The shame of being beaten by a car
Discussion
Have any of you lads been taken on by a car? I have a 5ltr TVR and can get past most things with four wheels but modern bikes are another story. My brother likes his bikes and presently has an R1. Before the Yam he had a GSXR750 which also had no problem getting past my TVR. However, one day he got a bit of a shock when he tried to overtake an old Sierra Cossie, In the end he was laid over his tank but could not get past the fire spitting Ford no matter how hard he tried, obviously this motor was a bit fettled. Anyone had a similar experience?
There's been occasions where I've gone to overtake the odd car that turns out to be quicker than expected and so failed on the first aattempt. However I've found that another go in the next gear down will do the trick
obviously this may not have always been the case with my first couple of 'cheaper to insure' rat bikes
Rawwr said:
I once passed a Mondeo.
I had the problem as above, topped out at 31mph and the old guy in the Micra I was overtaking was doing about 30.9mph 
. It took me about a minute to get past him, in front of a lot of people
. Dam 30mph restrictor 
. I have overtaken 2 cars though in as total of 4 months
Bikes are the only things worth having a go with. Riders are always proper chaps in my experience and a joy to have a good roast with. Space aware, observant - just what you need in an opponent on the Queen's Highway.
What I've found though is that very few bikers are up for "1.3 units" and beyond.
Mwuahahaha.
What I've found though is that very few bikers are up for "1.3 units" and beyond.
Mwuahahaha.
Er yes, last week, was following a bright yellow Diablo on the E31 motorway in heavy traffic, wishing for some open roads to have a go at it, my luck was in, he took the next exit onto another empty motorway somewhere north of Villena, I followed him (had to really!) and he was off! I overtook straight away then as I got to about 1.2 leptons he started to gain and just kept going, I was flat on the tank with an indicated 1.7 leptons ish (speedo waves a bit!) and he left me for dead! I was impressed to say the least!
Other time was a year ago back in the uk, got owned by a merc SL55AMG, hell them buggers don't half sound good at full chat!
Bike was an FZR1000Exup on both occasions with 135bhp at back wheel (so not that slow really!)
Owned by cars! Fun really, its good to see them being driven properly!
Other time was a year ago back in the uk, got owned by a merc SL55AMG, hell them buggers don't half sound good at full chat!
Bike was an FZR1000Exup on both occasions with 135bhp at back wheel (so not that slow really!)
Owned by cars! Fun really, its good to see them being driven properly!
I was once riding back from Le Mans following an Audi estate car. Normally, at around a ton the Aprilia would lazily whiz past cars in top but I had to drop to fifth when this car just hurtled off. He shot up to about 160 (kph obviously) which is about where the RSV runs out of steam.
I just followed him for a while. He was a good driver and didn't pass cars at that speed - he eased off past them. Eventually I passed him and gave him the thumbs up.
The car was an RS6 and I want one! 475 bhp or so and a higher top whack than my bike.
I just followed him for a while. He was a good driver and didn't pass cars at that speed - he eased off past them. Eventually I passed him and gave him the thumbs up.
The car was an RS6 and I want one! 475 bhp or so and a higher top whack than my bike.
The Blade will see off most 4-wheeled varieties up to around 1.5 leptons as it has now been re-geared. Standard gearing 1/4 mile times are 10.1secs at 1.47leptons in the dry, I reckon it is good for 9.5secs now. The side effect is a slightly lower top end of around 1.82 leptons with a 11% discrepancy due to the speedo reading being taken off the output shaft and hence 1.65leptons is now where it tops out. I could do with a GPS to prove this on my private runway. In basic terms it will advance on any car this side of an F1 or Ultima up to 1.5 leptons in the dry. I would just have to hope and prey that no bends appear as it is obvious that 4 tyres provide more grip.
At this level, no hostility ever appears between driver and rider. All experiences that I have had have ended with pleasant acknowledgement. A mutual respect for each other's weapon of choice.
I did meet with a Skyline driver a while back before I got back into biking. He was happy with the fact that most 1000000bhp Skyline owners take pleasure in beating bikes and in some cases running the bikes off the road. I could never understand anyone who could be so blatantly vindictive! Horrific.
At this level, no hostility ever appears between driver and rider. All experiences that I have had have ended with pleasant acknowledgement. A mutual respect for each other's weapon of choice.
I did meet with a Skyline driver a while back before I got back into biking. He was happy with the fact that most 1000000bhp Skyline owners take pleasure in beating bikes and in some cases running the bikes off the road. I could never understand anyone who could be so blatantly vindictive! Horrific.
