Quote:
Originally Posted by northwind
Light is expensive... You definately could make a lighter litre bike, no problem at all, just look at Thorsten Durbahn's ridiculous machines. Also, bikes come saddled with emissions crap, and wheels built to be so strong that idiots don't constantly bend them, and subframes built so you can bolt on a top box and carry a pillion, etc...
And the TL-S and TL-R are not light bikes. Claimed dry was 187kg for the S I think and even more for the R. You could rip weight out of that wholesale- though I gather the engine itself is pretty weighty. But then again, the SV isn't a light bike for what it is. Personally I kind of reckon that with the amount of work needed for this, if you want a TL motor in a different frame it makes more sense to go direct to a totally custom frame. Not that this makes any sense at all, but it's always an option. Or, alternatively, stick it in a Ducati frame  |
Ok, with a money-no-limit option, you could make them lighter (look at moto gp, right?). My point is really aimed at those guys that want to play with standard parts as they're under the impression they can beat the factory (at the same cost) - e.g. on the CBR forum some guy started a thread about putting a blade engine (I forget which one) into a CBR600F under the guise of making a lighter, more powerful bike - I made a similar comment to this and that was the end of that thread, lol.
Bikes like the TLs are heavy, but when you say you can lighten them pretty significantly what do you mean? I am no expert, but there must be a purpose - I can't see a manufacturer turning round and saying "we've got a part that weighs 4kg, and one that weighs 2kg. They're in all respects identical except for the weight, let's use the 4kg one". I was just making the point you don't get something for nothing
