We’ve been writing for a long time about today’s showroom stock literbikes. They are built by the factories for the single purpose of winning races and due to the requirements of the various sanctioning bodies, they also appear for sale at your local dealer with turn signals and mirrors. The funny thing is, quite a few people buy them and adamantly state they can use the capabilities of these bikes on the street … uh huh.
Motorcyclist magazine has an article in the current issue where a Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda, all from the 1k category, are each ridden on the street by the magazine’s very experienced and capable riders with a review of what street riding is like. That’s a refreshing change from the track comparisons, and the reviews come down in a decidedly mixed fashion. Two reviewers say they’re incredibly capable and lots of fun, but, every day? No thanks. One is a bit more neutral and one, the lone female in the group, says it’s the perfect street bike and she was sorry to give it up.
It’s all subjective, but as one writer said, it’s after 9000 rpm where you really find out what all of those engineers have been doing over the last few years. Just who in their right mind keeps spinning the engine to 9k and above all the time? Below 9k, all those horses you paid for are still sleeping in the barn. Those “I can use it on the street” guys may be pushing these bikes to their own limits, flying along at 7000 or 8000 rpm and thinking they’re really hot racers. That’s ok, it’s a free country, and you can believe your spray on cologne will get you a dozen hot women, too.
Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying, freedom of choice is a wonderful thing, if the bikes are available and you think a literbike is for you, maybe you’re a track day regular, go ahead and buy one. If people keep buying, companies will keep selling and that’s the way it should be. Of course, one man’s (or woman’s) perfect bike may not be right for anyone else but somewhere along the line a reality check would be nice. My neighbor has a Top Alcohol dragster and I bet if you could somehow put lights and turn signals on that thing, someone would swear he could use it on the street, … Right.
Jeff in Ohio says
Yep, that female was way off base. Several times she rationalized getting a liter bike for the wrong reasons…
“I get jealous when 1000’s pass me on the track”
“It helps me keep up with my friends on the track”
“When I fall behind, it is easier to catch up”
Keeping up with your buddies is the wrong reason to buy one of those. She needs to head the advice of anotehr author in that sory and “check her ego at the door”
The whole story was “are they practical for the street” and her main focus was the track. Heck, even for track days they are not practical. I see lots of 600’s out there for trackdays. The guys that really want to learn how to ride at the track start on 250’s anyway. They help build technique better becasue the power is not there to save you from taking a bad line.
Richard says
“They are built by the factories for the single purpose of winning races.” Wrong. The whole purpose of racing bikes is so they can sell them. These companies exist to make money. They don’t make money by winning races. They make money by selling bikes that potential buyers see winning races.
“quite a few people buy them and adamantly state they can use the capabilities of these bikes on the street … uh huh.”
Count me as one of those “quite a few”. (Read on to learn what those specific capabilities are.)
“the lone female in the group, says it’s the perfect street bike and she was sorry to give it up.”
I think she is the only one to get it right. However, it’s important to note something else she said, that a litre bike is not a good bike for newbies (or even for “average” riders!) You have to start out with something small and work your way up.
Lately, it’s been fashionable to talk about how “nobody needs all that power” in a motorcycle. I’ve been riding motorcycles for 37 years. I’ve ridden a wide variety of bikes, from a 72cc scrambler to an 1832cc GoldWing, and everything in between. My favorite street bike to date is this year’s CBR1000RR. It doesn’t matter to me that I can’t push the bike to its limits on the street. You can’t push any decent bike to its limits on the street, and you should never even try to do so. What matters to me is that the bike turns smoothly and crisply, brakes smoothly and quickly, and accelerates smoothly and quickly.
There are only three things you can do to avoid an approaching collision: speed up, slow down, or turn. This bike does them all superbly. No other current bike does all three more effectively. What’s not to like about that?
PS: Certain people in this world would actually like to outlaw litre bikes. We don’t need to help them by repeating their misconceptions.
Kevin Hogan says
I used to ride litre plus turbo bikes in the 80’s. Up to 300 HP and I found myself up on boost on a regular basis. Admittedly, I’m damn lucky to be alive after all that but the feel of the power and just knowing I had it at the twist of my wrist was very satisfying. I still ride Z1’s and KZ’s but the performance of these old litre bikes are nothing compared to todays Busa and R1’s etc. I spent a day riding my friends 2004 R6 lately with a few mods. Wasn’t the fastest bike I have been on but not far from it. Didn’t have litre bike turbo performace but I was astounded by the performance. I could hardly keep the front wheel on the ground. Another guy I know, a few years ago, rode his basically stock(with a few secret mods) Busa to El Mirage, went 203 mph for the record and rode the bike home. Does anyone need a bike that will do that? No No No…Should we as Americans have the ability to own such a machine, HELL YEAH!!!
I do think there should be stiffer licensing qualifications for novice riders. It’s frightening to think that an 18 years old kid can walk into a showroom and ride out with a 9 second capable maching. A new rider like that shouldn’t even be on the recent flock of 600’s without some serious instruction.
