Topic: New Factory BMW World Superbike Pics and Details

[johngenx]

Oh, and the BMW will be twice the price of the Suzuki.

[Mitlov]

As for BMW's S1000RR, we'll have to see how the litre class responds.  The gixxer puts out ~180hp now, so it's not like BMW has arrived with an insurmountable lead.

Actually, I think Suzuki is claiming 191 horsepower for the 2009 GSX-R1000, so comparing claimed-versus-claimed, the Beemer's only got about a 1% horsepower advantage.  The new R1 has a claimed 182 horsepower, but if the cross-plane crankshaft is as revolutionary as they claim (in the hands of a professional on a track, of course), it may be able to put the power down better than other inline-fours out there.

Oh, and the BMW will be twice the price of the Suzuki.

One of the many reasons I'm riding an SV instead of a Monster...setting aside character and style and all that, BMW, KTM, and Ducati just can't compete with the Japanese four when it comes to bang for the buck.

[johngenx]

Actually, I think Suzuki is claiming 191 horsepower for the 2009 GSX-R1000, so comparing claimed-versus-claimed, the Beemer's only got about a 1% horsepower advantage.

My experience is that Suzuki publishes realistic numbers.  The spec on my 1300 engine was 185hp at the crank, and bone stock it dynoed at 180RWHP.  Thinking back to the bike HP wars of the early to mid 80's, we thought 100hp at the tire was incredible, and no one would ever build a street bike with more than 150hp.  Never!!  FI has been the magic stick everyone was looking for...

[Turbo Bob]

Awesome looking bike.  I'm wondering whether to get a bike in a few years...

Have you ever had one before??

Nope, and I don't intend to kill myself on one now.  Wouldn't mind a dirt bike though, might get one when Elliot is old enough to ride one too.

[johngenx]

I think learning to ride in the dirt is a good idea.  I spent from the age of 10 to 16 riding motocross and was able to adapt to street riding very quickly.

Car guys know bikes are fast, but most have no idea of what 0-60 in ~2.0 and 0-100 in <7.0 feels like.  A big-bore GT bike can accelerate harder at 250km/h than most cars can from rest.

Anyone see the Ghost Rider vids on youtube?  That guy has a 300hp+ Hayabusa stripped down to minimum weight.  250km/h wheelies.

Back to those 600 class bikes...Cripes, they're uncomfortable, hair trigger fast, and way too many people are buying them.  I think graduated licenses based on HP would be a smart idea.

EDIT: someone speculates it's a 500hp bike...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpQP4v_Z0nQ&feature=fvst

Near the end, the digital speedo on the GSX is reading 290km/h at the 'Busa goes by (fast!) on one wheel.  On a public road.  Sheesh.

[rrocket]

^^I mostly agree.  I started on dirt when I was 5...and started racing shortly after.  As Jon said..it was an easy transition to street, and some skills from the dirt proved invaluable on the street.  Skills guys who start on the street don't get.

I'll disagree a bit on the 600's.  They are far from "hair trigger".  Fast..heck yea!  But their lack of torque and sky high RPM powerbands don't lend for the gob-smacking power that a liter bike (or open class bike) has.  YOu have to rev the out of those 600s to make them go.  R6 had a near 17,000 RPM limit!

For the street I much prefer a twin (of almost any size), a single, and if a 4 banger...a liter class and up bike..


Oh...and here's a pic of the first corner carnage from this weekends race:

[johngenx]

I'll disagree a bit on the 600's.  They are far from "hair trigger".  Fast..heck yea!  But their lack of torque and sky high RPM powerbands don't lend for the gob-smacking power that a liter bike (or open class bike) has. 

Not compared to a litre or other sport bikes, but compared to docile twins and "normal" bikes, the 600's are hair triggers that are not suitable for beginner riders, most of the time, anyway.  The litre bikes are NOT better for novices, and that was not where I was going.