Odd Observation On Sportbike Evolution

[submaniac]

1989 FZR400RR

Dry Weight: 381 lbs

Hp: 59

2006CBR1000rr

Dry Weight: 385lbs

158 Hp

So in the course of 22 years the 1000CC bikes are the same weight as the 400cc bikes, but make 3 times the horsepower. Cool.

[andrew55]

Ain't it amazing? Truth is I still can't use all that my heavy 400 has in LOS. Keep a 1200 in Oz though...

[andrew55]

But that's another thread.

[BkkRaw]

Your observation is odd... Why even bother comparing a yamaha 400cc "rr" from 1989 with a honda 1000cc "rr" from 2006? Why not just only put up pics and say - look at my 2 lovely bikes?

[andrew55]

Your observation is odd... Why even bother comparing a yamaha 400cc "rr" from 1989 with a honda 1000cc "rr" from 2006? Why not just only put up pics and say - look at my 2 lovely bikes?

Odd you'd think it odd.

[Garry]

Ain't it amazing? Truth is I still can't use all that my heavy 400 has in LOS. Keep a 1200 in Oz though...

Come uo to Northern Thailand, you'll get to use it

[andrew55]

Ain't it amazing? Truth is I still can't use all that my heavy 400 has in LOS. Keep a 1200 in Oz though...

Come uo to Northern Thailand, you'll get to use it

I thought there was only Northern Thailand. Isn't the rest mainly unexplored jungles and swamps? Still not enough straight bits there for me to 'use it'... and 135cc of raw, unbridled grunt is all I can handle in BKK.

Ps Garry the Ducati acolyte. Did you realise that that was post number '969' for you? Monster of an observation, huh?

Edited January 15, 2011 by andrew55

[powderpuff]

The Yammie is a classic. There won't be too many of them on the road - especially in Thailand. Ride On.

You are correct about the evolution of the sportbike.

In it's day the Kawa 500 triple (Mach 3) stood the motorcycling world on it's ear.

Discovery Turbo has a great series on the evolution of the Japanese big 4 plus Ducati, Motoguzi and some smaller factories.

Mick Doohan's 500 cc Honda made about 150 HP as well. Scnwantz Rainey & Roberts talk about how hard they were to drive.

[Garry]

Ain't it amazing? Truth is I still can't use all that my heavy 400 has in LOS. Keep a 1200 in Oz though...

Come uo to Northern Thailand, you'll get to use it

I thought there was only Northern Thailand. Isn't the rest mainly unexplored jungles and swamps? Still not enough straight bits there for me to 'use it'... and 135cc of raw, unbridled grunt is all I can handle in BKK.

Ps Garry the Ducati acolyte. Did you realise that that was post number '969' for you? Monster of an observation, huh?

plenty of straight bits to let rip believe me...on the post, I'm waiting for 999 and will mark the occasion

[justaphase]

An FZR400 exup weighs 352 pounds..

A CBR1000rr weighs 462 pounds.. so its not the same is it...?

Thats like saying... "My Escort m2 from 1973 weighs 904 kg and does 96 mph...

but my 2010 Audi R8 weighs 1560kg and does 196mph"

I ride a Honda sonic 125 here.. but back home a Honda SP2 and Bandit 12.

Whats the point of this post..?

Edited January 16, 2011 by justaphase

[Fishenough]

Whats the point of this post..?

Too show off a couple of pretty bikes. :jap:

[andrew55]

Whats the point of this post..?

Too show off a couple of pretty bikes. :jap:

Edited January 16, 2011 by andrew55

[andrew55]

Whats the point of this post..?

Too show off a couple of pretty bikes. :jap:

Reason for edit - Stuff up.

[BigBikeBKK]

Title of thread talks about sportbike EVOLUTION

But comparing a 400cc against a 1000cc is really apples and oranges.

What I find more interesting is the unfortunate trend of sportbike devolution.

Take the hottest topic on this forum at the moment- the disappointing new Honda CBR250.

Compare the new low revving (10,500 red line) overweight (359lbs) underpowered (~25Hp) single cylinder Honda thumper to the original 346 pound 45Hp 19000 RPM Honda CBR 250RR screamer that was built over 20 years ago and it's clear that not all sport bikes are "evolving"...

The same trend is manifesting itself among the liter bikes as well. Gixxers, R1's and Ninjas are all getting heavier due to ever more stringent environmental regulations that require larger heavier exhausts. ZX10R enthusiasts have been dismayed to learn that the new 2011 Ninja ZX10R sold in the US is restricted in order to comply with emissions regulations...

[Kwasaki]

Evolution to me is as years go by is improvement on improvement of mainly sports machine nothing much to compare with older bikes.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book, it ruled for for 6 years till the R1 and Honda was happy to let Yamaha take the the name of " widow maker " kwacka's tried the ZX9 was a great bike then came the 10,12 &14. the GSX-R1000 has been top of the pile for a while with low weight and a great engine. Honda could maybe better it but don't want to, or can't be bothered, Yam will still have a go with the R1 but 2010 Suz GSX-R1000 191hp @ 12000 rpm whew !!!

Edited January 16, 2011 by Kwasaki

[nikster]

Since this thread is about Sportbike evolution, the new CBR250R, despite the name, should not be mentioned as it's quite obviously not targeted at optimizing the weight / power ratio but rather towards day to day usability and new riders. Fuel economy and emissions are important measures too, though it's not like the manufacturers had a choice in the matter.

