Nope, don't care about the top speed. I'll never be taking my bike on top speed runs anyway, so it's irrelevant. I care more about how quickly I can accelerate my way out of trouble, so as to avoid brain dead drivers who don't bother to look before changing lanes or similar such idiocy...
I've done 1-2 "top speed" runs in my bike. Chickened out before I topped out. It is indeed pointless. But having torque above 65mph is essential for safe escapes from distracted drivers.
I ride an MT-07, it tops out around 125-130, and I honestly have no desire to go faster than that on a bike. It hauls butt 0-100, and that's where street riding is most fun, A quick blip up to 100 getting on the freeway, then back to easily cruising at 75 mph. Plenty of power to pass cars on the highway without even needing to shift out of 6th gear.
Yea my mt07 really falls flat on its face right at 100 too. I've got it up to an indicated 110 and it's barely creeping up at that point, even in a full tuck. I'm a big ol fat chunky boy though. I figuree if I actually had the balls to tuck in and hold it wide open for longer I could probably get it up to at least 120. But I'd need a real long straight and I just don't care about the top speed that much.
I feel you bro, it becomes more of a liability when you cant even reach the posted freeway/highway speed limit, but to Yams point of him getting more of an adrenaline rush riding his bicycle at >40mph, it does feel somewhat exhilarating in the sense that they dont feel that planted at those speeds and the poor engines are screaming, giving you the illusion that you are hauling ass. More fun to ride a slow thing fast, than a fast thing slow
But also the difference between 60mph and 70mph top speed makes a massive difference on a 125cc! Suddenly it becomes a viable commuting bike and not just a stepping stone to a 'proper' bike.
I'd say it is quite the contrary. A 125cc wouldn't even be able to get a speeding ticket on the freeway here in Denmark (other than maybe the stretches where the limit is lowered below the normal 130kmh (~81 mph).
@@the_rush_to_nothing I don't see how you could interpret it that way, but yes, in Denmark you can get pulled over at any speed. On the freeway there is a lower speed limit of 50 kmh (~31 mph) though. Routine stops happen all the time. Maybe the cop just wants to check if you have a valid license, or check if you have been drinking. If everything checks out, you are being wished a good day and can go on. I remember my first time being stopped, this happened at about 2am the night between Friday and Saturday. I was taking a detour through the city, and I passed a parked patrol car a bit too fast. They stopped me down a side street. I was asked to take my helmet off, present my driving license, and was asked if I had had anything to drink, all routine. As I had only had orange juice the entire evening, the cop had to admit that it couldn't have made me drunk. He then used his flashlight to check my tires, and when he realised he couldn't pin anything on me, he sent me on my way with a "Drive safe" (well, drive and ride is the same word in Danish when it comes to motor vehicles). :)
I live in cambodia, my honda ADV160 has a top speed of 120 kh/h. If you want to go faster than that, good luck. A cow or stray dog will run out in front of you sooner or later. The roads also cannot support any kind of gofasting. There are lots of people here with ninja 600s and stuff, I see that and think to myself-for what? They are terrible in hot weather, terrible in traffic, and not comfortable to ride.
0-100 is far more important to me than a top speed which can approach 200mph. However, i do want a bike which has a top speed greater than that of a road raging pickup truck owner .
@Scooter_built Your reply peaked my curiosity regarding the capabilities of a modern truck. At the moment, I suspect the TRX is the top performance truck offered by Dodge. The net shares the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX has a top speed of 118 miles per hour (mph). It can also go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. Not bad for a 700hp truck.
@@mrmatt7210 the top speed is electronically limited- with a tune, they can go much faster. (Source- my buddy tuned his truck and goes much faster lmao)
@@Z2Z9 Absolutely, there are plenty of great options for street bikes. My 250 just happens to be because it is my first bike that I bought back in 2009. It's dirt cheap on insurance, gets great gas mileage, easy to maintain/wrench on, lightweight and I'm not worried about anyone stealing it. I actually park it outside on my driveway overnight every day.
@@Z2Z9 Why do you need more? When riding in a city, there is literally no need if you are constantly driving under 50mph. Do you live in a city? The big bikes are so B O R I N G in the concrete jungle. The 250 is an absolute goon bike at that point.
I'm very new and was happy to reach the 50mph mark. My roads suck really bad here in Louisiana and the drivers really suck too so I was pleased to reach 50 on my 24' Ninja 500
Depends on the bike. A Grom top speed will get you unalived on some roads. The MT-07 is beloved by all but the only complaint is it could use more top end. A 600 has good top speed for most but nothing down low. Everything is a trade-off, pick what is important to you and learn to live with the rest. With an adventure bike, the top speed is the lowest priority on the list. My MT-07 will get 0-100 in an acceptable amount of time. Getting it from 100-130 is 5 to 7 business days and topping it out is measured on a calendar. 😂
@@hollow8194it can be too much. If you are someone who’s looking to go fast as a beginner, don’t buy one. Get something smaller. If you are mature and aren’t looking to clown around it’s a perfectly fine beginner bike. But make no mistake the MT07 has more than enough grunt to get you in trouble quickly.
@@hollow8194 I got my license on an MT07 and currently ride an R7 and it's completely fine. Like the other commenter said you can get into trouble fast and it accelerates like a 600cc bike up to 80-90mph then drops off. As long as you are responsible and don't hammer the throttle mid turn or something it's a decent bike to start on, I've ridden mine for 2 years now and starting to feel like I want to upgrade to an Mt09 / R9 (whenever it releases) and if I started on a 300cc bike I would be bored to death by now.
I ride a ZZR1400 (ZX14 in the USA). It's generally accepted that the mighty Kwak is a seriously fast bike, however, I certainly never bought it for its top-speed prowess. I bought it for its straight line stability and comfort. The fact it does getting towards 200mph is quite incidental as far as I am concerned.
@@divyansh7264 I do wish people would read the comment properly before posting a reply, and also check their facts. 1) I did not say it *will* do 200mph I said it does "getting *towards* 200mph" 2) 200kmh is equivalent to 124mph and the big ZZR1400 is limited to *186* mph.
76 Year old with SV650, can and upgraded seat. Sold my Suzuki 1100 Super Comp with 1428cc and a baby shot of NO2. No longer need to go 157 mph in 1/4 mile lol .
No. Smooth fast acceleration, cornering and an awesome front-end matter most. Top speed is limited by quality and width of the road. MT-09 has a top speed of 236 km/h, thus its gearing is quite short. Yamaha claims 117 hp and 69 ft-lb (93 nm) but on a dyno it only delivers about 105 hp, and 66 ft-lb. i.e. Yamaha are quoting the crank number, not the rear-wheel number. MT-09 has the peak power of a CBR600RR from ten years ago, but has about 42% more peak torque (and all over the rev range). That CBR did 256 km/h at 15,000 RPM, and it got there due to RAM-air. The MT-09 makes 236 km/h and gets there fast because its gearing is short. Thus a CP3 feels stronger than it is. This is like adding 5 teeth to the rear-cog of a CBR600RR. In other words, Yamaha thinks acceleration and wheelies are more fun for riders than a high top-speed. Totally agree.
@@stephenflowerday4038 It was actually a bit hairy. I don't have giant slalom or downhill racing skis, so that was really pushing it and not on some long, wide, flat run, either (I use an app with GPS to track all of my skiing). People think crashing on skis is just a gentle fall into puffy fluffy snow. NOT. AT. All! The snow is compacted and compacted repeatedly over the course of the season and is quite solid on impact. So it's not risk-free by any means. But it did feel especially good when I looked on the app and saw it was my fastest run all season by about 8 mph. I was actually pushed to do this because ex-roadracer and fairly novice skier (and much younger than me) Taylor Mackenzie went over 62 mph (100+ kph) at some posh European resort. I'm not sure he really appreciates how fast he went.
In America, it's more important, because you have the infrastructure and chances to do top speeds on bikes. Come to the UK, with average speeds cameras and ordinary speed cameras everywhere, terribly maintained roads, and a war on motorised vehicles, and we don't really get to do top speeds very often. However on back roads, between 60mph and 100mph, our motorbiking comes alive, and it's where we have the most fun. We don't have long, boring straights for miles on end, most of our roads are twisty and tight, so slower speeds is where the skilled riders learn the most.
I can do 100k miles and never hit a highway in the US. Theoretically of course, some incredible views especially in the northeast imo. Plenty of mountain ranges to ride.
