That would be averaging around 130 mph. When I was young and dumb, I had configured my Widow Maker (a Kawasaki 750cc H2) to achieve German Autobahn speeds of over 145 mph. I had to let off the throttle when my helmet strap started to choke me to death as the winds at that speed were trying to rip my helmet off.
Ah, yes. Young and dumb. I am truly surprised that I lived to tell about those idiotic days.
Fredd, i read that he averaged 133 and change. Considering he was down around 40-50 on some of those turns, he must have been to 180 or so on the straights. Maybe more.
And yes, I remember those days. BSA Rocket 3 for me, then a Suzuki 750. That thing was a chain saw.
The only 2 stroke I ever owned was a Honda 250 CR motocross organism. It had variable exhaust port positioning and it ran like a 4 stroke on the bottom end but a two stroke on the top end. It would pull wheelies in 5th gear in the powerband RPM range. That one could have hurt me but didn't and I sold it to another maniac before it did.
Fwiw, here is the 1972 BSA Rocket 3. Loved that one too. 3 cyl 4 stroke, ran like an electric motor. No vibration at all. The only other street bike that would run with it at the time (1970's) was my friends Norton Combat Commando We terrorized the neighborhoods. No other stock motorcycle at the time could touch us.
The sound of the exhaust in downtown Pittsburgh's concrete canyons was something else. Those days were so much fun.
I think I went up to 120 mph in a CAR in Germany and THAT felt FAST! I love to drive fast and with Mr. Z saying "Faster!" even I couldn't push it more! Would LOVE to do this on a motorcycle...well, not anymore, but I WOULD HAVE loved it!
It sure was fun Z, but no mistakes are allowed. We used to race around an area called Sewickley Heights, Northeast of Pittsburgh. Multi-million $ homes and mile long driveways and hundreds of miles of twisting country roads and no cops. So much fun. I wouldn't get on a bile again at this point, not with the drivers I see on the roads around Cincinnati, and honestly, you really need to be in very good physical shape to manhandle the bike when it needs to be manhandled. I'm not into putting around like all the guys do now on their Harley-Davidsons.
Coming back from Vegas once with a guy on the back we did about 75 miles at 125. I started looking at the guard rails going by and eased off.
The Isle of Man race is the most insane thing ever, but I'm just miffed because I couldn't figure out how to drive my Ducati over there to give it a try.
Euripides. Pontoons maybe? ;-) I always loved Ducati's but never owned one. I really wanted that 450 cc back in the 70's with the desmodromic valve train. A friend had the 900 and liked it.
I'm glad there are people in the world who pull off these races safely. It makes the world interesting, but in a good way.
Rudyard Kipling got it right when he wrote, "You're a braver man than I am, Gunga Din." Me, I had two dune buggys and a mini-mortorcyle growing up before I got my first car. Those were the days.
Cube, yes. Let me say that when you're at a place like Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix and the Top Fuel dragsters are running down the quarter mile in 4 seconds burning a few gallons of Nitro-Methane and putting all that rubber into the air, you know you are living in America, the land of Excess that makes your average communist pucker up and faint. Heh.
Well, no matter who a person is there is always a better man than he.
Cube, our bikes were pushing around 90 horsepower. These kids today are running 200 hp monsters on the street. I may not have survived it. But it would have been fun.
I hear you. I may not have survived those speeds either because of the foolishness of youth, but I satisfied my need for speed a long time ago. I follow the speed limits now.
That would be averaging around 130 mph. When I was young and dumb, I had configured my Widow Maker (a Kawasaki 750cc H2) to achieve German Autobahn speeds of over 145 mph. I had to let off the throttle when my helmet strap started to choke me to death as the winds at that speed were trying to rip my helmet off.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. Young and dumb. I am truly surprised that I lived to tell about those idiotic days.
Fredd, i read that he averaged 133 and change. Considering he was down around 40-50 on some of those turns, he must have been to 180 or so on the straights. Maybe more.
DeleteAnd yes, I remember those days. BSA Rocket 3 for me, then a Suzuki 750. That thing was a chain saw.
The Suzuki 750 was water cooled, two stroke three cylinder, right? I believe it was called the 'Water Buffalo.' That unit had gumption.
DeleteFredd, No this one was a 1979 4 cyl GS750E.
DeleteThe only 2 stroke I ever owned was a Honda 250 CR motocross organism. It had variable exhaust port positioning and it ran like a 4 stroke on the bottom end but a two stroke on the top end. It would pull wheelies in 5th gear in the powerband RPM range. That one could have hurt me but didn't and I sold it to another maniac before it did.
Fwiw, here is the 1972 BSA Rocket 3. Loved that one too. 3 cyl 4 stroke, ran like an electric motor. No vibration at all. The only other street bike that would run with it at the time (1970's) was my friends Norton Combat Commando We terrorized the neighborhoods. No other stock motorcycle at the time could touch us.
The sound of the exhaust in downtown Pittsburgh's concrete canyons was something else. Those days were so much fun.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think I went up to 120 mph in a CAR in Germany and THAT felt FAST! I love to drive fast and with Mr. Z saying "Faster!" even I couldn't push it more!
DeleteWould LOVE to do this on a motorcycle...well, not anymore, but I WOULD HAVE loved it!
It sure was fun Z, but no mistakes are allowed. We used to race around an area called Sewickley Heights, Northeast of Pittsburgh. Multi-million $ homes and mile long driveways and hundreds of miles of twisting country roads and no cops. So much fun. I wouldn't get on a bile again at this point, not with the drivers I see on the roads around Cincinnati, and honestly, you really need to be in very good physical shape to manhandle the bike when it needs to be manhandled. I'm not into putting around like all the guys do now on their Harley-Davidsons.
DeleteComing back from Vegas once with a guy on the back we did about 75 miles at 125. I started looking at the guard rails going by and eased off.
I prefer my motorcycles with training wheels ...
ReplyDeleteMustang they have those now. 2 wheels in front, one in back, which makes for a very stable chassis.
DeleteI think about the reaction times needed of these guys at aircraft speeds! Amazing...crazy too.
ReplyDeleteIMP, Oh yea, dead solid perfect or road rash at least.
DeleteThe Isle of Man race is the most insane thing ever, but I'm just miffed because I couldn't figure out how to drive my Ducati over there to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteEuripides. Pontoons maybe? ;-) I always loved Ducati's but never owned one. I really wanted that 450 cc back in the 70's with the desmodromic valve train. A friend had the 900 and liked it.
DeleteI'm glad there are people in the world who pull off these races safely. It makes the world interesting, but in a good way.
ReplyDeleteRudyard Kipling got it right when he wrote, "You're a braver man than I am, Gunga Din." Me, I had two dune buggys and a mini-mortorcyle growing up before I got my first car. Those were the days.
Cube, yes. Let me say that when you're at a place like Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix and the Top Fuel dragsters are running down the quarter mile in 4 seconds burning a few gallons of Nitro-Methane and putting all that rubber into the air, you know you are living in America, the land of Excess that makes your average communist pucker up and faint. Heh.
DeleteWell, no matter who a person is there is always a better man than he.
Cube, our bikes were pushing around 90 horsepower. These kids today are running 200 hp monsters on the street. I may not have survived it. But it would have been fun.
DeleteI hear you. I may not have survived those speeds either because of the foolishness of youth, but I satisfied my need for speed a long time ago. I follow the speed limits now.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete