Have we all become biking gods?

Have we all become biking gods?

Author
Discussion

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,334 posts

108 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
A friend is negotiating the purchase of an original GSXR 750. By today's standards it is heavy and not that powerful and I get the feeling that many people would dismiss it as "slow" - certainly current 600s that are much lighter and more powerful are belittled as "suitable for learners" and lacking grunt. Yet if you go back and read reviews of the GSXR 750 when it was new I expect the road testers then were creaming their pants about how amazing the bike was with unbelievable performance. Were they just deluded? Or have we all become biking gods without knowing it so anything less than 200 BHP is a bit dull?

Birky_41

4,276 posts

183 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Technology moves on in other areas

Tyres in 15 years are hugely improved as is the electronics that allow the many riders to go past where they previously felt comfortable

This is such a big area it's not just one answer I dont think

Birky_41

4,276 posts

183 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeh exactly my thoughts

Anyways it's bike weather so I'm going out. I'll do some more keyboard warrior work later

podman

8,849 posts

239 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
The decision to own and run a classic bike isnt linked to performance, 99% of the time,
for many people a 200bhp bike isnt on their biking wish list, an enjoyable ride out for them isnt doing 160 down the bypass or a trackday.

That said, if you know how to ride a little, a first gen GSXR750 will surprise many owners of newer bikes....they are not that heavy and im sure would in a straightline give something like my Firestorm a hard time.

trickywoo

11,700 posts

229 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
podman said:
The decision to own and run a classic bike isnt linked to performance, 99% of the time,
for many people a 200bhp bike isnt on their biking wish list


Yup. A slabside 750 isn't a cheap old clunker.

I'm sure there are better stats but the one that comes to mind is Foggy's TT lap record in the iconic 1992 battle with Hislop. 124 mph with 120 Bhp.

Biker's Nemesis

38,534 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
A 1985 GSX-R 750 built by Suzuki GB to original specification for the classic show lapped Mallory Park 1 second slower than a BMW S1000R Sport and was only 1.5 seconds slower than a Honda 600RR.


MrAverage

821 posts

126 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Someone has already said it but as time moves on so does technology.
New bikes are smoother, have better brakes, have access to new tyres,have new electronics, lighter and stiffer frames the list goes on. this is all relative of course as some machines these days do feel built to a budget rather than the glory days.




Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Birky_41 said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeh exactly my thoughts

Anyways it's bike weather so I'm going out. I'll do some more keyboard warrior work later
It's got to be brilliant sunshine and at least 65 degrees F before I get my bike out.

Riding in cold wet weather is for mugs....

biggrin

(Done all that years ago, no thanks)

Birky_41

4,276 posts

183 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
It's got to be brilliant sunshine and at least 65 degrees F before I get my bike out.

Riding in cold wet weather is for mugs....

biggrin

(Done all that years ago, no thanks)
Ah ya wimp it's 10-11 degrees was lovely! Just got in. Must've done 150 odd miles today

Birky_41

4,276 posts

183 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I came from silver ball and got to finch about an hour ago (1pm ish) I see nickyboy84 I think his profile name but that was it

WaferThinHam

1,680 posts

129 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
Yet if you go back and read reviews of the GSXR 750 when it was new I expect the road testers then were creaming their pants about how amazing the bike was with unbelievable performance. Were they just deluded? Or have we all become biking gods without knowing it so anything less than 200 BHP is a bit dull?
That's the key point. Compared to other bikes of the time, it was amazing. How were journo's of the time meant to know that we would commute to work on something with 200bhp, a wet weight of 200kg, yet still had 4k miles service intervals?

wormus

14,496 posts

202 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Yup. A slabside 750 isn't a cheap old clunker.

I'm sure there are better stats but the one that comes to mind is Foggy's TT lap record in the iconic 1992 battle with Hislop. 124 mph with 120 Bhp.
Years ago my main bike broke down just before the TT so I took my knackered VFR750 instead but first I had to repair the collector with gun gum, wire and bits of coke can. Even with the top box on, I managed to smoke loads of brand new bikes over the mountain whilst laughing my arse off and wringing every last HP out of it. You don't need loads of power or the latest kit to have fun and I'd wager most riders wouldn't have the first idea how to ride the wheels off a modern, 200hp litre bike.