Short answer... No. Top speed is irrelevant. Even those who"track day" rarely max out on the track. I prefer comfortable rideability. 200 horsepower and a top speed of 210 mph doesn't mean anything to me when I will go to jail, provided I don't die in an accident, for merely doubling the speed limit. Which were I live, would only be 130 miles an hour. Still nowhere near the top end of some of these bikes. A nice bike with enough torque to handle low RPM and commuting just fine and just enough oomph to play with a little bit without feeling like I need a tailwind to move. As long as the top end is at least 20 miles per hour above the highway speed limit, so that my bike isn't screaming and begging for mercy just at 65 or 70... I'm good
Exactly. Like, you can't expect a Papio or a Grom to do highway speeds, but it is important to have a bike that can exceed the speed limit so you can get to and remain at speed reliably.
130 mph is shockingly fast when you have to brake. On my first trackday, the thing that surprised and disturbed me the most was how long it took to brake from 135 mph. You basically stand the bike on its nose and wait a loooong time. Before that, I used to wonder how riders could just ride off the track on the brakes. However, you miss your brakes by half a second at 135, and you end up so far into the turn. At those speeds, you have to brake now, brake hard, and keep hard braking right up to where the turn starts. I think this absurd braking distance is what gets big bike riders into lots of trouble on the track. You think, 20 mph extra, brake a little bit earlier, but no, it's brake a LOT earlier. After that first track day, realization hit in with how dangerous the 80 mph and above speeds are. They don't feel dangerous especially if you're wearing good equipment and form-fitting suits.
Top speed matters if it's below like 100mph past that becomes kinda irrelevant and more so the higher it goes (at least for street riding). And even that going that fast is pointless, it's just nice knowing you still have some breathing room at typical highway speeds.
My 2.0 diesel car has a top speed of 137mph I couldn't care a less. Going over 100mph would get me banned. I'm not sure why any vehicle designed for the road Goes over 100mph
@@chrishart8548 efficiency, you want them in a certain RPM range when sitting at highway speed to improve fuel economy and a speed far above the speed limit is just a side effect.
@@chrishart8548 the less you use the better, more power means more fuel being pumped into the engine to get that power. if you was able to just idle or sit at a low RPM like 1000 on the highway then that would be a lot more efficient then if you're geared to drive at 3500RPM. you're not having to use nearly as much of the cars power or fuel to keep the car in motion
It's somewhat important, i agree with your 130mph statement. want to know that if I'm on the highway, that i have enough in reserve for passing if necessary. IDC if it goes over 120mph, but i need for it to be able to hit 120mph. That way when i do 80-85, i have roll-on. Ive had a bike that topped out at 90, they arent fun on highway.
I topped out my 2018 Honda CBR650F @ 110 mph in 4th @ 8800 RPM. That was it. It scared the ever living shit out of me. So to me, yes, for performance purposes, but no, I don't really care about really going that fast.
@@joetheagent Strange. I did 146 mph on speedometer (134 mph on GPS) on my CB650R naked bike with no aerodynamic, and it was 100% stable. It was a nice highway stretch with perfect pavement though
Top speed has many nuances, but Yammie hit all the good points. This is why naked bikes are big now. Shorter gears, with no wind guards is more fun than long gears and going 180mph. Top speed matters to my cruiser buddies more than anyone else, I've noticed.
I own a cruiser and I agree. The issue is that big cruisers have all this low end torque and you can get up to 100mph pretty quickly but then there is suddenly nothing left after 110 to 120mph. You know it's more there but the manufacturer decided not to give it to you.
10:22 our yam really grew up, from saying 600s are all one may ask for, to saying just get a litre bike, and even calling the highway throttle pinners ar squid, i guess it's the adv dad slowly taking over, the Ducati desert sled is doing it's thing ig😂❤
On my former R1, my favorite twisty backroad required speeds of 80 - 120 to be exciting. On my XSR900, something like 65 - 105. On my KLX300, something like 60 - 70 MPH. Pretty crazy how the stability, wind protection, ergonomics, and vibration levels affect the experience.
Nope i have plenty fun on my 390 duke. I can ride everywhere i want interstate included with no issues and i can go 90 in the twisties (allegedly). Going faster would be fun for sure but i definitely don't need too
This is why you need a Husqvarna 701 Enduro/Supermoto. It's a street legal dirt bike so the first 2 gears have insane torque, but it also has gears 5 and 6 for cruising and high speeds. Plus it weighs 330lbs wet.
What I really care about is my driving license, which is directly tied to the maximum speed limit in my country. So, the only thing I really have to think about is how fast does a bike get me from 0 to the speed limit, which, in my country, is at 120 kilometres per hour or about 75 mph. Anything beyond that is useless for me, unless I go to certain German highway sections.
This makes so much sense. I've owned speed twin 900 for 2 years now, my first bike. I found my hand was itchy to twist the throttle to go fast the first year. As a new rider it was exhilarating to go fast. As my skills are improving, it's more and more fun to do the twisted road riding and go through gears while listening to the glorious exhaust sounds. I've had my friends compliment the sound of this bike a few times. I once swapped bikes with a buddy and got a chance to hear it from the side, while going through gears. 😍. Pure symphony
The video is where I am in my mid 50's. I would rather be able to carry the front wheel across the intersection and be at the speed limit by the time I cross under the stop light is what is fun for me. Every street bike I've owned at some point I lower the gearing. I realized long ago triple digit weren't good for my wallet or my longevity.
Good video and point that on public roads, top speed rarely makes a big difference in most situations. Slowing down can actually be fun, allow for a much longer range on a full tank to empty, and allow one to also enjoy the scenery around them (while paying attention too).
I ride a 2023 790 duke and I love it. Easily hits 120mph effortlessly can't imagine what revving near it limit would be like. It hits 120 at about 6500 or 7000 rpm with a tuck
Started on a CBR650, bought a VFR800, then an FZ1. I agree with Yam... top speed is largely irrelevant on the street. The FZ and the VFR can cruise at 130 or so on the free way all day long and both will top out way above that... but you can't ride that fast without getting arrested or deleted so.... what is the point? The acceleration and available torque of the FZ make it a really fast fun bike... but you are still riding a 1000cc bike on a 100 degree day sometimes and you can never really touch the top end. Never had the 650 try to cook me to death like that and you can usually rev the shit out of it and bang through the gears like a maniac without the same worry of extreme speed... So far for me the 650 checks the most boxes with the VFR a close second. The FZ1 is undeniably a fantastic bike but the 1000cc is pretty over powered for 99% of street duty that I'm doing.
If the speed limit on the roads around you is, let's say, 80 mph and the top speed of your bike is only 60 mph. Yeah, maybe in that case you could say top speed is relevant. Negatively speaking in this case. Otherwise, at least for a street use, if you can do +20 mph above the speed limit with your bike I would say everything above that is irrelevant. Again, for a street use.
Another reason the GSX8R is a great bike. Top speed of 134. And has so much grunt in the low end. When I want power she gives it immediately. It's fun.
I was just discussing that with my brother. He has an '06 GSXR-750 with exhaust, flash, and sprockets. It's a friggin missile. He could lose my 8r on an open freeway without even breaking a sweat. Where my bike shines is in town and coming out of corners. He's not making real power and torque under 8000 rpm and im making peak long before that. I also dont have to row the gears anywhere near what he does. He luckily has an aftermarket bidirectional quickshift that definitely helps him but his left foot is always busier than mine.
I had a ZZR1100/ZX11 for 15 years which in another time before Hayabusa', was the fastest bike on the planet. I once did 260km/h/160mph with it and it didn't break a sweat, which could not be said of it's owner and it could go even faster and if tests are to be believed, 6th gear gearing could take it up to over 300km/h if it had more power. I freakin loved that bike. I never did that speed again, but that relatively large carburated smooth 4 cilinder would poodle along in 4th gear all day and it had sufficient power in the lower revs to drive around comfortably. Acceleration was always a hoot if I wanted it, but it would be gentle in it's reactions when riding slowly. Yes it was ludicrously fast, but as YammieNoob says, everything around it is built for it. I have riden a few 600's, a Hornet 600 and a GSR 600, but aside from steering well, I miss the low end grunt and they sound boring. A Ducati Monster S2R 800 was wonderfully strong in the lower revs but gave more the higher you went despite the 'measly' 77hp, steered as on a knife edge, but in normal traffic was like riding a rodeo when on roundabouts behind a slow car. I once started out with a Z305GP which was terrible, you could rev the nuts of it and still get passed by Mondeo diesels at the traffic light. Now I drive the here much maligned FJR1300 and I love it. Lovely linear grunt whenever I want it. It could pull a small trailer. Top speed is somewhere over 240 or 250km/h but I never try it, just the power and stability that comes with a powerful bike is great. I can also fit on it as I'm a big heavy guy. Short summary: fast bikes are awesome because acceleration is always available and everything is built around the power.
