who here also owns and rides literbikes? anyone?

[bill14224]

I would LOVE to have a Honda 919.  That thing is right in my wheelhouse from a pure riding perspective, and I'm not even partial to Hondas in general, but that is one sweet bike!  But I know myself.

Clint Eastwood said "a man needs to know his limitations".  If I had a 919 or anything similar I couldn't resist the urge to wring it out once in a while, like I said, but I've never been a highly skilled rider in my own mind.  The hair on the back my neck and arms stands-up when I get to the point some are completely willing and eager to cross.  My patience and wisdom, whatever there is of it, is my best asset.  I stay cool in emergencies too.  Everything slows down when I have a crisis in front of me.  Don't ask me why, other than instinct for self-preservation I have no idea other than all that dirt riding I did as a kid.  That is why I tell everyone MSF is great but dirt riding experience is gold as it teaches control, especially in bad traction situations.  I can't do wheelies while standing on the seat, nor would I want to.  I wouldn't even think of it, even when I was young.  I just know what's best for my relative safety, and that is 50-80 hp, depending on bike weight, and of course the less weight the better as you can turn and stop more quickly in general.

From your description, I ride just like you in packs.  I also prefer to hang back.  In fact I'd rather not ride in packs at all and I bet you feel the same.  I want distance around me while I ride, and riding in packs is very dangerous as everyone's head has to be in the same place or you can have several bikes crashing at once due to one rider's screw-up in front.  It's hard to not get excited while riding with your friends, and that can spell disaster.  We can all make a list of names at our age.

I am half mature, half teenager.  My reactions are still quick, but my strength is fading.  I limit my teenager by limiting myself to 100 mph bikes.  Sure I'd like my GS to have more grunt, but that's really it.  10,000 rpm is pretty satisfying with almost 50 hp and it keeps me in one piece, and my GS will cruise down the interstate at 80 comfortably until I run out of gas.  I also want to keep my license and not pay big insurance premiums.  My GS keeps me just on the safe side of that, although it's still easy to get in trouble, but I can deal with that.  We have unreasonably low speed limits here, like New Jersey.  It's sooo easy to get in trouble, even with our "weak" GS.

[tt_four]

especially like the Busa, which will do 100 in first gear (or so I've heard)

Doesn't even have to be something that big. I know that 04 zx10r would do 115 in first gear, and I'm pretty sure the bmw s1000r will do over 100 in first. I woulnd't be surprised if a few other other liter bikes do as well now, but I haven't ridden any to know.

If more bikes were Twins I'd be happier on smaller bikes, but most of the sportier bikes are I4s, which is fine, but this crazy 150+ hp everyone talks about is at 12k rpm, and I'm not the kind of person who likes to ride around at those rpms. If I want a bike with a stiff frame, adjustable suspension and light weight, a supersport is your best option, and if you plan to use that bike in normal riding situations where you may spend the majority of your time riding at 4k rpm, you'll probably be happier on a 1000cc bike because at those engine speeds you're probably only putting out 40-60hp, which is still a perfectly sane power level. I'd be perfectly happy with the 100-120hp you can get out of a 600, but I'd never get to use it because I have no desire to ride a bike around at redline.

[madjak30]

@tt_four...you already have your ideal twin...I would have bought a bike just like yours, but I found it a little tight for me...so I got the bigger Japanese version...that you can't get there...

Although, now the wifey is saying that she might like to go for a ride...I guess I'll see how a passenger works on my bike... ...not the right bike for two up, but it's what I have...

Maybe a Concours 14 ABS is in the future...but not too soon, I just luv the torque of this thing...mine's the silver with blue frame...

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006models-Yamaha-MT-01.htm

Maybe if she likes riding, she will want her own bike...that would be ideal...

Later.

[yamahonkawazuki]

@tt_four...you already have your ideal twin...I would have bought a bike just like yours, but I found it a little tight for me...so I got the bigger Japanese version...that you can't get there...

