Best performing street bike per $$?

How long has it been since you rode?

1000cc's of today are nothing like those of 10 years ago, IMO. The big 4 japanese OEM's are so close in power and performance that you should choose based on looks, comfort, price, dealer relationship, etc. The ZX-10 is regarded as the speed king in the literbike class. The R1 is a gnats wing behind, if at all. The CBR1K is considered a little bit behind but maybe more comfortable.

Personally, I'd get the R1 - just looks so sessy. The 10 is nice too, maybe a bit cluttered looking. I'd put money on a new R6 outrunning a CBR900RR of yesteryear, so don't turn your nose up at the 600's either.

 

It was under my impression that the Hayabusa was the fastest street bike out there?

 

if you havemt been on a bike in years, I would NOT reccommend a modern 1000cc bike in any way, shape or form.

The BEST thing you can do, go get yourself a used SV650 and get used to modern sportbikes.

they have changed RADICALLY since you've been on a bike. Even the 1100 Katana you rode a few years back migh as well be from the stone age.


the SV650 will cost $3-4k, it has ~70hp (almost as much as 1000cc bikes of the air-oil cooled era), handles well enough for the street.



you've opened up a can of worms by saying "I want performace for the street."

Modern 600cc bikes have more than enough power for the "street".

How do you ride? Do you drag knees around canyon corners? Do you do the stoplight drag race? Do you sport tour? Do you ride 400-500 miles in a session? 100 miles? How much do you want to spend? Do you do trackdays?


Lets get down to how you ride, and then we can start narrowing in on a bike that would give you the best performance for the $

 

again, that depends.

In a straight line? given LOTS of room? (more than 1/4 mile) sure. They are great and damn fast.

even at that, the ZX12 and the new ZX14 are contenders to the Hayabusa throne.

But a racereplica 600cc or 1000cc will out handle the Busa at every turn.

and they come damn close in 1/4 mile times.


again... what do you mean by "fastest"?

 

R1

 

The ZX-10 is the bike for the Kawasaki fan. Approach slowly and with caution though, these modern literbikes are WICKED. The June issue of Sportrider magazine lists the ZX-10 at 451 pounds wet, and 166 rear wheel horsepower. That's 2.72 pounds per horsepower. Compare that with any supercar in the world and you'll see why I call them wicked. I own and ride a 2001 R1 and it is without a doubt the most incredible machine I've sampled personally. Bigger bikes like the new ZX-14 or the Hayabusa have more horsepower but they weigh a hundred to a hundred and fifty pounds more than the literbikes. The much lighter weight is what makes the literbike's handling and braking superior.

 

Buy a Yamaha YZF-R1. OMFG, I was so close to buying one but then I decided that I would like to live a little longer.

 

Kawi ZX-14 was tested at 8 second 1/4mile @ 170+mph... now we are talking about stock bike here... crazy speed if you ask me.

 

do you sport tour?
stoplight to stop light drag?
trackdays?
Canyon carving?
Do you have to have a racereplica?


How tall are you?

how many miles do you put in when you ride?

What is you level of "pain"? Are you willing to sacrafice all comfort for optimal trackriding position? Or will you sacrafice some handling for a more comfortable ride?

How much do yo have to spend?
Does the bike need to be new off the showroom floor? Or is a good used bike fine?

What part of the country are you in? (no use buying the worlds best handling bike if you dont live near a track or a twisty road).


all important questions.

its not as easy as saying... I want to go fast, what do I get?


modern race replicas, of any cc, will give you more power and better handling than anything you've ever ridden before. BUT, comfort, easy of use all come into play.


Liter bikes today are monsters. Trust me, you'll be scared of the power. You'll prolly be scared of the power of a 750cc (130hp, and LIGHT), 650, 636, or 600 (they can put out more than 100hp) Nor will you be able to use half of the power, braking or handling on the street. You wont be able to us half thier power, braking or handling on the track either, unless you are a mid-pack or above AMA racer (even some of them I know are scared of their 1000cc bikes, but they are just stupid enough to ride them really fast ).

it also comes down to how you want your power and handling served up.

There are alternatives to 1000cc racereplicas... The FZ1 comes to mind. 1000cc's, VERY comfortable riding position, sporty enough for anything but the most agressive trackday. 120hp stock, and fairly cheap (they can be had for $4-5k used). ZRX1200 is about the same story. It doesnt have quite the handling of the FZ1, but cool retro styling? Very cool.

Want a twin? Check out the Ducati S4R, or Aprilia Tuono for 1000cc twin power delivery (very fun), but both are more expensive.


I cant stress enough, how different bikes to day are from what you are used to.

the SV650 will blow away either of the bikes you've mentioned in nearly every category (its stock suspension is a little weak by todays standards, but will still likely out handle either bike you've mentioned). It may be down a little of HP, but is much lighter, and is plenty fast.


but again, it comes back to the first questions...

 

You can buy any of the new liter bikes for under $12k.

ZX10
R1
Gixxer 1000
CBR1000 RR

Any of them are fast enough to scary the sh*te out of you. Different flavors. The Gixxer is prolly the best all around race bike, absolute monster. 150hp, sub 400lbs, brakes that will launch you over the bars in a instant, and a power delivery that will high side you into the next state if you arent VERY careful with the throttle. The Honda is almost "bland" when compared to the others, but does everything VERY well, and is probably the most forgiving. The ZX10 feels like a light little rocket, but can be kinda "twitchy". The R1 is a the middle of all of them.