Had a close call with a trick Supra! 150mph round a bypass on it's tail on my '03 ZX6R, then the lights turned red Pulled up alongside to say 'nice one', to which he just nodded and looked ahead 
Luckily the bike had the jump off the lights, but once the car got shifting it was a fairly even match. Always fun to have a play with a good car, it doesn't happen very often. 
Pulled up alongside to say 'nice one', to which he just nodded and looked ahead Luckily the bike had the jump off the lights, but once the car got shifting it was a fairly even match. Always fun to have a play with a good car, it doesn't happen very often. 
(no, really)How come I never come accross cars (or drivers I should say) like this? mostly, all I ever get is the angry/abusive ones and those that just don't wanna play.
I only really remember a TVR the once with my VFR, we had a bit of a drag race off a roundabout onto the by-pass. I don't remember which model TVR it was for sure as I'm not too familiar with them. Anyway I just had the edge on him on acceleration but he wasn't far behind for the next 2 or 3 miles. Obviously we both backed off once we hit 70
. I remember he pulled up alongside at the lights where we exchanged thumbs up, grins and a little mutual ribbing before they went green and we went our separate ways. It was nice to have this kind of fun and mutual respect with a driver when you're used to slaying chavved up saxo's and the like without even trying. Don't come accross them often enough unfortunately.
... as I leave them behind, oops I am going too fast again...Most `normal` sports bikes have a power 2 weight ratio of 400-650 bho/tonne.
Top spec superbikes pump out 700-1100bhp/tonne. ( amazing value ! )
0-120 clicks are bike territiory.
120+ clicks is 500hp + car territory.
It takes big balls to stay close to a well driven car on a bike.
Bike aerodynamics are not particuarly slippery either...
But ,as always, ability at the controls plays a part. Some of the bigger bikes take ability just to open them up...
Top spec superbikes pump out 700-1100bhp/tonne. ( amazing value ! )
0-120 clicks are bike territiory.
120+ clicks is 500hp + car territory.
It takes big balls to stay close to a well driven car on a bike.
Bike aerodynamics are not particuarly slippery either...
But ,as always, ability at the controls plays a part. Some of the bigger bikes take ability just to open them up...
likesbikes said:
How come I never come accross cars (or drivers I should say) like this? mostly, all I ever get is the angry/abusive ones and those that just don't wanna play.
I only really remember a TVR the once with my VFR, we had a bit of a drag race off a roundabout onto the by-pass. I don't remember which model TVR it was for sure as I'm not too familiar with them. Anyway I just had the edge on him on acceleration but he wasn't far behind for the next 2 or 3 miles. Obviously we both backed off once we hit 70
It was nice to have this kind of fun and mutual respect with a driver when you're used to slaying chavved up saxo's and the like without even trying. Don't come accross them often enough unfortunately.
I have to agree with the mutual respect thing, it's obvious that most of the time a bike's gonna blitz a car so us car drivers have to be respectful towards bikes but I have had some close dabbles with some of the slightly older sports bikes like early Blades etc and have always had a good response from the bike lads. Quite a few times I've had bikers come over for a chat when I've been parked up or in petrol stations, I've even had a nod when passing a biker in the oposite direction. I think bikers and TVR drivers are in it for the same thing.......speed!
Stevie Mojo said:
I have to agree with the mutual respect thing, it's obvious that most of the time a bike's gonna blitz a car so us car drivers have to be respectful towards bikes but I have had some close dabbles with some of the slightly older sports bikes like early Blades etc and have always had a good response from the bike lads. Quite a few times I've had bikers come over for a chat when I've been parked up or in petrol stations, I've even had a nod when passing a biker in the oposite direction. I think bikers and TVR drivers are in it for the same thing.......speed!
As well the speed thing, there is something else in common between the bike people and TVR people (And the drivers of the various other 'out of the ordinary' cars discussed on here). And thats because they're ridden/driven by enthusiasts with performance and fun high on the list of priorities when considering our purchase.
Bikes and cars like these are chosen with the heart, they're not (necessarily) practical, they're not good on fuel and they're ridiculously expensive to service and insure. But could we choose with our heads? Could we give up our machine of choice and go for the sensible option - Absolutely no way, not without a fight!
Anyway thats enough mutual respect, lets kick off another "Bikes are better than cars" "No they're not" "Yes they are" type threads
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