R1 versus C4

[mikko]

Hi Guys,

This is a bit off topic but I thought you might like to see this.

http://orl.dsm.org/misc/C4vsR1.wmv (work safe / no nudity involved...)

It answers the age old question which is faster a bike or a car
(and also why I don't ride bikes )

Mikko

[kach22i]

All I saw was code.

[Tim Walsh]

and why would I want to watch a video from Mr. Clarkson aka 911 killer? I don't have any sound over here but it still a really cool video. I sure as heck wouldn't want to be the biker with that big lumbering porsche passing me.

[RickM]

I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

[JonT]

That is one incredible video.

[klaucke]

I still don't believe it

[Bothari]

That is not very surprising, this kind of test has been done before in faster circuits and usualy the bike wins by a nose. Since Clarkson picked what seems to be a handling-heavy circuit, the bike's advantage is lost.

In a circuit, grip and handling are usualy more important than power (right, Tyson? )

What i would like to see is the same thing but using a carrera gt or an enzo, since the r1 is close to top-of-the-bred in bikes...

[vash]

i once raced a dude on a 600 katana on a kart and smoked him. it was my first time driving a kart. i went with a friend to testdrive and buy one. some dude taking trash on a bike showed up. the old dudes said hands down, even in the hands of someone that has never driven a kart would smoke his arse...the biker dude took the bet! funny thing was, that i was the only one that had never driven a kart. they put me into a tricked out unit, gave me some simple instructions, lent me a helmet and said, "do us proud". granted the bike guy sucked, and it was a katana (sorry katana guys. but you know). but i smoked him! i was passing on the outside and everything. it was a really tight kart track. and that was my only kart experience since. traction is everything.

[klaucke]

Yea, katana's are the butt of many of my jokes when I see them.

I once saw a comparison of a Corvette Z-06 verses a Suzuki GSX-R1000. The R1 [excepting the very newest released version] is not competitive on the track vs. a GSX-R. Anyway, each had a professional driver, and they raced on a well known US track, although the name evades me [it was all desert around it though, and I believe relatively long]. The bike tore the 'Vette a new one! It was no contest.

Still, its comparing apples to oranges. I love bikes, I love my Porsche. They are completely different vehicles. However, for 10k, you can get a lot of speed in a bike: 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10 [1000cc] has 165 (2 less than my 2.7S ) rear wheel hp, and weighs sub 400 wet. These bikes are almost right off the track, with radially mounted 4 pot daul discs, so they stop too!

[vash]

forget the liter bikes, have you seen the new 600's? holy kamoly! power and light weight! damn and everything is fuel injected. my zx6r had almost 100 at the rear wheel. and now that thing is a dinosaur. naw the katana is the dinosaur, mine is like a mastedon, or sabortooth....damn the summer always gets me thinking about bikes.

[David]

I think I saw one of these tests a few years ago where the bike won. Of course the rider was Kevin Schwantz.

[vash]

i think kevin schwantz invented the knee dragging full on gas method of getting around the corners.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Cool video!

Does anyone remember when Car and Driver did the same Bike v. Car test around 15 years ago? I think they used whatever was the hottest sport bike at the time, v. a Corvette.

Anyways, they had monitors on both vehicles, measuring speed, g forces, braking forces, at every point on the track. Did timed laps.

Their conclusion was the same as that video - the car won, and the primary reason was 4 tires and way more tire contact area gave better cornering and braking power to the car.

It was Kawasaki 1100, versus a Viper. Car won on the twisties.

[mikko]

Sorry to be nit-picking but...

"JARNO SAARINEN


Indisputably one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern motorcycle racing was Jarno Saarinen's rotate, hang-off and dragging-the-knee style -- he was in fact the very first to consistently drag his knees through the turns. There are several other things about this Finn which will sooner or later elevate him to the all-time Champion"
(from: http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~peer/racer-jarno.html)

BR

Mikko

[eddiehotrod]

Clarkson is notoriously jealous of the advantage bikes have over cars, and personally I think he's an idiot. This video is fun to watch, but it's been rigged to make Clarkson feel better about himself. Check out lap records of circuits to find the truth - 'The bike always wins'.......

[vash]

kevin wasnt the first to touch his knee to the ground. but i thought he was the first to get his knee to ground and stay hard on the gas. the bike is to be balanced on the knee while the back wheel is spinning through the corners. i heard an interview once where you can feel just how much gas you can give it, buy the pressure you feel through your knee. i will call my friend who is mr knowitall when it comes to motorcycle racing celebs...

[vash]

opps called him, i stand corrected it was kenny roberts who created rear wheel steering. not kevin....

[RickM]

Questions:

Can the C4 burn tire like this video shows? Doesn't a C2 have an advantage on the track?

I was thinking the guy on the bike was backing off so he wouldn't hit the car (or get hit).