uh... I need a runway, really... let me explain...

rhody

Both bikes side by side, then the front, then the 2009 Kawasaki ZX6, 600 cc bike. Not as many modifications for the Kawasaki, new rear fender, integrated turn signals, Woodcraft rearsets, Woodcraft clutch cover, Woodcraft oil side cover, power commander, quick shifter, steel braided front/rear brake lines, Pazzo levers, CRG bar-end mirrors, and Brocks mirror block off plates. Yet to do, have the seat recovered (the lime green really isn't my style, and tank grips for more feel when leaned over, new higher windscreen, front brake reservoir cover. May play with the power commander fuel maps for more mid-range, will see how it goes.

Once I get it registered/insured, the next step is to get the suspension set properly, and then an apples for apples test over the same twisty bit of pavement, using about 80% of what both bikes have so my poor brain can adjust to the differences. In general, every gear is about 15 - 20 mph slower and about 1/2 to 1 second slower to rear peak torque and horsepower. It doesn't seem like much for folks who don't ride bikes. Believe me when I tell you, you don't have to worry about 110 mph power wheelies on the ZX6. It is more forgiving to ride hard, and this little beast has no anti lock brakes or traction control. The seating is lower and more stretched out than the BMW, so that will take mental and physical adjustment. The BMW has a 43 mm Ohlins fork and the Kawasaki a 44 or 45 mm big piston fork, which seems fine from the one outing I had with it. It has a slipper clutch too which is nice and instead of 14,500 rpm limit it tops a 16,000, a real screamer. The exhaust is much more muted, not as raw or loud as the BMW, it doesn't make the hair stand up on the back of my neck, but is plenty fun to ride. If you need a mental comparison, I liken it to Arnold Schwarzenegger (BMW) and the late Bruce Lee (Kawasaki). Both strong but in different ways. The only long term issue I have is about the robustness of the Kawasaki, I have seen more than a few track video's with transmission and clutch issues. I will do my home work and try to plug those loose ends (if possible) before they become a problem.








Rhody...

rhody

This is so cool I had to post it, hijacked the video from my BMW forum, decide for yourself.
I won't spoil the surprise. The title doesn't give it away either, unless you speak German.

Reifenwechsel während der Fahrt



Rhody...

netgypsy

WOW!! AWESOME!!

Almost bought a BMW bike a number of years ago. Started with a Honda 50, went on to dirt bikes, then street bikes, then got run off the road multiple times by auto drivers who thought it was funny. No safe place to ride so bikes are parked in the garage.

Family member recently had a Suzuki sport bike - I'm thinking like 1350. Real screamer. Was stolen in front of his house. He had a Kenny Roberts 250 two stroke and I did ride that once. SCARY.

Check out the road that goes out onto the Gaspe penninsula in Quebec. You have a view of the St. Lawrence, it's a two lane windy road that has waves on it during some storms. You can see whales and seals down below, caribou above you in the mountains. When I was up there, there was a guy on a BMW bike, all suited up, ready to fly.

I did ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and the NC mountains on a bike. Gorgeous but exhausting. Hope you find the perfect runway.

KrisOhn

I was just looking at list of power to weight ratios of cars and decided to calculate the ratio for my bike:

5.1lb/hp

This is the same ratio as a Lamborghini Murciélago

A Zonda F is only 4.5!

I always new that my bike was decently powerful, but geez!

rhody

What year, model, extras ? Exhaust, etc...

Rhody...

KrisOhn

1984 Honda V65 Magna, all stock except the exhaust, it had to be changed out maybe 15 years ago when it was laid over but I'm not sure what kind that is. The Murcielago is the LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

My bike wouldn't be quite that good because it isn't brand new and I'm getting the horsepower from the wikipedia article, but I'm still impressed.

netgypsy

I have an '85 and '86 Honda Magna 700's (shaft driven) . The engine on the '85 had some problems so we repaired it. These are supposed to be identical bikes again other than some modification of the exhaust on the '85 - I think the owner just stuck a piece of re-bar down it - but since we did the repair that bike is so torquey it's plain scary. Twice I almost put myself into the passenger seat by accident. We did nothing to modify the bike. Weird. But I love the handling.