I loved and miss my Daytona 675. Was nowhere near the overall fastest 6, but I could beat the GSXR6 and ZR6 to 30-90. One of my overall favorite bikes. Was so fun. And sounded so nice with the two brothers slipon.
This is why I love my 2013 Speed Triple so much. It's engine and gearing are ideal for the street. It hits peek hp around 9k, and peek torque (111) under 8k. Top speed is only 140, and I could care less. I'll take grunt and squirt over 150mph any day of the week.
Couldn't agree more! FUN is measured in SMILES. Past 140kph here in Australia and it is loss of licence, and (depending) loss of vehicle. This works out fine for me, I've bought a 2022 MT09SP and 2nd gear redlines just around there. So it is perfect to come out of a corner and bang 2nd off the limiter and quick shift into 3rd for a little extra, and then upshift into 4th and ease off the throttle. Magically, 4th gear is in the green power band at 110kph and in the white at 100kph. What I do once I've come back down to legal is (a) get ready for the next corner or offramp by going down a gear into 3rd, or (b) pop into 6th and hit cruise, turn music to max and breath it out! In 6th you have heeeeaps of overtaking power, and the fuel economy is insane (I think I average 4.5L/100km). Then after you've enjoyed your favourite tunes, disable the cruise and double click the quickshift down to 4th again and enjoy ! ! What a machine.
The stock 16/43 gearing on my Honda Fireblade had a theoretical top speed of 223mp. The bike doesn't have enough power or aerodynamics to even go that fast. After dropping the gearing to 15/44 the bike is way more responsive on the street, still capable of breaking 200mph at the top of 6th with the limiter at 15,500. That being said I usually try and keep it 150mph or less anyway. My Ducati SFV4 SP2 is another crazy machine with a top speed of somewhere around 180mph which is nuts for a naked bike but that's what 200whp machines get ya!
Top speed is mainly used on TH-cam by people who don’t ride. The people that say something is slow because it can’t go 200mph. Or it doesn’t do a 0-60 in under 3 seconds. It’s a turtle brah.
I have the little devil MT09 and yes I had a need to at least once find out what I could expect on top end pull. So one 76 degree morning with little or no wind I ran 2 miles each way. Tucked in tight my average two way top speed was gps measured at 144 mph. I noticed the MT09 doesn’t need but half a mile or slightly less to top out. Top speed arrived at redline in 5th gear and my performance gps program said top speed took 12.7 seconds one way and 12.9 seconds the other way. I definitely prefer this to a 180 to 210 mph top end pull that takes 1 1/2 miles and 20 plus seconds. No place to use either of these top speeds. However the bike with the quickest acceleration in the 30 to 100 mph range is what I want on the road day in day out. The ability to just squirt through traffic and passing with just a twist of the throttle is what counts. I have not been back to 144 mph since that morning as I have had no need to do so. It is nice however to know what I have available.
I consider it as a part of the equation. It gives an idea what 6th gear is capable of in terms of the gearing. The highway and passing torque is definitely more important.
Top speed is only important when its too low, like with 125s or the RE350s. It also gives a good indication on how stressed the bike will be at cruising speed. So for it to not be too stressed or reving too high at 130kph, the top speed needs to be 200+. While smaller stuff, like your natural A2 bikes at 48hp, can technically cruise at 130kph, so far it has always felt like I'm doing something terrible to the bike that it doesn't want to do.
@@bigtreecombatacademy2927 And unless the gearing is different on the X, it probably sits at like 6.5k rpm doing that, which is probably fine, but I wouldn't be fine with doing for hours. Also not American.
I don't wanna be a Yami simp, but all his recent videos, Ive already thought to myself in the past about these topics and agree with 95 percent of what he's been saying. Along with the 2 new vids he's made. Good shit yam, good influence.
I prioritise torque, with the requirement of getting a minimum of ~100hp. My previous bike was 80 ftlb & 108 hp V-twin and it was perfect. My current bike is an upgrade more for the 95 ftlb than the 170 hp, and on a V4 it has a glorious midrange pull, top speed of 260kmph is probably never going to be used, but it can easily relax at 200 which is the highest I would go on an empty stretch of road. Both bikes are 1200cc, the Griso 1200SE slightly less and the VFR1200F slightly more.
I built, rode and raced small bore bikes for 40 years until I finally broke down and bought a Ducati 999 when I thought I was grown up enough to handle it responsibly. I had the engine built for strong midrange so if I want a quick blast to 250 kmh it's just a quick roll on in 4th and I'm gone. There is just something about seeing that "- - -" on the speedo that makes me want to go for it more often than I like to admit. Maybe it's just that it wouldn't do it when stock, idk, but it's addictive. I also live in a place where there are a lot of incredibly smooth, fast and remote mountain highways within a couple of hours of my home, which makes it even harder to resist.
I'd love to ride on the roads you describe. Where I live most of my rides are between 30 and 60mph because that is all the roads will support and the police love to write tickets for even small infractions.
I was attempting a top speed run on long country road. When a sheriff flashed lights and brights I slowed down, and he shut off lights never came after me.
Love the one I won from you - notice the forks are raised in the trees - only a few people knew to do that to the early gen.s, but they finally figured it as you see - even on the new SPs.
My Street Triple 765 will go from 40/50 to well over 100 so fast it's insane - and it's loads of fun when you can do it safely. And pulling the daily hundo each time out is a must. Top speed? Hell if I know...
Totally agree. My recent bikes were ZX-10R and Ducati 1198S. Both were stupid fast. The 10R saw many trackdays at Willow Springs and it did see 145mph on the front straight every time. But NEVER on the street. It was way too fast to ever use full throttle. And definitely not beyond 3rd gear. The 1198S was a total wheelie machine anytime I went full throttle. The thought of top speed is exciting but I NEVER use it on the street or highway. Simply too fast. I care much more about usable power and speed. Low and mid rpms rule on the street, especially with a Superbike.
Loved your thoughts on top speed i agree 💯 % i own a 200 cc that can go 150 but i never get to cross 120 as per our road conditions thats very risky and i found joy in being a good and responsible rider.
I rode sport bikes for 33 years and had a lot of fun. I ride a Kawasaki Z900RS now that I did some upgrades to and I have more fun on the twisty mountain roads than I did on a sport bike.
I owe a MT-09 too with 62. The only thing I care is the acceleration. And thats soemting this bike is very capable of. 0-100 KM < 3 seconds, that thrills. I care about top speed only riding one of the super sports bikes of my friends.
Yes. Of course we ALL care about top speed. I test it out every time I'm on the bike. My ZH2 goes about 160 very easily and with a little bit of flashy, tube change etc I'll get it over 200. And I'll do THAT every day 😘👍
Great topic - depends on your location and intent for the ride I think. I’ve had landrover defenders that I loved and didn’t care that they could only do 75mph downhill with a tailwind, and max out at 60 on the husky FE350, but I also often use the autobahn in Germany, and have loved doing 170mph in my RS4, 165 on my Ducati 996 and multi V4. But the 996 is so nicely geared that it purrs almost on tick over at 90mph……and that’s why it’s ability to go so much faster is so nice…..it translates back to “normal” speeds so beautifully, and gives a certain character.
The top speed of V-strom 250SX's like mine (I haven't personally tested it) is supposed to be 135km/h which is 150km/h on the speedo. The open road speed limit is 100km/h (62mph). so, while I wouldn't be able to reach speeds that mean instant loss of license, I could still get a speeding ticket. But when I get 2.8L/100km (84mpg) on the open road. I'm having fun making THAT the game and trying to better it. not seeing if the broken white line up the middle of the road truly becomes solid when you reach the Sound Barrier!
I agree- top speed is not the end all be all, as long as it can comfortably go somewhat (15mph) over the speed limit and can be able to pass traffic. As long as it can easily hit the range of 90mph or so and can accelerate away from crazy drivers, you don't need a top speed over that.
I’ve had three motorcycles so far I had my first bike, which was a 2020 mt03 & then I bought a 2021 Honda cb650 , but totaled that one. This past May, I traded my Mt03 for a 2024 Yamaha Mt07. I’m totally happy with the speed. It’s good enough. I don’t need to go over a hundred miles an hour. I’m not trying to race everybody on the road. which people try and race me and I’m like I’m just trying to have fun on my bike & cruise.
problem is ill happily sit 130 on my sprint st 1050 but soon as I start creeping further it just gets more and more uncomfortable for little gain and assumably a lot more danger than I already am in. My bike is capable of 160+ but to be honest you will never have a good enough road that has low enough traffic for it to ever come into play. that being said knowing it can do a decently high top speed gives me confidence I can cruise at high speeds without worrying about pinning the engine.
