HD, 883 sporster (with built1200), vs my 81 gs750(1166)?

[81gs7501166]

Ive rode the HD, its impressive, like a big block in a vega, pulls hard, real hard, off idle to bout 7K. Its the only HD ive ever ridden that i kinda liked. Now this bike has the repatation of being the quickest sprint to 100, HD in town? Its owner and my son, both in early 30s, good friends, got to talking shi# , and first thing you know, they were putting their helmets on, and son said, dad im taking your GS. I told them to be carefull, it was approaching midnight last night, both had small amounts of alchol in them, both are excellent riders.
we live in the county, plenty of 2lane asphalt rodes that have little traffic on at that time of day. Now I'm already in house for the night, they were gone better than half hour, I was beginning to worry, when I heard (the loud ass HD) them pull in. I felt sure I knew the outcome, but was waiting on son to come in and conform? He comes in the paito door,
says, dad if you want to race him you better get your cb750(836), cause this wasn't even a race! They were side by side, HD slightly ahead till the GS hit 2nd gear, then the GS pulled away, way away according to son! Just had to tell someone, 39year old bike, still got some nads!

 

[GS1150Pilot]

LoL. That 39 year-old GS has about 50 years of technological advancements on the Harley.

 

[dorkburger]

Several years ars ago I took a daytrip with a friends small group of HD riders. With the exception of my friend who once rode big Kawasakis, they were all surprised about how quick my nearly 3o year old GS was.

 

[alke46]

Ive rode the HD, its impressive, like a big block in a vega, pulls hard, real hard, off idle to bout 7K. Its the only HD ive ever ridden that i kinda liked. Now this bike has the repatation of being the quickest sprint to 100, HD in town? Its owner and my son, both in early 30s, good friends, got to talking shi# , and first thing you know, they were putting their helmets on, and son said, dad im taking your GS. I told them to be carefull, it was approaching midnight last night, both had small amounts of alchol in them, both are excellent riders.
we live in the county, plenty of 2lane asphalt rodes that have little traffic on at that time of day. Now I'm already in house for the night, they were gone better than half hour, I was beginning to worry, when I heard (the loud ass HD) them pull in. I felt sure I knew the outcome, but was waiting on son to come in and conform? He comes in the paito door,
says, dad if you want to race him you better get your cb750(836), cause this wasn't even a race! They were side by side, HD slightly ahead till the GS hit 2nd gear, then the GS pulled away, way away according to son! Just had to tell someone, 39year old bike, still got some nads!

Well that was a given. H-D is known for being the loudest bike in a slow bike race. All noise, no go.

 

[Rob S.]

Drag racing a Harley

Drag racing a Harley

If you give the Harley a half mile head start, I'd still have to think about it.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Not that there aren't truly fast Sportsters ...

 

[Crazydean]

Reminds me of this:

https://youtu.be/mB7U8tZFpBo

 

[Rob S.]

Not that there aren't truly fast Sportsters ...

Fast, not quick.

The early 1970's were the last time the Sporty was considered quick.



Four gears on the right side, foot brake on the left (to seem more British). And disc brakes? "We don't need no stinkin' disc brakes."

The ad copy says, "1000cc Sportster. When you're through with waiting and ready to move. The one machine that straightens it all out. On the road, at the strip, ... or in your mind."

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Not really, Rob. Lots of 10 and 11 second Sportsters out there. Some years ago, when I had a VMax, I raced a guy at test and tune. He was on a Harley bagger, and he pretty much kept up. I ran a mid-11 second quarter. His run was right there.

 

[Rob S.]

H-D bagger mid 11 second quarter mile? I'm assuming fairly modified (I mean, somewhere between 700 and 800 lbs stock, right?)

Depending on the year, I would think your V-Max would be in the 11's. If it's second generation, I'm fairly sure it might be close to or in the 10's, box stock. Am I wrong?

As far as that 'race', I'm betting you weren't aware how close he was and didn't push the Max all the way. Come on, help me out here - throw me a bone!

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Oh yeah-it was modified to the hilt. I don't know all the mods, but it had a huge S&S motor.

I'm no Dale Walker, so getting an 11 second quarter out of my '99 was good for me. I was definitely not taking it easy.

