[No Worries]

...a tall first gear. I was reading on a CBR site about how a rider had to rev up and slip the clutch on a new CBR 1000RR or stall it out. The manufacturers are making first gear real tall (Kawasaki's ad says "100mph in first gear"). This is to prevent the short-wheelbase bikes from flipping over in first gear.

Give me an older bike for street racing. Here is what the May, 1991 issue of Cycle Magazine (RIP) states for 0-60 times. Yeah, it was different riders, tire compounds, etc., but the times are real.
1991 CBR 1000F=2.75
1991 ZX-11=2.65
The November, 2004 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News states the following 0-60 times:
2004 CBR 1000RR=3.19
2004 ZX-10R=3.12
The newer Honda is 137 pounds lighter, and 3.3 inches shorter wheelbase.
The newer Ninja is 156 pounds lighter, and 3.9 inches shorter wheelbase.

I raced an R1 across the intersection and let off when I hit 60, double the posted speed limit. That's when he passed me. And with the weight difference, it was like I had a passenger. Yes, I like older bikes.

 

[jeeps84]

Nothing some new sprockets cant cure. :2cents:

 

[JK_DILLA]

thats very interesting. not what i would have thought at all. Any info on twins?

 

[Gumby]

I believe that, I had a 1986 gsxr1100 and i have never riden a bike with more acceleration than that thing had even the new zx10 etc. It was hard hangin' on when you were wide open in first!

 

[Gas Man]

Well I think all the newer bikes have such tall first gears. I mean 100 mph in first on most of the liter bikes... do we really need that? However, if you shorten the first gear the rideability becomes even harder to find!

 

[jeeps84]

Well I think all the newer bikes have such tall first gears. I mean 100 mph in first on most of the liter bikes... do we really need that? However, if you shorten the first gear the rideability becomes even harder to find!

Its not the rideability that changes. You just have to change your ridding style.
I can keep the front controllably down under hard acceleration after I finesse first. You just need to learn where and when to put your body weight.

 

[Gas Man]

Well what I mean is that the ridability of being able to go WOT in first... I can't say I have ever rode one of these older bikes in question but I know that the newer liter bikes... WOT in first CAN become a death wish!

 

[jeeps84]

Even with the stock gearing.
The newer bikes make their power through a smother power band.

They didn't name the original Gixxer a Sling Shot for nothing. When the power came on. It was like ridding a two stroke. They would pull from start then hang on. :yikes: They felt like they were going to pull out from under you.

 

[Pippi]

Nothing some new sprockets cant cure. :2cents:

Yep, thats what I'm going to do in the spring to my 1K.

 

[Gas Man]

Nothing some new sprockets cant cure. :2cents:

Oh yeah the new sprockets even with a little change will do a whole lot to the way the bike reacts to the throttle... my 9R was very noticeable when I went +1 in the rear and -1 in the front!!

 

[marko138]

Even with the stock gearing.
The newer bikes make their power through a smother power band.

They didn't name the original Gixxer a Sling Shot for nothing. When the power came on. It was like ridding a two stroke. They would pull from start then hang on. :yikes: They felt like they were going to pull out from under you.

I have a 92 GSXR 750 and I can tell you that that thing takes off when it hits 7k. It pulls hard off the line but at 7 grand she opens up until about 12 grr when the power starts leveling out to the 13,500 redline.

Now granted I can't do triple digit speeds in first, but she's plenty fast for me.

 

[bmparis]

Well what I mean is that the ridability of being able to go WOT in first...

"scure my ignorance, what is WOT?

 

[bumblebee]

Its not the rideability that changes. You just have to change your ridding style.
I can keep the front controllably down under hard acceleration after I finesse first. You just need to learn where and when to put your body weight.

Unless you are like me and have enough body weight to hold even an NHRA Pro-stock bike down... :lol:

 

[Gumby]

"scure my ignorance, what is WOT?

Wide open throttle

 

[Gas Man]

Wide open throttle

^^^ yep! ^^^

 

[jeeps84]

Unless you are like me and have enough body weight to hold even an NHRA Pro-stock bike down... :lol:

Actually I've noticed the bigger the rider. The harder it is to keep the front down.
Another rider I know that I consider of equal ability 6' + and 200lb's + has a harder time keeping the front down to my 5'10" 175 lb on the same bike. I think it has as much to do with his height than weight. Bike geometry is a hard thing to calculated.