Well it's more of a nice trick

[Diesel]

davealan12 said:

Funny how 95MPH felt slow after that.

To me the feeling of speed on a motorcycle is relative.

Having Yamahammer pegged (theoretically about 130mph with 17/33 gearing) is exhilirating but not the least bit scary. Even my tiny racing CB175 is fun at over 100mph. But anything over 80mph on my tour rigged bitsa street XS650 is scary... like riding a drunk charging hippo.

[Burns]

I had my '75 going as fast as it would go on a steep down hill - I'd guess about 95 - when the road took a sharp turn onto a road improvement.

I got the front wheel onto the new pavement but the rear wheel hit a 8" lip. The impact launched the rear wheel into the air and I rode the front wheel for (seems like) 50 yards with the motor in the redline. I didn't dare shut if off or touch the brake. I didn't know if the rear-end was going to come over and feed me to the new pavement and I was looking for a nice soft chunk of tarmac to chew on when the rear-end finally decided to stay behind me.

It came down hard and it was tank-slapper time. I was all over both lanes - but nothing was coming the other way and I stayed on the pavement. All's well that ends well - me and the '75 made it home alive.

I've had my Suzuiki VM650 to an indicated 130 a couple of times but I don't take XS's much over 80 .

[Protrucker54]

I used to be kind of a speed freak & made a habbit of going too fast. Here's a couple of "stupid things" I've done.

I went to a local Yamaha dealer to try out a brand new XS Eleven when they first came out. I left the dealership & headed for the nearest four lane highway.(not an interstate though) When I hit fifth gear I started rolling the throttle & decided to see how fast the bike was. I never found out. I hit 140 & had a lot of throttle left! All that I could think of when I was going that fast was, "what if a dog runs out in front of me?" The bike didn't want to lean into a curve to easily at that speed either. When I got back to the dealership & got off the bike I couldn't stop shaking from the adrenalin rush for several minutes. I made up my mind that I shouldn't own a fast bike or I would probably end up killing myself with it, so I bought a Harley Sportster. About 110 mph was all that felt comfortable on the Sportster.

A few years ago, I was returning from Americade in Lake George, NY. I was riding my '75 XS650B with a vetter fairing. My 15 year old son was on the back & we were enjoying the ride. For some "stupid reason" I decided to see if the bike would hit triple digits. I got it up to between 100 & 105 for just a few seconds & backed it down. What was I thinking? My son was on the back!

[Viper]

I topped out my ZX-9R at 173mph... pretty crazy when the dotted centre line turns into a solid one.

Once is definitly enough for that kind of foolishness though....

[jeepurze]

I clocked 111 mph in 78 on a 78 kz 650 , 136 mph in a 260 z racing a cbx some where in missouri . these were two of my stupid times on wheels anything over 60 mph now my wrist hurt my neck gets sore and i consider myself lucky I lived through it . this weekend my son wasnt so lucky he put his sportser down punched a hole through his ankle and is awaiting pins on monday he rode like an idiot and alway commented there will be alot of bike wrecks this year due to inexperience.2 weeks ago my friend's son ran his sport bike into a dump truck out east during his last weeks of college, he wont be home ever. funny when your young you brag about this now im thinking i was an idiot too. remember your never that good. I didnt ride today

[boomer]

Hey I managed to do a full 70 mph last week*... not bad on one cylinder with a white tail as long as the Ohio river ;D I got home but the engine is dead! I will see next week-end the extend of damage... I assume it's a broken ring... The lesson is on an XS as in a men life 2 is better than 1

*then 60 --- 50 --- 40 and lumped at 15

[streetrider]

I bought my new XS650D in 1977 and regularly took it to 100mph and beyond. A few minutes from my old house were some outstanding roads that allowed you to let her rip. At least once per ride I would reline each gear except 5th. I never relined 5th so I have no idea how fast it will actually go.

In 1983 one of my dirt bike ridding buddies purchased a new 1000cc Harley Sportster which claimed 50+ horsepower. After he broke in the Sporty we would run both bikes pretty hard particuiarly after a few beers. They would run side by side at 100. We didn’t push them much past that as neither one of us could pass the other. As time has moved on I don’t recommend the beer thing anymore, at least not before the ride.

In 1984 I purchased a new Sportster (black XLH) with factory solo seat. A totally different ride as compared to the XS650. I like them both. As a matter of fact I still own both motorcycles (each are factory stock) and they look and perform like new. They have always been stored in a climate controlled shop area which has helped to maintain their like new appearance and performance.