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,334 posts

108 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
WaferThinHam said:
Esceptico said:
Yet if you go back and read reviews of the GSXR 750 when it was new I expect the road testers then were creaming their pants about how amazing the bike was with unbelievable performance. Were they just deluded? Or have we all become biking gods without knowing it so anything less than 200 BHP is a bit dull?
That's the key point. Compared to other bikes of the time, it was amazing. How were journo's of the time meant to know that we would commute to work on something with 200bhp, a wet weight of 200kg, yet still had 4k miles service intervals?
But does that mean in 30 years when bikes weigh 150kg and have 300 bhp that today's 200 BHP superbikes will be viewed as tame?

WaferThinHam

1,680 posts

129 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
WaferThinHam said:
Esceptico said:
Yet if you go back and read reviews of the GSXR 750 when it was new I expect the road testers then were creaming their pants about how amazing the bike was with unbelievable performance. Were they just deluded? Or have we all become biking gods without knowing it so anything less than 200 BHP is a bit dull?
That's the key point. Compared to other bikes of the time, it was amazing. How were journo's of the time meant to know that we would commute to work on something with 200bhp, a wet weight of 200kg, yet still had 4k miles service intervals?
But does that mean in 30 years when bikes weigh 150kg and have 300 bhp that today's 200 BHP superbikes will be viewed as tame?
Whether they'll have 300 bhp remains to be seen, but I don't doubt the current stuff will be viewed as tame. If we're not all being carted around in google cars by then.

Jazoli

9,086 posts

249 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Its not about the bike 99% of the time, anything with 100bhp can keep up with most riders on any other bike (unless they are insane) I never got off my gsxr 750 thinking st that was slow, in fact I was amazed just how quickly a 15 year old bike could be made to hustle.

But 600's are for girls.

mckeann

2,986 posts

228 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
It's exactly the opposite, one of us are riding gods, but the new 200bhp bikes with electronic wizardry make us feel like it. We would all get our arses handed to us by a proper fast lad on an old stter

Tango13

8,395 posts

175 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
Yet if you go back and read reviews of the GSXR 750 when it was new I expect the road testers then were creaming their pants about how amazing the bike was with unbelievable performance. Were they just deluded? Or have we all become biking gods without knowing it so anything less than 200 BHP is a bit dull?
I've got a copy of PB with the RC30 v GSX-R750 road test (29 years ago!! yikes) and yes they were creaming their leathers over both bikes. But you have to compare the RC30 & GSX-R with the competition of the day, GPX750's or FZ's etc.

My 1050 Daytona isn't fast compared to modern Fireblades, S1000RR's etc but still plenty quick enough and yet it's more or less a street legal F1 endurance racer from the late 80's early 90's!



Gavia

7,627 posts

90 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
wormus said:
Years ago my main bike broke down just before the TT so I took my knackered VFR750 instead but first I had to repair the collector with gun gum, wire and bits of coke can. Even with the top box on, I managed to smoke loads of brand new bikes over the mountain whilst laughing my arse off and wringing every last HP out of it. You don't need loads of power or the latest kit to have fun and I'd wager most riders wouldn't have the first idea how to ride the wheels off a modern, 200hp litre bike.
In your case the answer is a self-proclaimed yes to the question asked in the title.

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Ages ago, when Honda launched the CBF600, BIKE magazine said they thought it was a little underwhelming. They spoke to someone at Honda HQ about the bike, who said that the bike was aimed at novice riders and they haven't got any more experienced.

My CBR600F is still way better than me

SAS Tom

3,397 posts

173 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Gavia said:
wormus said:
Years ago my main bike broke down just before the TT so I took my knackered VFR750 instead but first I had to repair the collector with gun gum, wire and bits of coke can. Even with the top box on, I managed to smoke loads of brand new bikes over the mountain whilst laughing my arse off and wringing every last HP out of it. You don't need loads of power or the latest kit to have fun and I'd wager most riders wouldn't have the first idea how to ride the wheels off a modern, 200hp litre bike.
In your case the answer is a self-proclaimed yes to the question asked in the title.
He's not the only one given the claims in some current threads.