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Originally Posted by Long Haired Git
Ever ridden a 500cc stroker: RZ500 or RG500?
They're the same: you ride around thinking "this is nice and sensible" but then they just light up and f*** off.
Its the reason why I like to doodle and draw electric bikes (so much more design freedom) but I don't they'll be popular until fuel is $100 a litre. Flat power curves and predictability are just sooo boring.
My ideal bike, as per above, is a cagive 125 mito evo (916 looking model) with as big a single-cylinder 2 stroke traily engine (CR500cc would be nice, WR360 more likely). Who needs broad power when you can have mental peakiness? Yummy.
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Cagiva Mito 125's look hot. Just like a 916 junior. Very nice.
Probably taking the analogy a little far to compare the R1's power delivery to a 2-stroke. The extra power on tap in the high-end is not "light switch" peaky - it's always under the rider's control to dial in the power they want from the engine from the throttle, it's just that the acceleration gets progressively more "urgent" as the revs rise, unlike the VTR for example where it accelerated steadily and strongly. By "urgent" I mean just when you're thinking it's not going to pull any harder than what it's doing right now, it surprises you and does so. I mean, the thing gives graceful, controllable, and progressive power wheelies in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and heck with a few engine mods I wouldn't be surprised if it could do so in 4th as well.
I do understand the desire for an RVF400 too. Nice, light, small, and flickable. Thing is that I "graduated" from a ZZR-250 to a ZX-6R, and the R1 is smaller and lighter than the ZX-6R, so it's
almost like a 400cc bike of the mid-90's anyway. The seat height is about the same as a 400cc bike. While it wouldn't suit a 5'0" person, anyone 5'4" or taller would have no troubles putting their feet down when waddling around while seated.
Yeah, maybe when I've had my fill of the litre-bike cup'o'seduction I'll return to own a nice little 250-400cc bike, but when the litre-bikes of today are so close to the same size, weight and handling of the mid-90's 250-400cc bikes it's hard to give up the pull of ponies when there's not a lot of gains in doing so.
If Honda released something like an updated RVF400 with 80hp and quality suspension, a comfortable seat, and stock suspension better than "preload adjust only", then yeah, I'd be sorely tempted to take another look.