Although, now the wifey is saying that she might like to go for a ride...I guess I'll see how a passenger works on my bike... ...not the right bike for two up, but it's what I have...

Maybe a Concours 14 ABS is in the future...but not too soon, I just luv the torque of this thing...mine's the silver with blue frame...

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006models-Yamaha-MT-01.htm

Maybe if she likes riding, she will want her own bike...that would be ideal...

Later.

might see how had it would be to bring one into the states. did pick up a canadian gsxr 1k. wiht the cannadian market only color scheme at hte time. for a friend of mine.  might be pricy. but then again. having the ONLY one around is a nice thing sometims

[tt_four]

@tt_four...you already have your ideal twin...I would have bought a bike just like yours, but I found it a little tight for me...so I got the bigger Japanese version...that you can't get there...

I know I know, but I've actually got it for sale! It's a great bike but I'm ready to try something new. It just doesn't have the power it should have for a 1000cc bike. Wheelies are harder in 1st gear than on a 600cc bike, and barely even possible in 2nd, and even though it's torquey they geared the bike super low to get it that way. My 1st gear only goes to 45, and top(5th) gear is only geared to 138-140. That's faster that I've ever even tried to take the bike, BUT being geared that low just makes it uncomfortable for cruising on the highway at 70-80mph. Eventually I'm gonna find a gsxr750, or some random 1000cc I4, gear it down to 150-160mph so it's still torquey in the low end/midrange but still fine at highway speeds, and strip it naked. It won't have the same personality but it'll still work well. It might've been enough had I bought an xb12 from the start, but who knows. More importantly, I REALLY want a supermoto right now, it's pretty much all I'm concerned with at this point haha. I've got some bike money but everything I've seen that I like is usually about $500-1000 more than I have. I motorcycle you can't ride up steps and jump over railroad tracks can only amuse someone for so long.

might see how had it would be to bring one into the states. did pick up a canadian gsxr 1k. wiht the cannadian market only color scheme at hte time. for a friend of mine.  might be pricy. but then again. having the ONLY one around is a nice thing sometims

Wouldn't it have been easier just to buy a new tank/bodywork from a canadian model?

[yamahonkawazuki]

at the time not really. there was a guy in suburban toronto who wanted an american painted one. we had gotten the paperwork done already so it was delivery and swap. i want to get an xb9 and put xb12 heads, cylinders on one. along with my supercharger i made for my sportster. easily done. drive to super attaches to the crank bolt.

[bill14224]

@tt_four...you already have your ideal twin...I would have bought a bike just like yours, but I found it a little tight for me...so I got the bigger Japanese version...that you can't get there...

Although, now the wifey is saying that she might like to go for a ride...I guess I'll see how a passenger works on my bike... ...not the right bike for two up, but it's what I have...

Maybe a Concours 14 ABS is in the future...but not too soon, I just luv the torque of this thing...mine's the silver with blue frame...

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006models-Yamaha-MT-01.htm

Maybe if she likes riding, she will want her own bike...that would be ideal...

Later.

That's pretty much my thinking.  If I decided to get out of the self-imposed envelope I put myself in for many years I would opt for a Coucours for touring with my gal and an SV650 to ride by myself.  Yeah, I know, I can handle the SV just fine, but I love this little GS too much to get rid of it!

[tt_four]

i want to get an xb9 and put xb12 heads, cylinders on one. along with my supercharger i made for my sportster. easily done. drive to super attaches to the crank bolt.

They have the same cylinders and heads. The only difference between the xb9 and xb12 motors is the crankshaft, piston, and primary. The difference in displacement is just because of the different strokes between the crankshafts. The pistons make up the differences to compression and the different primaries are needed because the longer stroke on the xb12 means it has a lower redline, so they had to gear the motor taller so it would still go the same speeds. Some guys like to put the xb9 pistons in their xb12 for higher compression, and a lot of guys also like to put the xb9 primaries in their xb12 to lower the gearing and get more torque, but the cylinders should still be the same.

