Yellowtang 07-31-2005, 06:08 AM About a month ago 2 of my buddies bought bikes. One got a 2005 HD Custom XL 1200c and my other friend got a used late 80's Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. I also bought a bike but that has nothing to do with the question.
The thing is we were all good friends until we got these bikes. Myself I don't really care about who can go the fastest or who has the nicest bike because I can only get what I can afford and thats it. I just want to have a good time riding. But my friends which are in there 50's are getting nuts over this bike thing.
It usually takes a case of beer before it comes out. Which is who is faster? My friend with the harley is a super safe driver and has a very big head since he bought his bike and will not race because he knows he is fast because he has a 1200 cc. My other friend on the other hand is a totall nut on the bike, his days are probable numbered.
When it comes down to it, who is faster? It does confuss me because I've seen the dyno on the 750 kawasaki and it is 66 HP with 47 torque.
From what I understand the harley only has 40 some HP and who know what the torque is. I can't find out any info on the harley.
When it comes down to it my buddy with the kawasaki is a little mad he could get a harley but will not amit it. But the facts are he does have a lot of HP, he claims it's because they made bikes different back then.
Will some explain how this is possible, I know the harley would win but how, the other bike has way more hp. Would the harley win in a short race and a longer race?
84FLH 07-31-2005, 07:57 AM I'm kinda guessing off the top of my head here a little but, if the Vulcan is only putting out 66hp the two bikes are prolly fairly matched up. The Harley prolly puts out around 60-65hp, give or take with an Engine Torque of around 79.0 ft. lbs. @ 3500 rpm, give or take.
As to who would win in a race? Depends on the rider;)
bigwater 07-31-2005, 11:48 AM This bravado is a recipe for disaster. If these guys feel a need to compete with each other, then somebody's gonna get an eye poked out.
As a friend of theirs, you need to find a way to convince them that it's not about who's bike is better, it's about the brotherhood of being on the road together. All bikes are equal. I don't care what you're riding if you're on the road with me, you're with me because I respect you as a person, not for the metal under your butt.
Come up with some ingenious way to get this across to them.
For example. I have two buddies that I ride with regularly. One of them rides a crotch rocket, and one rides a Harley. One day we landed at my place, and the guy on the crotch rocket told the guy on the Harley, "you better put some cardboard down under that leaking piece of shit so you don't drip oil all over this man's parking lot". The guy on the Harley said, "I would, but my back's sorta hurting me. I'd ask you to help me but I'm afraid you'd spill all that rice out of your pocket and wouldn't have enough fuel to get home". Everybody laughed their ass off. It was just poking fun at each other without anybody getting bowed up over it... the way it should be
These guys need to get their perspective straight. It's not about the bike, it's about the experience. Once they mature as riders, they will understand that. Until then, they are just a disaster waiting to happen, and you probably don't need to be riding with them when they start showing off... Don't get dragged into the fray.
Just my .02
About a month ago 2 of my buddies bought bikes. One got a 2005 HD Custom XL 1200c and my other friend got a used late 80's Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. I also bought a bike but that has nothing to do with the question.
The thing is we were all good friends until we got these bikes. Myself I don't really care about who can go the fastest or who has the nicest bike because I can only get what I can afford and thats it. I just want to have a good time riding. But my friends which are in there 50's are getting nuts over this bike thing.
It usually takes a case of beer before it comes out. Which is who is faster? My friend with the harley is a super safe driver and has a very big head since he bought his bike and will not race because he knows he is fast because he has a 1200 cc. My other friend on the other hand is a totall nut on the bike, his days are probable numbered.
When it comes down to it, who is faster? It does confuss me because I've seen the dyno on the 750 kawasaki and it is 66 HP with 47 torque.
From what I understand the harley only has 40 some HP and who know what the torque is. I can't find out any info on the harley.
When it comes down to it my buddy with the kawasaki is a little mad he could get a harley but will not amit it. But the facts are he does have a lot of HP, he claims it's because they made bikes different back then.
Will some explain how this is possible, I know the harley would win but how, the other bike has way more hp. Would the harley win in a short race and a longer race?
