Topic: What Don't I Understand?

[Justin]

'75 CB400F here...
All of 37bhp (when in tune), and in my case, it has to deal with a large fairing and rear rack holding supplies.
I can easily violate speed limits at will.
Unless I was trying to race someone or something, it has all the acceleration I could ever ask for.
It'll cruise at 70mph interstate speeds.

I apologize if I sound close minded here, but why in the world then do modern bikes make so much damn power, and accordingly, go so damn fast?
Do people really use all this power they pay for, or is it just for looks and to show-off?
Do guys on the latest sportbikes really go around flying down the backroads leaned way over & dragging their knees?

I mean, for example, even the "standard" Kawasaki Z750S makes right at 100bhp, runs 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, does the quarter in 11.48 at 119mph, and can run 141mph...where and when are you ever going to utilize that power and speed on public roads while being a safe and responsible motorcyclist?

[kghost]

'75 CB400F here...
All of 37bhp
I can easily violate speed limits at will.

Easily? I wouldnt call that Easy.

Ha HA HA 

Absolute power, Corrupts absolutely.

That question is like asking why they built muscle cars in the sixties. Or why they build Lambo's and Ferrari's today.

Because its really really fun. Thats why they have all that power. No, people don't really use it all. 90% of they people who own one will never ride one to 100% of its capability. But having the power and handling of a modern sport bike appeals to the primitive part of ones brain.

No, Having all that power and speed will not make you responsible, just the opposite really.

I suppose as a sign of opposition to the current trend you could buy a Harley.

[74cb750]

Very well put ixxion.

[Uncle Ernie]

I'd guess the percentage of riders who are capable of using that much power is closer to 10%.  Around the mountains here, you see a lot of young bucks at the side a a twisty road helmet on the side, cell phone at the ear, and bike in the middle of the trees. A man once told me a long time ago, "Any fool can go fast in a straight line."  I have a couple of big bikes and a couple of smaller ones (400/4 included)- I find it more satisfying in general to wring out a bike I can push more to the bikes limits as my limits seem to be the same no matter what bike I'm on.

Mostly, the answer to your question boils down to money in a big circle; magazines need to review and compare and pontificate in order to get advetising $s (they get almost zilch from subscriptions). Dealers need to make make money from the excitement generated from the articles in magazines. Manufacturers need to create hype/interest by shouting "New!", "Improved!", "Faster!", "Sexier!", etc. That means reviews of pipes under the seat, new tire sizes/compounds, 1/2 second off 1/4 mile runs, "you're losing out/getting left behind if you don't have the new stuff, LOSER!".   Because the American public has no self esteem and is totally dependant on what other people think and other people are told what to think by magazines and TV by advertisers who have a vested interest in you believing that buying their product will get you laid. (Can you spell run-on sentence? Sorry)

Obviously, members in this club are mavericks and rebels who don't subcribe to the typical white middle class socio-ecomomic straight jacket sense of self worth, which is why the FBI moniters and tracks entries here.
                                                       

[Justin]

Thank you for taking the time to reply guys...I really appreciate it.

I guess everything as it relates to motorcycles is subjective in nature: The fact that I ride and tour long distances would seem incredibly dangerous to some people, yet some motorcyclists, and the way they ride, seems dangerous to me! Heck, I'm sure the way I ride seems dangerous to some other riders as well!

The more I think about it, the more I believe I'll just have to reserve ultimate judgment until I actually ride with someone like Ixxion. He certainly comes across as an intelligent, capable, and responsible rider, yet to someone like me, who enjoys taking it "slow", flying down backroads at uber-sonic speeds would seem to leave a critically small margin for avoidance of various "harmful items", such as gravel, pavement problems, critters, LARGE animals, people sitting in their cars talking, etc, etc...

While I can certainly understand the thrill of speed, motorcycling to me has always been about what's in between and at points A & B, not how quick I can make the journey. It seems to me that higher levels of speed corresponds to proportionally lower levels of observation and overall situational awareness. Now sure, you'll be incredibly focused on what your doing, but when traveling down interstates at triple digit speeds, and dragging your knees on the backroads, do you ever take the time to look around and enjoy the area you're riding through, or have you developed tunnel vision to a point?

Oh well...once again, I'm trying to keep an open mind here. To each his own though, right? I'll probably continue to be the twenty-one year old mistaken for an old geezer as I wind my way down the backroads and run seventy down the interstate, as the sportbike guys blow my figurative doors off & the cruiser boys try to belittle me for my lack of not riding a big chrome-boat with a certain brand name...

[kghost]

flying down backroads at uber-sonic speeds would seem to leave a critically small margin for avoidance of various "harmful items", such as gravel, pavement problems, critters, LARGE animals, people sitting in their cars talking, etc, etc...

The power, Braking, and Handling of modern sport bikes is so far from the old bikes we love its like they are from another planet.

With all those things the margins increase. Now you can stop from 70+ mph in the same distance as a 750 from 50 mph. Better brakes, better tires, better suspension are the key.

Now you can swerve or manuver around cars, Animals, etc. There are times if you tried that on one of our bikes the handling and "road holding" abilities would just not be up to the task.

Like I said before, No most people don't use all that power. All that power will entice you to do stupid things.

Ride your limits.

[DRam]

Many riders, many reasons for riding a sport bike.  Mine is an old one -  a 1991 CBR1000F - and is now considered a sport-touring bike, not a sport bike.  I fell in love with the riding position, comfort and handling the first time i took my son's CBR1000F for a couple hundred mile ride.  Thirty miles on the CB650 is about all my back can handle.  So far I haven't found a limit for my back on the CBR.  I have for the knees though - about two hours.  It isn't the perfect bike.  It's heavy (600 pounds), awkward in parking lots, and dropping it can be very expensive.  But for longer rides down the highway it better than anything else around.  For me.  Other's might not like it at all.  Oh yeah, the power, speed and looks are a big plus although, to be honest, I get as many positive comments about the CB650 as I do about the CBR.  Do I look cool on it?  Probably not.  Old overweight people don't fit the image of who rides this kind of bike, but who cares.  I'm the one enjoying the ride.  As far as dragging knees, I never have and probably won't.  Speed?  I might hit triple digits on occassion, but mostly it stays within ten or fifteen mph over the limit.  One doesn't have to ride fast and aggressively to enjoy a sport bike. 

Justin:  If you get the chance to take sport bike for a ride, do it.  Understanding may come and you will find yourself sharing time between your 400F and a newer bike.  Bikes aren't like women.  You can love two at the same time without getting into trouble. 

[6pkrunner]

Acceration is a drug. Not most want absolute top speed, but to simply wack open a throuutle at 70mph and have the thing rip out from under you in a blink and you're doing 130mph is a rush for those that love it. And by the nature that the companies are outdoing themselves to make these machines proves there is a market for horsepower. And as stated above some of today's superbikes can only be fully utilized by less than 5% of the riders out there. And that is on a closed course.
But to squeeze out of a peg dragging turn and rocket to the next one is one of the greatest pleasures on Earth. Since you have posed this question the on-the-egde bug has not bit you. But be careful, once it does there's no going back. Crack open a Hayabusa in second gear and no roller coaster on this planet can replace that rush.

[Uncle Ernie]

DRam- my wife told me she thinks the guys on sport bikes look like chipmunks!

Ix- curious to know where you are in NC (I promis I won't come visit).  Also, that avatar thing is really weird. This guy is beating another guy with his own stomach? Am I missing something?