Inteligent, Fact Based Discussion: Car vs Bike

[Z3n]

Real world down a twisty road with sane pilots in both? Car, hands down.

Though traffic? Bike.

Anywhere else, it comes up to the skill of the rider, and the willingness to hang it out. A guy on a literbike up 9 will smoke just about everything as long as he's willing to ride it like a track, 150+ in the straights. On teh track, it's going to the motorcycle until you start comparing race cars/highly expensive sports cars to the bikes, because most bikes are (essentially) race bikes.

 

[bluesdude]

Real world conditions include rain- the Pinto wins...

 

[Cheyenne]

Real world conditions include rain- the Pinto wins...

Oh what!?!?! Real world + rain? Oh, sorry, gotta pull my FWD card!!!!

Sorry FWD haters, I had to...

 

[Gnarly Cranium]

More contact with the road and more stability > only two wheels, period.

But I gotta say, in those videos the bike sure LOOKS like it's going ten times as fast not to mention having ten times as much fun, and that's the only benchmark that counts mirite?


Clearly, the final solution is to get one of these:

 

[Bluenote]

Pretty much every track record at all the major race circuits, is held by a car. It maybe be a million dollar open wheeled race car, but its still a car.

Not pretty much. *All* the track records. And a note on those nine second quarter mile times , very , very few of us can put a a given street bike into the nines , no matter what it ran in the various road tests. I've seen so many folks disappointed at various drag strips when they couldn't get their literbike or hypersport ( read 'Busa or ZX12-14) out of the 11s that it's amazing.

Driving a car that quartermiles in the 10s is relatively simple compared to putting a bike into the tens , not that *either* is all that simple , but it's easier with a car.

 

[ucb]

Exactly, easier to go fast in the car.

 

[Carlo]

Driving a car that quartermiles in the 10s is relatively simple compared to putting a bike into the tens , not that *either* is all that simple , but it's easier with a car.

The difference is that there isn't a single car you can buy from a dealer that can run 10 second quarter mile times, while there are several models of motorcycle available that can.

The OP should have made up a clear definition of real world. In my world, I'm responding to a challenge from some random guy in a Subaru WRX, which could easily pull away from my Aprilia on a twisty road, and could also easily pull away from my Aprilia on a very long straightaway. (top speed of my Caponord is only about 140mph)
But in the "real world" that I live in, I haven't encountered the WRX driver who had the skill to get away from me in the twisties, and haven't encountered a WRX where there was enough road for its driver to overcome my advantage in acceleration at speeds under 120mph.
As for the $100,000+ rich boy's toys, I haven't seen too many of those on the road (I did see a Ford GT40 near Vacaville in July!), and the ones I have encountered while I was on a motorcycle weren't being driven by someone who was inclined at the time to offer me a challenge.

 

[ucb]

The difference is that there isn't a single car you can buy from a dealer that can run 10 second quarter mile times, while there are several models of motorcycle available that can.

A C6 Z06 with DRs will get you close if you can actually put the power to the ground

 

[pKx]

Without reading the whole thread, I always wondered this myself. In the car, I autocross regularly, teach car control clinics, have done multiple track days, etc. I'm pretty quick.

I've got about 40k riding miles under my belt but still consider myself a much more proficient driver than rider.

When on the bike one lonely weekday evening, I came upon someone with the same model car that I have at the corner of 9 & 236 headed into Boulder Creek. The guy knew the road and drove safely... and he was a bit faster than I was. Guess that answers that .

I wonder if it'd be the same uphill.

 

[Bluenote]

The difference is that there isn't a single car you can buy from a dealer that can run 10 second quarter mile times, while there are several models of motorcycle available that can.

The OP should have made up a clear definition of real world. In my world, I'm responding to a challenge from some random guy in a Subaru WRX, which could easily pull away from my Aprilia on a twisty road, and could also easily pull away from my Aprilia on a very long straightaway. (top speed of my Caponord is only about 140mph)
But in the "real world" that I live in, I haven't encountered the WRX driver who had the skill to get away from me in the twisties, and haven't encountered a WRX where there was enough road for its driver to overcome my advantage in acceleration at speeds under 120mph.
As for the $100,000+ rich boy's toys, I haven't seen too many of those on the road (I did see a Ford GT40 near Vacaville in July!), and the ones I have encountered while I was on a motorcycle weren't being driven by someone who was inclined at the time to offer me a challenge.

Uh huh. The vast majority of folks on scoots that run in the nines or tens in the road tests can't get anywhere NEAR those times at the strip. I you don't believe that then betake yourself to the strip and watch some folks make the attempt.

As for your 'real world' , you just haven't encountered the right person behind the wheel of that WRX yet. Argue the point if you wish , but I commuted over the hill for enough years from Boulder Creek both on various bikes and in cars such as a first generation MR2 with a stock motor and few mods other than suspension and good tires , I very seldom when driving it ran into someone on a bike who could give me a decent go , and note that it was the *normally aspirated* version which is rather limited horsepowerwise.

