2012 Liter Shootout..Honda Dominates on the Dyno!

[Kruz]

[TexasTraffic]

I wouldn't say that.... nice mid-range though.


Of course, you don't need more HP to go faster. Following a good rider on a 250 around the track can be very educational!

[DickBlazer]

Damn. I like the new gsxr numbers. Thats impressive. Power almost everywhere. Ive heard the gixxer performs well. They badly need to radically change its styling though. That single headlight looks odd to me. They've looked the same sans exhaust forever.

Wow the kawi and R1 lack midrange. Thats crazy. Can you say reflash? Also CBR zbomb would help that damn drop off

[larriice]

Notice that the power drops off at about 10,500 RPM. A z-bomb will give it around 150 WHP for less than $100. I wouldn't be too worried about it.

[DSMer1]

Wow the GSXR-1000 dominates it but the Honda is right there...
The GSX-R Clearly is all over the Hondas powerband but does not stop at 10,500...
How much more does it weigh though?

I sure am glad I am not on a R1
The dyno challange looks similar to the 2009 shootout
The Kawi looks like it may do well on the track, but bottom of the pack around town.

[DSMer1]

09 Dyno...


OP, please post a link to the 2012 Shootout

[Getafix]

Here's the link to the complete shootout:
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs...out-91266.html

The gixxer has caught up big time, no longer is the CBR the mid-range king. They really need to do something for the 2013 blade, though it seems unlikely.

Seems this year's review is all about how much gadgets the bike has, too much emphasis on TC. The ZX10r might have won the shootout but it's power band is only good for the track. The gixxer should've been the real winner of this test.

[Kruz]

Honda still has the dominate midrange no matter what the dyno says, the GSXR shows strong midrange but the Honda has better gearing and gets the midrange power that it has down better. Honda is going to need to come out with traction control for 2013 or continue to drop further behind in the shootout ratings however. The TC genie has been let out of the bottle and even the new 675cc MV Augusta F3 has it. The Honda is still a great bike but the TC is of real value when pushing hard at the limits of traction, that's holding the Honda back. Sure hope they don't try to reinvent the wheel here however, stick with the same formula, light weight, balanced suspension and strong midrange hit with TC to polish the sharp edges.

I have the latest ZX-10R and the power is definitely track biased but still works fine on the street as the power is very smooth and progressive, you just have to rev it a bit to get past the midrange lull.


A buddy recently switched from a BMW S1000RRR to an R6 for a trackday bike and saw a whopping 4 second drop in his lap times. Apparently hairy topend is not the best route for everyone short of a highly skilled WSB rider. I would like to see more emphasis on track times in these shootouts with test riders closer to our skill level turning the throttle. Under those conditions, the biggest HP number on the dyno is not always the best way forward. I don't think the BMW is really all that but it wins every shootout based on laying down the big numbers on the dyno. 150 rear wheel HP with friendly delivery characteristics is really all most of us can use. Just my .02.

[Getafix]

Totally agreed, all that power is useless except for maybe the drag strip. It's better to have better handling & a more useable powerband. Even with all it's power the BMW has still put down slower times at the track than the CBR in the shootouts done in the past.

[V4Honda]

Kruz, I'm suprised that you still are running the 10 completely stock. The tall gearing of the 10 really could use the timing back in and the restrictions removed in all gears with the re-flash. The midrange torque improvement and 180+ hp after the flash are very linear and manageable, even on the track.