Another one of my predictions. Take with a grain of salt.

[PostHuman]

With the recent switch of MotoGP to 800cc, and the subsequent very impressive performance the smaller engines have turned out, expect to see a new class emerge in production sport bikes.

While the 750 class has more or less died with only Suzuki keeping it alive, it's likely that the "More Powerful than a 600 but lighter than a Literbike" class will move up that extra 50cc and become a hot seller.

I don't see why not.

[camthepyro]

Eh, maybe eventually (like a few years), but MotoGP bikes don't directly affect production bikes (obviously) where as production race mean (by definition) that the bike has to be in production, and available to the public to qualify. So, manufactureres can make 800cc MotoGP bikes, exclusively for racing, and never have them be in production.

[Sev]

This would be a more impressive prediction if I hadn't already heard it from 4 or 5 different sources several months ago.

[PostHuman]

Eh, maybe eventually (like a few years), but MotoGP bikes don't directly affect production bikes (obviously) where as production race mean (by definition) that the bike has to be in production, and available to the public to qualify. So, manufactureres can make 800cc MotoGP bikes, exclusively for racing, and never have them be in production.

It's not so much that the manufacturers would use the same engines as in MotoGP, but use the occasion to realize the advantages in that compromise size. As it stands the only production sport bike in that size range is the VFR-800 but it's obviously touring biased.

[Sev]

Gixxer 750 is damn close to 800...

[MontyCarlo]

With the recent switch of MotoGP to 800cc, and the subsequent very impressive performance the smaller engines have turned out, expect to see a new class emerge in production sport bikes.

While the 750 class has more or less died with only Suzuki keeping it alive, it's likely that the "More Powerful than a 600 but lighter than a Literbike" class will move up that extra 50cc and become a hot seller.

I don't see why not.

You mean like this gal?

[PostHuman]

With the recent switch of MotoGP to 800cc, and the subsequent very impressive performance the smaller engines have turned out, expect to see a new class emerge in production sport bikes.

While the 750 class has more or less died with only Suzuki keeping it alive, it's likely that the "More Powerful than a 600 but lighter than a Literbike" class will move up that extra 50cc and become a hot seller.

I don't see why not.

You mean like this gal?

No, not like that gal. The Daytona 675 is a lovely and awesome motorcycle but still essentially in the middleweight category.

As far as the GSX-R750, Sevulturus, I did mention that, and that is correct. It represents the last holdout of that class. But in light of the fact that 800cc is going to get a lot of publicity from the MotoGP races, I anticipate most manufacturers will go for that displacement.

Another reason for this is because the first company to take on Suzuki afresh will want an immediate competitive advantage and tacking on another 50cc counts as an immediate competitive advantage. (For another example I cite the Kawasaki 636cc engine)

[Sev]

The engine that Kawasaki cut from it's lineup for 2007?

[camthepyro]

PostHuman Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject:

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camthepyro wrote:
Eh, maybe eventually (like a few years), but MotoGP bikes don't directly affect production bikes (obviously) where as production race mean (by definition) that the bike has to be in production, and available to the public to qualify. So, manufactureres can make 800cc MotoGP bikes, exclusively for racing, and never have them be in production.


It's not so much that the manufacturers would use the same engines as in MotoGP, but use the occasion to realize the advantages in that compromise size. As it stands the only production sport bike in that size range is the VFR-800 but it's obviously touring biased.

What exactly makes an 800 so good? Just because it's exactly half way between 600 and 1000?

[Sev]

Because it typically means a larger engine bolted into the 600cc chasis. More power, same size, weighs just a leeeeeetle bit more. Usually for just a little more money too.

Bigger isn't always better, but in a society obsessed with value for the dollar it is a very strong selling point.