Hi Russ,
Can't help from here; snowing right now ;-) but in case he isn't watching the
list,
maybe check with Jim Weir; (cc'd above)
On the basic question, I would guess you may be pleasantly surprised; most of
the
available sportbikes are or can be a good bit more stable than our old K-81
(loved
those tires) shod 70s bikes.
The gsxrs are probably a good bet; lots of available parts and motors (600; not
sure,
but I think the 750s and 1100s interchanged easily enough) plus you may be able
to
swap swingarms; they varied the length quite often.
Other than altering a frame, you could perhaps play with the triple clamps for
more
trail. The modern bikes have rakes of usually ~24deg.; steep compared to the
old
days (esp. ducatis ;-) but with steering dampners they seem fine.
Keep us posted,
Rick
rtmack wrote:
> Hi, list--
> been missing you folks, but I got a big run of work. Pesky customers!
>But
> the good thing is I can do a little LSR shopping now, and I'm hoping maybe
> someone on the list can help me with a little matter of indecision.
>
> After "crewing" at Bonneville for a season, I've decided (for many
>reasons,
> including cost) that I want to begin my owner/driver LSR efforts on a
> "sportbike"-- a 600 or 750 GSX-R, if I can find a good deal. Lots of neat
> technology to experiment with, at (relatively) low cost. Problem is, all
>these
> young writers (part-time racers) for the motorcycle mags are always talking
>about
> how scary the big sportbikes are these days-- and while I used to be a rabid
> biker, I've ridden little in the last 25 years, and never anything with that
>kind
> of power-to-weight ratio. Wouldn't I feel silly to drop several "big ones" on
> such a bike, and find I no longer have the 'nads to get the speed out of it?
>
> See, that's where you folks come in (I hope!)
>
> I would like to take a brief ride on a modern sportbike, 600cc or more--
> just to make sure I like the feeling. I don't personally know anybody who
>owns a
> big sportbike (being 56, most of my friends now are sane or feeble-- or both).
> Then it occurred to me that maybe somebody on the list has one, and would be
> willing to rent me a very brief ride? If you have such a bike and live
>within a
> day's drive of Houston, you can collect $100 and my undying gratitude (for
>what
> it's worth) to let me take your machine through the gears one time (in a
>straight
> line will be just fine for me)-- no over-rev, no (intentional) tire smoke.
>Less
> than 15 minutes.
>
> If you'd be willing to help me find out how old I really am, please send
>me
> a note "off-list". Terms are negotiable (I really want to start bike
>shopping!)
>
> Russ Mack
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