So do we outlaw bikes with that kind of performance to save those who shouldn’t be on them from killing themselves or others? That’s not veryAmerican if you ask me. That’s a little to much protectionism for my liking. There are those out there that would do exactly that, and probably will eventually. Producers are already putting their own performance limitations hoping to hold back regulation but that will only work for so long. Performance freaks like you and me are a small minority of bike riders and legislators are not going to lose any sleep over upsetting us. The same way they aren’t worrying about the home builder and making rules that you can only build one a LIFETIME. If they can get away with tha, then…..I don’t even know what’s next.
I guess the question is, can you use the power? Well yes, I can and will and I shall revel in the power and worship the power and modify my machine to make even more. There are quite a few 400 hp turbo bikes out there right now, do you think they use that power? Believe me Pal, they do and as often as possible.
george hitsman says
someone in my building just bought a new porsche 911 carrera ‘s’ . someone else just got rid of his maserati gran turismo, in favor of a new jaguar xj. all 3 of these cars cost over $125,000, all can do over 150 mph, yet all are used as commuters. I do the same commute in an 11 year old escort. if you can afford it, want it, then go for it. it doesn’t matter.
having the choice is what’s important. practicality is hardly a consideration.
nobody needs an mv brutale, but I’d like one!
coho says
George,
It seems to me that if one can afford $125K for a status-symbol car (none of the three you mentioned is any “better” at commuting than your Escort – less so, in fact, if you live in an urban area) then $10-12K for a smaller, more fuel- and space- efficient commuter car (or a bike) would be easily affordable.
Practicality should always be a consideration, because it’s smart.
hoyt says
Practicality will rise as skill level rises.
(more difficult driver certification tests to EARN your driver’s license &/or motorcycle license, please).
Ironically, a liter bike in the hands of a skilled & experienced rider might be more practical on the street than a 600 due to better torque coming out of the liter bikes.
I have to agree with Richard & the Kneeslider. To Richard’s point, bikes should be produced in whatever form the market will support. From the practicality side of the argument, manufacturers should build more usable or “accessible performance” into their line-up of models sold as streetbikes.
I want to see the manufacturers build out the big torque sportbike concept in addition to the high strung liter bikes…
http://customtorque.blogspot.com/
Johnny says
When I bought my last bike, they didn’t have the 650 in and the salesman really wanted me to buy the 1000 but I testrode it and quickly got tired of the front wheel coming up everytime I came off the line.
The 650 is plenty fast enough, $3k cheaper and gets better mileage too.
I’m not saying the literbikes have their place but they shouldn’t be selling them to noobs with bad throttle control.
Gerhard says
Just to wade in with my opinion, I ride a Suzuki Bandit 1200. Several reasons 1) I can’t afford a CBR1000RR 2) My wife and I do a lot of 2 up riding, so I need the comfort (but can’t afford a Goldwing either) and 3) I too like the power, but cringe at revving into the stratosphere.
All the above arguments have their merits in my opinion. I support the freedom to choose to ride whatever you want. I agree that some bikes are way too powerful for newbie’s to ride, and a stepped license to be introduced for various levels of expertise.
That said, such a stepped system exists in the UK, but I don’t believe it’s accurately calibrated. You start off with 11 hp bikes, advance to 33 hp, and then you can get yourself, say, a Kawasaki ZZR1400.
I personally would’ve preferred the system to stay with the 11 hp step. Once you’re familiar with riding on the road, and how to operate the bike, don’t introduce a 33 hp step. It seems somewhat of a money making scheme IMO. Rather have and advanced course, which you can attend on the bike you intend to buy, be it a Harley or a Hayabusa. This course could be presented by an experienced instructor, to cover aspects of bike handling, collision avoidance (at high speed), dealing with slippery road conditions etc. All to make motorcycling safer, irrespective the steed of choice.
A lot of hot air is blown when government officials deal with motorcycle safety. Legislate, legislate, legislate. Less horsepower, more speed cameras, all irrelevant issues to safety. Attack the issue from a biker’s point of view. Instead of preaching to the choir about absurd litre bikes, teach them how to use its power in a responsible manner. You crash just as hard on a 600, than on a 1000. You kill yourself just as dead on Harley, than on a Fireblade.
People will always buy what they perceive as cool to have. If the masses wanted slower, more usable bikes, Fazers would sell better than R1’s. Just the opposite happens. And R1’s don’t sell to people who ride out of necessity. Sunday pub racers buy sports bikes. And “slow, underpowered, technologically archaic” Harley Davidson’s, for that matter. People who already have the necessary weekly transport. “Unusable litre bikes” are often bought buy people with a little extra dough and a Mladin fantasy.
