Top 5 Handling Bikes for 2008

[FT BSTRD]

Thought you guys would find this interesting:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/November/24-30/nov2408-rider-power-2008-best-handling-bikes/


Results not as expected.

[DLIT]

That is interesting. I'd like to see lap times vs. sportbikes though. I guarantee you the sportbikes crush those bikes' lap times. But that's what happens when you do a blanket survey and don't categorize them. In the end, I know my bike is one of the best handling sportbikes, and that's all I care about.

[Mr Lefty]

and I'm intrested in what they used to "rate" them... I mean is it just the authors preference? or a tangeable rating system?

[FT BSTRD]

That is interesting. I'd like to see lap times vs. sportbikes though. I guarantee you the sportbikes crush those bikes' lap times. But that's what happens when you do a blanket survey and don't categorize them. In the end, I know my bike is one of the best handling sportbikes, and that's all I care about.

Yeah, but lap times aren't really relevant since there's more to lap times than just handling.

160hp bike ought to beat a 100hp bike regardless of handling.


Then again, I saw my buddy on the motard rip many a liter bike in everything but the straights at Nashville Super Speedway.

[FT BSTRD]

Click on the link to see the entire article including criteria:

http://issuu.com/motorcyclenews/docs/ridedec08/7?mode=embed&documentId=081119101419-a6d9441023024c0fbcb2c2a0a031c4fd&layout=grey

[anthonyk]

Give me big wide bars, and I'll show you an agile, fun bike. :idk: Seems like a common theme among those bikes.

[Trip]

The motard makes sense, those things can fly through the corners.

[Dave]

and I'm intrested in what they used to "rate" them... I mean is it just the authors preference? or a tangeable rating system?

sounded like anonymous voting. but seriously, speed four? the street trip only [i]just[/] got a halfway decent suspension. i dont buy it

[marko138]

sounded like anonymous voting. but seriously, speed four? the street trip only [i]just[/] got a halfway decent suspension. i dont buy it
Street triple is for suckers. Speed Triple FTW.




Good list. I'd ride 3 of those 5.

[Dave]

Street triple is for suckers. Speed Triple FTW.




Good list. I'd ride 3 of those 5.

i agree with you on this one, however the speed trip wasnt listed

[marko138]

i agree with you on this one, however the speed trip wasnt listed
Right....I dont know why anyone would want the Street T when you can get the Speed. Almost double the displacement.

[xx CURVE xx]

TARDS! :rockwoot:

[Dave]

Right....I dont know why anyone would want the Street T when you can get the Speed. Almost double the displacement.

you hit it right on the head. remember triumph doesnt build bikes nessesarily for our market. im willing to bet that the street is for folks who are at a lower tier that still want the badass streetfighter look and ability

[cuttle]

TARDS! :rockwoot:

agree!

I have more fun on my dualsport than with the Duc (I am talking about twisties)

[Tmall]

I've ridden the lightning SS, which is very close to the ulysses in geometry. And without a doubt, the Firebolt handles "better"..

[Chris S]

Having lots of time on my Super Duke, it's no surprise to see it on the list. It's perhaps the best handling street bike I've ever ridden. I'm not sure how to explain a heavier, more poorly suspended Triumph trumping it other than typical Brit-bias.

[AquaPython]

pffft. what do you expect when you ask a bunch of brits what "handles" the best ? of course they are gonna cry about how their triumph is the best thing on two wheels. not impressed.

[Dave]

pffft. what do you expect when you ask a bunch of brits what "handles" the best ? of course they are gonna cry about how their triumph is the best thing on two wheels. not impressed.

:rolleyes: try fast bikes from now on. in their naked bikes comparo the street triple only beat out the monster and lost handily to the tuono, some other italian i cant remember, and the super duke. in THAT order. mcn is bullshit

[neebelung]

Hmmm.. interesting stuff.

[PhiSig1071]

Tards FTW!

I'm not at all surprised to see two KTM's on the list. KTM owns WP Suspension, and their stuff is TOP shelf, easily on par with Ohlins or Penske. I love the way my KTM handles.

[xx CURVE xx]

agree!

I have more fun on my dualsport than with the Duc (I am talking about twisties)

I prefer the 690 SMC though...the ones on that list are the fugly tards :lol:

[cuttle]

I prefer the 690 SMC though...the ones on that list are the fugly tards :lol:

I am vertical challenged (ie I'm a gal), like to on "un-improved" roads and need enough power to commute on the interstate.... which doesn't leave me with many (affordable) options: the DR does the trick

[xx CURVE xx]

I am vertical challenged (ie I'm a gal), like to on "un-improved" roads and need enough power to commute on the interstate.... which doesn't leave me with many (affordable) options: the DR does the trick

I love my DRZ :D

[FT BSTRD]

I don't understand why the Street Four was even in the test.


Do they even produce those any more? They aren't on Triumph's website.

[unknownroad]

That is interesting. I'd like to see lap times vs. sportbikes though. I guarantee you the sportbikes crush those bikes' lap times.

I wouldn't bet against the K1200S... that thing is a baaad motherfucker

[z06boy]

So the GSXR 750 out handles the R6 and CBR 600RR ? Humm.....

[dReWpY]

best handling is not what you define as whats the best around a track, when i think handling it is based on what type of riding i want to be doing, i want a fast twitchy track bike on a track and the heavy solid canyon carver for road, either one would suck in the wrong conditions and enviroment, articles like this are nothing but fodder for the masses who think they can complain and act like they know more then the ppl that created these machines...

[shmike]

I don't understand why the Street Four was even in the test.


Do they even produce those any more? They aren't on Triumph's website.

I agree, wtf is that bike even listed for?

And the answer is: No.

The Speed 4 hasn't been produced since 2006.

[Amber Lamps]

For one,this is a review by British motorcycle riders. I agree that most of the bikes listed have performance and handling characteristics that would be more easily accessed by the average rider... I don't see that as meaning that these bikes are "better" handling or even better bikes. I mean they list some pretty strange bikes here...

[Dave]

For one,this is a review by British motorcycle riders. I agree that most of the bikes listed have performance and handling characteristics that would be more easily accessed by the average rider... I don't see that as meaning that these bikes are "better" handling or even better bikes. I mean they list some pretty strange bikes here...

its not even a review, its a poll. i assume that the top five were just the top five they heard about

[marko138]

:rolleyes: try fast bikes from now on. in their naked bikes comparo the street triple only beat out the monster and lost handily to the tuono, some other italian i cant remember, and the super duke. in THAT order. mcn is bullshit

A bike with budget suspension beat out those bikes???? :panic:

[Homeslice]

I prefer the 690 SMC though...the ones on that list are the fugly tards :lol:

I test-rode both the SMC and SMR.......they both sucked IMO. Maybe it's because I'm not a tard guy at all. I don't understand the appeal. Yeah they're great in tight turns, and for urban terrorizing, but they suck ass on the highway, the seats are uncomfortable, and there's tons of brake dive. Anyone who rides any kind of distance will pick a fully-faired sportbike or sport-tourer.

[Dave]

A bike with budget suspension beat out those bikes???? :panic:

they evaluate on all aspects of the bike but yes. and the mystery bike was the corsaro veloce 1200. supposed to be a real animal...which we of course dont get