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Most Americans wouldn't be able to handle an Autobahn. Much less checking their mirrors, signaling lane changes, slowing down when it rains, turning head lights on when it rains, put down the cell phone, etc. And besides, do you want Ms Soccermom in her Ford Excursion barreling down the highway at top speed while she's on the phone and trying to control 3 misbehaved snot nosed brats in the back seats?

Amen to that, Polarelf. So many newer riders, and older ones for that matter, think that speed and power are directly related to skill of the rider.
I had a kid the other day bragging how fast and powerful his New bigtwin was(harley). I proved to him, on these New England backroads, that my 63 650 bonnie will still stick a hog in its place. He insisted that I had motorwork done. I simply replied " YOu can ride faster than me, but you won't out ride me. You could train a monkey to do 120mph on a straight away. Try getting that hog to do 65mph on a tight corner."

"Do you know where your horsepower and torque peaks are?"

Yeah, and I've done a bit of racing as well. My torque is great in the midrange, but I need about 15 hp more at 9 grand. I've got 105 horsepower at the rear wheel; she's geared for the city. When I get into hairy situations on the freeway I have to downshift. Then I get wheelspin at 60 mph. No problem, but a little more displacement would help.Of course, I could change the sprockets, but I do most of my riding in street traffic. A little more horsepower above 5 grand would be perfect. But the bike is damned good.

You guys need to ride in Los Angeles for a month, then give your opinions. Sure, we've all adjusted to lower powered bikes. But if you ride every day, rain or shine, with the maniacs on the roads here, well, walk a mile in my friggin shoes. I don't drive a car these days. I ride to Joshua Tree for camping, Santa Barbara to pamper my girlfriend. Ride for ten minutes in Los Angeles and you'll see five different climate changes.

So, don't give me some pompous lecture about torque curves, weekend bikers.

The problem is this: once you have the skill and the knowledge and then you have the horsepower, it is rather difficult to come back down. In the same way that you adjust to the lower HP so you do the same with the higher. I now have (a claimed) 167 HP on the back wheel. A claimed 0-100kph in 2.8 sec and when I send in my bike for servicing and they give me a loaner like a BMW GS 650 it feels like a wet sponge and I have to adjust again. I have no fear riding on South Africa's roads with my bike, but would probably si#t myself riding Kal's 125 on UK roads.

GeoffXR200R wrote:Most Americans wouldn't be able to handle an Autobahn. Much less checking their mirrors, signaling lane changes, slowing down when it rains, turning head lights on when it rains, put down the cell phone, etc. And besides, do you want Ms Soccermom in her Ford Excursion barreling down the highway at top speed while she's on the phone and trying to control 3 misbehaved snot nosed brats in the back seats?

Oh yes...because it takes the superior intellect and sophistication of a European to handle fast, super-wide freeways such as the Autobahn. Not to mention how much better behaved the kids are over there.

(sic)

I came from a CBR1100XX down to the old 900 Seca, and miss the CBR greatly. The old Seca is nice, but bland, and bores me, so I ride less.

Oh yes...because it takes the superior intellect and sophistication of a European to handle fast, super-wide freeways such as the Autobahn. Not to mention how much better behaved the kids are over there.


All the smart Europeans moved to Africa

sapaul wrote:All the smart Europeans moved to Africa

Now THERE'S an opener for a lively discussion!

Check Africa, all the languages are European. The indiginus Africans did not get them out of Encyclopedia Brittanica.

PhilD9er wrote: So, don't give me some pompous lecture about torque curves, weekend bikers.

Lighten up Phil. My post was not directed at you. I specifically said, " folks that I personally know ". I don't know you and wouldn't dream of imposing my pomposity on you until I did.

As for YOUR horsepower requirements, if you really need 120 hp at the rear wheel to deal with LA traffic, something is wrong or you're just pulling my chain

I have posted recently about riding a couple of different 250s on the LA freeways last time I visited. The Ninja was barely adequate and the Honda didn't cut it at all.

Oh yeah, if it makes you feel any better, I spent five years in a bike saddle before buying my first car. I still ride more than I drive.