As for the supercars , the same thing applies , most folks aren't willing to actually *drive* them , when you finally run into someone who is willing to do so you'll be in for a bit of a surprise.

I'm a gearhead , I like most things with wheels be it two wheels or four and I have a great deal of respect for the cornering capabilities of quite a lot of cars.

Take a look sometime at the times Formula Vees put down around Sears , keep in mind the class is limited to a *60* horse or thereabouts VW motor.

Acceleration? Yes most certainly the majority of motorcycles have it all over the majority of cars , braking and cornering , not so much.




B.

 

[Asphaultnaut]

there's also a much more important criteria:

Which gets you laid faster? $12K of bike or $12K of car?

 

[sixtytwo]

there's also a much more important criteria:

Which gets you laid faster? $12K of bike or $12K of car?

No question there. The chicks absolutely love that nissan versa.

 

[vato_loco]

A performance car might be faster than a bike on the track & street, but what about the fun factor? I've driven quick sport sedans -- Alfa Romeo, BMW -- on the back roads, but on those same roads the bike wins hands down judging from the smile on my face.

 

[Carlo]

As for your 'real world' , you just haven't encountered the right person behind the wheel of that WRX yet. Argue the point if you wish , but I commuted over the hill for enough years from Boulder Creek both on various bikes and in cars such as a first generation MR2 with a stock motor and few mods other than suspension and good tires , I very seldom when driving it ran into someone on a bike who could give me a decent go , and note that it was the *normally aspirated* version which is rather limited horsepowerwise.

As for the supercars , the same thing applies , most folks aren't willing to actually *drive* them , when you finally run into someone who is willing to do so you'll be in for a bit of a surprise.


B.

I'm not disagreeing with the contention that many cars are potentially faster than motorcycles, and I fully admit that I haven't encountered the right WRX driver; I'm well aware of the capabilities of a car like that. Anyhow, I didn't say I've never been humbled by a car, only that it's been rare.

My disagreement is with the basic premise of this conversation with no clear definitions to help us. "Real world", as has been said before is a pretty broad definition.
Do we define "real world" as our own experiences only, or do we include all the you-tube vids we've seen, and stories we've heard? (some of which give the nod to the motorcycle, as in that one with the Yamaha 450 vs the WRX)

Are we talking about staged events like those videos, or are we talking about the spontaneous, and usually very short races that often occur on backroads or at stoplights? I think "real world" more accurately defines the latter. In my opinion, the "real world" includes all kinds of conditions, skill levels, vehicle performance, and that while very high performance cars are in general capable of better overall performance than motorcycles, in the random matchups that occur in the real world, I suspect that the motorcyclists usually hold their own fairly well.

 

[Carlo]

there's also a much more important criteria:

Which gets you laid faster? $12K of bike or $12K of car?

Well, since apples to oranges isn't really off the table here, this question should include the $120K car.

The suggestion of real money trumps all other factors in that game.

 

[sixtytwo]

Well, since apples to oranges isn't really off the table here, this question should include the $120K car.

The suggestion of real money trumps all other factors in that game.

Right, but the guy who owns a $120k car probably wouldn't go crazy with it on the twisties.

 

[Cheyenne]

Right, but the guy who owns a $120k car probably wouldn't go crazy with it on the twisties.

Which is as lame as literbike owners that don't hit 150+ on a weekly basis.

What's the point of spending lots of money to be a poser? News flash: Hookers are cheaper in the long run. Find a clean one and rent long term.

Posers may be good for the economy, but little else. If you can't do awesome stuff with your dick, don't compensate by letting it pick your car or bike.

 

[ucb]

Right, but the guy who owns a $120k car probably wouldn't go crazy with it on the twisties.

You'd be surprised

 

[Enchanter]

I've attached the article that Motorcyclist did years ago. Car and Driver did one using a Viper and an FZR1000. Sport Rider did one using a 900RR and an NSX. Road & Track (Speed) did one using a ZX10, a ZX636, a Corvette, a Skyline. I have them all. I'll see if I can locate them.

 

[sixtytwo]

I've attached the article that Motorcyclist did years ago. Car and Driver did one using a Viper and an FZR1000. Sport Rider did one using a 900RR and an NSX. Road & Track (Speed) did one using a ZX10, a ZX636, a Corvette, a Skyline. I have them all. I'll see if I can locate them.

Hrm, the article makes some pretty good arguments for the bikes and against the cars, especially towards the end. There's definitely something to be said about changing the direction of the momentum of a ~550 pound bike+rider combination and that of a several ton car.

Though some people (Cheyenne??) would probably disagree, I would say that the absolutely insane acceleration of a motorcycle is no laughing matter.