K7 GSX-R - fast....
Discussion
Hey come on the GSX-R will, with a proper exhaust, make around 200bhp at the crank. So that's like 2 litre hot hatches making 400bhp - which of course they don't! Then all the nice materials, the 1098 Ducati has a data logger, big brakes and the fact that come 2009 my K7 will look fit for a museum.
p490kvp said:
Hey come on the GSX-R will, with a proper exhaust, make around 200bhp at the crank. So that's like 2 litre hot hatches making 400bhp - which of course they don't! Then all the nice materials, the 1098 Ducati has a data logger, big brakes and the fact that come 2009 my K7 will look fit for a museum.
You could make a 2 litre hot hatch with 400bhp V8 2ltr peak power at 12 squillion RPM. However, it wouldn't have the torque to pull the cock off a chocolate mouse.
p490kvp said:
Hey come on the GSX-R will, with a proper exhaust, make around 200bhp at the crank. So that's like 2 litre hot hatches making 400bhp - which of course they don't! Then all the nice materials, the 1098 Ducati has a data logger, big brakes and the fact that come 2009 my K7 will look fit for a museum.
True...but some of that will be down to the smaller engine being naturally easier to spin up into 12K and above rpm..harder to do with a 2 litre without spending ££ not sending bits flying out of the block...
Thing is Renault wouldn't need the 197 Clio Sport if the 1 litre base model had GSX-R power...
Re: torque - GSX-R thou makes around 90lb/ft torque which isn't a million miles away when a good 2 litre hot hatch makes around 150.
Although I take your point that weight/cost will be a factor car development is way behind....
Been reading Performance Bikes this month and a 2001 GSX-R1000 seems a lifetime away from the current stuff. In the same time period you see some car models that have not changed since that time.
Re: torque - GSX-R thou makes around 90lb/ft torque which isn't a million miles away when a good 2 litre hot hatch makes around 150.
Although I take your point that weight/cost will be a factor car development is way behind....
Been reading Performance Bikes this month and a 2001 GSX-R1000 seems a lifetime away from the current stuff. In the same time period you see some car models that have not changed since that time.
p490kvp said:
Been reading Performance Bikes this month and a 2001 GSX-R1000 seems a lifetime away from the current stuff. In the same time period you see some car models that have not changed since that time.
You're right, bikes seems to have much shorter development cycles than cars - usually some fairly significant annual tweaks with major changes every 2 or 3 years. With most cars it's 5 or more years between major changes - Ferrari 355 -> 360 -> 430 etc. Porsche 993 -> 996 -> 997. Presumably cost has a lot to do with this. Shorter cycles generally mean they don't hold their price as well as there's always a newer toy out. What did you have before, be interested in a comparison between the GSXR K6 and K7?
You've also got to remember that with a bike you are buying:
An engine
A gearbox
two wheels
Three small brake disks
some plastic bodywork
and some handlebars
With a car you expect:
An engine that worries more about emissions, mpg refinement, power probably comes last
stronger gearbox
4 seats
Seatbelts
airbags
Windscreen
4 doors
a boot
aircon
abs
glovebox
5 wheels
4 big brake disks
etc
etc.
So for you 13 grand hot hatch there is probably a £1000 engine in there, where your 9 grand bike, there is probably a 3-4grand engine in there!
Equate that to a ferrari - 100k with a 40k engine and you get nearer performance
Basically bikes - there's nothing on them so the costs are not comparible.
An engine
A gearbox
two wheels
Three small brake disks
some plastic bodywork
and some handlebars
With a car you expect:
An engine that worries more about emissions, mpg refinement, power probably comes last
stronger gearbox
4 seats
Seatbelts
airbags
Windscreen
4 doors
a boot
aircon
abs
glovebox
5 wheels
4 big brake disks
etc
etc.
So for you 13 grand hot hatch there is probably a £1000 engine in there, where your 9 grand bike, there is probably a 3-4grand engine in there!
Equate that to a ferrari - 100k with a 40k engine and you get nearer performance
Basically bikes - there's nothing on them so the costs are not comparible.
r5gttgaz said:
p490kvp said:
Hey come on the GSX-R will, with a proper exhaust, make around 200bhp at the crank. So that's like 2 litre hot hatches making 400bhp - which of course they don't! Then all the nice materials, the 1098 Ducati has a data logger, big brakes and the fact that come 2009 my K7 will look fit for a museum.
You could make a 2 litre hot hatch with 400bhp V8 2ltr peak power at 12 squillion RPM. However, it wouldn't have the torque to pull the cock off a chocolate mouse.
check out the RST-V8 - this has been fitted to a few caterhams and they absolutely fly!!! (try almost 750hp/ton!)
"Our final monster bike engine comes from well known low volume manufacturer Radical Sportscars in association with their bike tuning arm Powertec and nicknamed ‘Christine’ the unit is officially known as the RPA V8 and although like four of the five units highlighted here is available to owners of all manner of kitcars and the unit was originally designed for Radical’s new SR8 model, for which there’s a race series beginning next season.
The RPA is based on two Suzuki GSX-R1300 Hayabusa engines although only really uses cylinder heads and barrels with most other major ancillaries coming from Powertec. The unit has a flat plane crank and is the narrowest angle ‘Vee’ of the lot meaning it will be ideal for small, light sportscars - like most kitcars in fact. Although heavier at 95kg than the RST-V8 or Cyclone Y40R it has thus far produced the most power. The 2.6 unit has developed 380bhp in dyno testing; with much more to come according to Radical’s Mick Hyde, plus it develops 207lb/ft at just 6000rpm, before topping out at 10,500rpm, just like the RST. Colleague Steve Bennett has seen the unit being benchtested at Radical’s Peterborough base and says it’s a fantastic unit, that looks good, is compact and has massive power delivered in a flat curve of bhp and grunt. The RPA will be mated to a six-speed transaxle designed especially for the engine by Quaife, which will also be suitable for front-engined installations. The company also have plans for a 3-litre version based on their well-known 1500cc bored Hayabusa units. The cost of the engines will start at around £18,800"
p490kvp said:
Its all well and good having "kit cars" or trackday things with essentially bike engines inside but remember the GSX-R is warrantied for 2 years and has a nice dealer network, etc.
Before I had a K3 1000 and tried the K5 but the K7 is a step all be it a small one forward.
Before I had a K3 1000 and tried the K5 but the K7 is a step all be it a small one forward.
agreed. I was replying to the previous poster saying it would be hard to make a small(ish) engine with some torque....
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff