The Kneeslider: Are motorcycles the future of performance?
We feel like we're ahead of the curve on this one, but Paul Crowe over at The Kneeslider has posted an editorial questioning whether or not performance cars are an endangered species. Considering that CAFE rules are becoming ever more stringent, cars like the Corvette are likely to move to smaller, more efficient motors and correspondingly lightweight chassis architecture. Heck, even the Camaro could get a hybrid option in the near future.
The question posed by Crowe is whether or not motorcycles will make up for the lack of high-performance cars. We think the answer is a resounding maybe. A few speed-addicts might make a move towards two wheels, but the market for fast cars is not going to go anywhere. Remember the muscle car? That era ended a long time ago, but the desire for the vehicles has not gone anywhere, in fact they are more desirable now than ever before. What's more, technology is already in place which will allow high performance and high economy. So, just as some people are switching to two wheels for economy, some might switch to two wheels for performance. With motorcycles, though, a few will have their cake and eat it too.
[Source: The Kneeslider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mrbell321 7:33PM (2/04/2008)
"move to smaller, more efficient motors and correspondingly lightweight chassis architecture."
lightweight chassis are a GOOD thing for performance. F1 cars don't weigh as little as 440kg because it's cheaper...
Reply
stevejust 6:39PM (2/04/2008)
When gas prices spiked upward after Katrina hit the gulf coast refineries, the message boards for performance and tunners litteraly lit up with talk of people going from cars to bikes just because gas was getting so expensive.
But motorcycles haven't seen the same (at least potential or theoretical) increases in mileage as cars have over the last 20 years. At least with cars, the lack of increases are due to safety features like air bags and stronger roofs and stuff.
As someone who rides motorcycles and has a hybrid, I have to say it's a sad day when I have to contemplate which one to take somewhere because my four-door car gets better gas mileage than a lot of the bikes on the road.
Reply
Chris 6:16AM (2/05/2008)
No way.
I own an 07 K1200R Sport, 163 horsepower inline four cylinder. It barely gets better mileage than my Civic (07 EX coupe). The Civic averages 35 on my commute and the K might be lucky to break 40.
What will keep performance cars in the loop is that as hybrids an electric motor provides instant torque and with a always on ICE powering a generator they should have more than sufficient power. The key will be regenerating the batteries/capacitors fast enough.
Bikes are for fun... not transportation. While I have over 300,000 miles in 20 years I would never want to rely on one for primary transportation (did that for two years - it sucked)
Reply
Lorena Palin 12:37PM (7/20/2009)
Now just to be fair...how fast does your 1200cc sport bike go? Would I be correct that you could probably give a Ferrari or Lamborghini a run for it's money/beat it in a drag race and could do well over 150 mph? Maby 180? 190? I don't know that bike specifically, but 163 horse on a bike might make it do 200 if you geared it right, though I honeslty don't know. Still, and of these speeds is insane.
What is my point? You should be comparing that bike to Ferrari. Does it get much better millage than a Ferrari? Why yes, if it gets slightly better millage than a Honda civic, it does.
Your Honda civic would be more comparable to a Ninja 250 or 500, buell blast, or a GS500- basically some 2 cylinder Standard bike of 500cc or less. A bike like this will get more like 50-70 mpg.
fnc 12:54PM (2/05/2008)
Who knows where personal transportation is ultimately headed, but widespread electric vehicles with heaps or torque at a dead start would be a boon for performance cars, rather than the end of them. If enough people own them, it's only a matter of time until a tuning scene sprouts up around them, and people will be making modifications to their electric cars to get them to launch quicker just like they've been doing to the gas burners for years.
Motorcycles will probably remain a niche occupied by very brave people.
Reply
Smart Chopper 11:20AM (8/17/2009)
Hey Everyone! Check out Siemens First Custom ‘Green’ Electric Chopper!
The motorcycle features and design include:
-- First electric chopper by Orange County Choppers
-- Recycled materials
-- Advanced DC Motors Inc. Series Wound 8" motor
-- LED lighting by OSRAM SYLVANIA, a Siemens company
-- 27 Peak horsepower and maximum speed of 100 MPH
-- Range of 60 miles on a single charge
-- On-board charger that can be plugged into any 110-volt outlet
For pictures and more information visit us at http://twitter.com/SmartChopper
Reply