I was told by a Honda mechanic that this bike has a problem with inadequate lubrication unless you let it idle for about 5 minutes before you rev it up. Don't know if that's true or not but the one with the engine damage did not have a lot of mileage and wasn't abused so who knows.

turbo

A neighbor's kid ruined his by revving it right after starting it up, over and over again. Until you have adequate oil pressure, it's just stupid to stress them. Same with Harleys, though. The best mechanics say that if you can put your hand on the jugs without burning them, don't take off. In the case of my old Wide-Glide, I'd warm it up and run it gently for at least 20 minutes before getting onto the throttle. Those aluminum Evo engines needed to swell from the heat to avoid blowing head gaskets and base gaskets.

KrisOhn

Yeah, V65's (at least) do have some issues with lubrication, but as long as you let the engine warm up past the blue section on the temperature gauge before you head anywhere and don't put the hammer down until you've got a couple miles on, it should be okay. In some of the colder mornings it can take as long as 10 minutes warm up by idle, which can actually be worse for the engine since the oil pump may not supply an adequate amount of oil to all areas (cams, etc.) when merely idling. To circumvent this I let it idle for about 5 minutes then ride easy, revving around 2k RPM, until its warmed up.

KrisOhn

Haha, its a similar story with the V65. On one occasion I was ripping around with a friend, came out of second at about 9k RPM and nearly opened it up fully in third, I could feel the front tire starting to lift so I decided to back off. I bought this bike off my brother and I've heard from him and a couple other people that you can spin the rear tire in third and fourth gear, I believe it.

turbo

When I bought my first Harley, I was test-driving one (Fat-Bob Superglide), and the owner of the dealership came along with me, and cut me off as we were exiting the lot of a a lumber-yard where we had turned around to head back to the shop. I don't know what that bone-head was thinking! I laid that bike hard on the left side and gave it all the throttle that it had to get it righted. Luckily for him and his insurance company, I was used to riding Japanese bikes and had the revs up, or he would have had a "slider" on his hands. He looked over at me when I was righting that bike, and his eyes were as big as fried eggs. When we got back to the shop, he was shaking worse than I was.

netgypsy

And I had no idea it was such a screamer. I bought it because it was smooth, quiet, handled great, had enough oomph to get out of the way of idiot drivers and got better gas mileage than my truck. I know the newer Harley's are nice bikes but a friend's magna just puked and it was too pricey to fix so he got a smaller Harley. He's been at the chiropractor five times and is looking for another Honda. Can't afford a smooth Harley.

rhody

I had a first yesterday, lets set the stage first. The day before I had the 600cc Kawasaki out, practicing being smooth, brakes, shift, gas, you get the idea. Trying to get used to the foot peg position, lower handlebars, control feel. More than that trying to measure feedback from inputs to said controls. It was fun, and a bit chilly. Returned home relaxed.

Fast forward to yesterday, was warming the monster up, had the heated gloves in preheat, then as I was slipping them on, a sudden rush, like the one you get when you twist the throttle gently in 2nd gear accelerating smoothly but quickly from 50 - 100 in about 3 seconds.

I have always approached each thing I do with either bike, a step at a time, slowly, without hurrying things. With the mental image I just described in the second paragraph I headed out to the bike shop about fifteen miles away, some super slab, in fine but chilly weather, no wind, light traffic. I was feeling relaxed and focused, so I downshifted from 3rd to second gear at about 65 mph and rolled the throttle (no traffic around) and was rewarded with a nice three second wheelie, front wheel dead straight about 6 - 12 inches off the pavement, dead, smooth, similar to this one by Nate Kern, (00:11 - 00:14) at about 2000 rpm less than his. Very nice. Next up is the same scenario, but I will hook 3rd gear and see if I can ride it another for another few seconds under acceleration. Like I said, one step at a time.

Rhody...

rhody

Ok Turbo, I know you love the sound of that thunderous Vtwin modded Harley motor, but you have to admit, this is a pretty decent recording (except for buzzing at beginning, I am working on that),
you get a decent idea of the wind buffeting. The recorder was taped to the top of the gas tank.

I plan to record one similar to this but will do it with the front wheel floating a bit off the ground in 1st and 2nd gear, nice smooth flat deserted road. See if you can tell the difference, however slight, when I post the second one.
There is no clutch shifting the quick shifter does away with that, cuts out the engine for about 10 milliseconds and presto, you are at full power in the next gear.

Rhodster...

rhody

I added the Kawasaki to the mix, added introduction and captions to explain the shenanigans.

BMW and Kawi through first three gears



Rhody... meep... meep...

rhody

These guys really haul ... Fun watching them.

Qualifying Session - Phillip Island 2012



Rhody...

KrisOhn

Oh wow, they really ride to their bikes limits. That's pretty amazing.