if I may in french it would be "grosSE" moto being of the singular feminine terminology , and BTW I was introduced to biking by my uncle at age 10 riding pillion on his triumph 650 HUGE at that time
This is true. I still find it hard to believe that I use to think 1,000 cc bikes were huge and breaking 100 miles per hour was considered a major accomplishment.
if I may in french it would be "grosSE" moto being of the singular feminine terminology , and BTW I was introduced to biking by my uncle at age 10 riding pillion on his triumph 650 HUGE at that time
Today the Rocket is the big dog as far as displacement goes. Its one in a group of several of the fastest stock motorcycles. I also remember when a 650 was huge and fast. An 80 cu inch Harley stroker was the hot rod of the bike world here in the US. Honda then changed the the whole industry in 69 with the introduction of its four cylinder 750 with hydraulic disc brakes all at an affordable price. Its been a horsepower race ever since with multi cylinders becoming the norm. Now we have fuel injection and turbos, computer controlled brakes and engine management, even computer controlled suspension. Bikes just keep evolving along with everything else. The younger guys today have grown up around all this high tech while the dinosaurs like myself are just amazed every time we touch a button and the bike starts without even having to kick on a lever anymore. Here is a picture of my wife and I with our daily driver.
Horsepower ratings have skyrocketed the past several years. For instance, the awesome new Honda Africa Twin has 90-something and people are calling that weak. The 80's Africa Twin has 60-something... but they're comparing it to KTM's and such that are rocking 140-160. In a ****ed offroad bike.
I had no problems busting them on a routine basis with my H1 Kaw. I wound up with 2 H1 and a H2 only one of the H1's ever ran on the hi-way with tags. The other 2 just ran at the drag strip.
The H1 was the hardest motorcycle that I ever had to learn how to launch to get a good start.
Below 5300 rpm it would not pull a greasy string out of a cats butt.....5500+ rpm 1 to 1 1/2 seconds you did not have a clue as where it be..........left.....right or over backwards.
I learned by doing full launch's on a hard pack dirt road, after figuring out what mechanical adjustments it needed. Once I could do a perfect straight start I could do the same on pavement. Best I can remember it took me about 4 months
H1 and H2 were unbelievable. The 750 was actually banned from flat track racing it was so fast and dangerous handling. The Honda was first thats why I mentioned it.