General Biking Discussion Approved.

I don't think it is always about the speed. On the contrary, it is NEVER about the speed, really. Atleast, that's how I feel about the Superbikes (the R1, to be precise. ) Speed and power is given thing in these machines. It is more about the feel that these bikes give to you, which matters.

And given a chance (financially, ofcourse ), I'll buy the R1 without batting an eyelid. That is GUARANTEED!

Maybe you should read through this: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/superbik...-way-life.html

I also live in Delhi.

i rode my ninja thru the heavy traffic from ghaziabad to delhi yesterday... just shut the bike at a long light.. but the acceleration to 80 beats everything... hehe.. You just gotta be careful and space your bike out, keep your distance.. everything is fine...

If you have the moolah, anything&everything is justifiable!

Nice topic. Some day i plan to buy an SBK myself. However, i have no experience on any SBK.
So, here are a few questions and thoughts

Question to SBK owners

1. Is it a nightmare on stopping/stalling traffic ?
2. Spares and servicing ? I am not convinced about bajaj engineers working on the Ninja. My 220 has suffered time and again.
3. The urge to over speed. Considering that you have such power at hand, i guess sometimes one can get into dicey situations. Are Indian highways safe enough for higher speeds on these machines (Context being crazy car/truck wallahs, dogs, people crossing the road) or are these bikes capable of amazing stopping and high speed maneuvering ?
4. Parking/safety of SBKs on tours ?

I guess there might be some cons to the whole thing but the lure of a big machine, power on demand and sheer experience of an SBK must be worth the moolah

The word worth does not have a fixed value. It will differ from people to people. I would imagine a look into what influence an individual perception on how one measure worth might shed some light. And here I propose some points that I feel are some factors:
1. Thickness of ones wallet: No exposition required. Pure and simple .
2. Location: I mean to say where in the world are you located. The west, the east etc. In our case, India, where the biking scenario has been fed on a diet of sub 200cc for decades. These are some of the smallest proper motorcycle on the planet. This is why our generation would term a 150 cc motorcycle a "Beast" and the likes of R1 akin to a locomotive. Where as superbikes are mainstream two wheelers in some part of the world.
3. Cultural/Mentality/Upbringing in relation to times: All these factors will define how we interpret the finer things in life. A painting? or perhaps a well engineered machine?
4. Vanity: Like it or not, we are all subject to human vanity in one form or the other .

At the end of the day. Do you exist? or Do you live? Had I been able to afford a superbike, I would get one without batting an eye. Is it practical..No. But I want to feel every vibe, every sound, every motion to feel my senses because thats part being alive.

SBKs are worth if you can unleash their potential. Some buy just for others to come by and ask them the details. Some buy it and try to rip through Indian traffic and take a good night sleep like a baby - as a result of utter tiresome. Worst part could be if someone stops by and asks you how much you spent for modifying it !!!

One will buy a SBK if he/she has money and use it on good roads or something like in weekend getaways and feel the power. Regular use NO WAY.

Good Roads in India - May be in some areas. Use your city/town Aerodrome as the road or the race track in your town, to do justice for superbikes!!

SBK questions answered

Mik , I hope this info satisfies your queries-
1. The SBK is no fun in bumper to bumper traffic. Heat generated is immense - 100 deg C is achieved in no time. As the turning radius a large, one cannot shoot and scoot. Removal of the bike from a crammed parking lot ( as in a mall) can push you back and forth a few times and check your strength if you can hold a 200 kg weight at acute angles . Control of acceleration is also an issue in close traffic. Stopping power is so good, one has to be real careful that at urgent stops nobody creams you from behind.
2. Perish the thought of parking the bike at a public place unattended . There will be gropers, there will be the throttle twisters, the sitters who will pose as if it was their own , the deranged who will try and scratch/damage .
3. The respective mfrs have apparently trained some persons for service etc and give support for spares . This is a relief as no friendly neighbourhood mechanic can handle such sophistication. Pray that the guy has been trained well otherwise eat his head till you get what you want.
4. Be prepared for questions from any and everyone - how much did it cost, what is the average, top speed , is this legal or from the 35 % type and to crown it all- from which bike this has been modified .
5. To ride a SBK you need to keep your mind in control. She can be enjoyed at sedate speeds too . The engineering is so good that it give pleasure . I drove at a speed of 20 to 22 kmph for two and a half hours as a lead pilot for the Pune marathon - sheer bliss -the bike was brilliant as was the Kenyan who won !! Secondly, our roads / highways have too many variables to allow barreling along at 150 plus.
All said and done - the feeling that one has so much power on tap , the exhaust note, the engineering brilliance all outweigh the cons . Like ,once you taste blood, there is no turning back...

I'm not an owner of SBK but i can try to answer your questions.
1. It is kinda hard to drive in heavy traffic
2. Yesterday I was at SVC for regular service and saw an angry ninja owner there. he was certainly telling something wrong with the rear discs but they made him wait for like an hour to get the Stand so that they can look at it then he had difference of views over wiping the bike.
3. Certainly NO, My college is situated on the bank of TAJ EXPRESS and daily I hear about one accident or two. There are these safe corridors but they are RARE
4. I myself worry about my 220 parked in parkings, people come and admire the bike, thats fine but when they start to feel the bike it gets way to close for comfort.
I am a bike crazy teen will do anything to get control of a SBK, and SBK's value is too much to get it and then regret getting a high end bike which rests in garage now. I guess you got my point now. And worth here should be taken from a point of view of a middle class teen.

Great patience to drive ninja through stretch man. Sometimes i get fed up really, crossing one Red light will only take you to another. I sometimes feel cycling is best option on these roads . I daily drive around 56km from Ghaziabad-Noida-Laxmi Nagar area .

Nice awesome original stuff buddy.

Man if its not about the power then why superbike?. Why not R15, FZs etc, They look the same without the power in their muscles.

You will know when you ride one, trust me!
There is absolutely NO comparison between a faux-bike (which supposedly has the looks of it's bigger sibling), like the R15/ FZ-16 and something like the R1 or the FZ1!

Certainly I agree with you there is no comparisons and I did drove a R1 and Ninja last week that is when I made up my mind to get a ninja for myself and then some idiotic questions seeded the born of this thread . What is the point of getting a SBK if you do not get a chance to feel what beast is hiding in it?

i can say its impossible to ride one in bumper to bumper traffic unless you want your leg fried...if i get one,then rest assured will bet taking it only on the highways or weekend rides...other days it will be p220 or whatever bike i will have after 4 years...its always not about speed but the thought that with the twist of the throttle,you can fly literally

i agree with satan^ ,....ur leg WILL get fried in bumper to bumper traffic, better take her/him out for rides only,...
The R15 itself emits such heat in bumper to bumper traffic,...its kinda unbearable....

To give you an example, we all know there're hard core fans for RE's & few of them do no touring, have no riding gears, all they do is simply keep riding. But we also see hardcore bikers touring with R15 at the top of the world. Well, if you like something, can afford & most importantly maintain the bike, then go for it.