I know that they are all good riders, but is Yamaha just that much better than the other companies? Lol!!! Sorry, but since I'm a certified Yammy lover I just couldn't resist poking fun.
It would be hard to say which team is actually better. They both have aliens riding their bikes. I am just happy that they are so close to each other right now so we get to see some real racing and not a parade for 20+ laps.
Truthfully for Yamaha and Honda winning is a matter of how much money they're willing to spend in one racing series versus another. Honda can out-spend anyone and they choose to do so in MotoGP. At the same time Honda is only just now regaining any interest in the AMA after the whole mess in 2009. Yamaha maybe diversifies a little more in domestic series while budgeting a little less for MotoGP. They still see value in the AMA so they invest money there. When Yamaha chose to compete in WSBK they were successful there as well. For Honda and Yamaha choosing which series they want to win in is just matter of financial investment. Of course if you're a Ducati fan your team can spend all of the money they want in MotoGP or WSBK and .... well you've seen the results :lmao: :fencing:
Honda and Yammy have a big market world wide. The money plays a big part + rider +Eng/Tech = Bigger Money...Now for us Ducati riders we need time to get our shit together maybe the new owners will step back and let the Team/Engineers/Riders have a open check book and get back to Winning some races. I love Duc's but would never kick a Honda or Yamaha out of bed..........The New Triumph 675R is very sexy and may be my next bike.
It depends on which class you are referring to. In SS/DSB, the R6 is the most competive bike. Obviously the riders are top notch also, but the R6 platform is capable of winning almost straight off the showroom floor. In SBK, it is simply a case of Yamaha/Graves throwing 10x more money and development at the R1 than any of the other teams. Truth be told, the R1 is by far the worst Liter bike off the showroom floor. It is the heaviest, weakest, has no top end, changes directions like a Bus etc. Off the showroom floor, the R1 is a turd (for lack of a better term). That is why you rarely, and i mean RARELY see one racing at the Expert Club Level, especially in Superstock form. BUT, the R1's on the showroom floor have about as much in common with the Graves R1 as my truck does. The Graves R1 puts out over 200hp, has highly advanced electronics, WSBK level braking components, frame/swingarm bracing, aftermarket parts everywhere and TONS of development behind it. You could literally buy hundreds of R1's for what it costs to build/develop/maintain/win on the Graves R1's in a season. So like i said, to answer the original question, it depends on which class you are referring to. There is a reason why the grids are full of R6's across the nation...but you rarely see an R1.
This was pretty much my understanding. If all riders were equal, I'd say the r6 would def be the top bike in its class. The r1, like you said is horrible off the showroom floor, however the riders and the science/$$/crew make it a winner.
this & lets not forget the budget. Kawi, zuk's & honda's don't do much with contingency etc... not sure yamaha does either, however yamaha will pay their riders, which was always a big prob with kawi back in the day. I do agree that the r6 may be the complete package & if i felt more comfortable on one i'd own one, BUT the zx6r is no slouch (which is evident in WSS) i'd have to say those two bikes are the pick of the litter if you asked my opinion. the bracing on the r1 frame is just ridiculous, may as well just pull the old one off and pitch it. I'd love to get a class action lawsuit for false advertising when the commercials come on & say you can buy the bike josh hayes wins on, its such a load of garbage lol
I might agree...the NEW R1 seems to have gone backward. Street race a new one in 2010 with my 2000 and beat it. All of the reading I've done says the Gen 1 R1's are the better handling, quickest steering R1's made. Ask anyone bold enough to hard them hard at speed; twitchy as hell over bumps, dip, and rises! It may be the best R1 chassis is behind us, hence the reason I've kept mine. :thumb:
I have thought the exact same thing every time i see that commercial. It starts with "what does it feel like to ride Hayes' AMA Championship winning bike?". I think "We will never know" or "Nothing like riding that turd you have there".