[eon]

My 500cc scooter does okay at highway speeds but there is certainly no oomph left for quick passes at 80mph. Not sure there is any need for quick passes at that speed anyway, expect a chat with the boys in blue if you are in the habit doing those speeds. But I do feel it lacking at even 50mph passes. I have to plan my overtake carefully which can be frustrating at times, but it’s not a significant problem. But as others have mentioned engine size is a poor measure of performance. My 500cc scoot has to lug ~14lb per hp. The Ninja 250 only has to pull around 10lb per hp. Big difference even to a 250 model.

But I think a large part of it comes down to how you ride. Almost all of my miles are fun miles on twisty country roads where hp is not really a concern. If I was commuting on the interstate it might be a problem, if I was doing lots of touring it would definitely be a problem. But after 2 years it’s only really been a minor inconvenience.

[TrialsRider]

The following wind drag coefficient values were compiled from various sources and should only be
considered as a guide.
Being a chart this may not come out very nice, but I’ll try and clean it up later;)

Bike ________Rider – prone ____sitting
Yamaha Venture _____________ 0.75
Honda V65 Magna_____________0.61
Honda Blackbird _____ 0,44_____0,81
Honda VF1000F _____ 0.40 _____0.45
Aprilia Mille_________0,52 _____0,61
Ducati 916 _________ 0,57______0,69
BMW R1100 RT ______0,53______0,97
BMW K100RS ________0.40 _____0.43
Yamaha FJ1100______0.43 _____0.48
Kawasaki GPZ900R____0.36_____0.43
Suzuki GSX1100EF ____ 0.41_____0.44
Suzuki GSXR750 ______0.32
Suzuki Hayabusa _____ 0.31
Kawasaki ZX-12R_____ 0.34
Yamaha OW69________0.32
Honda 1996 RS125____ 0.20
Honda 1990 RS125 ____0.19
Honda RS500________ 0.24

…sure would be nice to see these numbers as included in standard specifications for all bikes.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Below is the story of a guy crossing the US on a 50cc scooter:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/vandyck/001330.php

[Author]

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