To this day I alternate riding each bike. You can’t ride them in the same day. If you do, the second one always feels awkward. On each ride, after warm-up (6 miles at least) I usually run them up to at least 80 mph. They love it and so do I. Thanks - - - - StreetRider

[jerry57g]

It was 1974. It was a day like every other day only different. I had just finished putting the new Jardine 2-1 header on my 72 XS650 at the Yamaha shop I was working at, at the time. coming home in traffic I got on the local 4-lane and decided what the hell. Took the throttle to the stops (they called it WFO at that time) end result was 138mph and a scared and amazed rider. That was the last time I have done that, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time.

[MarksXS]

I have the same problem as many of guys who like bikes. If I have the power under me I am going to want to see what it will do.

I have rode freinds bikes that will easily take you in the tripple digits and after riding them I realised I probably wouldn't have the self control to own one and keep the speed down. So my promise to myself is to never own a bike that has that ability.

One of the things I did to my tracker was actually gear it down so that I could enjoy the torque instead of the speed. I put a 40 tooth on the back and it is a blast for me, it really sits you back.

My intension was not to use it as a crusing bike, just a fun bike around town I would say 65 or 70 is about comfortable top end.

[Six-Five-O]

This morning at the dealership...195 indicated on a slightly used 05 Limited Edition GSX-R1300 "Busa", with a full set Yoshi R3 system and Yoshi power commander...Still felt like there was at least another 20-25 mph more there, if there was enough straight left to top it out AND slow it down...Brutally fast does not describe this beast...

[slide]

Hey Six-Five-O, I hope you were wearing your full face, leathers and boots. If that stand had slipped off the swingarm sliders, that bike would of shot off the bike lift like a bullet and would have put you through the wall of the dealership and out onto the parking lot. Glad you are safe and sound. Just kidding.

[Six-Five-O]

Hey Six-Five-O, I hope you were wearing your full face, leathers and boots

More like a meat missile if anything ran out or pulled out in front of the machine at that speed.. I had my old Shoei full face, work shoes, and a pair of nos U.S. Army black issue leather gloves on..Since I had not ridden to work, my leather jacket was at home...I keep the Shoei and gloves at work for the purpose of doing occasional check out rides on trade-ins if all the shop guys are tied up.. I figure I will either buy a new leather soon, or else wise leave my old one in my truck while at work for just this reason..

We sold the "Busa" to a man my age [50] this past spring, and then sold him the Yoshi header/cans along with the power commander...He brought it back a few days after buying it and had it lowered, but rode it less than 500 miles and then brought it back in on Thursday evening to trade back in on a new Suzuki C90-T...Which is still a big machine @ 90 cubic inches/1400cc's, but with a totally different mindset and purpose...

His words were...TOO DAMN fast for anyone to own....

My words are...It's like riding an arrow.....Since I have worked at the dealership for the past 14 months, I have had the chance to ride a lot of machines..The GSX-R-1300 is by far the baddest thing I have every thrown a leg over...I can now tell the young sport bike guys who come into the shop that when you raise up off the tank, at those speeds, you better do it gradually..Otherwise it's like hitting a wall of hurricane force wind...

BTW...for any of you younger guys out there. who might be reading this...These types of speeds on the streets are very fool hearty and mostly unsurvivable if you go down..

[650mike]

I saw 7,000 rpm once in top gear on my bone stock SJ which I'm told is around 105 mph. Vibrated a lot, steering a little light but no problem, no wobble.

[gdjohnson]

My tracker has hit 100 mph a few times but the wind is really strong and makes it hard to hold on. My TDM has a tall wind screen which makes less painful to ride fast. During a recent trip to N. Ga. for a bike rally I got in with a fast pack of riders and we topped 100 several times. At one point we came up on a state trooper going the other way doing about 75 but he never turned around, whew! 60 to 70 on a back road is about right from the XS but not for to long.
Greg

[DPMPHOTO]

123mph on a borrowed suzuki gxsr 1100 came to a curve and couldnt get her down enough overshot the curve and went around it going south in the northbound lane, anyone coming and I would have been the man shot out of the canon soon to become a bowl full of inerds. have not ridden since, once I'm done with the xs I think I'll keep it under 70 (getting old and wiser)and ride on country roads.