My response is always the same, I'll race you........from here (cleveland) to Atlantic City and back!

 

I was at a bike night last friday, and a local Harley speed shop brought their Dyno ($20/run). Had a 145 HP bagger - guy put probably $40K into it. Nobody could touch it - until a stock Yamaha R1 got on it - 160 hp! Screamed like a Formula 1 car. The guy running they Dyno had a grin from ear to ear.
The funny thing is, he had less then $13k into it - and that's not even what it does best.
It's a corner carver!

One thing I noticed - the Harleys on the dyno ARE subsantial - like half a car.
The Crotchies on the other hand - kinda like a toy. Fast as hell but tiny!

As far as your orininal ???. Both riders being equally skilled - no chance for the Harley!

 

Equal riders, the 600cc crotch will win every time.

 

Lol, but you would have lost that one too if it was me. I had over 70,000 combined miles on my last 2 GSXR 1000 with 2 iron butts (and 1 unofficial run at 12 hours)......and I'm a fatazz.

 

Last metric bike I had was a 1986 Yamaha VMax. When I took it to the drag strip it ran 10.6 at 129mph on regular gas. The bike had about 145hp the new 2010 VMax is boasting 200hp. My old VMax cost me 8500 bucks the new ones are selling for 17,000 bucks. These are the solid numbers you are dealing with. Good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NteZ0PX1Xtw

 

Interesting, but moot to me. You're not going to get rid of your bagger simply because a 600cc rice burner can burn you up in a race. Although it does bring the thought that there's always room for a one more scoot in the stable to answer the "need for speed."

 

Although flat, look at what you're turning! There is no substitute for c.i. when it comes to producing torque. To get those HP (convert to top end) the engine has to crank. That's the idea of a close ratio (high end) gearbox - it allows the engine to redline - shift - and do it again. (or shift down if necessary)

An engine that can produce low end torque (displacement) can pull lower ratios; trumping the need to shift ............. as often! Rider's ability has a lot of play here, I agree.

Off the line in a short sprint the Harley would probably have you ........ beyond that and top end (HP) forget it!

thanks for the gen, I found it interesting.

 

For a short sprint of 10 feet maybe! I like the picnic contest mentioned earlier except I will say and overnight with dinner as well. Their backpack would be so big that they would tip over. I've done the sportbike thing and the street/strip drag thing. Race other baggers but dont take on sportbike in a street race. Your only chance is if the sportbike rider shows up on the short bus.

 

While I do not normally get into a heated topic like this I have to ask the question "How many of you have ridden 600cc sportbikes?" If you have you would not question the outcome. Unless the rider on the 600 snubs the bike at the starting line, or starts out in second gear a 125+ HP bagger would be no match. I have built, tuned, and raced everything from forced inducted Harleys to a wide range of japanese racebiked. By the way, did I mention during my racing career that I raced AMA 600 Supersport?

 

Jamie, you must be talking about Road Racing, not Prostar now known as AMADragbike? Hell 600SS way back when, say 2004, they were going consistant mid 9sec at high 130's in the 1/4 on stock 600s. They are much faster now!

There is no contest in racing between V-Twins and Sportbikes. Sportbikes are always faster and the quickest, even when you start talking big-time racing. Only exception might be NHRA where they try to keep a level playing field between the competitors and manufactures...