Will never use the full potential...

I have read many times on this board and in various pub-

lications how a rider will never use the full 'potential' of

current +600cc class sportbikes on the 'street'.

In my view, this is a mis-statement. For example...

1. I use the full 'potential' of the 12R's motor to accel-

  erate in the straights and the full 'potential' of the

  torque this motor produces to run a higher gear through

  the curves.

2. I use the full 'potential' of the 12R's brakes to de-

  accelerate from speed. Also, to stop or dump speed in

  an emergency situation.

3. I use the full 'potential' of the 12R suspension compon-

  ents to handle the loads/stress of cornering, braking

  and various road conditions.

4. I use the full 'potential' of my choice of tire to

  maintain grip during acceleration, cornering, braking

  and to provide stability- all under various road and

  tempeture conditions.

5. Name one motorcycle road-racer, based on the implied

  definition of 'potential' from such statements, that then

  continully uses the full 'potential' of his bike during

  a race?  

Um, getting a little overly-involved with semantics, aren't we?

I see potential defined as "Anything that is possible, a possibility, an absolute." How do you know that you are using your 12R to its absolute maximum possible performance? Do you have any racing records?

You may with your 12R, but the majority of street riders on 600s don't and are not.

Most front-running racers meet your "criteria" listed.  

To translate in plain English...

If you can use the ZX-12R to its "full potential", then you should, to use just one specific example, be faster than Ricky Gadson on another equivalent ZX-12R in the 1/4 mile.

Right?  

I know what everyone is trying to say here, some of its true some of it's not.  I know theres thousands of people who can ride a stock sv650 faster than I can, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't benefit from having upgrade suspension/brakes/motor.  Am I as fast as I as possible can be on a stock SV?  No, but would my lap times improve if I had more horsepower, stronger brakes and a fully adjustable suspension that sets up right?  Yep.  

I can't use the "full potential" of my SV but I can still use/feel the extra performance of a GSXR.  It's higher quality bits and pieces (suspension/brakes/more powerful motor) would allow me to be faster.  Know what I'm trying to say.  All that said new riders do learn A LOT more starting off on a SV650 or EX500/GS500 than on a new 600.  

Quote:

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I know what everyone is trying to say here, some of its true some of it's not.  I know theres thousands of people who can ride a stock sv650 faster than I can, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't benefit from having upgrade suspension/brakes/motor.  Am I as fast as I as possible can be on a stock SV?  No, but would my lap times improve if I had more horsepower, stronger brakes and a fully adjustable suspension that sets up right?  Yep.
I can't use the "full potential" of my SV but I can still use/feel the extra performance of a GSXR.  It's higher quality bits and pieces (suspension/brakes/more powerful motor) would allow me to be faster.

---

What you said is correct...

Don't mind Wheelspin--I know now why people don't come to this board.  Wheelspin attacks and disagrees with ANYTHING ANYONE says! LOL  The Sport Rider guys are not gonna like him when he scares potential customers off! LOL  

That's what you think.  

There's a curve near where I used to live.  I have been through this curve maybe a hundred times with different cars/motorcycles.  Here is the maximum speeds on motorcycles I have achieved through this curve:
Ninja 250R ~60mph
SV650 (standard version) ~70mph
GSX-R1000 ~92mph

The Gixxer 1000's suspension, steering geometry, and brakes gave me enough confidence to run through that curve that fast in comparison to the other bikes, and yet still not 100% of my ability.  

Nah I see what wheelspin is saying and it's true, I didn't mean to say you'll always go faster or anything like that.  Maybe I shouldn't have said gsxr and just said SV with gsxr-spec/gsxr like suspension/brakes.  Also when you hop on a new bike you're not going to be familiar with it and that's not gonna help you be any faster.  Given the same amount of seat time/experience/familarity I think almost anyone would be faster on a moddified SV650 with a properly setup fully adjustable suspension than on a stock SV's softly sprung and fairly non adjustable suspension.  I'm horrable at picking up minor changes on bikes but I can certainly tell that the SV is sprung softly with budget pieces after riding a GSXR/CBR/R1 etc.  Same with it's brakes, I'm sure theres many people out there who could stop a stock SV650 in a shorter distance than I could so I'm not really using it's braking power to it's full potential but I can feel the extra braking power of the race replicas and quite certain it helps me stop sooner.  

"Um, getting a little overly-involved with semantics,

aren't we?" Yes, along with the context in which 'potential'

is used in such statements. If you consider a clearer def-

inition of 'potential' as: Possible, but not yet actual;

having the capacity to be developed- by this definition, I

can say that I use the full 'potential' of the 12R as well

as any other, for want of a better word, aggressive sport-

bike rider on their bike of choice.

"How do you know that you are using your 12R to its

absolute maximum possible performance?" Hence the reason

for- "In my view, this is a mis-statement." The confusion

is in the use of the correct term. Are we talking about

potential or performance. Again, I challenge any-one to

name one motorcycle road racer that holds the throttle at

or just of the rev-limiter continuously during a race there

by using 'maxium possible performance'.


"If you can use the ZX-12R to its "full potential", then

you should, to use just one specific example, be faster

than Ricky Gadson on another equivalent ZX-12R in the 1/4

mile." Again, in my view, this is a confusion of terms.

See definition of potential.

For example, both Mr. Gadson and I can use the full 'potent-
ial' of the 12R motor to accelerate a bike down the 1/4, but

his skill as a drag racer allows him to better use the full

'performance' of the 12R motor.

Performance: Operation or functioning; usually with regard

to effectiveness, as of a machine.

"I can't use the "full potential" of my SV..." Yes you can

use the full 'potential' of your SV, although you may not

be able to use it at full 'performance'.

Again, 'potential' or 'performance', there is a difference.  

I just dont think so.
I think you are riding your bike to <your> potential.  

I def agree with toad's statement just now, you are most def riding to [your] full potential.  But whose to say someone else can't take the same exact bike and do better?  I'm not saying I could, but that's what I think when I hear potential.  I like to think I can ride my bike pretty good, but I've been stomped a few times by guys with the same exact machines.  They're potential was just apparently higher than mine at the time.  That's why I practice all the time, to raise mine.  

Any bike's full performance possibilities = its full potential.  

"They're potential was just apparently higher than mine at the time."


Their level of 'performance' is higher at the time. If your

potential is lower, you will not achieve a higher level of

performance; once your potential is reached.  

this argument is still pointless cause all the performance in the world wont help you if YOU dont know how to use it. which is why riding skills are so important. any dumbass can go in a straight line and "use the motors full performance". but is that performance gonna be wasted with bad shifts and everything else? most likely yes.