Motorcyclists on MartialTalk

[Colin_Linz]

Did you all see the retro cafe-racer Ducatis that were on display at the Motorcycle Show?! That one with the silver metal flake paint job had me drooling!

They have been floating around for a while now, I’d love one. There are also two or three companies building new retro Ducati’s, all based on the old 900SS of the seventies. You can buy them complete or as a frame kit and you supply the rest.



I have a spare 900 Desmo engine in my workshop that I’ve been thinking doing something similar with, but now I think it will go into a Post Classic Racer instead.

 

[OULobo]

The SV650 is a fine bike, even if it is a little under powered. Power is not everything, and doesn’t necessarily make a quick bike on the road. If you are shying away from the litre class because of the difference between your current bike and them it could be worth considering a few facts.

Many of the 600’s now put out similar and in some cases more power than litre class twins. The difference is that the litre class twins are just so much easier to ride, as they don’t require absolute attention to revs and gear selection. You can be more relaxed, even lazy and still go fast. There is no coming on strong when you hit the power band, just predictable power right through. This lets you enjoy the ride more. Another factor is that many of the 600’s are now very highly developed. This means that they are putting out power much closer to their design limits. I don’t think this will translate well to longevity, however in this class people tend to turn them over fairly quickly (in Australia it averages out at 6 months). The naked class usually does detune their engines so this may not be an issue with them.

That was a little of my concern. I don't have a very good idea of how the displacement will relate to my ability to handle the bike.

 

[RRouuselot]

They have been floating around for a while now, I’d love one. There are also two or three companies building new retro Ducati’s, all based on the old 900SS of the seventies. You can buy them complete or as a frame kit and you supply the rest.

I have a spare 900 Desmo engine in my workshop that I’ve been thinking doing something similar with, but now I think it will go into a Post Classic Racer instead.

My father picked up one of the Mike Hailwood Edition bikes when they first came out. He rode it around the block and hated it and sold it right after.
Evidently it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
It was uncomfortable, slow and didn't handle as well as it looked like and cost.

I have just finished looking at the R1's.
I guess they are suppose to kick it up to 180hp.....is that true?

 

[RRouuselot]

Yeah, whatever... I still think the ZX-12R is a better bike than the 'Busa! Let the Kawasaki vs. Suzuki wars/arguments begin.

I don't know much about the ZX-12R except what I read online.
The reviews weren't not good....the "Busa" I do know about.
Not something I would own. It's a bit of a dog out of the hole, it get's it's *** kicked in the corners by most sport bikes out there...(they had to make it longer to handle the high top speed and that killed it's cornering ability)..it's only saving grace at one time was it's top speed. The first year it came out it was the fastest bike but then in true Japanese fashion all the Japanese bike companies got together and decided to make all the bikes in the same class as the "Busa" have the same top speed.

For the money I think the best all around sport bike is the RC51......it sounds really cool with a set of pipes on it, it handles, it has way too much punch for your beginer rider, and it just has "eat my dust" written all over it.

 

[K Williams]

I have just finished looking at the R1's.
I guess they are suppose to kick it up to 180hp.....is that true?

180hp in an R1!? Well, if that's true, we can forget about the ZX-12R and the Hayabusa in terms of top speed. The R1 is around 100 lbs. lighter than my bike(the ZX-12R), and at 180hp, it would have 10hp on the 12R. All I can say is that I hope people know to lean over the tank while under hard acceleration, cause that bike is going to want to look at the sky a lot.

 

[K Williams]

I don't know much about the ZX-12R except what I read online.
The reviews weren't not good....the "Busa" I do know about.
Not something I would own. It's a bit of a dog out of the hole, it get's it's *** kicked in the corners by most sport bikes out there...(they had to make it longer to handle the high top speed and that killed it's cornering ability)..it's only saving grace at one time was it's top speed. The first year it came out it was the fastest bike but then in true Japanese fashion all the Japanese bike companies got together and decided to make all the bikes in the same class as the "Busa" have the same top speed.

For the money I think the best all around sport bike is the RC51......it sounds really cool with a set of pipes on it, it handles, it has way too much punch for your beginer rider, and it just has "eat my dust" written all over it.

Well I only have two real complaints with my ZX-12R:

1)Throttle response from idle to hmmm....probably 2500rpm. I got used to that after a while, but at first it was weird...no power then all of a sudden a lot of power.

