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I'm not talking cubic centimeters, I mean physical size. I guess that everyone has noticed that today's superbikes (R1, ZX10R, etc) have shrunk down to the same wheelbase as 600's. I sat on all of them at the motorcycle show and they are a tight fit. I'm not that much bigger than average, but most of those bikes have no leg room.
The bikes that fit me best were the sport tourers. The busa, FJR1300, Blackbird, and the ZZR1200 fit me perfect. I really liked the ZZ and found a write-up in the June 2002 Motorcyclist mag that said it takes over for the old ZX11.
That issue also tested the four superbikes, R1 954RR, 9R, and GSXR1000. Here's what I found. The ZZ makes 87 ft.lb. at 4500. The GSXR made the most, 75 ft.lb. at 8250. Torque is what you want for the street, but what about HP? The ZZ made 145 at 9750. The Gixxer made 144 at 10250.
Which is the better street bike? Well, the one that fits me of course. But it seems that the manufacturers are making the bikes smaller for lighter weight, but they only fit a narrow part of the population. I'll read about the sportbikes, but my next bike will be a sport tourer.
The bikes that fit me best were the sport tourers. The busa, FJR1300, Blackbird, and the ZZR1200 fit me perfect. I really liked the ZZ and found a write-up in the June 2002 Motorcyclist mag that said it takes over for the old ZX11.
That issue also tested the four superbikes, R1 954RR, 9R, and GSXR1000. Here's what I found. The ZZ makes 87 ft.lb. at 4500. The GSXR made the most, 75 ft.lb. at 8250. Torque is what you want for the street, but what about HP? The ZZ made 145 at 9750. The Gixxer made 144 at 10250.
Which is the better street bike? Well, the one that fits me of course. But it seems that the manufacturers are making the bikes smaller for lighter weight, but they only fit a narrow part of the population. I'll read about the sportbikes, but my next bike will be a sport tourer.
