Quote:
Originally Posted by signit98
Sorry Mike, you may not be a liar, but diluted none the less... unless there were perpetual twisties on that ride you mentioned - and even then - the GS 650 will not be found leading "throughout" the day. My understanding of "throughout" would be that the GS 650 was in the least on its own merits on any road for most of the day.
If it goes uphill for example, the GS 650 is hopelessly underpowered and - like it or not - power DOES make a difference, all things being equal (and with 1000cc sport bikes in the mix, all things are NOT equal)... above all, I question your judgement and the ability of the "seasoned riders" in question, if it was in fact the case that the GS 650 was leading a group of 1000cc Sport bikes "throughout" the day...
Now, if you would tone it down to "the GS 650 was found leading through some of the twisties" I would have no issues believing that...
Of course, if you want to prove me wrong, we can always meet somewhere at a tight track like the Streets of Willow or, better yet, the Horsethief Mile (more like a real life canyon) and you can bring a GS650 and show me...
But then, what do I know... I usually just snail along at my own pace... anyone is faster than I am.
|
Diluted or deluded? Watered down versus ludicrous?
I guess I look at it from this point of view, what does he have to gain by saying the G650 mounted rider was quicker than the supersports unless he's got a G650 to unload.
No amount of bhp is going to improve riding skill; at some point it becomes a diminishing return. For example, I'm much "faster", read: comfortable, on a bike weighing between 400-500 pounds with 100 bhp than a bike under 400 pounds with 150 bhp. On paper I should be quicker on the second bike but my riding ability and comfort level allows me to explore 100 bhp better than trying to contain 150 bhp.
When you look at trackday performances a lot of club lap records are held by the 600's. Attend a trackday where an SV650, R12S or other "underpowered" motorcycles are and you will see them doing well with the 1000 c.c. supersports. Yes, on paper, a 1000 c.c. supersport is superior but that's only if the rider can utilize all of that performance. What tracks in NA can you do that at? When's the last time you saw a supersport road test that didn't include multiple title winning road testers? You hear of tracks being called a "600 track". In NA most tracks today are.
A GS650 isn't a performance icon but on the right roads and with a competent rider at the controls yes its easy to see it leading and leaving people behind esp. when egos are in check. Really how much bhp do you think is being used on the road, even at high speeds? The SV650, R12GS, Multistrada, Bandit 1250, FZ-1 certainly have proven to be of similar ilk on the road, albeit with more bhp, despite not being performance icons and supermotards regularly embarrass double even triple bhp motorcycles on road and track. Outright performance is not the answer.
I think the focus of supersports today is solely at the track; leaving a lot to be desired on the road esp. in regards to safety, i.e. mirrors that actually work. One thing I do find advantageous riding on the HP2 versus a supersport is the line of sight I enjoy. I'm much more willing to go into a corner at a higher rate of speed on the the HP2 on the road because I can actually see more of the road. This applies to the GS650 rider too I bet.