1Scorpion 07-31-2005, 12:30 PM These guys need to put their ego's on hold I'm no expert but I ride alot. It is not only the ride it's the rider I've seen people on lesser machines just flat out leave other riders in the dust. If they need to race make it a drag less chance of a crash but the losser will have hurt feelings and that will end a good freindship. Just my 2 cents
84FLH 07-31-2005, 04:20 PM Ah hell... if they want to settle it, draw line on a nice long straight stretch in the middle of nowhere, pace off a 1/4 mile with your bike and let them have at it. Best two out of three takes it. Have done this many many times in the days gone by :D
When it all said and done tell them to settle down and have some fun.
bigwater 07-31-2005, 05:22 PM I hate to disagree with a long time collegue 84, but you need to take this stuff to the track. I race with friends all the time, and we share beers and shots when we're done... but we do it at the track. If you're gonna try to prove who's balls are the biggest on a motorcycle, you need to be in a closed course with the appropriate precautions taken, up to and including emergency services standing by.
You can rent a drag strip for as little as $100/day. We rent the drag strip in Reynolds, GA, and the one in Montgomery, AL for test and tunes all the time. If I get a bone in my nose for some hot shot who thinks he can out shoot me, and I can't convince him that I'm in it for the ride and not for the competition, I'll bet him the cost of the rental to take it to the track.
I guess it's just a matter of attitude. I'm a competitor by nature, but that is because I race... and I think racing needs to be on the track, not on the road. You never know when a cage will pull out in front of you. When you're on the road, it should be all about friendship and enjoying the ride and SAFETY, not who's bike is the baddest.
84FLH 07-31-2005, 05:42 PM I've done it both ways, on the track and off. Quarter mile street was a big big thing in this area years ago. We had designated strips of road that were in the middle of nowhere, we raced at night. No traffic, no lane ways, no intersections. For the track there was always Shannonville.
wattsleft 07-31-2005, 08:34 PM I hate to disagree with a long time collegue 84, but you need to take this stuff to the track. I race with friends all the time, and we share beers and shots when we're done... but we do it at the track. If you're gonna try to prove who's balls are the biggest on a motorcycle, you need to be in a closed course with the appropriate precautions taken, up to and including emergency services standing by.
You can rent a drag strip for as little as $100/day. We rent the drag strip in Reynolds, GA, and the one in Montgomery, AL for test and tunes all the time. If I get a bone in my nose for some hot shot who thinks he can out shoot me, and I can't convince him that I'm in it for the ride and not for the competition, I'll bet him the cost of the rental to take it to the track.
I guess it's just a matter of attitude. I'm a competitor by nature, but that is because I race... and I think racing needs to be on the track, not on the road. You never know when a cage will pull out in front of you. When you're on the road, it should be all about friendship and enjoying the ride and SAFETY, not who's bike is the baddest.
I agree with you in principle bigwater.We should all be safe and still have fun .That being said,84 has the most likely answer.Hey we all know what we tell our kids and what we "REALLY" did.Neither one these bikes is going to break triple digits in the quarter anyway.Big boys wouldn't buy big toys if we were'nt gonna play with them.Get it over with so they can put their differances behind and concentrate on more important things like drinking beer (after the ride of course).
bigwater 08-01-2005, 04:58 AM I agree with you in principle bigwater.We should all be safe and still have fun .That being said,84 has the most likely answer.Hey we all know what we tell our kids and what we "REALLY" did.Neither one these bikes is going to break triple digits in the quarter anyway.Big boys wouldn't buy big toys if we were'nt gonna play with them.Get it over with so they can put their differances behind and concentrate on more important things like drinking beer (after the ride of course).You can see through me like I was made out of glass, huh? :eek:
We all pull a few extra revs when the red light turns green and our bud is beside us, but my advice is strictly by the book. Do as I say, not as I do. :)
And quit talking to my kids!
Find a shop that hosts dyno 1/4 mile races. You can break your bike and ego, but usually not any bones. :)
84FLH 08-01-2005, 12:47 PM Find a shop that hosts dyno 1/4 mile races. You can break your bike and ego, but usually not any bones. :)
Party pooper :p:D
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