After optimizing the performance of my GL1200, I noticed that it easily accelerated on level ground from a dead stop in second gear. A couple of times believing it was in 1st gear, I thought it was getting sluggish on acceleration. Nope, it was merely in second gear. :d
admin Wrote:Try placing a 1500 next to a 1200 in first gear at 3500 RPM then whack the throttle wide open and you will be shocked when the 1200 pulls away right up to the 7500 RPM redline and the 1500 can't keep up. The 1200 engine is more of a sporty type engine whereas the 1500 is more like a tractor engine, great for low RPM torque. They can't really be compared equally because they are two completely different types of engines.
you may be correct vic but with someone other than you on the other bike it still isn't a fair comparison. who's to say the guy on that 1500 next to you had the nads that you have when it comes to cracking open a throttle? i use to have an '85 mustang lx v6. it had gt wheels on it and i would race anyone in a v8 camaro or mustang gt. lots of guys were shocked to learn they got out gunned by a v6 mustang but only cause they didn't have trhe nads to stopm on the gas :d
In the test I did the guy is a riding friend who is not afraid to roll the throttle on or even do a wheelie so I know it was a fair comparison. In this particular situation the 1200 has the advantage because it's just starting into its torque curve with lots to go before the 1200 has to shift into the next gear so the 1200 pulls away easily. In a matched gear for gear rollon test the 1500 will pull away from the 1200 because of the extra torque until it reaches maximum RPM where the 1200 will again pull away from the 1500 allowing that grade, rider and bike weight are normal and wind are the same. You can look at it this way, a 500 cubic inch Cadillac will not outrun a 302 Mustang even if you factor in the weight difference, the winning factor for the 302 is that the engine is a high revving screamer whereas the 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine is built for effortless cruising at low RPM's. Simply two different types of engines much like the differences between the 1200 and 1500. Even when you look back over 1980's bike magazine articles you'll find that the 1200 typically out accelerated 1500's but the 1200 had to scream to do it whereas the 1500 did its best at low RPM therefore you could shift at low speed and the bike still pulled hard, whereas the 1200 would shake and shudder until 3000 rpm where it really started to come alive.
reaction time my friend. we generally are not out seeing who has the fastest wing anyway but droning along the road at whatever speed we are doing so it becomes which bike you prefer. seeing i got my 1200 almost a year before getting a 1500 i would have to say that a 1500 was what i wanted to own at the time not that its superior than a 1200 wing in any way. it is nice to leave the extra 100lbs of the 1500 at home and carry all i need. i really don't care that i have to remove some tupperware to check the oil to me it's just the price you pay for haveing what you want. like i stated earlier we all have 1200 wings and know all about them so i was being more specific about my 1500.to be honest if i could only keep one of the seven bikes i current;y own it would be my '79 cb750 with the 900f motor . soft bags will let me carry what i need, it's faster than any wing ever produced and about 100lbs lighter than any naked wing but i wanted a 1200 and a 1500 wing and have them both. i don't encourage or discourage anyone from getting any bike they want cause bottom line " its your money buy what you like or think you like " i did and still do
I'm a drag racer at heart so the acceleration means a lot to me. Most guys with 1200's never, ever spin their engines past 5000 RPM for fear that it might blow but I've had mine up to 8000 RPM's numerous times and it is plain and simply exciting for me to hear that engine scream at that speed. 'Course, a speeding ticket and wear and tear on the performance engine have really slowed me down so now I just putt along using my spare engine but I really miss winding her out. One of these days I'll freshen up the performance engine and drop it back into the frame so I can experience 8000 RPM again as I merge from the on-ramp to the freeway. That's about the only place you can really have fun anymore, but I do have to admit that cruising with my wife and dog is quite satisfying these days. I guess I'm getting old. :cry:
Not old Vic, just chronologically challenged. :d
Now that's much nicer way of stating it Walter, thank you. :YMAPPLAUSE:
I've ridden all of the bikes in this discussion (plus a few more) and have settled on keeping my 86 GL1200A. It does everything I want it to do and didn't cost as much as the other ones. I bought it from a guy who upgraded (?) to a new 1800. When we traded bikes for a ride this summer we both felt that there really wasn't much difference. The guy who bought my Valkyrie was shocked that I can keep right beside him up to 100. (I'll leave it to your immagination whether that is kph or mph.)
