I worked on a buddies CBR 600 tonight. After I replaced the cam chain tensioner I took it on a test ride. HOLY CRAP i wonder what it would take to make my ultra run like that CBR. dont get me wrong ill never realy throw that much money at my bike but damn.... i was getting on it a little bit but not all out and by the time i was at my neighbors place 1/4 mile away i was doing 120. Im still blown away on my fisrt ride of a croch rocket. so maybe a Jims 131... but prolly not with sending my wife to nursing school.

 

you thought a 600 was fast...you should try a bigger sportbike! Personally I bought my HD for 2 up riding/touring... AND I love it for what it does best (not rushing, making cool sounds, relaxing, etc) for speed I have my modded kawasaki 1100! I could be wrong but making a HD "cruiser" truly fast would be an expensive proposition that imo isnt worth it $wise. Maybe a sportster... i dunno. But to each their own! Heck theres people who put big $ into making 6000lb pickups fast so maybe a 10 sec Harley isnt such a crazy idea.

 

Heck yeah bro...I traded my R1 in for the same---two up ridin' and cruisin'....that thing went 100+in FIRST GEAR!!!!! CRAZYYYYYY.....thank goodness I have more wits than I did as a 20 yo punk (on my first 1996 GIXXER 750).....and thank even MORE GOODNESS I'm still alive....at that speed...it isn't you anymore....it's whatever/whoever is in front of you or strolls out there....

Ride safe...but boy those rockets are a TON OF FUN to ride!

 

 

Check out the Kawi Concours 14 ABS. Sportbike handling with comfortable touring capability.

Probably going to add one to my stable when I start some serious touring.

lp

 

I have a 2010 Ultra Limited with a 103, FM 2-1-2 pipe, SE mufflers, K&N filter in a Ventilator housing, PCV, yada yada yada......

I also have a 2007 CBR 600 that has a bone stock engine with the only go-fast mod being a Two Brothers slip on.

Two different bikes for two different purposes:

The Hardly Ableson feels like an electric wheelchair runnin' out of battery going up a steep hill compared to the Honda. After owning it for 4 years it'll still put a grin on my face that cannot be jackhammered off. However.....(this is the part the metric haters like) the Honda feels like having my limbs pulled out of joint on a rack compared to the Harley.

If I'm going to be gone for LESS than an hour I take the Honda. If there are twisty roads involved. I take the Honda. I always seem to find canyon roads on it. The CBR is MUCH easier to ride around in town and is infinitely more maneuverable. Acceleration is better, brakes are better, nearly unlimited cornering clearance etc.

If I'm taking the wife, going to work, traveling, have anything to carry, or want to walk the next day I take the Harley. They've both got about the same amount of miles on them at the moment and I love them both.

To get your ultra to even hold a candle to a CBR you'd be looking at a LOT of money. Remember the CBR puts down about 105 - 110 horsepower AT THE REAR WHEEL in bone stock form and only weighs about 400 pounds with a full tank of gas ready to ride. To get the same p/w ratio in your 800 pound Harley you'd need to stonk down about 200 ish horsepower at the rear wheel. Don't even get started when it comes to actually getting 1/2 of that 200 horsepower to even GET to the ground without roasting the crappy bias ply tires that MOCO seems destined to put on their bikes. To make a long story short: You'll never be able to hold a candle to a supersport repli-racer bike with a Harley. It just won't happen. You can make a Harley quick but not that quick.

For all you "Torque is where it's at" people that think that a Harley's massively impressive low end torque will equalize the equation you're fooling yourselves.

Harley's are comfortable, sound great, and look cool.

Crotch rockets are purpose built racing machines.

Different bikes for different purposes.

 

I tell you what, last fall I went to check out some BMW's, and at the local dealership they are almost TOO eager to let you take a test ride.... so anyway, I ended up taking out their new sportbike.


anyway, was nervous and was paying a LOT of attention to traffic and the controls and the road, and not really looking at the speed. Me and the bmw guy who follows you on his own bike hit this straight away outside of town, and I give it some throttle. the bike settled in real nice at what felt like maybe 70 mph or so. I was getting comfortable and more confident, so I decide to check my speed... nearly 90. And it was just getting settled. Holy crap. i brought it back and promised not to buy one of those until I don't have kids who need their father alive and bringing home a paycheck.....

 

the new connie is a really nice bike to do many things well...but I would rather have a electraglide for touring/enjoyment and a zx14 for Of course I love the look of my "lawson replica" zrx1100 much more than the plasticky zx14s (zx14 is one SWEET motor though!)

heres the 2 in perfect harmony waiting for spring!http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/...ia/garage2.jpg

 

If you want something that runs like a CBR, just keep the Harley and buy a CBR, even with the insurance it'll be a whole lot less expensive. When it comes time to sale you'll get more out of the CBR than you would a hot rod touring bike. Me, I've always want to see what a BMW tourer ran like.

 

I hear ya. I came from Busa's and mixed bikes (Suzuki and HD) in the stable for awhile. Plastic has never bothered me. Anyway, I used to want both a touring bike for touring and a sport oriented bike for hauling *** but then I made the mistake of test riding the new concours and its like both. Now I want both in one bike. Touring + performance. I'm not going to get that with the HD. The Connie, the seating is so much more comfortable and the suspension and HP is outrageous! Couldn't believe I'd even consider it considering I've been really into Harleys for the last 8 years. This bike however beats any Harley I've had hands down in any category except for "cool" factor. But then I went and got a Road Glide and basically threw "cool" out the window so thats not meaning much to me these days. Really don't care if people wave back at me anymore if you know what I mean.

I'm probably going to get the Connie and be moving on from HD purely into sport touring sorry to say. I'd like to do more long trips up mountain passes and curve burning. Not hating on HD. Love the bikes. Just time for a change I guess. No longer all that thrilled with my current bikes I guess.

So.. I guess as far as Harleys are concerned... I suppose I'm now just passing through. Kinda weird thinking that. Hell I'm only 39. Maybe I'll be back? Or maybe I'll keep my SG and Roady and add the Connie? Not sure.

lp