I love riding fast, but there is a sweetspot, at a certain speed it just becomes stressfull. Since I want to "relax" on the bike I see no point in going as fast as possible.
I'm a competitive cyclist (Trek madone), have a car as well but from time to time I would borrow my dad's Suzuki EN125 to make some quick spins. The motorcycle nor car has never given me the same experience I get when taking a 90 degree corner at 30 mph on my road bicycle.😂
And another thing... Peak power doesn't matter on the road. Midrange power is far more important, its more usable more of the time and is what you really feel on the road.
As long as it is capable of at least 100mph that's good enough for me. It would make zero difference to me if a bike could reach 500mph. What is important to me is: comfort, safety, weight, maneuverability, quality, ease of maintenance, the screen, and the ability to have fun on it. For me, the fun factor comes from low end grunt and high revs. My next bike will probably be the 2025 Yamaha XSR900 IF they put a comfortable seat on it.
I got a 2020 NC750X as my first bike, partially because I know I can't be trusted with more power, but also because I'm a practicality nut and got it used for a good price. A few months later and I'm almost always at full throttle on the freeway, which would indicate to most that I made the right choice, but I can't help but feel like i need more top end.. passing is not this bike's strong suit, it doesn't feel great wringing it out all the time. It doesn't like to maintain more than 85-95mph depending on the road slope, I can get it above 100 on a downhill with a tailwind, but something like the MT09 is my ideal next bike for the reasons you mentioned. I don't need to ride everywhere at 130, I just don't want to force the bike to its limit all the time, especially when passing. All that said, I still think I would keep it even with a second bike. The reliability, storage, and usability around town are awesome, I just spend a lot of time on the freeway which is where this bike falls short.
I like to know the top speed but primarily as it relates to the “comfort zone” cruising speed. I ride a lot (“sport bike”) on the highway and in moderately heavy traffic have to go distances at 80 to 90 mph. (Safest speed with that traffic ). My bike has a top speed of about 150 mph (I’ve been about 115 once or twice but it’s rare). Knowing that top speed, along with a few other factors, made me pretty sure that the speed I needed were well within that “comfort zone”. (Edit: I posted this before watching all the video and realizing he said almost the same thing🤣)
As far as I remember, the 1st gen R1 was limited to a top speed of 168 mph (270 kmh). Not that it didn't have potential for higher speeds, but Yamaha wanted it to get there as quick as possible. I had the pleasure of test riding it at the Jyllandsringen racetrack in Denmark back when it came out. I was out test riding the R6 beforehand, and it handled like sh!t. The steering geometry was probably out of whack because of the 3 times it had crashed before it was my turn. It definitely understeered like crazy. I had already tried the ZX9R at an event at a local dealership, and read in a magazine that the R1 was even crazier, so I was a fair bit intimidated by it. I rode my 2 laps and it just behaved beautifully, not a hint of over-the-top craziness. I had to provoke it to do a wheelie (probably shouldn't have done it at the pitlane entry). Another time, I test rode a '99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. I managed to get it to 146 mph (235 kmh), but it wasn't exactly a pleasent experience, as I had to hold on to the handlebars for dear life, or I would have been torn of the bike by the wind pressure. In my experience, unless you are on a cruiser with a high windscreen, 100 mph is the maximum comfortable speed before you have to duck down behind the screen. After having owned only 250's ('86 CB250RS, '84 GSX250ES and '91 GSX-R 250), I am SO done with small displacement bikes. Well, the Ninja 500 SE, that I plan to get next year, isn't exactly a large displacement bike, but at least the engine will be happy at the rpm it takes to ride at the maximum allowed ~81 mph (130 kmh) on the freeway here in Denmark.
I would only agree with the top end of yammys statement, 900cc is perfect. Ive had my sv650 for 4 years now and have expirenced pretty much everything it has to offer, from high speed corners to wheelies. It tops at 124 on gps but after 100 it absolutely falls on its face. I probably top it out at least 2 times a ride and its kinda boring. I think an mt09 will be my next bike. As i get more comfortable with wheelies i really want a bike that can do them in 2nd and even 3rd. I just started seriously getting into wheelies this year now holding bp but i need more power. Does top speed matter, no, but if i see a corvette on the highway that looks a little frisky. I do want to let him know all the money he wasted on that thing
Get entered to win this Yamaha MT09 SP at yammienoob.co ! Support the show and become a member, you won't regret it
12:49 review of the tarmac road bike? 👌
bet that cycle review would be lovely too😂😂
Nope, don't care about the top speed. I'll never be taking my bike on top speed runs anyway, so it's irrelevant. I care more about how quickly I can accelerate my way out of trouble, so as to avoid brain dead drivers who don't bother to look before changing lanes or similar such idiocy...
I've done 1-2 "top speed" runs in my bike. Chickened out before I topped out. It is indeed pointless. But having torque above 65mph is essential for safe escapes from distracted drivers.
@@MikeDyson3kHave torque to blast out of an apex on a lonesome backroad corner ain’t so bad either! I live for the moment.😎
Why bikes like the sv650 and XSR900 are top tier imo
Experience and awareness beats all.
Top speed is very important when you're racing a Corvette on the North Dallas Tollway. My ZX10 will do 184mph true speed.
I ride an MT-07, it tops out around 125-130, and I honestly have no desire to go faster than that on a bike. It hauls butt 0-100, and that's where street riding is most fun, A quick blip up to 100 getting on the freeway, then back to easily cruising at 75 mph. Plenty of power to pass cars on the highway without even needing to shift out of 6th gear.
Yessir, I ride an FZ-07 (very similar bike) and agree with this 👍
My 2015 FZ topped out at 115. Nice to see they made it a little spicier since then
Xsr700 same thing. Might get a tenere 700 for adv/touring and that’s maxed out at like 115
Just like my GSX8R. I've had it to 110 and im pretty satisfied with that personally.
Yea my mt07 really falls flat on its face right at 100 too. I've got it up to an indicated 110 and it's barely creeping up at that point, even in a full tuck. I'm a big ol fat chunky boy though. I figuree if I actually had the balls to tuck in and hold it wide open for longer I could probably get it up to at least 120. But I'd need a real long straight and I just don't care about the top speed that much.
125cc Riders: This is irrelevant to me
I feel you bro, it becomes more of a liability when you cant even reach the posted freeway/highway speed limit, but to Yams point of him getting more of an adrenaline rush riding his bicycle at >40mph, it does feel somewhat exhilarating in the sense that they dont feel that planted at those speeds and the poor engines are screaming, giving you the illusion that you are hauling ass. More fun to ride a slow thing fast, than a fast thing slow
But also the difference between 60mph and 70mph top speed makes a massive difference on a 125cc!
Suddenly it becomes a viable commuting bike and not just a stepping stone to a 'proper' bike.
I'd say it is quite the contrary. A 125cc wouldn't even be able to get a speeding ticket on the freeway here in Denmark (other than maybe the stretches where the limit is lowered below the normal 130kmh (~81 mph).
@@HepauDK so what you’re saying is they can get pulled over for riding under the speed limit? THERES NO WINNING WITH A 125CC!
@@the_rush_to_nothing I don't see how you could interpret it that way, but yes, in Denmark you can get pulled over at any speed. On the freeway there is a lower speed limit of 50 kmh (~31 mph) though. Routine stops happen all the time. Maybe the cop just wants to check if you have a valid license, or check if you have been drinking. If everything checks out, you are being wished a good day and can go on.
I remember my first time being stopped, this happened at about 2am the night between Friday and Saturday. I was taking a detour through the city, and I passed a parked patrol car a bit too fast. They stopped me down a side street. I was asked to take my helmet off, present my driving license, and was asked if I had had anything to drink, all routine. As I had only had orange juice the entire evening, the cop had to admit that it couldn't have made me drunk. He then used his flashlight to check my tires, and when he realised he couldn't pin anything on me, he sent me on my way with a "Drive safe" (well, drive and ride is the same word in Danish when it comes to motor vehicles). :)
Living in Autobahn-country, top speed is important, if only to satisfy my curiousity.
I live in cambodia, my honda ADV160 has a top speed of 120 kh/h. If you want to go faster than that, good luck. A cow or stray dog will run out in front of you sooner or later. The roads also cannot support any kind of gofasting.
There are lots of people here with ninja 600s and stuff, I see that and think to myself-for what? They are terrible in hot weather, terrible in traffic, and not comfortable to ride.
0-100 is far more important to me than a top speed which can approach 200mph.
However, i do want a bike which has a top speed greater than that of a road raging pickup truck owner .
Can them new rams and f series trucks go 140? Pretty sure they can now over long enough stretch 🤣
@Scooter_built Your reply peaked my curiosity regarding the capabilities of a modern truck.
At the moment, I suspect the TRX is the top performance truck offered by Dodge. The net shares the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX has a top speed of 118 miles per hour (mph). It can also go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. Not bad for a 700hp truck.
@@mrmatt7210 the top speed is electronically limited- with a tune, they can go much faster. (Source- my buddy tuned his truck and goes much faster lmao)
I have a ZX10r + ZX14r and my daily commuter is still just a Ninja 250.
Experienced riders understand that it's not all about speed.
A bike for track/track-like riding, a bike for long distances, and a bike for every day use. Very nice.
Why a 250 tho? Why not a more powerful naked?
@@Z2Z9 Absolutely, there are plenty of great options for street bikes. My 250 just happens to be because it is my first bike that I bought back in 2009. It's dirt cheap on insurance, gets great gas mileage, easy to maintain/wrench on, lightweight and I'm not worried about anyone stealing it. I actually park it outside on my driveway overnight every day.
@@Z2Z9 Why do you need more? When riding in a city, there is literally no need if you are constantly driving under 50mph. Do you live in a city? The big bikes are so B O R I N G in the concrete jungle. The 250 is an absolute goon bike at that point.
I'm very new and was happy to reach the 50mph mark. My roads suck really bad here in Louisiana and the drivers really suck too so I was pleased to reach 50 on my 24' Ninja 500
Should have got a bike with better suspension, it sounds like.
@@logangodofcandy It's a 24 Ninja 500, don't hate what you haven't ridden
@@S1Z3MI have a 2020 ninja 400, exact same as the 500 in terms of suspension. And the suspension sucks lol
Depends on the bike. A Grom top speed will get you unalived on some roads. The MT-07 is beloved by all but the only complaint is it could use more top end. A 600 has good top speed for most but nothing down low. Everything is a trade-off, pick what is important to you and learn to live with the rest. With an adventure bike, the top speed is the lowest priority on the list. My MT-07 will get 0-100 in an acceptable amount of time. Getting it from 100-130 is 5 to 7 business days and topping it out is measured on a calendar. 😂
I was thinking of getting an MT-07 as people say it's very fun and nimble. Do you recon it's good for beginners or is it a little too powerful?
@@hollow8194it can be too much. If you are someone who’s looking to go fast as a beginner, don’t buy one. Get something smaller. If you are mature and aren’t looking to clown around it’s a perfectly fine beginner bike. But make no mistake the MT07 has more than enough grunt to get you in trouble quickly.
@@hollow8194 I got my license on an MT07 and currently ride an R7 and it's completely fine. Like the other commenter said you can get into trouble fast and it accelerates like a 600cc bike up to 80-90mph then drops off. As long as you are responsible and don't hammer the throttle mid turn or something it's a decent bike to start on, I've ridden mine for 2 years now and starting to feel like I want to upgrade to an Mt09 / R9 (whenever it releases) and if I started on a 300cc bike I would be bored to death by now.
Only thing the mt07 needs is better suspension
@hollow8194 I started on a 2015 fz 07. Wonderful starting bike if you have some self-control and know your limits
I ride a ZZR1400 (ZX14 in the USA). It's generally accepted that the mighty Kwak is a seriously fast bike, however, I certainly never bought it for its top-speed prowess. I bought it for its straight line stability and comfort. The fact it does getting towards 200mph is quite incidental as far as I am concerned.
I'm not celebrating my top speed, I'm celebrating the ease and stability it took to get me there. 😅
200 kmph not mph
@@divyansh7264 I do wish people would read the comment properly before posting a reply, and also check their facts.
1) I did not say it *will* do 200mph I said it does "getting *towards* 200mph"
2) 200kmh is equivalent to 124mph and the big ZZR1400 is limited to *186* mph.
I bought my hayabusa for that same reason. I disagree about YN saying it’s only fun above 100 mph. The acceleration is fun to me.
76 Year old with SV650, can and upgraded seat. Sold my Suzuki 1100 Super Comp with 1428cc and a baby shot of NO2. No longer need to go 157 mph in 1/4 mile lol .
I love my SV650. I like my can. Sounds great. LV.
New bike sounds fun,
Old bike sounds really fun.
No. Smooth fast acceleration, cornering and an awesome front-end matter most. Top speed is limited by quality and width of the road. MT-09 has a top speed of 236 km/h, thus its gearing is quite short. Yamaha claims 117 hp and 69 ft-lb (93 nm) but on a dyno it only delivers about 105 hp, and 66 ft-lb. i.e. Yamaha are quoting the crank number, not the rear-wheel number. MT-09 has the peak power of a CBR600RR from ten years ago, but has about 42% more peak torque (and all over the rev range). That CBR did 256 km/h at 15,000 RPM, and it got there due to RAM-air. The MT-09 makes 236 km/h and gets there fast because its gearing is short. Thus a CP3 feels stronger than it is. This is like adding 5 teeth to the rear-cog of a CBR600RR. In other words, Yamaha thinks acceleration and wheelies are more fun for riders than a high top-speed. Totally agree.
Your statement shows the importance of aerodynamics.
40+ on a bicycle is mad ! I hit 30 down a hill on a bicycle near me. With shorts and t-shirt on feels like 120+ on me motorcycle ! Hahaha
I did almost 56 mph on snow skis this year.
@@bobbybob3447 You’re a better and braver man than most of us dude !
@@stephenflowerday4038 It was actually a bit hairy. I don't have giant slalom or downhill racing skis, so that was really pushing it and not on some long, wide, flat run, either (I use an app with GPS to track all of my skiing). People think crashing on skis is just a gentle fall into puffy fluffy snow. NOT. AT. All! The snow is compacted and compacted repeatedly over the course of the season and is quite solid on impact. So it's not risk-free by any means. But it did feel especially good when I looked on the app and saw it was my fastest run all season by about 8 mph. I was actually pushed to do this because ex-roadracer and fairly novice skier (and much younger than me) Taylor Mackenzie went over 62 mph (100+ kph) at some posh European resort. I'm not sure he really appreciates how fast he went.
@@bobbybob3447 62 mph ! Ffs yeah that’s mental ! Snow you can ski on isn’t much less harder than concrete at that speed.
Agreed. I hit 35 mph downhill on a bicycle and it definitely felt waaaay more dangerous than 100mph on a motorcycle.
It's more important to be able to hit potholes and not be thrown off the bike if you live in the midwest.
I absolutely don't care about anything past 150-165. And I only want that as an assurance that my 30-140 will be as fast as possible.
I can verify that it makes it easy.
In America, it's more important, because you have the infrastructure and chances to do top speeds on bikes.
Come to the UK, with average speeds cameras and ordinary speed cameras everywhere, terribly maintained roads, and a war on motorised vehicles, and we don't really get to do top speeds very often.
However on back roads, between 60mph and 100mph, our motorbiking comes alive, and it's where we have the most fun.
We don't have long, boring straights for miles on end, most of our roads are twisty and tight, so slower speeds is where the skilled riders learn the most.
Same as brazil, i have a 250 Honda that is a lot faster than my city allow it to be with all the speed traps, speed bumps and overall cameras
You mean the land of the free has lots of cross country highways? We don't have great roads. Just good enough roads.
@@logangodofcandy You do have some amazing roads over there, but the majority are dull as ditch water
I can do 100k miles and never hit a highway in the US. Theoretically of course, some incredible views especially in the northeast imo. Plenty of mountain ranges to ride.
Short answer... No. Top speed is irrelevant. Even those who"track day" rarely max out on the track. I prefer comfortable rideability. 200 horsepower and a top speed of 210 mph doesn't mean anything to me when I will go to jail, provided I don't die in an accident, for merely doubling the speed limit. Which were I live, would only be 130 miles an hour. Still nowhere near the top end of some of these bikes.
A nice bike with enough torque to handle low RPM and commuting just fine and just enough oomph to play with a little bit without feeling like I need a tailwind to move.
