First Motorbike...

While obviously Mick Doohan on Aprilia RS250 vs Mick Doohan on R1 is
going to be quicker on the R1 than the 250 is most places in the real
world (really tight switchbacks will be easier on the lighter bike
though - so doing the Alps or something might be easier but that's very
much the exception). As the litre bikes get lighter and lighter the
advantage of the small bores ebbs though.

On the other hand, I think that most people who jump straight to litre
bikes really badly stunt their skills sets, and also there's a bit of
self selection- I know I'm really slow so I buy a quick bike to
compensate and hence I'd actually suggest the odds of the R1/ZX10/GSXR
pilot NOT being half competent is actually higher than the percentage
you'd expect from the rest of the population.

Lastly it's pretty well accepted that the average punter is quicker
around a race track on a 600 than a litre bike for the simple reason
they have more HP than the average punter can use, thus Joe average
scares the shit out of himself (and/or crashes) and then rides more
slowly...

FWIW I think willingness to break the speed limit is far more of a
barrier on public roads. In the cases where we've agreed on a 160 limit,
or where we've stuck to the legal limit, I've had zero problems keeping
up to R1s & etc on bikes with significantly less HP (TRX/KR1 have about
the same HP/weight). The only real advantage for the big bores is if
you're willing to use the acceleration in a straight line, the KR1 (and
any other two stroke 250) will corner as quickly or more quickly than a
litre bike their real advantage is in between the corners when they can
disappear out of sight in seconds.

JL

 

Oh I dont doubt it can happen... someone could be a day off Ps and on their
10km old R1. But I think it'll be far and few apart. And prob never if the
R1 rider is 1/2 competent.[/QUOTE]

I'd say _definitely_ never if the R1 pilot is competent and knows theres
a race on...

But assuming competence of a significant number of R1 pilots is probably
your mistake... Have you seen how many of them get around in the slow
group on trackdays? (and yes, get carved up by riders on 250s...)

big

 

Yeah, but I'd guess that speaks more about your discerning selection of
riding buddies than it does about the typical skills of litrebike
riders...



big

 

I spent my very first track day on the trx repeating that Bugs Bunny /
Daffy Duck skit to myself and chuckling madly

"It's wabbit season....no it's..."

JL
(rider speed seems to be inversely proportional to depth of pockets - it
was the guys on the ratty bikes who kept going past me like I was
standing still)

 

What big said. Methinks you're assuming that 'cos your buddies
can ride, that all R1 owners can ride. I've been at this
sodamichealing malarky for less than a year, I can't ride for
shit and yet I've been on rides where I've rounded up litrebikes
and had the owners giving me exasperated "What the **** size engine
have you got in that thing?" questions at the next stop on my
zzr250. My only claim to clue is that I've been driving sub-
2 litre cars for pretty much my whole life, so I'm well accustomed
to revving the hole out of things and keeping the revs up to
them just to keep up with the traffic.

As I said, I'm a n00b and I can't ride for shit - imagine what
someone with actual clue and actual experience like big/Zeebee/
crazycam can do with a 250!

Bottom line: there's an awful lot of cantriders out there. I
particularly like JL's speed/ability varies inversly with
depth-of-pockets... Mind if I quote you on that John?

G

 

GB wrote:

Bottom line: there's an awful lot of cantriders out there. I

It's all yours GB ! Consider it licenced in perpetuity
JL

 

Also, any recommendations on riding gear? Price isn't important here, I just

the lightest, simplest bike for a learner is one of the old honda
CD250's . They are fairly slow and getting a bit old now. so you could
get a more modern CB250 or VTR250. They are so easy to steer its not
funny. ZZR250's are always a popular choice for people who like sports
looks.

Its likley the bike will get dropped once so either way I would
reccomend a cheap naked bike that you wont loose to much $$$ on when
you inevitably trade up

 

Bikes differ too much for blanket rankings. A short, snappy 250 will
beat any Goldwing up Arthur's Seat.

Gary

 

Oh yes. I should start at the top of the thread (or not mix servers).

Gary

 

Golly. Does she save clippings about far more frequent car crashes? Or
far more deadly plane crashes?

Yep, just like common household items such as stairs and wheeled
chairs... dangerous without proper use.

Yep, that's the plan. It's not the bike or the clobber than needs to be
safe, it's the rider.

Gary

--

"truth is never disposable in national political life"

John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia

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