Why?
 

Went home at lunchtime. The sun was out and it's a glorious ride down some twisties to my house. On the way back I catch a red Vauxhall Astra VXR thingy. Quick in a straight line but he doesn't know the road that well so brakes heavily for each tight bend, good on him for driving within his limits. On each straight though he floors it, probably getting close to a tonne, only to have to slam on the anchors for the next bend. I keep my distance and stick at a steady 55-60 throughout. We get to a nice open peice of road and I let those little demons talk me into spanking it past him. So I do, only as I get halfway past he also floors it. Now, lack of foresight on my part I should have seen that one coming. I get past him eventually but I was on the wrong side of the road for longer than I was comfortable. No other traffic about though and I had a good view of the road ahead. I pull back in with more than enough room and then he sits on my number plate as the speed limit drops from NSL to 40 (as do I). Get to roundabout he pulls up and calls me all sorts. I give him the bird and zoom off at the speed limit.

Now bikers are bad.

I should have sat back and let him zoom off on the straight but those little voices...........

I need a Blade.

Re: Why?
 

Quite simply he was in a vauxhaul, they don't do corners.

Druid

Re: Why?
 

Sounds like you are enjoying riding again and your confidence is back :D. Ride safe Dan...Foxy

Re: Why?
 

Because he didn't like his mirror? :confused:

Re: Why?
 

If hes flooring it on every straight and you know hes doing this, sit behind him and wait for him to stick it in the hedge on the next bend.
Unless you have the power to take him and leave him dont bother trying.

Re: Why?
 

This is interesting cos my bro has an Astra vxr and I want to know whether I can spank him on the SV?

Dan, you should know better. Or at least have a fast enough bike to actually overtake :-P

Re: Why?
 

Oh I managed to overtake him no worries. He just caught me out by flooring it. I guess it didn't help that I hit the limiter which slowed me down! VXR's are not slow in a straight line but I took him, just took longer than I wanted. Not sure about the SV as the torque is linear, the Hornet really takes off once you get 6k. I am sure the SV could do it though.

Yes, my confidence is certainly back. Which worries me a little as I seem more confident than I remember. I used to be a little cautious of bends and was always worrying about what's on the surface (gravel, sand, mud etc). Now, I just lean it over and look deep into the corner. I give the ground a quick scan before going in but not like I used to. I am quicker but that doesn't equate to safer or better.

Re: Why?
 

Whilst I wouldn't bet my house on it, I doubt it tbh. A well driven VXR vs a well ridden SV could be a close thing... :)

Re: Why?
 

Had it happen to me twice last weekend. Its annoying when you aren't expecting it and you pass in a higher gear only for them to floor it. Even more annoying when you have a Ducati and a Peugeot 306 leaves you out to dry!!!

How the **** did that happen?

Re: Why?
 

He just sounds like a

TW
AT

Re: Why?
 

Eventually??:)

Re: Why?
 

The blade is calling...

Re: Why?
 

Nah you dont...

The outcome would have still been the same i.e he woudl have caught you eventually as you slowed for the 40mph limit...

Some people are just idiots, once you have learned to accept this, you have learned a great lesson in life.

Re: Why?
 

Dude you can drop two or three gears in less than a second and nail it away from him - what were you thinking?! :p

Re: Why?
 

Sounds like the equally irritating "45mph everywhere" driver. The ones who overtake you in a 30 zone and disappear... until the NSL hoves into view and you get stuck behind them as they bimble along, oblivious to everything :smt068

Re: Why?
 

You say you were on the wrong side of the road longer than you intended!
You could have easily dropped back in behind him or if you were at full chat you were both well above the NSL as I am sure your bike is capable of over 100mph
Sorry mate it doesn't wash with me --you were racing each other and he got the needle
Simples --only race cars you can beat:D

Re: Why?
 

Just before I went for the overtake was a junction to my right. I didn't do the overtake until I was past the junction in case there were vehicles coming out, or he was turning into the junction. I'd slowed to about 30 at this point as did he as there was a car in said junction waiting to come out. So I was in 1st gear, as we passed the junction I went past and as I got to his driver door he booted it, so I tanked it but was still in 1st. Ran out of rpm's and bounced it off the limiter. Once I was in 2nd he was dust. :rolleyes: Phew.

Re: Why?
 

Vauxhall Astra VXR will out-pace a standrad SV on the straights, only just though.

Re: Why?
 

At what point? In no way disputing this just interested as to when the bike would lose out. 0-60 the SV would spank it surely. When will the car bite back?

Re: Why?
 

The only fast car my SV has been up against was a Prodrive built Subaru Impreza with 300 odd bhp. Dunno how the Astra VXR compares.

My SV level pegs it with a pillion on 30-100 mph acceleration. 0-30mph lower inertia wins I think even a GS500 could probably beat anything but a supercar. Above 100mph the SV gets pasted.

Re: Why?
 

Someone who isn't me ended up in a similar situation with someone who is definately not my mate.

The astra was getting left behind until the SV had been indicating 120 for a number of seconds. The SV did get a cracking start though.

Maybe it would be different from a rolling start, the astra is after all wrong-wheel-drive.

Re: Why?
 

Someone I er know struggled to pass a Ford Puma on a motorway riding an SVS. flat flat out and crawling past. They're not the fastest of bikes but that's not the point of them.

Hell mine now only does about 125. It does manage that pretty damn quickly though :-)

Druid

Re: Why?
 

Assuming the straight is long enough...

Top end, the SV doesn't pull as hard in the higher gears (runs out of oomph) and has a lower top speed (Curvy - 125.1mph and Pointy - 124.3mph).

I have a had a few of those experiences in life myself.

Re: Why?
 

At this point I'd be doing 100mph. You're right. You do need a 'blade. :twisted:

Re: Why?
 

No doubt in my mind a standard sv will get p****d all over by a VXR from standing start not straight away but rolling start yes, i followed a astra once thinking it was a plain 1.6 or 1.8 and a 33bhp will easily get past that rolling, so after a RA i twisted the throttle and went for him only for him to boot it and leave me behind :( how ashamed was i both overtook a car then he got stuck behind 3 cars and i left him behind :rolleyes:

Re: Why?
 

Blade!