As long as the top end is at least 20 miles per hour above the highway speed limit, so that my bike isn't screaming and begging for mercy just at 65 or 70... I'm good
Exactly. Like, you can't expect a Papio or a Grom to do highway speeds, but it is important to have a bike that can exceed the speed limit so you can get to and remain at speed reliably.
130 mph is shockingly fast when you have to brake. On my first trackday, the thing that surprised and disturbed me the most was how long it took to brake from 135 mph. You basically stand the bike on its nose and wait a loooong time. Before that, I used to wonder how riders could just ride off the track on the brakes. However, you miss your brakes by half a second at 135, and you end up so far into the turn. At those speeds, you have to brake now, brake hard, and keep hard braking right up to where the turn starts.
I think this absurd braking distance is what gets big bike riders into lots of trouble on the track. You think, 20 mph extra, brake a little bit earlier, but no, it's brake a LOT earlier.
After that first track day, realization hit in with how dangerous the 80 mph and above speeds are. They don't feel dangerous especially if you're wearing good equipment and form-fitting suits.
*in America*
Fixed it for you.
@@kaysea4325lol ikr
Unless you have a KLR 650, than you're hitting your top speed every time you pull out of the driveway. 😂
Top speed is the KLR's only safety feature.
I've only ridden one once. I'm still new to motorcycling and it wasn't my favorite experience so far. It's a good bike, just not for me.
@@samuelswihart4285 I love mine, but I'm old and 6'5.
everyone should laugh at 650cc single but they do it.
* then?
Top speed matters if it's below like 100mph past that becomes kinda irrelevant and more so the higher it goes (at least for street riding). And even that going that fast is pointless, it's just nice knowing you still have some breathing room at typical highway speeds.
Bushfires can travel at 100mph
@@S1Z3Myeah cause always outrunning max conditions bush fires
Yes, 190mph was important to me on the daily commute.
I literally never check out the top speed of any veichle, its probably the most useless stat. If anything it is better to check out the gearing
My 2.0 diesel car has a top speed of 137mph I couldn't care a less. Going over 100mph would get me banned. I'm not sure why any vehicle designed for the road Goes over 100mph
@@chrishart8548 efficiency, you want them in a certain RPM range when sitting at highway speed to improve fuel economy and a speed far above the speed limit is just a side effect.
@@kuma_score7536 I believe using half the available horse power is key for the efficiency of any engine.
@@chrishart8548 the less you use the better, more power means more fuel being pumped into the engine to get that power. if you was able to just idle or sit at a low RPM like 1000 on the highway then that would be a lot more efficient then if you're geared to drive at 3500RPM. you're not having to use nearly as much of the cars power or fuel to keep the car in motion
I think i can agree with this one. Using the bike and navigating my commute is a much more fun experience than just a top speed run on the hwy.
It's somewhat important, i agree with your 130mph statement. want to know that if I'm on the highway, that i have enough in reserve for passing if necessary. IDC if it goes over 120mph, but i need for it to be able to hit 120mph. That way when i do 80-85, i have roll-on. Ive had a bike that topped out at 90, they arent fun on highway.
I had a car like that. Lol. 1324 cc wow it was slow.
Sounds like my DRZ.
Can’t even pass people on the highway 🤣
My rebel 1100 goes 100 mph maximum, but honestly, it's not fun going faster than that on a naked cruiser 🤣
I topped out my 2018 Honda CBR650F @ 110 mph in 4th @ 8800 RPM. That was it. It scared the ever living shit out of me. So to me, yes, for performance purposes, but no, I don't really care about really going that fast.
I have a 2016...ditto!! 😂
mine is a 2015 and I don't think that bike really handles that well much above 100... its OK... but its not great.
Doesn't handle well? 110 isn't bad on my scrambler xc
@@joetheagent Strange. I did 146 mph on speedometer (134 mph on GPS) on my CB650R naked bike with no aerodynamic, and it was 100% stable. It was a nice highway stretch with perfect pavement though
Top speed has many nuances, but Yammie hit all the good points. This is why naked bikes are big now. Shorter gears, with no wind guards is more fun than long gears and going 180mph. Top speed matters to my cruiser buddies more than anyone else, I've noticed.
I own a cruiser and I agree. The issue is that big cruisers have all this low end torque and you can get up to 100mph pretty quickly but then there is suddenly nothing left after 110 to 120mph. You know it's more there but the manufacturer decided not to give it to you.
Bikes that can pull hard between 30-130 seems to be my favorite sweet spot.. and the MT09 SP it’s exactly that
Beautiful bike yams
Going 60 on a dirt road with a 4 wheeler is terrifying
10:22 our yam really grew up, from saying 600s are all one may ask for, to saying just get a litre bike, and even calling the highway throttle pinners ar squid, i guess it's the adv dad slowly taking over, the Ducati desert sled is doing it's thing ig😂❤
On my former R1, my favorite twisty backroad required speeds of 80 - 120 to be exciting. On my XSR900, something like 65 - 105. On my KLX300, something like 60 - 70 MPH. Pretty crazy how the stability, wind protection, ergonomics, and vibration levels affect the experience.
Nope i have plenty fun on my 390 duke. I can ride everywhere i want interstate included with no issues and i can go 90 in the twisties (allegedly). Going faster would be fun for sure but i definitely don't need too
This is why you need a Husqvarna 701 Enduro/Supermoto. It's a street legal dirt bike so the first 2 gears have insane torque, but it also has gears 5 and 6 for cruising and high speeds. Plus it weighs 330lbs wet.
Nobody needs anything that ugly. I'll walk.
@@logangodofcandyyes walk,thats exactly what posers should be doing.
What I really care about is my driving license, which is directly tied to the maximum speed limit in my country. So, the only thing I really have to think about is how fast does a bike get me from 0 to the speed limit, which, in my country, is at 120 kilometres per hour or about 75 mph.
Anything beyond that is useless for me, unless I go to certain German highway sections.
This makes so much sense. I've owned speed twin 900 for 2 years now, my first bike. I found my hand was itchy to twist the throttle to go fast the first year. As a new rider it was exhilarating to go fast. As my skills are improving, it's more and more fun to do the twisted road riding and go through gears while listening to the glorious exhaust sounds. I've had my friends compliment the sound of this bike a few times. I once swapped bikes with a buddy and got a chance to hear it from the side, while going through gears. 😍. Pure symphony
The video is where I am in my mid 50's. I would rather be able to carry the front wheel across the intersection and be at the speed limit by the time I cross under the stop light is what is fun for me. Every street bike I've owned at some point I lower the gearing. I realized long ago triple digit weren't good for my wallet or my longevity.
Good video and point that on public roads, top speed rarely makes a big difference in most situations. Slowing down can actually be fun, allow for a much longer range on a full tank to empty, and allow one to also enjoy the scenery around them (while paying attention too).
id say its a good marker to know how fast you can go comfortably but other than that its mostly prestige
This is why I love the 1200RR. Easily can hit the top speed without a second thought, yet perfectly comfortable and streetable in any scenario
I ride a 2023 790 duke and I love it. Easily hits 120mph effortlessly can't imagine what revving near it limit would be like. It hits 120 at about 6500 or 7000 rpm with a tuck
130mph is plenty
What’s the bar mount for the insta360 camera? I’ve snapped already 2 of them just from vibrations… yours looks sturdy 🤩
Started on a CBR650, bought a VFR800, then an FZ1. I agree with Yam... top speed is largely irrelevant on the street. The FZ and the VFR can cruise at 130 or so on the free way all day long and both will top out way above that... but you can't ride that fast without getting arrested or deleted so.... what is the point? The acceleration and available torque of the FZ make it a really fast fun bike... but you are still riding a 1000cc bike on a 100 degree day sometimes and you can never really touch the top end. Never had the 650 try to cook me to death like that and you can usually rev the shit out of it and bang through the gears like a maniac without the same worry of extreme speed... So far for me the 650 checks the most boxes with the VFR a close second. The FZ1 is undeniably a fantastic bike but the 1000cc is pretty over powered for 99% of street duty that I'm doing.
Jeremy Clarkson knows best about this topic. Speed and Power
If the speed limit on the roads around you is, let's say, 80 mph and the top speed of your bike is only 60 mph. Yeah, maybe in that case you could say top speed is relevant. Negatively speaking in this case. Otherwise, at least for a street use, if you can do +20 mph above the speed limit with your bike I would say everything above that is irrelevant. Again, for a street use.
US highways often hit 80mph. Bike must go 100 or it is trash. I agree.
Another reason the GSX8R is a great bike. Top speed of 134. And has so much grunt in the low end. When I want power she gives it immediately. It's fun.
