Discovered a great way to tune up my Sprint

[kc5deb]

This past sunday, I went for an afternoon ride with some GSXR-1000's, a Repsol, some R6's and some other misc insanely fast street bikes. Needless to say, I was bringing up the rear

I was starting to feel a little inferior, even though I knew that if we had ridden a good 200+ miles, I would've come out the victor, while the others would be crying for a chiropractor and some donut pillows for the ride home.

But, I found a way to put some "umph" back into the girl...

I have a 1978 kz650 that I'm getting ready to sell. Her clutch cable gave up the ghost a week before I bought my Sprint, and I haven't been able to hop on her since. I finally got my clutch cable in the other day, and was finally able to put it on yesterday afternoon. So, the cable went on, and after a little bit of charging the battery, those 30yr old quads came to life once again, and I got to listen to it purr like the good Kagutsuchi intended it to. Man, it sounded good. So, I hopped on, and set out to play, ready to feel that kick from the old school Japanese technology . 1st gear... maybe I didn't get the carbs as clean as I thought? 2nd gear... wow, this must be some really sh*tty gas?! 3rd gear... I'm JUST now to 50mph?!?!! What the hell? It's running and sounding better than it ever has!

Then like a bird to the lid skid at 80, it hit me... For the last month I've been riding a 108hp sport/tour bike... of COURSE this thing's gonna feel like I'm taking the scenic off-road tour through La Brea...

So, I enjoy the nostalgia of the near 30yr old street bike for a few more minutes, pull her back in to the barn to get some rest, and head IMMEDIATELY to the garage that's been keeping the gravity induced fecal spots from the lovely tree fowl around here off my Sprint, and go for a ride.

WOW... now THERE'S the power I remember!

So, if ya ever think your bike is starting to slug down or tire out, just go hop on an old bike for about 20 minutes, and renew that fresh torquey pull of those beautiful triples!

I would say it would be novel to patent that feeling, but, to contain it and deprive ANYONE of it would be complete sacrilege...

[denman13]

IMHO it's really about 35% bike and 65% pilot. A great rider on a mediocre bike will always beat a mediocre rider on a great bike (under most circumstances anyway) The Sprints have an insane amount of power in the low end of the curve. So assuming you're equally skilled riders you're probably not going to beat the GXR or CBR liter bikes in the curves but you should leave em behind in the flats. I ride with two friends on CBR and GXR and have little problem keeping up. The Sprint is a bit heavier so I have to work a little more to throw it over from side to side but for a sport-tour bike keeping up with the superbikes, I think the Sprint does just fine.

Either way it sounds like you had a great time which of course leads to the most important grin factor.

[MVP44]

Denman is right on the pilot part ( I'd like to see the old 500cc bikes come back to motogp - can you say 85%rider 15%bike they were beasts)

I totally disagree with the flats though - if the st has any chance at all it will be to carry more corner speed and get on the throttle quicker because if you give more than 300 feet of straight the GSXR will absolutely destroy the sprint and with about 50lbs less weight than sprinty you really have to throw the snot out of the ST and you will still come up way short given equal piloting.

You will have a better chance against the R6 lot, but again given equal piloting the ST just wont stack up.

Don't get me wrong I love my ST and as I have said many times it is the absolute best all around bike I have ever owned, but against my GSXR 1000 it stands no chance - but it is not supposed to. The cases on this board where stories of Sprints keeping up with liter bikes is due simply to the STs having better pilots on them who can get the most out of the bike.

And KC5 you are sooooooooo right on how things have changed in the last 5 years much less the last 30

[Medic09]

I go back and forth over a nearly 30 year span constantly. Everytime I get back on the Sprint, I think "whoa! Is this supposed to accelerate THAT fast?".

OTOH, I smoked a guy on a big motored tricked-out Sportster the other day, on my 30 year old tired stock 750Four. That gave me far more pleasure than zooming around on the Sprint. When I'm out on the highway cruising at speed on the old Honda, I often think "I don't need anything else".

Guess that's why I have to ride two bikes. :-)

[iceman]

...... I know the feeling kc5.
I recently went for a ride on a friend's 250 - just for old times sake.I had a couple of 250s many years ago and we used to go on trips on them sometimes 2 up.I remember it as getting along quite well.
Anyway - I was gobsmacked at how gutless it was - I was struggling to maintain 80kph and overtaking was out of the question.
I have been spoiled for good after a couple of years on the Sprint - the on tap power/torque makes riding a breeze.Overtaking is as simple as thinking about it and hills make no difference.

Grant

[ricster]

I started on my 2006 Sprint ST is that a bad thing? Will I look for a bike next time that just has much more power? I have really got used to the power of the 1050...not finding it that bad.

[MVP44]

Ricster,
Don't second guess - you bought IMHO just about the most perfect overall bike. Do I still like my GSXR, yes because basically I still have the mentality of a 20 year old and love the sheer grunt she has, but she is lonely for most of the time now because I love my ST. Going to Summit Point I will take the GSXR, anywhere else the st has it.

[bobw3592]

ricster, never question that excellent choice! The Sprint is as KC stated, more competitive the longer the ride becomes. Look at the company he was riding with and their configuration. The beauty in the Sprint is that for such a good value how much it does so well. I ride all day long (with my 07 bars) and feel good, rain or shine. My hard bags are waterproof and work well on my camping trips, I get great fuel mileage and the bike is easily modified to suit your tastes/desires. The motor offers much more than it gives up for a short race against a "pure" sport bike.

Good story on all counts KC. Thanks.

Bob

[WardenRoss]

Dang...a KZ 650!

I bought one of those the first year they came out...a green 1977 model.

The 650 was King of my small town. I could eat Honda 750s for lunch! Especially Sportsters! I only lost a drag race to a KZ900, but I could beat one, if I got him off the line. No one else could touch my 650! I used to do wheelies with my girl on the back....

Great memories!

Thanks!

[jefftarlton]

Imagine how it feels for me when I go from a '72 trail 90 to my 955 sprint.

I rode a friend's KZ900 a few months back. I didn't remember them being so small, light, and SLOW.