Thats the run down. All very fast, good handling, great brakes and tons of performance. No one is really THE one that will blow the others away. They are just different flavors power delivery and feel.

I wouldnt ride a 1000cc race replica on the street any more than I would beat myself in the head with a hammer, but thats just me.

Consider the 06 Gixxer 750. 130hp stock, same size as the 600, $10k.

if your worried about "blowing away" a liter bike, you might suffer from hp envy on the 750, but its more bike than 99.9% of riders can ever get all of the performance out of anyway.

also consider:
the 06 GSXR 750 = the Liter bike of 4-5 years ago
the 600cc race replica ~= liter bike of 8-10 years ago
"starter" sportbikes (kn650, sv650) today = top of the line race replicas 15-20 years ago

 

I agree with Chop's

i see too many people get "Back into Bikes" who go WAY too big. Just because you can afford the $$ dosent mean you can handle the result.

The last 999 Duc i had for the magazine was scalding, way faster than the FJ1200 I drove when they were new. Had the handling of a 650 with an awsome power that was well beyond the needs of any driver.

the 750 is a very good choice

 

Well said. I ride a 2004 R1. That being said, when I go on club rides, the R6's blow by me so fast that I can feel their wind when they go by. Shortly there after, I lose sight! My bike is LOTS faster than theirs, but it is ALL THE RIDER. I consider myself a good sportbike rider, turns at 3x the "recommended" speed are no problem at all. 180 HP for the streeet is simply insane. Had I to do it again, I'd also look at the GSXR 750 2006. Nice bike.
Here's mine:
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http://sportrider.com/bikes/146_0505_liter_street_bikes/

"Any of today's open-class machines-straight off the showroom floor-would've mopped up the racebike-prepped competition Superbikes of 10 years ago."

VERY true.

Buy/ride with caution.

 

Hayabusa is a sport touring bike. Straight line speed.

 

Both in a 1/4 mile drag and around a race track.

 

If you are a power addict, and you buy one of these new litre bikes, it WILL get away from you....DOT COM. I see it happen all the time. Especially, if you came off of a Katana...aka..Squidbike of choice.

The Katana 1100 has nowhere near the acceleration of a modern (2002 and newer) 600 supersport. Not even close. As a matter of fact, an F4i will walk it like a dog and kick a few times for good measure.

Listen to what Chop is saying, he is speaking the truth. All of these bikes, including the 600's, are capable of 0-100 runs in the 5-6 second range. Roll ons tell the story as well. In TOP GEAR, most of these bikes can roll on from 60-80 in less than 3 secs......Now, click down a couple of gears, and the time becomes instantaneous.

Furthermore, I'd take an SV650s in a race over a Katana 1100.

Bottom line, the new crop of litre bikes are the baddest bastards on the planet.....They are not for anyone without considerable track and riding experience.

Hell, my 954 (way less power) will wheelie in 4th gear with a modest bounce.

 

1/4 mile, the Busa is fairly comparable to the new litre bikes.

around a race track, it is fodder for the mini's (125 cc two-strokes)

 

The Hayabusa is a fast bastard in a straight line
The Hayabusa is a fat bastard around the track

like has been said, the current crop of liter bikes are getting VERY close to Hayabusa 1/4 mile times. If not beating them.

The Hayabusa cant hang when the track has turn in it. Its just a different form factor. In car language the Busa is a GT, the liter bikes are F1 racers. No comarison. Different animals.


The point is... the liter bikes are damn fast, on any track.

the 600-636-650(triumph) bikes are damn fast, on any track.

all are leaps and bounds ahead of the crop of bikes from just a few years ago.

 

offtopic:

Chop, what organization do you race with? I am in the CMRA. Have a race this weekend at Texas World Speeday....Comparible to your California Speedway......insane front straight speeds, with the ass clenching transition from the banking down to turn one.

 

I roadrace with AFM (www.afmracing.org)
we do Sears Point, ThunderHill and ButtonWillow.

Sears (Infineon) is pretty technical, but fun.

ThunderHill is a good combo of a few tight sections, and flowing, but not wide open sweepers. Corner exits and flow are key.

ButtonWillow is similar.

I used to race WSMC at WillowSprings... which is a major test of b*lls. HUGE top gear, WFO sweeper. Fun on a 400, terrifying on a 650-600, insane on a 1000.

I also race USFRA/SCTA/AMA at Bonneville. Got my long course license.

 

We now have 3.1 mile roadcourse (MSR Cresson) to go with our 2.9 mile (TWS) course.

MSR Cresson 1.7 mile
MSR Cresson 3.1 mile
Hallet Raceway 1.8 mile
Oak Hill 1.8 mile
TWS 2.9 mile
No Problem Raceway (Louisiana) 2.3 mile

We have two more tracks to be added to our schedule, one of them being built to FIM specs.

TWS uses the front straight of on a old 2 mile D Oval.....I routinely hit speeds in the upper 150's on this section. Scary stuff.