I totally disagree with you. My 2007 FXSTC with Fatcat, intake, and lot of track tuning beats almost every 600 that tries off the line. They can't launch very hard, they will flip.

At New Alexandria, PA for test and tune day I was crushing a ZX-11 off the line. Of course he blew by me once I hit 3rd gear but...how far are redlights on the street?

It's fun to make them angry redlight to redlight.

BTW, with only those modification I ran 12.80's.

With the heads done, cam changed, compression to a more musclecar level, 113 cubic inches, and yet more tuning I am expecting low 11's. Of course in a true 1/4, such as a track or long stretch of highway, a sportbike will top end me, but bikes like ours (well mine anyhow) are suited for a hard launch...redlight to redlight it will be tough for a sport bike to beat a hard launch unless I see it has wheelie bars.

 

I think metric bikes in biker lingo refer to UJM (universal Japanese Motorcycles).

Our Harleys have several metric fasteners on them. Just look up in the service manual any service work for your front forks. Also Brembo brakes (Italian) on the new ones and gawd only knows what country the fuel injection is now made.

So, we drive an American bike? Or is it metric? The service manual has measurements listed both ways.

 

No offense, but the se bikes aren't all that fast. They're still hampered by federalregs

 

You are comparing a good rider, you, to a poor rider on a metric. All things equal, the metric is the superior machine when it comes to performance.

 

Agreed. Used to take my race bike (600 cc R6) to the dragstrip to practice starts for racing. Due to the low end torque of the Harley off the line it is inherently easier to launch. Launching an inline four in the power band takes a heck of a lot more skill and practice then the average street squid has.

 

and is expecting to need.

The harley can make it fun around town - that's why I'm building mine. I don't expect to beat a ZX-14 on the track, or even in town, but I can make the 600's really work at it, and have fun too, which is what I want.

 

I'll take that race and you had better be packing more than a lunch in that bagger. Not everyone has a problem with the ergos of their sportbike. In my case I can ride that thing for hours on end and given the scenario we couldn't get a ticket for speeding, I can cruise at speeds that will boil the oil in that bagger. That said, the bagger will come up short at every fuel stop as my 600cc crotch rocket can clear 250 miles on a load of fuel too.

 

When I was young numb and full of the white stuff,it really mattered to me.The Harleys I was riding back then made the rice look bad.Now that I am a little older,wiser,and generally could care less,I still like making the rice sweat!It is not about winning,losing,or what you are riding,it's all about being in the wind.

 

Did any of you watch that Buell run a 6.9 Sunday?
It sounded really tough going down the strip

 

Metric came into style when the dealers realized people wanting cruisers didn't want a "Jap" bike. Just political correctness for those that want to pretend they're not on a Japper.