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would you watch superbike racing if H-D was winning?

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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 05:43 AM
  #1  
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Default would you watch superbike racing if H-D was winning?

My son and I went to daytona this year and when people thought the a BUELL XB12R was winning(it has Harley Motor) the race . The fans where cheering at the top of thier lung each and every lap . For the life of me , i cant understand why the AMA just doesnt allow the Buell XB12R Firebolt to go to whatever displacement it needs to be so it can be competitive ? the stands would be full every race ! My XB12 has an 88ci kit and it has a little less HP than the fastes japanese models and 2x the torque . (160hp 130 torque estimate matched to other with same builds ) Japs 180hp and 70 torque . Let the Harley engine be 2000cc if need be .... It is actually jst an old fashion pushrod anchore . your not being unfair giving it more displacement . the jap engines are the most technologically advanced engines in the world ... Even the japs would love to have the buells competitive . more people watch the more they sell . Jake
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 06:00 AM
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I watch superbike, as well as motoGP.......whether brand A, or brand B is winning..... heck, went to a WERA race..... wouldn't want to ride any of them... wouldn't even want to spend much time on the track.... but I can, and do appericate the skills those riders possess.

Each scantioning body has their own set of rules, if Buell wants to compete, let them build a bike to spec. http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/

They do compete in "flat track" racing series http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/about....cfm?cid=21650
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 06:23 AM
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I watch sometimes when I realize it is on. But, I do not go out of my way to find it. Frankly I get board after 5 or 6 laps.

I would not watch anymore than I do today if an American maker were winning. Harley/Buell know that racing is really a net loss, even with the additional exposure.
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 06:33 AM
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I watch it when I see it is on, but I don't "follow" it, if you know what I mean. Whether a Buell is involved or not doesn't really affect me. Now if it was a Harley.......
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:27 AM
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No. Just not my thing. I sure miss the flattrack boys though. Don't see that on TV very much any more.
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:39 AM
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it's cool to watch - I'm hoping to catch them here in NJ, Sept...I had a Buell XB12 Ss..great bike..the new water cooled model is a little monster..145hp!
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:47 AM
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OK, I am going to have to change my position a little. If they entered a Steet Glide with a fairing and it were winning races I would watch for sure. And, if the guy riding it were in a black t-shirt with cut off sleeves, chaps, fingerless gloves, no helmet and work boots I would DVR it and watch each race a couple of times.
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:56 AM
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Wow, this is Burger King! You can have it your way! Your idea is exactly what they are doing. It doesn't make us Harley faithful very happy to see a maxi Harley engine matched up as even with a 600cc metric. But, I enjoy superbike racing. So, let's give it a try.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 09:14 AM
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I love watching superbike racing, and I used to watch back in the '90s when Pascal Picotte was riding a VR1000.

It amazes me that Harley has abandoned that type of racing, whether it's profitable or not.
 
Old Jun 12, 2009 | 09:24 AM
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Harley's superbike effort was disappointing and sad. Despite the money thrown at it, and having some of the best riders (In addition to Picotte they had Russell, Chandler and DuHamel) I don't think they ever got a dry podium finish.

I don't think there's any possible displacement advantage they could give to an air-cooled Buell to put them on an even footing with a current superbike.
 



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