I was just discussing that with my brother. He has an '06 GSXR-750 with exhaust, flash, and sprockets. It's a friggin missile. He could lose my 8r on an open freeway without even breaking a sweat. Where my bike shines is in town and coming out of corners. He's not making real power and torque under 8000 rpm and im making peak long before that. I also dont have to row the gears anywhere near what he does. He luckily has an aftermarket bidirectional quickshift that definitely helps him but his left foot is always busier than mine.
I had a ZZR1100/ZX11 for 15 years which in another time before Hayabusa', was the fastest bike on the planet. I once did 260km/h/160mph with it and it didn't break a sweat, which could not be said of it's owner and it could go even faster and if tests are to be believed, 6th gear gearing could take it up to over 300km/h if it had more power. I freakin loved that bike. I never did that speed again, but that relatively large carburated smooth 4 cilinder would poodle along in 4th gear all day and it had sufficient power in the lower revs to drive around comfortably. Acceleration was always a hoot if I wanted it, but it would be gentle in it's reactions when riding slowly. Yes it was ludicrously fast, but as YammieNoob says, everything around it is built for it. I have riden a few 600's, a Hornet 600 and a GSR 600, but aside from steering well, I miss the low end grunt and they sound boring. A Ducati Monster S2R 800 was wonderfully strong in the lower revs but gave more the higher you went despite the 'measly' 77hp, steered as on a knife edge, but in normal traffic was like riding a rodeo when on roundabouts behind a slow car. I once started out with a Z305GP which was terrible, you could rev the nuts of it and still get passed by Mondeo diesels at the traffic light. Now I drive the here much maligned FJR1300 and I love it. Lovely linear grunt whenever I want it. It could pull a small trailer. Top speed is somewhere over 240 or 250km/h but I never try it, just the power and stability that comes with a powerful bike is great. I can also fit on it as I'm a big heavy guy. Short summary: fast bikes are awesome because acceleration is always available and everything is built around the power.
Try to do the TON every time out on my KTM RC390! TON UP CLUB, INTERNATIONAL!
Gsxr brethren, we must continue the path of the squid. Yams speaks of heresy!
I loved and miss my Daytona 675. Was nowhere near the overall fastest 6, but I could beat the GSXR6 and ZR6 to 30-90. One of my overall favorite bikes. Was so fun. And sounded so nice with the two brothers slipon.
This is why I love my 2013 Speed Triple so much. It's engine and gearing are ideal for the street. It hits peek hp around 9k, and peek torque (111) under 8k. Top speed is only 140, and I could care less. I'll take grunt and squirt over 150mph any day of the week.
Couldn't agree more! FUN is measured in SMILES. Past 140kph here in Australia and it is loss of licence, and (depending) loss of vehicle. This works out fine for me, I've bought a 2022 MT09SP and 2nd gear redlines just around there. So it is perfect to come out of a corner and bang 2nd off the limiter and quick shift into 3rd for a little extra, and then upshift into 4th and ease off the throttle. Magically, 4th gear is in the green power band at 110kph and in the white at 100kph. What I do once I've come back down to legal is (a) get ready for the next corner or offramp by going down a gear into 3rd, or (b) pop into 6th and hit cruise, turn music to max and breath it out! In 6th you have heeeeaps of overtaking power, and the fuel economy is insane (I think I average 4.5L/100km). Then after you've enjoyed your favourite tunes, disable the cruise and double click the quickshift down to 4th again and enjoy ! ! What a machine.
The stock 16/43 gearing on my Honda Fireblade had a theoretical top speed of 223mp. The bike doesn't have enough power or aerodynamics to even go that fast. After dropping the gearing to 15/44 the bike is way more responsive on the street, still capable of breaking 200mph at the top of 6th with the limiter at 15,500. That being said I usually try and keep it 150mph or less anyway.
My Ducati SFV4 SP2 is another crazy machine with a top speed of somewhere around 180mph which is nuts for a naked bike but that's what 200whp machines get ya!
Top speed is mainly used on TH-cam by people who don’t ride.
The people that say something is slow because it can’t go 200mph. Or it doesn’t do a 0-60 in under 3 seconds.
It’s a turtle brah.
I’m a gen 1 busa owner and top speed is a very important part of my life😭🤣
Hey Yammie, always enjoy your videos! Thanks for making the outro a little less crazy. Have a great weekend!
I have the little devil MT09 and yes I had a need to at least once find out what I could expect on top end pull. So one 76 degree morning with little or no wind I ran 2 miles each way. Tucked in tight my average two way top speed was gps measured at 144 mph. I noticed the MT09 doesn’t need but half a mile or slightly less to top out. Top speed arrived at redline in 5th gear and my performance gps program said top speed took 12.7 seconds one way and 12.9 seconds the other way. I definitely prefer this to a 180 to 210 mph top end pull that takes 1 1/2 miles and 20 plus seconds.
No place to use either of these top speeds. However the bike with the quickest acceleration in the 30 to 100 mph range is what I want on the road day in day out. The ability to just squirt through traffic and passing with just a twist of the throttle is what counts.
I have not been back to 144 mph since that morning as I have had no need to do so. It is nice however to know what I have available.
I consider it as a part of the equation. It gives an idea what 6th gear is capable of in terms of the gearing. The highway and passing torque is definitely more important.
Top speed is irrelevant. What matters is how fast I can get to 85
Top speed is only important when its too low, like with 125s or the RE350s. It also gives a good indication on how stressed the bike will be at cruising speed. So for it to not be too stressed or reving too high at 130kph, the top speed needs to be 200+. While smaller stuff, like your natural A2 bikes at 48hp, can technically cruise at 130kph, so far it has always felt like I'm doing something terrible to the bike that it doesn't want to do.
My 500x handles 130 no problem with around 48hp
And I’m 117kg in gear
American problems
@@bigtreecombatacademy2927 And unless the gearing is different on the X, it probably sits at like 6.5k rpm doing that, which is probably fine, but I wouldn't be fine with doing for hours.
Also not American.
@@AddumEnied about 5500 rpm but it’s over the limit here
If the Federal Government Doesn't Follow the Law, why should We Follow the Federal Speed limits??
Ive done a couple top speed runs. Got to 180+. Definitely more fun accelerating around town.
I don't wanna be a Yami simp, but all his recent videos, Ive already thought to myself in the past about these topics and agree with 95 percent of what he's been saying. Along with the 2 new vids he's made. Good shit yam, good influence.
I prioritise torque, with the requirement of getting a minimum of ~100hp.
My previous bike was 80 ftlb & 108 hp V-twin and it was perfect.
My current bike is an upgrade more for the 95 ftlb than the 170 hp, and on a V4 it has a glorious midrange pull, top speed of 260kmph is probably never going to be used, but it can easily relax at 200 which is the highest I would go on an empty stretch of road.
Both bikes are 1200cc, the Griso 1200SE slightly less and the VFR1200F slightly more.
This video is great and makes me feel better about my 2024 rebel 1100 T
I built, rode and raced small bore bikes for 40 years until I finally broke down and bought a Ducati 999 when I thought I was grown up enough to handle it responsibly. I had the engine built for strong midrange so if I want a quick blast to 250 kmh it's just a quick roll on in 4th and I'm gone.
There is just something about seeing that "- - -" on the speedo that makes me want to go for it more often than I like to admit. Maybe it's just that it wouldn't do it when stock, idk, but it's addictive. I also live in a place where there are a lot of incredibly smooth, fast and remote mountain highways within a couple of hours of my home, which makes it even harder to resist.
I'd love to ride on the roads you describe. Where I live most of my rides are between 30 and 60mph because that is all the roads will support and the police love to write tickets for even small infractions.
I was attempting a top speed run on long country road. When a sheriff flashed lights and brights I slowed down, and he shut off lights never came after me.
I ride to relax and enjoy the scenery, not excessive speed!
As an rider of a 150cc sub 300 pound bike, pinning the throttle only gets me up to 70, but with such a light bike it is a bit scary.
Love the one I won from you - notice the forks are raised in the trees - only a few people knew to do that to the early gen.s, but they finally figured it as you see - even on the new SPs.
Completely agree, the trill for me is always in the acceleration up to and a little past and top speed is irrelevant for the street
My Street Triple 765 will go from 40/50 to well over 100 so fast it's insane - and it's loads of fun when you can do it safely. And pulling the daily hundo each time out is a must. Top speed? Hell if I know...
