Not fully on-topic: accelleration...

Paul Franssen · Paul Franssen's Garage

...knowing the U.S. to be the top accelleration experts...

Our French amigo 911 site recently had a very short thread the jist of which was .."no car accellerates as fast as the fastest motorcycles..", and proceeded to show some figures of standing-start kilometer times, for a top-car abt 22 seconds (20 secs. for a McLaren F1) and for an allegedly top-cycle, 18 secs.

Now, what are the facts??
Could some of you
1) quarter mile experts
2) other "accelleration" experts
give me some "typical figures".

What's the fastest 1/4 mile (times, speeds) for cars, respectively cycles and/or other data (standing km, or mile) which could more or less settle this friendly discussion?

I'm curiuos to know! Thanks.

beepbeep · 06:10 AM

Well i saw with my own eyes Toyota Supra *OUTRUN* Yamaha R1 from rolling start (approx. 20 mph)...

I also have a movie from that event. I can mail it to you.

Yes, MC's are accelerating fast but they still have bad HP to drag ratio @ high speeds... and HP / weight doesn't help there...

http://home.austin.rr.com/turbolexus/video/Walser-vs-GSXR1000.wmv

bell · bell's Garage

i'm not a 1/4 mile "expert" but everything revolves around the power to weight ratio and traction. i don't personally know the formulas.
i know alot of people with superbikes and work with one of the "starboys" (a crazy local group who take fun in being stupid, but know their ****e http://www.starboyz.com/Flashintro.html )
as my coworker says "i've been outrun buy porsches, but i can always catch up at some point, even if i'm on a wheelie".
you need to have serious power to out accelerate most crotch rockets but it is possible, and we will ALWAYS be faster in the corners

my .02

beepbeep · 03-18-2002, 06:17 AM

Well i saw modified bikes run 9's on a 1/4 mile...and it's only seriously modified cars that run under 9 secs ...

Around the circuit...yeah...they'll be pretty fast but a sports car is able to corner faster and Nürburgring records aren't hold by MC's ...

So motorcycles are things that have lots of speed and cornering for money ...but if you really push it to the extreme, there are no motorcycles that will run quarter under 5 secs or lap the ring under 7 minutes...

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

This is a pretty beat to death topic: bikes vs cars

The bikers always brag about how cheaply they can go 1-160mph,
the cars brag how fast they can go 0-160-0 while turning a corner.

Bikers don't like it when their only claim to fame is shattered by a heavy car.

That being said, I've done quite a bit of dragracing in the past. I've never seen a street bike crotch rocket get into the low 10's on the track. Never. The riding skill required and the physics of a crotch rocket just aren't there. Having only about an inch of contact patch is a pretty heavy handicap. Cars will only get faster as technology is applied.

Now drag bikes are a different story, but then again so are drag cars.

Bottom line is you cannot compare the two fairly. They each are purpose built for different uses. May as well compare an airplane to a speed boat.

724doorE · 03-18-2002, 06:39 AM

Just remember this... If you find ( hit) a car in the road in front of you at 100 mph (170? kph) on a bike you will probably not live to tell about it. I have a friend who did live to tell about it but he is missing a leg and half his pelvis. He knows he F***ed up and how lucky he was.

In a car you at least have a fighting chance of living.

BTW I recall seeing high 7's in the 1/4 on bikes.. not street bikes though and not bikes that could turn a corner! They have a 10 wide slick on the back! Serious pucker time.

Now you can be in the 9's on 4 wheels by buying a used 5.0 mustang... spending 5 grand on an engine and then filling the engine full of nitros. Oh ya, and learn how to drive it too!

D.