Honda is out of SuperSport racing?

BDA116 · 11-12-2003, 7:07 PM

Article over on 'Soup has Al Ludington saying they will be concentrating on 600FX instead. Look at his 'reasonable' horsepower figures. The biggest deal is that they will be able to run the 600RR at the same weight as the R6, the biggest downfall of the 600RR in SuperSport this last year.
Miguel on a 600RR running at an equal weight, with the better chassis and stronger engine. THAT is gonna be fun to see.
The next crop of 600s is gonna be killer, and will be all too tempting to pass over.

freq · 11-12-2003, 7:09 PM

just finished reading that exact article. FX600 bring it on.

luvtolean · 11-12-2003, 7:27 PM

Quote:

BDA116 : Article over on 'Soup has Al Ludington saying they will be concentrating on 600FX instead. Look at his 'reasonable' horsepower figures. The biggest deal is that they will be able to run the 600RR at the same weight as the R6, the biggest downfall of the 600RR in SuperSport this last year.
Miguel on a 600RR running at an equal weight, with the better chassis and stronger engine. THAT is gonna be fun to see.
The next crop of 600s is gonna be killer, and will be all too tempting to pass over.

Same thing I've been saying...Honda is phucking up making their bikes so damn heavy!!!!

ccwilli3 · 11-12-2003, 7:34 PM

I've been waiting for tricked out 600s for a while now. Finally we are gonna see them.

BDA116 · 11-12-2003, 8:05 PM

Quote:

luvtolean : Same thing I've been saying...Honda is phucking up making their bikes so damn heavy!!!!

I agree, it would be nice for them to offer the bikes lighter from the factory. However, with Superbike and FX allowing removal of parts to hit weight limits, I don't see Honda selling their street bikes at the lower end of the weight spectrum.
Not until the masses demand it.

I hope I'm wrong, and the next generation 600RR is still the HP king along with fighting for the weightless crown in stock form.

luvtolean · 11-12-2003, 8:07 PM

The 900RR was the lightest of the light, so was the 929. The CBR600RR was supposed to be the hardest of the hard...where weight is a huge factor. Obviously even they admit defeat with it in supersport racing...the bikes closest to what John Q rides.

As a street ride it doesn't really matter, but I still think it's lame.

BDA116 · 11-12-2003, 8:21 PM

Yeah, even the F3 was considered light at the time. Back then Honda didn't really have much competition, so making the RR and F3 the lightest wasn't difficult. When the 929 first hit, they only had to beat the ZX-9 and the first R1, both of which were very heavy.
I should really qualify my statement as covering their racing platforms under Superbike and FX as not being the lightest in stock form. Honda will let the other factories spend the big money on that front, while still allowing their bikes to hit the weight limits in track form. Honda's superbike platform has never been considered light by any means.

I still hope I'm wrong, and Honda don't go this direction. I think there are more people every year that care about this and Honda will have to listen to it.
Of course, another way to get the change is to remove minimum weight limits. Then we'll see some real trick - and expensive - stuff in showrooms.

sweetonion · 11-12-2003, 9:16 PM

I don't want to dog on USAHonda's riders, especially Miguel, but it didn't seem to hold back the Ten Kate (sp?) boys across the pond?

BDA116 · 11-12-2003, 10:39 PM

The WSS rules are far different than the AMA rules. They can already remove weight and alter cams, etc.

sweetonion · 11-12-2003, 11:00 PM

I see said the blind man. thx

MACI4LIFE · 11-13-2003, 1:21 AM

Quote:

BDA116 : Quote (luvtolean @ Nov. 12 2003, 5:27pm)Same thing I've been saying...Honda is phucking up making their bikes so damn heavy!!!!

I agree, it would be nice for them to offer the bikes lighter from the factory. However, with Superbike and FX allowing removal of parts to hit weight limits, I don't see Honda selling their street bikes at the lower end of the weight spectrum.
Not until the masses demand it.

I hope I'm wrong, and the next generation 600RR is still the HP king along with fighting for the weightless crown in stock form.
The masses constantly talk with their wallets and i think Honda doesn't listen. It's no doubt in my mind that this years sales winner will be the R1, just like last years gixxer 1000.

When will honda wake up and give their customers the no nonsense mean machine that we're craving for?

cbr1000 = fat pig

r1 = SHAWINNGG!!

GSXR1000 = Still the king until dethroned

ZX10 = things are looking up for Kawi this year.

tigerblade · 11-13-2003, 9:24 AM

A lot of club racers voted R6 or GSXR instead of 600RR this year!

luvtolean · 11-13-2003, 10:09 AM

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tigerblade : A lot of club racers voted R6 or GSXR instead of 600RR this year!

You mean pretty much all...

Baketech · 11-13-2003, 10:13 AM

Slightly tangent jack....

I'm not convinced that the 'ultralights' make better street bikes.....I think Honda philosophy is the same....

RRWANTR · 11-13-2003, 10:40 AM

Quote:

MACI4LIFE : cbr1000 = fat pig

Have we actually seen #s on the 1000 yet?? If so I want to see em.

luvtolean · 11-13-2003, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Baketech : I'm not convinced that the 'ultralights' make better street bikes.....I think Honda philosophy is the same....

Yeah, but too bad it's 2003 and many sportbike owners take their bikes to the track.

tigerblade · 11-13-2003, 11:01 AM

...especially when the 600RR was touted as a racebike first/streetbike second. They still offered the F4i for the street riders.

Baketech · 11-13-2003, 11:08 AM

Quote:

luvtolean : Quote (Baketech @ Nov. 13 2003, 10:13am)I'm not convinced that the 'ultralights' make better street bikes.....I think Honda philosophy is the same....

Yeah, but too bad it's 2003 and many sportbike owners take their bikes to the track.
By percentage of sales, what number of 600's do you think actually make it to a track?

luvtolean · 11-13-2003, 11:13 AM

600RR's? I'm guessing a good percentage. But I don't really know for sure.

BillAce · 11-13-2003, 11:15 AM

I've heard of new R6's have different frame specs from falling off a rear stand. I think the lightweight new bikes are going the way of Kia & Bic - ther run out of gas and you throw them away. There is a sacrifice in durability, It may be great marketing. Your bike fell over, buy a new one, after all that's what insurance is for! It's not hard for a bike to lose weight for track use, why make them that way when 99.9% won't be used that way?

Baketech · 11-13-2003, 11:16 AM

Quote:

luvtolean : 600RR's? *I'm guessing a good percentage. *But I don't really know for sure.

I'd bet a sawbuck its well under the 80/20 rule.....and I bet that the perctage that sees competitive use is low single digits.......

luvtolean · 11-13-2003, 11:17 AM

In the bike's lifetime, I'm guessing at least a third make it to a track at least once.

Competitive usage? Dunno, single digits is probably right.

tigerblade · 11-13-2003, 12:57 PM

Quote:

BillAce : It's not hard for a bike to lose weight for track use, why make them that way when 99.9% won't be used that way?

It may not be hard but it can be expensive.

roadracer319 · 11-13-2003, 3:01 PM

Complain, complain. If everyone is so dissatisfied, buy another brand. 1% of this entire board MIGHT be able to get the full potential out of a 600rr. I know I can't!