@yammienoob can you find your mate and ride a street triple 675r MK1. Would be a good parallel vid to compare riding with
Totally agree. My recent bikes were ZX-10R and Ducati 1198S. Both were stupid fast. The 10R saw many trackdays at Willow Springs and it did see 145mph on the front straight every time. But NEVER on the street. It was way too fast to ever use full throttle. And definitely not beyond 3rd gear. The 1198S was a total wheelie machine anytime I went full throttle. The thought of top speed is exciting but I NEVER use it on the street or highway. Simply too fast. I care much more about usable power and speed. Low and mid rpms rule on the street, especially with a Superbike.
Loved your thoughts on top speed i agree 💯 % i own a 200 cc that can go 150 but i never get to cross 120 as per our road conditions thats very risky and i found joy in being a good and responsible rider.
I have a dr200 and I can’t afford an upgrade…there’s something very fun about going wide open throttle through each gear!
I rode sport bikes for 33 years and had a lot of fun. I ride a Kawasaki Z900RS now that I did some upgrades to and I have more fun on the twisty mountain roads than I did on a sport bike.
Topped my MT-09 at 150.
First and last time.
I just wanted to know.
Top speed is irrelevant past 120 on the streets in my opinion.
I owe a MT-09 too with 62. The only thing I care is the acceleration. And thats soemting this bike is very capable of. 0-100 KM < 3 seconds, that thrills. I care about top speed only riding one of the super sports bikes of my friends.
Yes. Of course we ALL care about top speed. I test it out every time I'm on the bike. My ZH2 goes about 160 very easily and with a little bit of flashy, tube change etc I'll get it over 200. And I'll do THAT every day 😘👍
Great topic - depends on your location and intent for the ride I think. I’ve had landrover defenders that I loved and didn’t care that they could only do 75mph downhill with a tailwind, and max out at 60 on the husky FE350, but I also often use the autobahn in Germany, and have loved doing 170mph in my RS4, 165 on my Ducati 996 and multi V4. But the 996 is so nicely geared that it purrs almost on tick over at 90mph……and that’s why it’s ability to go so much faster is so nice…..it translates back to “normal” speeds so beautifully, and gives a certain character.
The top speed of V-strom 250SX's like mine (I haven't personally tested it) is supposed to be 135km/h which is 150km/h on the speedo.
The open road speed limit is 100km/h (62mph). so, while I wouldn't be able to reach speeds that mean instant loss of license, I could still get a speeding ticket.
But when I get 2.8L/100km (84mpg) on the open road. I'm having fun making THAT the game and trying to better it. not seeing if the broken white line up the middle of the road truly becomes solid when you reach the Sound Barrier!
My take on motorcycle top speed is this: all motorcycles have the same top speed - fast enough to stop your clock.
Be safe and Cheers!
I agree- top speed is not the end all be all, as long as it can comfortably go somewhat (15mph) over the speed limit and can be able to pass traffic. As long as it can easily hit the range of 90mph or so and can accelerate away from crazy drivers, you don't need a top speed over that.
I’ve had three motorcycles so far I had my first bike, which was a 2020 mt03 & then I bought a 2021 Honda cb650 , but totaled that one. This past May, I traded my Mt03 for a 2024 Yamaha Mt07. I’m totally happy with the speed. It’s good enough. I don’t need to go over a hundred miles an hour. I’m not trying to race everybody on the road. which people try and race me and I’m like I’m just trying to have fun on my bike & cruise.
problem is ill happily sit 130 on my sprint st 1050 but soon as I start creeping further it just gets more and more uncomfortable for little gain and assumably a lot more danger than I already am in. My bike is capable of 160+ but to be honest you will never have a good enough road that has low enough traffic for it to ever come into play.
that being said knowing it can do a decently high top speed gives me confidence I can cruise at high speeds without worrying about pinning the engine.
I love hearing you brag about how awesome the mt09sp is . As i have the same bike and same year 😁
I love riding fast, but there is a sweetspot, at a certain speed it just becomes stressfull. Since I want to "relax" on the bike I see no point in going as fast as possible.
I'm a competitive cyclist (Trek madone), have a car as well but from time to time I would borrow my dad's Suzuki EN125 to make some quick spins. The motorcycle nor car has never given me the same experience I get when taking a 90 degree corner at 30 mph on my road bicycle.😂
And another thing...
Peak power doesn't matter on the road. Midrange power is far more important, its more usable more of the time and is what you really feel on the road.
As long as it is capable of at least 100mph that's good enough for me. It would make zero difference to me if a bike could reach 500mph. What is important to me is: comfort, safety, weight, maneuverability, quality, ease of maintenance, the screen, and the ability to have fun on it. For me, the fun factor comes from low end grunt and high revs. My next bike will probably be the 2025 Yamaha XSR900 IF they put a comfortable seat on it.
I got a 2020 NC750X as my first bike, partially because I know I can't be trusted with more power, but also because I'm a practicality nut and got it used for a good price. A few months later and I'm almost always at full throttle on the freeway, which would indicate to most that I made the right choice, but I can't help but feel like i need more top end.. passing is not this bike's strong suit, it doesn't feel great wringing it out all the time. It doesn't like to maintain more than 85-95mph depending on the road slope, I can get it above 100 on a downhill with a tailwind, but something like the MT09 is my ideal next bike for the reasons you mentioned. I don't need to ride everywhere at 130, I just don't want to force the bike to its limit all the time, especially when passing. All that said, I still think I would keep it even with a second bike. The reliability, storage, and usability around town are awesome, I just spend a lot of time on the freeway which is where this bike falls short.
I started on a standard then rode crotch rockets for 3 decades now im back to a standard
I'm eyeballing a 2018 z900rs cafe green with 2k miles...
@ellwoodwolf that's a sweet ride
In Florida, you better keep up with traffic, 90-95 at times, just to stay out of the way.
And here I feel like a Rockstar getting my CB500X to 85mph.
RC51 was one of my favorite bikes even without 190+ top speed. But it had torque for days and sound
The high top speed helps to have rpms low on the freeway when doing the speed limit
I like to know the top speed but primarily as it relates to the “comfort zone” cruising speed. I ride a lot (“sport bike”) on the highway and in moderately heavy traffic have to go distances at 80 to 90 mph. (Safest speed with that traffic ). My bike has a top speed of about 150 mph (I’ve been about 115 once or twice but it’s rare). Knowing that top speed, along with a few other factors, made me pretty sure that the speed I needed were well within that “comfort zone”. (Edit: I posted this before watching all the video and realizing he said almost the same thing🤣)
I have found that I enjoy the 0 to "speed limit" more than anything.
As far as I remember, the 1st gen R1 was limited to a top speed of 168 mph (270 kmh). Not that it didn't have potential for higher speeds, but Yamaha wanted it to get there as quick as possible.
I had the pleasure of test riding it at the Jyllandsringen racetrack in Denmark back when it came out. I was out test riding the R6 beforehand, and it handled like sh!t. The steering geometry was probably out of whack because of the 3 times it had crashed before it was my turn. It definitely understeered like crazy. I had already tried the ZX9R at an event at a local dealership, and read in a magazine that the R1 was even crazier, so I was a fair bit intimidated by it. I rode my 2 laps and it just behaved beautifully, not a hint of over-the-top craziness. I had to provoke it to do a wheelie (probably shouldn't have done it at the pitlane entry).
Another time, I test rode a '99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. I managed to get it to 146 mph (235 kmh), but it wasn't exactly a pleasent experience, as I had to hold on to the handlebars for dear life, or I would have been torn of the bike by the wind pressure. In my experience, unless you are on a cruiser with a high windscreen, 100 mph is the maximum comfortable speed before you have to duck down behind the screen.
After having owned only 250's ('86 CB250RS, '84 GSX250ES and '91 GSX-R 250), I am SO done with small displacement bikes. Well, the Ninja 500 SE, that I plan to get next year, isn't exactly a large displacement bike, but at least the engine will be happy at the rpm it takes to ride at the maximum allowed ~81 mph (130 kmh) on the freeway here in Denmark.
NEW YAMMIE UPLOAD🗣🔥
I would only agree with the top end of yammys statement, 900cc is perfect. Ive had my sv650 for 4 years now and have expirenced pretty much everything it has to offer, from high speed corners to wheelies. It tops at 124 on gps but after 100 it absolutely falls on its face. I probably top it out at least 2 times a ride and its kinda boring. I think an mt09 will be my next bike. As i get more comfortable with wheelies i really want a bike that can do them in 2nd and even 3rd. I just started seriously getting into wheelies this year now holding bp but i need more power. Does top speed matter, no, but if i see a corvette on the highway that looks a little frisky. I do want to let him know all the money he wasted on that thing