No one NEEDS the power. But it is nice to have, so why rain on someone’s parade?
chris says
wonder what they would have said about a Suzuki SV650 or even something so basic as a Ninja 250, 70 years ago? they’d probably think they were pretty stinking fast. now they’re often considered “learning” bikes. simple, basic, slow? no – not really, just not the fastest. it’s evolotion. there will always be a faster more kinetic bike just a few months away from the showroom floor. ten years from now the middleweights will probably be making nearly as much power as today’s litre bikes – what will we ride then if we need something less insane? a 350? a 250? no – we’ll think that it’s moderate because we slowly became used to it. what will the litre bikes of the near future be like i wonder; todays MotoGP machines perhaps? that’s exciting. and i seriously doubt that the full potential of the average litre bike is saved strictly for track use. let’s be honest – it happens.
todd says
it’s all excess. Literbikes are sold because that’s what the dealer pushes. Hang out in a dealership for a while and the people you see buying and kicking tires don’t know much about what they’re getting into.
The numbers sell. Joe Blow wants something faster than his car, which produces 125 hp. The salesman will tell him the 1000 has 150hp, Joe buys the bike. Jane Job reads Cycle World and how the CBR1000 is slower than the GSXR1000 which is slower than the ZX10R… “I can’t buy a CBR, it’s slow and people will know that I bought a slow bike”. Jane buys the Ninja and marries Joe but refuses to hyphenate her last name…
People ride the torque. Most People like to keep the rev’s low and short-shift their bikes. Most People never utilize the HP available in their bikes. Most People are already in top gear under 50 mph. A literbike makes more torque at 4000 RPM than a 600 or a two-fifty (the RPM Most People shift at) therefore Most People prefer larger bikes.
People like me like bikes that don’t weigh much, don’t cost much, and don’t use much gas. I like a bike that is very maneuverable, accelerates well and stops even better. I like a bike to be sporty and comfortable. I like to ride every day and keep my license. a big literbike is excess. It weighs more than it could if it had less power, it costs more than it would if it had less power, it is not as maneuverable as it would be if it had less power, it gets worse mileage than it would if it had less power…
-todd
Matt says
I see no reason to regulate displacement, but I would love to see a graduated license system here in the states. I also think the manufacturers are not only responsible for marketing the bikes as they do, but also for not making more affordable mid-range bikes that appeal to the street rider. The SV-650 and Ninja 650R are 2 exceptions, as well as BMW’s soon to be stateside F800. These are bikes that, aside for the BMW, prove there’s a market for smaller displacement, competent, affordable machines. They also have the ability, with a well trained rider, to seriously humiliate squids on liter (or litre if you prefer) class machines on a technical stretch of twisties.
I just feel queasy when I see a once agile big displacement sportbike lowered to the ground with a ridiculously lengthened swingarm being ridden down the Grand Strand by some kid in nothing but denim cutoffs and untied tennis shoes, or worse flip-flops. Alas, to each his own, and if that kid paid for the bike he’s free to do as he likes, it just seems a waste to me.
Final word is that the unexperienced rider doing 90+ who gets target fixation and runs his bike off the road into a tree is probably just as dead on a 1000CCs or 400CCs.
Duke says
I ride a VFR800, and I love it. I don’t see why you need more than that on the street. I often fantasise about getting a 600cc sportbike, or smaller, but I am about 6’5″ and 230; I won’t fit.
For me, the challenge of riding twisty roads is not braking super hard, and not blasting corner to corner. I just try and keep my entrance speed as high as I can, and get that sucker leaned way over. If you ride it right, a small(er) displacement bike rewards you with a nice job-well-done feeling. Blasting down a public road at 160+ and chirp chirp chirping into a butt puckering 25mph curve is over rated in my opinion. I’m sure it’s a blast on a track, but I don’t have that luxury.
aaron says
I think the article may have been more relevant had it included a fz1000, 919, zzr1200, and a tl1000 or bandit. also interesting would have been a mint example of each makers big sportbikes from a decade ago. I’ve railed on the gearing of the latest r6 before, but even the power delivery is not built for urban riding.*
*(disclaimer-I haven’t read the article, just browsed the mag and bought a copy of cycle world instead.)
Hugh Odom says
Sounds like these guys did a good job of reiterating what Erik Buell’s been saying for the last ~20 years.
Nick says
Buell has produced some interesting machines in the past, and in my opinion an excellent one in the Firebolt (and related models). I just can’t stand Harley engines. I would like to see what he could do with a TL1000R engine, or even an SV650. Not going to happen, I know, but how about the v-rod? Liquid cooled, overhead cam, in all ways a modern engine.
On the subject of the article, does anyone remember another magazine article from a year or two ago where two r-6’s were tested back to back against each other? One was stock, and the other had FZR-600 spec cam pofiles with an appropriate remap. Much less peak power and much better midrange. I think every one of the testers thought the FZR spec had much better power and acceleration. They weren’t told which was which until after the test.
Personally, I ride an SV650. Power should be smooth.
hoyt says
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?
Aj Marini says
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.
Gordy says
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?
djam says
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.
Joe Linkham says
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.