[MotoSook]

From a thread I started on another site (I have a 750 Kaw Ninja and a 900SS Ducati..but 1993 vintage):

Post subject: In Torque I Trust! Misc rambling from Souk's Lab

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Gasoline jumped an astounding $.50/gallon today, so I gased up the Jeep for the last time probably, with gas that is less than $3/gallon. I was driving around today for work, and noticed prices going from $2.99 to $3.51 within hours! So I pulled in to the last station that hadn't changed it's prices on my route...11 gallons or so, and the charge was ~$35 for! of 87 Octane...

So! I said screw that! My Jeep is not a lumbering SUV, but it's still poor on gas mileage. My 911's get better mileage! But they are out of commission

So when I got home I pulled the motorcycles out of the dark dusty corner of the garage. I'm determined to ride two wheels as much as I can until it gets too cold. Even with a twitchy throttle hand making my bike scream in the upper revs as much as I can w/o jail time, I get better gas mileage on them than any of our vehicles.

So! The Ducati was first to get warmed up. I went around the neighborhood at a good but sane pace so I wouldn't get reported, then hit the main route, rolled the throttle to full open...and off I went! WOOOOHOOO!O! OK.. Down shift back into the hood...pop pop pop as I downshift. OK...I need to tune it. So what ? It scares the kids

Now, it's getting dark, but I have to make sure the Ninja will still fire up when I get ready to go to work tomorrow. So I hurry up and roll it out of the garage on its stand..and pull the choke to let it warm up. A couple of cranks and WROOOOM! Let it warm up a little...then off I go, this time heading straight out of the subdivision.

Hmm...something doesn't feel right. Doesn't seem to have much power..might still need to warm up a bit. Sometimes it misses on one cylinder if it's not warmed up. OK. At the stop before I'm out of the subd'n I clutch in and rev it. Hmm all firing. OK. Lets see.....roll from the stop, lean left and crank the throttle WAHHH WAHHHHH WAHHHHHHH! Bam! All the way to 9000+ RPM before I feel the rush.

Geez! I never rode the two bikes back to back like that before, but wow! What a difference between the two....WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE V-TWIN TORQUE MAKES!

The Ducati with its torque felt faster and was more rewarding at low revs and low speeds. Sure I have heard people talk about it before, but never beat up a bike(s) to find out for myself!

The Ninja's four cylinder is smooth and almost too quiet compared to the Duc. And that's with a Muzzy canister that's about blown all the batting out of it. Smooth it may be, but it feels down right mundane at low reves....but not when I crack the throttle at high speeds and high revs! It's scary pass 8000 or 9000 RPM...all the way to 12500! Before I know it, my face (sorry I wasn't thinking I'd go anywhere but around the block!) is fluttering in the triple digit breeze and bugs are smacking my face to commit suicide after getting a closer look at it! What a rush! The rush I needed after a hellacious week so far!

So! Back to the subdivision...and the Ninja still feels slow. OK! That does it! Torque is KING! But I won't give up my high revving Jap 4. I love the scream on the open road of those frenzied pistons...

I hate the lazy twin pistons at high speeds...it's better at 30 MPH through the hood when the sound bounces off the houses and makes your lungs pulse with the energy..

SO! I have found a new love for TORQUE! Now I want to build a torque monster for my 911! How's that for Porsche content?!