Different bike, different use.
Mar 17, 2015, 03:25 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
Issue: What is the fastest stock Harley and how does it compare to the speed of a sport bike?
Some users feel that the V-rod is faster than a 600cc sports bike, while others think the sports bike are faster. Users will break down the differences in the engine and give their opinion of which bikes are fast and why.
Some users feel that the V-rod is faster than a 600cc sports bike, while others think the sports bike are faster. Users will break down the differences in the engine and give their opinion of which bikes are fast and why.
Fastest bike
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
you seem to know may i ask how you know. something tangible. perhaps some numbers. I really cannot believe that a 600cc (sewing machine motor) could beat some big *** harley. I have seen the one guys harley bagger blowing all sorts of rice pods off the drag strip. I know it varies from rider to rider 0-60 times but what would a good riders time be.
The 600 ricer has a redline if around 13,000 RPM's, that's why.
As far as Harley goes. The VROD is the quickest HD, with the 1200 Sportster being the quickest of the traditional air cooled machines.
I dunno, maybe the guy riding the kaw 636 did not know how to ride it, but my stock FXDSE left him like the was chained down. Since I have had my work done I went up against a CBR 1000, he left me on the start, but not once I got the engine RPM upto speed.....
But if you want fast, you are definetly in the WRONG place!!!!
But if you want fast, you are definetly in the WRONG place!!!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
Are you getting the idea? Harleys can be quick, but are not anywhere near as quick as sportbikes. Harleys are designed for cruising, i.e. for a comfortable RPM range that still provides a nice enough torque curve at the expense of horsepower.
Look at the air-cooled Ducati L-twins that are designed for higher RPMs than the Harleys. The air-cooled Monsters have some grunt. But they aren't exactly cruising bikes.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Ninja 250 (which redlines at 13,000+ and weighs several hundreds of pounds less) take a stock Softail in the quarter.
Look at the air-cooled Ducati L-twins that are designed for higher RPMs than the Harleys. The air-cooled Monsters have some grunt. But they aren't exactly cruising bikes.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Ninja 250 (which redlines at 13,000+ and weighs several hundreds of pounds less) take a stock Softail in the quarter.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: MN
Are you getting the idea? Harleys can be quick, but are not anywhere near as quick as sportbikes. Harleys are designed for cruising, i.e. for a comfortable RPM range that still provides a nice enough torque curve at the expense of horsepower.
Look at the air-cooled Ducati L-twins that are designed for higher RPMs than the Harleys. The air-cooled Monsters have some grunt. But they aren't exactly cruising bikes.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Ninja 250 (which redlines at 13,000+ and weighs several hundreds of pounds less) take a stock Softail in the quarter.
Look at the air-cooled Ducati L-twins that are designed for higher RPMs than the Harleys. The air-cooled Monsters have some grunt. But they aren't exactly cruising bikes.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Ninja 250 (which redlines at 13,000+ and weighs several hundreds of pounds less) take a stock Softail in the quarter.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 8
From: Earth
Like the title says, what is the fastest STOCK Harley and how does a Harley compare to the rice burners. I am just curious maybe a few ex-rices : new HD riders could give me some insight because all I hear is well my bike is faster than any harley (Here at school) just wondering if a 600 cc can really compare to the 96CI since it is more than twice as big. or for that matter if a 600cc can compare to the 1200 sportster.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: MN
Accel, is what everyone has started saying, but you bring and interesting point how about top speed. i know my 88 springer goes 127 but that is just as fast as i took it how about the new 09 bikes with the 96 six speed's
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: maine
What's the old comeback? I'll race any 600 jap bike going with my 07 S-Glide..........20 years from now.
We'll see who wins.
We'll see who wins.
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 5
From: Florida
You guys really buy into this harley marketing hype..... If you want a comfy couch for cruising get a harley. But if you want to go fast get a japanese sportbike. If you compare stock to stock a sport bike will spank a Harley every time. If you build both, the sportbike will still spank a harley. The few harleys that claim to beat a sport bike were given a head start or the sportbike rider wasn't aware they were being raced. And by the way, Vrod's are still harley's.
I've owned many sportbikes over the years and if you've never ridden one you've never had the thrill of cruising at speeds well past the speed limit and cracking the throttle and being pulled back so hard you had to fight to hold on. Or whacking the throttle wide open at 40mph and left high performance cars like they were standing still. And all this from a bike off the showroom floor.
I love my Electraglide classic for being a comfy couch but if I want to go fast again I'll go back to my Suzuki Hayabusa which puts out almost 160hp stock and has a top speed of 190mph. These are actual numbers by the way not advertising hype.
I've owned many sportbikes over the years and if you've never ridden one you've never had the thrill of cruising at speeds well past the speed limit and cracking the throttle and being pulled back so hard you had to fight to hold on. Or whacking the throttle wide open at 40mph and left high performance cars like they were standing still. And all this from a bike off the showroom floor.
I love my Electraglide classic for being a comfy couch but if I want to go fast again I'll go back to my Suzuki Hayabusa which puts out almost 160hp stock and has a top speed of 190mph. These are actual numbers by the way not advertising hype.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From:
Well, as an example
since nobody is showing any real numbers
A v-rod muscle was quoted as running a 11.3 quarter mile time by motorcycle-usa, a very good and reputable website.
As you see, the v-rod muscle is not too far off of the smaller crotch rocket bikes (Jap, Italian, and Brit)
Triumph Daytona (675 three-banger) - 11.3 quarter mile time
Suzuki GSX-R600 (600 inline 4) 11.11 quarter mile time
Yamaha YZF-R6 (600 inline 4) 11.25 quarter mile time
Ducati 848 (848 L-twin) 11.09 quarter mile time
Honda CBR600RR (600 inline 4) 11.10 quarter mile time
Kawasaki zx-6R (600 inline 4) 11.11quarter mile time
BUT move up to the big boys and it gets smoked
Suzuki Hayabusa (1340cc inline 4) 10.378 quarter mile time
New Star V-max (1679 V-4) 10.85 quarter mile time SLOWED by major wheel spin
Ducati 1098 (1099 L-twin) 10.34 quarter mile time
Honda CBR1000RR (999cc inline 4) 10.31 quarter mile time
These are all STOCK... If you're looking for fast, HD is not the one... unless you count the limited (and not even close to road legal) destroyer, which can knock off 9.3 second quarters all day and get into the 8's with a great rider.
- Jerm
As you see, the v-rod muscle is not too far off of the smaller crotch rocket bikes (Jap, Italian, and Brit)
Triumph Daytona (675 three-banger) - 11.3 quarter mile time
Suzuki GSX-R600 (600 inline 4) 11.11 quarter mile time
Yamaha YZF-R6 (600 inline 4) 11.25 quarter mile time
Ducati 848 (848 L-twin) 11.09 quarter mile time
Honda CBR600RR (600 inline 4) 11.10 quarter mile time
Kawasaki zx-6R (600 inline 4) 11.11quarter mile time
BUT move up to the big boys and it gets smoked
Suzuki Hayabusa (1340cc inline 4) 10.378 quarter mile time
New Star V-max (1679 V-4) 10.85 quarter mile time SLOWED by major wheel spin
Ducati 1098 (1099 L-twin) 10.34 quarter mile time
Honda CBR1000RR (999cc inline 4) 10.31 quarter mile time
These are all STOCK... If you're looking for fast, HD is not the one... unless you count the limited (and not even close to road legal) destroyer, which can knock off 9.3 second quarters all day and get into the 8's with a great rider.
- Jerm