 

[storm 64]

Harley's accelerate pretty fast when pushed over a cliff!
I raced a Harley guy on my 1100e. The guy had a "built" Harley. It was almost as loud and obnoxious as he was. I heard him coming from behind me. I down shifted into third gear. When he went by me, I pulled out and the game was on. I toyed with him when I was in fourth gear. I shifted into fifth gear and I was gone! Most Harley guys recognize their motorcycles are heavy under powered slugs. But there are a few that think they're fast...

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I'd say an 11 second bagger is plenty quick. As far as top speed, I couldn't care less, as my days of 150 mph runs are long past.

 

[alke46]

Good story Norm. I liked that.

 

[81gs7501166]

So, as a general rule, HDs are easy? Now what bout the jap 600s? I've never really beaten one all the way? I have surprised them at a stop light before, and beat them to a hundred!
My son had a 05 gsxr600 with a pipe and programmer. We were side by side through my 3rd gear, then he came round me. I thing the only reason I get some of these bikes at the light,is the old man, old bike thing, they don't expect me to launch. I rode my son's 600 some(hated the position), our heavy, low rpm(realitive),tq engines are much easier to launch at a stop light, than their 16K rpm 375lb bikes.
And what bout those V-max bikes, my neighbor kept nagging me bout his, but we never raced? Would they take a gs1100?

 

[TxGSrider]

My experience with these things, is a large engine bike (or car) is allot easier to get a good start from a stoplight or a roll.
A sport bike like a 600cc inline four, has to launch at some ridiculous high rpm to stay in its "power band", so setting at a light requires him to hold that rpm until the light changes.... which is silly if a light is 3 or 4 minutes long and theres a decent chance he'll spin the tire or wheelie if he's too excited. Most of our bikes (1000cc and up inline fours) can launch pretty quickly with just a few thousand rpms and not blow the tire off it. A big twin can launch pretty respectably just off idle, but they run out of breath pretty quick. So from a stoplight a big twin can do ok ill the next stoplight... if its not too far away.

At the dragstrip, with predictable lights and good traction, the situation can change allot (with practice) allowing the smaller, high RPM, bikes to launch hard and do pretty well... and the big twins weight and lack of horsepower usually leave them way behind.

 

[81gs7501166]

Exactly my thoughts! I can sneak away leaving bout 3k, and hammer down, while the young guy on the 600 has to build rpm, and think , that old man, that old bike, what just happened?

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Horses for courses, but a modern 600 will leave you for dead if it's ridden by a half-decent rider.

As for VMaxes, the first gens are quick, and if they are modified just a bit, they are extremely quick. The second gen bike will be so far ahead of you that you'll wonder whether you twisted the throttle.

 

[Spyder]

My Uncle (well wife's Uncle), is a renowned HD tech. He builds "fast" Harley's. He rides a built bagger, and likely for Harley standards it is a fast bike. Years ago when my 750T was still a stock 750, we threw it (my 750) on his Dyno. It pulled 67.X HP, and was running rich on the main jet. That's when all the $hit talking started. I said I thought that was a respectable number for a stock 30 year old 750. He said it was, but would never keep up with his 100+hp (don't remember the actual number he said it was) HD... I have learned over the years not to argue with this guy... We rode to lunch. After lunch, on the ride back, he started taunting me. We were doing about 50. I dropped 2 gears and left him like he was tied to a stump. Then the excuses started, lol. It's all about power to weight ratio...

Now, there isn't a Harley (street) within a 100 miles of me that can dream of touching my old GSXR 750, lol... But that's another story to come I guess...

 

[GS1150Pilot]

My Uncle (well wife's Uncle), is a renowned HD tech. He builds "fast" Harley's. He rides a built bagger, and likely for Harley standards it is a fast bike. Years ago when my 750T was still a stock 750, we threw it (my 750) on his Dyno. It pulled 67.X HP, and was running rich on the main jet. That's when all the $hit talking started. I said I thought that was a respectable number for a stock 30 year old 750. He said it was, but would never keep up with his 100+hp (don't remember the actual number he said it was) HD... I have learned over the years not to argue with this guy... We rode to lunch. After lunch, on the ride back, he started taunting me. We were doing about 50. I dropped 2 gears and left him like he was tied to a stump. Then the excuses started, lol. It's all about power to weight ratio...

Now, there isn't a Harley (street) within a 100 miles of me that can dream of touching my old GSXR 750, lol... But that's another story to come I guess...

They are out there.