Have we all become biking gods?
Discussion
Biker's Nemesis said:
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.
That's quite a staggering feat. There must be 20 years between the GSXR and the the CBR600RR. To the OP, I haven't been biking long enough to really have perspective on power now vs then and what we make of it all. My T595 is from 1997 though, and makes (apparently) 130bhp overall, translated to 117rwhp. Anyone who was used to the chassis, power and brakes of a modern bike would probably think it was old and s
t and it was never as fast as the Fireblades and R1's it was sold against.I try to keep a little perspective on it when I consider the 'middling' performance stats. It has never felt slow to me, and aside from newer bikes, I rarely encounter anything faster on it. I'm no riding god, but I try to remember that in 1997, when it rolled out of the factory, it was a 'top tier' performing bike. I don't have any less respect for it just because the technology has moved on.
These days, I think a lot of lads look straight past 600cc bikes and go straight for the heavy firepower. Even my younger mates have their eyes on litre bikes. I think I could chop my Daytona in for a CBR 600RR or a 636 ZXR and be perfectly happy.
The GSXR 750 is dead because it has no space to play in todays bike lineup.
go back twenty years and litre bikes were huge. So huge you wouldn't think of taking them on a track. They were point and squirt bikes. The 750s were a good compromise between handling and power but even the 750's of twenty years ago were difficult to get round a track. I remember trying to get an XS 850 round brands and having my father on an XS 750 go round the inside of me because the 850 was significantly heavier. Dropping an XS850 would require two people to pull it back upright.
So there was a time when a gsx750 was the ultimate track bike because of the compromises.
Now it has no role as there are no compromises. Most litre bikes are smaller than the CB250 I used to have as a Kid! I wouldn't want anything lighter than the litre bike I have now, and I don't think anyone else would want anything much lighter either.
The reason for the gsx750 has disappeared.
go back twenty years and litre bikes were huge. So huge you wouldn't think of taking them on a track. They were point and squirt bikes. The 750s were a good compromise between handling and power but even the 750's of twenty years ago were difficult to get round a track. I remember trying to get an XS 850 round brands and having my father on an XS 750 go round the inside of me because the 850 was significantly heavier. Dropping an XS850 would require two people to pull it back upright.
So there was a time when a gsx750 was the ultimate track bike because of the compromises.
Now it has no role as there are no compromises. Most litre bikes are smaller than the CB250 I used to have as a Kid! I wouldn't want anything lighter than the litre bike I have now, and I don't think anyone else would want anything much lighter either.
The reason for the gsx750 has disappeared.
julian64 said:
The GSXR 750 is dead because it has no space to play in todays bike lineup.
go back twenty years and litre bikes were huge. So huge you wouldn't think of taking them on a track. They were point and squirt bikes. The 750s were a good compromise between handling and power but even the 750's of twenty years ago were difficult to get round a track. I remember trying to get an XS 850 round brands and having my father on an XS 750 go round the inside of me because the 850 was significantly heavier. Dropping an XS850 would require two people to pull it back upright.
So there was a time when a gsx750 was the ultimate track bike because of the compromises.
Now it has no role as there are no compromises. Most litre bikes are smaller than the CB250 I used to have as a Kid! I wouldn't want anything lighter than the litre bike I have now, and I don't think anyone else would want anything much lighter either.
The reason for the gsx750 has disappeared.
Weight is the one area where they near enough all come unstuck still. Most seem to have got fatter in the last 10 years.go back twenty years and litre bikes were huge. So huge you wouldn't think of taking them on a track. They were point and squirt bikes. The 750s were a good compromise between handling and power but even the 750's of twenty years ago were difficult to get round a track. I remember trying to get an XS 850 round brands and having my father on an XS 750 go round the inside of me because the 850 was significantly heavier. Dropping an XS850 would require two people to pull it back upright.
So there was a time when a gsx750 was the ultimate track bike because of the compromises.
Now it has no role as there are no compromises. Most litre bikes are smaller than the CB250 I used to have as a Kid! I wouldn't want anything lighter than the litre bike I have now, and I don't think anyone else would want anything much lighter either.
The reason for the gsx750 has disappeared.
If progress with weight reduction was in line with all the other progress the litre bikes ought to be 175Kg and not 200Kg.
I'd be a lot happier with 175Kg. 200 sucks.
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