Kawasaki Baffles Me

[tigerblade]

http://www.amasuperbike.com/2003-Nov/031114b.htm

[PJ]

Just another step in the recent decline of AMA Superbike racing...

In the 2001 season there were 6 factory teams with 12-17 supported riders, depending on how you count the satellite teams.

For 2004, it looks like two or three factory teams with 5-6 riders.

Sad.

[motomadness]

Big question is:

What's in it for the fans?  

Is Speed Channel going to televise all of the AMA classes, full coverage, not just highlights?

What would you do if you were E-Boz?  
MotoGP? With who? Are there any good rides left?
WSBK? With who? If not Ducati, then who?

[Protein Filled]

Rumor is tha Eric is going to sign with Ducati to run a 999 in AMA superbike for next year...

[quicktoy]

Seems like AMA is gonna be like World Superbike this past year....All twins
Seems like the 4 cylinders are dropping out due to the B.S. airbox and throttle body rules

[james-redsv]

Seems like AMA is gonna be like World Superbike this past year....All twins
Seems like the 4 cylinders are dropping out due to the B.S. airbox and throttle body rules

What are you talking about? The RC51 in gone, replaced by the new inline 4 from Honda. The Gsxrs 1000s are here to stay, yea Kawi is gone but Yamaha might be back with an inline 4 R1. That just leaves Ducat1 with the only twin. Looks like to me the twins will be history when the new motors that are currently used in moto GP make it to their respective street bikes. Ducati is already making rumers of of a v-4 1000 for 2005. The big Twins days are numbered. ;)

[Super Dave]

Yank the throttle bodies off the Yosh bikes and they loose 15 easy HP.  

Why shouldn't Honda run the RC51 again?  They will if it fits what they need.  

Yamaha...one injector per cylinder so superbike is probably out.

Seems like Superstock will be really fun though.  

As for MotoGP motors making it into street bikes...I think that will be like saying the RZV500 street bike was like the YZR500.  You might see some kind of innovation making it into street bikes, but really...  A GSXR1000 is moronic to ride.  How is making it faster and lighter, and eventually more expensive, going to produce real sales.  

600cc bikes still lead the way.

[james-redsv]

Yank the throttle bodies off the Yosh bikes and they loose 15 easy HP.  

Why shouldn't Honda run the RC51 again?  They will if it fits what they need.  

Yamaha...one injector per cylinder so superbike is probably out.

Seems like Superstock will be really fun though.  

As for MotoGP motors making it into street bikes...I think that will be like saying the RZV500 street bike was like the YZR500.  You might see some kind of innovation making it into street bikes, but really...  A GSXR1000 is moronic to ride.  How is making it faster and lighter, and eventually more expensive, going to produce real sales.  

600cc bikes still lead the way.

If your theory was correct there would be no reason to even build a GSXR1000, they would just sell 600s. Street bikes have always been built more powerful everyyear. Why would they stop now? Customers are always looking for the biggest baddest thing out there. Honda has already said they werent racing the RC in AMA next year. As far a bringing GP tech to the street, thats exactly what Ducati will do. They build race bikes and put them on the street. look at their history.  The Japs usually build street bikes, then race them. I would be willing to bet the farm this time Honda will build a version of their MotoGP bike for the street. Why wouldnt they, because it makes too much power, yea right, thats what you say???? Its already happening, the new F4 already looks like the gp bike and Ducati is already looking for a replacement for the 999 and giving strong hints the motor is a v4 and will look just like their gp bike, wake up man and enter the 21st century, its passing you by. ;D

[WebCrush]

Honda has already said they werent racing the RC in AMA next year. As far a bringing GP tech to the street, thats exactly what Ducati will do. They build race bikes and put them on the street. look at their history.  The Japs usually build street bikes, then race them. I would be willing to bet the farm this time Honda will build a version of their MotoGP bike for the street. Why wouldnt they, because it makes too much power, yea right, thats what you say???? Its already happening, the new F4 already looks like the gp bike and Ducati is already looking for a replacement for the 999 and giving strong hints the motor is a v4 and will look just like their gp bike, wake up man and enter the 21st century, its passing you by. ;D

I've read that Duhammel and Bostrom were gonna be on RC's while Zemke 'might' be on a CRB1k.  

As for Gp styling in streetbikes--thats ALL it is, styling.  I think the only thing the CRB600-RR and the RCV211v share is the unit prolink 'design' and some styling cues.

[quicktoy]

What are you talking about? The RC51 in gone, replaced by the new inline 4 from Honda. The Gsxrs 1000s are here to stay, yea Kawi is gone but Yamaha might be back with an inline 4 R1. That just leaves Ducat1 with the only twin. Looks like to me the twins will be history when the new motors that are currently used in moto GP make it to their respective street bikes. Ducati is already making rumers of of a v-4 1000 for 2005. The big Twins days are numbered. ;)

What dominated world superbike this year?? Ducati.
reason being is the airbox and throttle body rules that ama have adapted this year..thats why im saying it maight be a factory twin winning race year next year..especially if honda throws a surprise and continues running the rc51

[Super Dave]

If your theory was correct there would be no reason to even build a GSXR1000, they would just sell 600s. Street bikes have always been built more powerful everyyear. Why would they stop now? Customers are always looking for the biggest baddest thing out there. Honda has already said they werent racing the RC in AMA next year.

They won't stop building more powerful bikes.  That has to do with company pride.  

You say that customers are ALWAYS looking for the biggest and baddest thing...but they don't buy the biggest and baddest thing.  Again, they sell way more 600's.

As far a bringing GP tech to the street, thats exactly what Ducati will do. They build race bikes and put them on the street. look at their history.  The Japs usually build street bikes, then race them. I would be willing to bet the farm this time Honda will build a version of their MotoGP bike for the street.

I think you should look at prior history before 1990.  The Japanese factorys all build customer GP bikes:RS500 Honda, TZ500/750/700 Yamaha, Kawasaki H1R, H2R, KR750, Suzuki TR750, TR500 and all the 125/250/350 products.  Then they actually made some of those pieces into street bikes of some form...T500's, RD series Yamaha's, H1 and H2 series, NS400.

Kawasaki was the first one to falter and decide to build and race only street bikes....race what they sell.  Cost is a factor.

As for what Ducati will do?  I think you're out on a limb...unless you're fronting the money.

As for their history...I think it started in dental tools then migrated to single cylinder four stroke motorcross bikes.  Then they paid Mike Hailwood a lot of money to ride their bike at the Isle of Man.  Mild success with bikes in early AMA Superbike racing, then finally went water cooled in the mid 80's.  The rules were in their favor.  The rules are changing, and that's why you'll probably see them make a V4 for the street...but it won't be like their GP bike.

Aprilia had the R version of their race bike for the street...but that version didn't have the Cosworth engine that was being used in WSB.  

Why wouldnt they, because it makes too much power, yea right, thats what you say???? Its already happening, the new F4 already looks like the gp bike and Ducati is already looking for a replacement for the 999 and giving strong hints the motor is a v4 and will look just like their gp bike, wake up man and enter the 21st century, its passing you by. ;D

VFR's were V4's just like Honda's RC30 and RC45 race bikes....that's a version.

As for too much power...

Sell the Red SV and get on the band wagon.  I'll look for you in Expert Unlimited GP at Daytona in February.  LOL!

[tigerblade]

Honda has already said they werent racing the RC in AMA next year.

I don't think that's the case.  Everything I've read points to Honda running the RC in Superbike, at least at the beginning of the season.  I can see them developing the CBR a little more in Superstock first.  Actually, Superstock might be the premier class this year.