As for actual sports bikes, the S1000 RR seems to me to be a pretty good example of evolution...

Edited January 16, 2011 by nikster

[Garry]

Evolution to me is as years go by is improvement on improvement of mainly sports machine nothing much to compare with older bikes.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book, it ruled for for 6 years till the R1 and Honda was happy to let Yamaha take the the name of " widow maker " kwacka's tried the ZX9 was a great bike then came the 10,12 &14. the GSX-R1000 has been top of the pile for a while with low weight and a great engine. Honda could maybe better it but don't want to, or can't be bothered, Yam will still have a go with the R1 but 2010 Suz GSX-R1000 191hp @ 12000 rpm whew !!!

What Suzuki Blade are you talking about? I've heard the term used many a time as slang for Honda Fireblade's

Edited January 16, 2011 by Garry

[rixalex]

Evolution to me is as years go by is improvement on improvement of mainly sports machine nothing much to compare with older bikes.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book, it ruled for for 6 years till the R1 and Honda was happy to let Yamaha take the the name of " widow maker " kwacka's tried the ZX9 was a great bike then came the 10,12 &14. the GSX-R1000 has been top of the pile for a while with low weight and a great engine. Honda could maybe better it but don't want to, or can't be bothered, Yam will still have a go with the R1 but 2010 Suz GSX-R1000 191hp @ 12000 rpm whew !!!

What Suzuki Blade are you talking about? I've heard the term used many a time as slang for Honda Fireblade's

He didn't say Suzuki Blade.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book...

First blade as is Honda Fireblade.

[BSJ]

Whats the point of this post..?

Too show off a couple of pretty bikes. :jap:

No, don't say that, there has to be a subliminal message too. Or what was the point me reading the whole thread???

[BigBikeBKK]

Since this thread is about Sportbike evolution, the new CBR250R, despite the name, should not be mentioned as it's quite obviously not targeted at optimizing the weight / power ratio but rather towards day to day usability and new riders. Fuel economy and emissions are important measures too, though it's not like the manufacturers had a choice in the matter.

As for actual sports bikes, the S1000 RR seems to me to be a pretty good example of evolution...

Well yeah, but every time I or anyone says the new CBR 250 isn't really a sport bike the Honda fans get all pissed off...

Agree with you that the Beemer S1000RR is the future- going forward it's all about technology and less about raw power.

Ride On!

Tony

[Kwasaki]

Yeah !! when I wrote blade I didn't mean my " Airblade " sorry I took it for granted everyone knew what it meant.

That 2010 BMW S1000RR is I think a good looking bike with all the late technology but there a bit like Ducati to me, like em but haven't got deep pockets, the top Jap sportsbikes have always been affordable with exception of R45 or NSR750RR say.

Again my view is Sportbike evolution has always been 600's and upwards.

Edited January 17, 2011 by Kwasaki

[LivinLOS]

What I find more interesting is the unfortunate trend of sportbike devolution.

Take the hottest topic on this forum at the moment- the disappointing new Honda CBR250.

Going even further back than the old cbr...

2011 CBR250 single 26hp ??

1989 GB250 single 30hp

1973 cb175 twin 22hp !!

A 175cc honda workhorse was putting out 22hp and a 250 2011 honda puts out 26..

[smedly]

Evolution to me is as years go by is improvement on improvement of mainly sports machine nothing much to compare with older bikes.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book, it ruled for for 6 years till the R1 and Honda was happy to let Yamaha take the the name of " widow maker " kwacka's tried the ZX9 was a great bike then came the 10,12 &14. the GSX-R1000 has been top of the pile for a while with low weight and a great engine. Honda could maybe better it but don't want to, or can't be bothered, Yam will still have a go with the R1 but 2010 Suz GSX-R1000 191hp @ 12000 rpm whew !!!

I heard Honda are looking at a 5 cylinder machine to replace their Flagship CBRXX 1100

[billd766]

Back in the 80's I had 2 bikes

1980 Kawasaki Z 250 twin

27HP and 368 lbs

Followed by a 1980 Honda CX 500 V twin

50 HP and 476 lbs in weight

The main difference in riding them was that the Honda felt great and the Kawa felt OK.

TYhe other difference was that when I dropped the Honda and picked it up I felt like Popeye before the spinach.

[Kwasaki]

Evolution to me is as years go by is improvement on improvement of mainly sports machine nothing much to compare with older bikes.

Suzuki started it and when the first Blade came out it rewrote the rule book, it ruled for for 6 years till the R1 and Honda was happy to let Yamaha take the the name of " widow maker " kwacka's tried the ZX9 was a great bike then came the 10,12 &14. the GSX-R1000 has been top of the pile for a while with low weight and a great engine. Honda could maybe better it but don't want to, or can't be bothered, Yam will still have a go with the R1 but 2010 Suz GSX-R1000 191hp @ 12000 rpm whew !!!

I heard Honda are looking at a 5 cylinder machine to replace their Flagship CBRXX 1100

CBRXX 1100 retired like me, I always hoped Honda would bring out the V5.

It appears that Honda has done things on a big scale too: a 990 cubic centimetre engine, five V cylinders, and a strong relationship with the RC 211V that use to race in the MotoGP. This is an agressive choice for Honda, but keeping the V dispositions, it adds a cyliinder to give some extra grunt.

The VFR 1000 should take the place of the VFR 800, and will send into retirement the CBR 1100 XX Blackbird, which is part of a nearly prehistoric sector for motorcycles. like me.

Edited January 24, 2011 by Kwasaki