Comments on: How Practical are Literbikes on the Street?

By: Joe Linkham

Joe Linkham — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:54:17 +0000

I think the real reason squids/newbies buy liter bikes is so they could just look cool in front of people. And to be able to tell people that they ride a 1000cc motorcycle. I’ve seen these guys, the ones that SLOOOWWW way down before a turn and really look like idiots on a machine meant for experts. Most of the time these squids don’t even know that actual motorcyclists are making fun of them. I think many of them come from the import racing car crowd with the mentality of the machine reflects your skills and who you are. In the world of sportbikes, it’s ONLY your skills that reflect how bad ass a rider you are, not the machine. I’ve seen guys on 250 Ninjas rape R1′s, GSXR1000′s, and any 600+SS bike in the canyons. Those dudes are the real bad ass riders, not the squid liter bike kid that thinks he’s now all that because he can make payments on a machine he can’t even ride correctly.

By: djam

djam — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 23:38:40 +0000

Nice commentary! You are absolutly correct about the usability of these machines on the street. I’ve been riding for 20 years and am a regular track day rider in the A or racer classes. Most of my fellow riders think they are fast on the street until I get them to the track; where they find out what fast realy is and what their bikes are capable of. I always recommend a lesser bike to newbies, for those who do not wish to ride the track, because it’s a wast of money and a potential killer. It is funny when intorducing folks to the track just how slow they really ride on their latest and greates liter bike when they get lapped by 10 year old TL. But I can not make a compelling argument not to get one if they want tha cool looking race replica.

By: Gordy

Gordy — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:16:58 +0000

Litre bikes: cheap performance, great fun, immensely satisfying and available now. Riders need to be responsible while they are close to others, and at all other times it’s just not your business. If you don’t like it just sod off elsewhere and keep your small-minded views to yourself.

Practical? Who the hell cares?

By: Aj Marini

Aj Marini — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:50:29 +0000

I just picked up an 06 GSXR 1000 after riding one that belonged to a friend. I also agree that this bike is fantastic for the street and far better than a 600. I think too many people are looking at the wrong numbers. ti sin’t the 178hp at the crank that is important, its the 85lbs/ft of torque that makes the difference. Not having to be up over 9000 is the whole point. Do cars need 400+ hp on the street? Of course not, but those are very nice cars to drive, aren’t they?

I find it bizarre that when it comes to sportbikes, the vast majority speak in absolutes as if the only purpose they could ever be used for is going at 100%. I prefer having usability and I have that now. Its an awesome track bike AND an awesome street bike.

Yes, they are not for everyone. Some people cannot control themselves and those people should probably stick to single cyclinder bikes.

By: hoyt

hoyt — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:49:47 +0000

Richard stated, “They make money by selling bikes that potential buyers see winning races.”

Hopefully with the new rules for the Formula Extreme class we will see racing that include bikes that are more akin to street riding.* Then, racing and street riding will be more of a win-win….

I have to think the sport would capture more fans that it deserves & bike sales would continue to grow.

*i hate to say it, but NASCAR has a winning formula in that respect….fans can relate. Motorcycle racing is about to take that and add more substance…our sport could offer a MotoGP race, Superbike, & Formula Extreme race all in one afternoon. Can you see a Formula One, LeMans & NASCAR race in one day at the same track?