The truth is that riding any bike would be better than sitting inside watching TV. I am so tired of winter already. (Two weeks until the Motorcycle Show.) I guess I should insulate and heat the garage and park my wife's car outside so I can enjoy my bikes year round.
Blessings gang. Rocken Ron aka Scarbelly
Edmonton, AB Canada where it was 46,1 degree C. below zero a couple of weeks ago.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL WINGERS !
FYI I'm sitting in a 500 year old rented house in
Sarajevo, Bosnia missing my GL1200I Yeh, I know it's below freezing in St. Louis (except in my 'Wing's half heated garage) but where I am makes it seem even further from being driven.
Well, it's Monday morning here already, and I've got to get back to mission nearly impossible. Yeh, I'm an old Cold Warrior still in service -- but in less tense times. When I first came through here in 1977, I was the "official" enemy. But since the Dayton agreement which stopped the killing here, Americans (and Canadians) are their saviors -- who can walk on water. The world changes -- do people change with it? Hmmm.
Back to topic, I haven't seen ANY 'Wings (or many bikes) here. North, about one hour by jet in Hungary which is more prosperous you do get to see quite a few bikes on the streets -- even Wings. But I'm told by Budapest friends that those riders have among them many neo-Nazis who use their bikes to identify their extreme right wing (no reference to a Honda product :lol: ) ideology.
Well, a couple of weeks from now I'll be back in the bosom of my countrymen -- and with any luck, back on my GL1200I !
Have a healthy, happy, and SAFE New Year.
Take care and I hope all goes well. **==
admin Wrote:I'm a drag racer at heart so the acceleration means a lot to me. Most guys with 1200's never, ever spin their engines past 5000 RPM for fear that it might blow but I've had mine up to 8000 RPM's numerous times and it is plain and simply exciting for me to hear that engine scream at that speed. 'Course, a speeding ticket and wear and tear on the performance engine have really slowed me down so now I just putt along using my spare engine but I really miss winding her out. One of these days I'll freshen up the performance engine and drop it back into the frame so I can experience 8000 RPM again as I merge from the on-ramp to the freeway. That's about the only place you can really have fun anymore, but I do have to admit that cruising with my wife and dog is quite satisfying these days. I guess I'm getting old. :cry:
If you like to wind it out get yourself a vintage Magna: I've got the smaller (VF700C) V4. It redlines at 10,500, and is really happy in the 7 - 9K range, and will outrun many bigger engines. The V65 is a monster - the fastest production bike made at the time, and has been known to humble many a new crotch-rocket. ^
^
Those sound like fun. I just sold my GS1100E Suzuki and that was one fast bike. Had to sell it because my wife kept sliding off the seat when I accelerated. She really appreciates the backrest on our GL1200. :d
I am also one who went over to the dark side.I loved my 1200 but found a good deal on a 1500.I wish I could have kept both. So here's my opinion for what it's worth [not much].1200 better handling especialy at low speed.Easier to do your own work.1500 can be a bit unstable on rough roads or low speeds.A bit more power and more seat room (My wife and I need that). The tupperware does divert engine heat in hot weather
Kinda late, but Welcome to the site, Rocken Ron. It's good to see another Albertan, especially from my home town! How wopuld you like to send me the information requested under the Member's Database heading?
Oldsmores Wrote:If you like to wind it out get yourself a vintage Magna: I've got the smaller (VF700C) V4. It redlines at 10,500, and is really happy in the 7 - 9K range, and will outrun many bigger engines. The V65 is a monster - the fastest production bike made at the time, and has been known to humble many a new crotch-rocket. ^^
I'd have to agree with that. I had an 83 V65 Magna. It was pretty wild, scared myself more than a few times! That's the bike I had before joining the whole world of Wings with my 83 Interstate. Now there were two totally different machines!