[Unsane]

Got myself onto a 2000 model Honda VFR800 today at lunchtime... I am seriously considering this bike for my next step up!
Enough power to get you airborne in 1st or hard shifting into 2nd - but really useable torque all throughout the rev range - and the V4 howl sounds sweet (Staintune slip-on fitted)



Not as mental as the R1 and definitely not as torquey as the TLR - but the riding position on those two is just too aggressive for me and I reckon I could happily commute all week on the VFR!
Would probably go for the later model as they are said to have better low end response and economy with its VTEC system

[madjak30]

A buddy of mine is touring on his...he is in Vegas right now (from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)...and is planning on coming home up the west coast then back through the Rockys...he loves his VFR and says that if it craters, he'll just find another one...and I think Gerry is about 5'9 to 5'10 ish...so average height...his bike is an '02 VFR800 (not sure if that is the last year before VTEC or the first year of it??)



Later.

[tykho]

If you get a viffer, get a 2000-2001, FI, and still has the gear driven cams. I'm also not a fan of the VTEC.

[Unsane]

I prefer the look of the 2002 onwards models over the early shape



The VTEC is kinda cool though - it closes off one intake valve and one exhaust valve in each cylinder under 6000 for better response, torque and fuel economy (and NVH), then opens them up when you need the power, induction noise and couldn't care less about mpg! Agreed, gear driven cams are preferred and they sound horny as well - but I think manufacturers (especially Honda) would have had a reliable cam chain sorted by the time this one was built. I have read that the VTEC can be a little worrying when it kicks in mid-corner or mid-wheelie though!

[tt_four]

Those VFRs are definitely good looking bikes.

My friend let me borrow his DRZsm for the week. It's a fun bike but I forgot how unimpressive 35hp can be haha. Definitely makes like the idea of a zx10r ever more for when I want to move fast.

[bettingpython]

Don't own a liter, only 95.4 percent of one.

Yep still around and still have the old 954. Probably gonna sell the sportbikes though, we are getting ready to buy a vacation home in New Orleans

[tykho]

954RR ftw!

[Electrojake]

Liter bike you say?
Yeah, I own a couple of em'
But it doesn't make much difference, I ride like an old hen whether I'm on a moped or a Busa.
Did I get the question right?
Thanks,
-Ej-

[yamahonkawazuki]

i want to get an xb9 and put xb12 heads, cylinders on one. along with my supercharger i made for my sportster. easily done. drive to super attaches to the crank bolt.

They have the same cylinders and heads. The only difference between the xb9 and xb12 motors is the crankshaft, piston, and primary. The difference in displacement is just because of the different strokes between the crankshafts. The pistons make up the differences to compression and the different primaries are needed because the longer stroke on the xb12 means it has a lower redline, so they had to gear the motor taller so it would still go the same speeds. Some guys like to put the xb9 pistons in their xb12 for higher compression, and a lot of guys also like to put the xb9 primaries in their xb12 to lower the gearing and get more torque, but the cylinders should still be the same.

actually no. ( i am crted for these . the CS is same. heads are same almsot.  to swqap one would need ONLY  xb12 hcys and pistons. everythign else wil swap over. up to an dincluding 88CI jugs and psitons. the xb series is based upon the sportster plants. BUT wiht higher compression etc. cool thing abtou these units ar ethat its EASY to add a supercharger to it. EASY. anyho to change displacement ONLY one needs the cys and pistons. gearing OTOH is an hour swap tops ONLY hting  i dislike about FI HD is that its not adustible by yourself without resorting to a power commander or somehting like this. BTW hte BAS  is easily defeated. if it malfunctions, carry a paperclip with you. you cna jump 2 terminals and hte BAS never existed

[Unsane]

Bought a new bike last night...

It's still a Suzuki...

It's still got only two cylinders...

But its twice the capacity...

Can you guess what it is?

[Twisted]

Sv1000 or a TLR

[Unsane]

TL1000R 
Pics soon