing, touring, dirt riding, etc. ), or something that is good for a wide variety of purposes at a high level of performance/comfort/versatility.

    Given all the above, for a sportier version of a touring bike, the VFR still does pretty well. Other examples might be the Suzuki Bandit 1250, Yamaha FZ1, or Triumph Sprint. If you like to do more gravel or dirt roads consider the Suzuki V-Strom or Triumph Tiger, or any of a number of BMW's. If you stay on paved roads and you like comfort check out the Honda ST1300 or even a Goldwing or a cruiser.

    In short, not only is there no perfect power, there is no perfect bike either. With luck and a little experimentation you might find a bike that is perfect for you. Or at least for your needs. For me, I find that between two bikes I can have a really good bike for almost anything I want. A VFR for longer distance trips involving a fair amount of twisty mountain roads that I like to take at a bit of speed with a bit of overnight luggage attached, and a Kawi KLR 650 for riding around the urban potholes, as well as the occasional camping trip in the firelanes of the national forests.

    Perfect? No. But I find that good comfort and capability over a broad range of uses can make up for a lot of occasional imperfection. It's only the real world, after all...
     
  14. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

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  15. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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  16. Nungboy

    Nungboy New Member

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    Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Thanks, folks. This kind of discussion is what I was looking for. To answer a few questions, for me I am thinking STREET use and when I mentioned horsepower I was speaking of the rating at the rear wheel. If you don't remember my approach, I have the 07 VFR and the 09 Triumph Daytona 675 which is the closest to "perfect" a single bike can be to me (so far!). I really am quite happy with the 675 and the VFR is a wonderful bike. But, having ridden a quite a few other bikes with even more power I cannot help but wonder if I wouldn't be even happier with a different bike than the VFR (I don't do any touring currently even though I might in a few years). The VFR just seems, um, PORKY! I am thinking an even more powerful bike in the same vein as the 675 sporty and light, great suspension) so some of your suggestions about an older 900 or 1000 might be the ticket. Thanks for the feedback and I look forward to more.
     
  17. Fizz

    Fizz New Member

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    I had the same thought when I was considering a 6 gen.

    I decided on my FZ1 because it's 480 wet, has fully adjustable USD forks, self diagnostic mode, 130RWHP Stock (heavily modded ones can get upwards of 155), it's camed for midrange power, standard-type ergos ( VFR are actually more forward than the FZ1), better low end than a lot of liter inline 4s, 26k mile valve maintenance interval.

    Now, the stock sprocket ratio is too tall, the rear shock is horrible, the front USD forks aren't top notch but loads above most stock suspensions. It absolutely sucks on MPG and insurance companies pretty much consider it an R1 for rating purposes.

    I bought the bike with 9k miles last september, it has 27.8k on it today. I did a single day 500 mile trip last sunday (though my wrist and ass are killing me). I haven't owned a car in a year and a half and still don't want/need one. Room for upgrades but there's never been a perfect bike.
     
  18. Nungboy

    Nungboy New Member

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    Thanks, Fizz! That is helpful.
    So far, my local shop has a 2006 Kawa ZX-10r with 6k miles and my experience was the suspension was better than almost anything I have ever ridden, had tremendous and very linear power but was easy to ride calmly (a very controllable throttle). The quality seemed very high. The brakes didn't seem as good as my Daytona but they are outstanding. I felt good on the bike, ergonomically.
    And, it is as black as midnight on a moonless night! (Lol!)
    But there are a lot of bikes out there and I want to consider all my options.
     
  19. Fizz

    Fizz New Member

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    Yeah, too many bikes out there, none of them perfect, but there are ones that fulfill some needs better than others.

    Personally I wouldn't mind a a Aprilia Tuono. It's a twin and it's a VERY weird lookin' bike (I like weird lookin naked bikes).

    I've been looking at Triumphs too, insurance companies don't rate them as sport bikes, they're just Triumphs.
     
  20. deepdish

    deepdish Banned

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    6th gen rwb perfect amount of power comfort and stability...or the ninja 250...
     
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