The perception of speed

[bloodline]

While my S10 is sitting on the west coast, I picked up a FZ6 for cheap.

It's funny how bad I suck at riding when I don't have abs, tcs, and 100# of torque on tap.

Besides that, it's also funny how freaking slow this thing is. It makes a whole lot of noise and the perception is that I'm breaking the sound barrier. And then, I look at the speedo.

Yawn.

I had a fzr 400 with a 600 motor in it at one time. I thought it was pretty fast back then. No doubt, the fz6 is faster.

It's laughable just how much faster the s10 is.

Miss my bike. Badly.

 

[True Grip]

I had one of those and was pretty quick on it. It was only fun 10,000 rpm to redline. Find some curves and spin that thing up it will go. I wouldn't want to go back to one full time. Torque is where it's at on the Tenere

 

[markjenn]

If a FZ6 is running right and you're riding it at the limit (which means wringing its neck), it should be a little faster than a S10 - it's got about the same peak power and is a lot lighter.

- Mark

 

[GrahamD]

It makes a whole lot of noise and the perception is that I'm breaking the sound barrier. And then, I look at the speedo.

I think that is typically referred to as soul or character.

This is exactly the kind of thing I felt when I swapped the S10 on a YAMAHA test day for a small, sports thingy.
Half way round the loop I looked in the mirror, thinking I was going fast, and there was a guy on the S10 checking out the scenery looking bored.

So carefull. After you get used to this thing, expect to be going a bit too fast on the S10.

It's sort of like riding a CB250RRR (I forget how many R's the twin has) after the NC700. About the same speed etc, but very different experience.

 

[True Grip]

::026:: The front end limited the speed for me. I got rid of the crappy springs and put in heavier weight oil to slow down the rebound and mine would rail pretty good. The stock front end would pogo at the apex of a curve but springs and oil were a cheap and effective fix. I always thought it an under appreciated bike.

 

[scott123007]

It's sort of like riding a CB250RRR (I forget how many R's the twin has)

It's not a twin, so only two R's! LOL

 

[navynuke]

My other stead is actually a bit faster than the S10, but I know your feeling. Different bikes can give you very different perspectives on what is fast.



and when you wring its neck, it sure delivers some excitement...



No TC, no ABS, just lots of Vtwin power to spin the rear up coming out of a second gear corner.

Then again that's part of why I'm selling it to buy a motard.

 

[GrahamD]

It's sort of like riding a CB250RRR (I forget how many R's the twin has)

It's not a twin, so only two R's! LOL

Both wrong. I was thinking of the 1990's CBR250RR MC22. I thought they were twins, but they were IL4's and there was more than two R's

It has what the Oz press called "mossie drive", on the account it sounded like a swarm of mosquitoes.

It gave the impression of doing 100km/h an hour when you were only doing 20.

HONDA CBR 250 TOP SPEED 200 km/h (onboard)

 

[creggur]

The VFR 800 I traded on the Tenere was about the same peak HP, but the Tenere has way more torque and you get all that grunt from-the-git-on. The VFR was no lightweight and the V4 pulled pretty good from a stop, but around 5k RPM the torque curve went flat until the VTEC opened up at 7K and then it launched (the perception of a sudden rush of power) up to near the 11K redline.

It was a blast to ride, but the reality is I enjoy the tractor-pull, near-perfect torque line of the twin. And I know for a fact I'm faster through curves on the Tenere - riding the same roads (even taking Yamaha's generous speedo error into consideration) - I can zip through on the Tenere at a higher clip.
Eleven Years newer suspension tech comparing stock-to-stock?
More suspension adjustment?
Easier power management with that torque curve?

I dunno, but everything "felt" faster on the VFR - but the reality is quite different. I have a lot more confidence on the Tenere than I ever had on the VFR...

She was a pretty girl though - and I miss her sometimes as she was the bike that got me back into riding after a too-long hiatus...

 

[Mtbjay]

Head into the wind at 70MPH on my Ducati Monster felt faster than 80MPH does nestled comfortable behind my windscreen on the Super-T. Corners were more fun as the super light Duc which had good torque down low and made sweet sweet sounds. Miss that bike...