2)No safe way to install frame sliders on the bike. And you all that ride sport bikes know how ridiculous the cost of plastics are. I'm 100% certain that all the bike companies make more money on selling the parts, than they do on the complete bikes.

Of course the smaller bikes handle better than the 12. They are lighter and shorter. But if you're 6'3" and wear 36" inseam jeans, you'll understand why I chose the ZX-12R instead of say a Gixxer 1000 or an R1.

V-Twins... I almost bought the TL1000R. I love that V-Twin sportbike sound. Ducatis, the TL-R, and the RC51. Those babies sound sweet!

 

[koga ha]

i have an '01 busa. thought about trading/selling for a liter bike.

 

[RRouuselot]

180hp in an R1!? Well, if that's true, we can forget about the ZX-12R and the Hayabusa in terms of top speed. The R1 is around 100 lbs. lighter than my bike(the ZX-12R), and at 180hp, it would have 10hp on the 12R. All I can say is that I hope people know to lean over the tank while under hard acceleration, cause that bike is going to want to look at the sky a lot.

I thought it sounded a little too good to be true.

 

[Colin_Linz]

My father picked up one of the Mike Hailwood Edition bikes when they first came out. He rode it around the block and hated it and sold it right after.
Evidently it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
It was uncomfortable, slow and didn't handle as well as it looked like and cost.

I have just finished looking at the R1's.
I guess they are suppose to kick it up to 180hp.....is that true?

Yes that Hailwood replica is a dog, the frame is too flexible. It was made prior to the other retro bikes, which are made more as a retro than a modern bike influenced by retro design as the Hailwood replica was. The other manufactures have done fairly well with their products, but they will never rival a modern bike when it comes to handling, except maybe Brook Henry’s Alchemy. Though this bike was designed to be a modern bike that used the old Ducati engines, not a retro.

Most of the litre class of 4 cylinder bikes are pumping out around the 180hp mark. This is pretty good when you think that that was what the GP bikes were putting out just a few years ago, and they were considered unmanageable even by elite racers.

 

[Colin_Linz]

Well I only have two real complaints with my ZX-12R:

1)Throttle response from idle to hmmm....probably 2500rpm. I got used to that after a while, but at first it was weird...no power then all of a sudden a lot of power.

2)No safe way to install frame sliders on the bike. And you all that ride sport bikes know how ridiculous the cost of plastics are. I'm 100% certain that all the bike companies make more money on selling the parts, than they do on the complete bikes.

Of course the smaller bikes handle better than the 12. They are lighter and shorter. But if you're 6'3" and wear 36" inseam jeans, you'll understand why I chose the ZX-12R instead of say a Gixxer 1000 or an R1.

V-Twins... I almost bought the TL1000R. I love that V-Twin sportbike sound. Ducatis, the TL-R, and the RC51. Those babies sound sweet!

[font=&quot]The older Aprillia RSV 1000 were quite large physically, they made a great sports bike for larger guys. The newer ones have shrunk down a bit though.

The new CBR 600 apparently is OK for guys about 184cm, even though it is physically smaller to last years model, and it was considered to be a bit cramped by the same tester.[/font]
[font=&quot][/font]

 

[Baoquan]

[font=&quot]The older Aprillia RSV 1000 were quite large physically, they made a great sports bike for larger guys. The newer ones have shrunk down a bit though.

The new CBR 600 apparently is OK for guys about 184cm, even though it is physically smaller to last years model, and it was considered to be a bit cramped by the same tester.[/font]
[font=&quot][/font]

I'm bang-on 184cms, and i found the RR to be a bit cramped - good for short blasts and the track, but i wouldn't want to the Pilgrimage (to the Island) on it.

 

[RRouuselot]

Just reality check............enjoy

http://www.wimp.com/motorcycle/

 

[psi_radar]

I wasn' t able to download that video, but there's lots of horror story vids and pics out there. The most memorable I remember was a head-on collision with a cement truck. The helmet and all its contents were stuck in the grill of the truck, and the remainder of the body layed scorched with the burnt remains of the bike. Be careful out there.

 

[arnisador]

Motorcycles for women:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...icagotrib/womenbuildingamotorcycleshapedtofit