Power to Weight
Labor Day weekend 1983 I rode my new 750 Interceptor to my Mother’s house in Alabama. On the return trip home, I had a fun encounter with a Ferrari 308. We were traveling East on I20 between Augusta,GA and Aiken,SC. Try as he might, the Ferrari was no match for the Interceptor’s roll on torque . I could hear the 308 downshift behind me and try to make a run for it. I’d just leave the bike in top gear ( no down shift ) and roll on the throttle from 75 mph up to 100. I maintained a 50 foot gap in front of the prancing horse and there was nothing he could do about it.This cycle repeated for about 10 miles until the risk of getting a ticket started to weigh in. Luckily SC law enforcement was taking a break at the time. It was good to be 26 years old and effortlessly humiliating a (insert your own word for arrogant driver here) in an Italian super car.
Fast forward to the summer of 2018. I’m fresh off a 3 week epic ride from North Carolina to California and back . My gen 8 VFR has worn Bridgestones ( 7000+ mi ) and the suspension is feeling pretty tired too. A chance encounter with a Camaro SS leads to a roll on battle from a stoplight. We proceeded down the road around a corner and over a hill side by side. Around 100 mph and the shift from 4th to 5th gear I backed off and the SS forged ahead. From a power and weight perspective the two vehicles were much more closely matched. The other big factor was my 61 year old risk management system. It was much more conservatively programmed than that of me at 26... wearing loafers without socks.
Choose your “conflicts” carefully. There are a slew of cages out there that have a surprising power to weight ratio,instant torque,good suspension,grippy tires and young kamikaze pilots. Some of them may not be wearing socks either.
Power to Weight
1983 VF750 Interceptor 540 LBS.
1983 Rider with gear ( Helmet, Blue Jeans, Members Only Jacket, Bass Loafers...No Socks) 175 LBS
Est 75 RWHP
540+175/75 = 9.53 LBS/HP
Vs
1983 Ferrari 308 GTB 3000 LBS
1983 Driver with gear ( Calvin Klein Jeans, Members Only Jacket, Gucci Loafers,Silk Scarf ) 170 LBS
Est 200 RWHP
3000+170/200 = 15.85 LBS/HP
2014 VFR Interceptor 540 LBS.
2020 Rider with gear ( Helmet,Dainese Boots,Gloves, Textile Jacket) 195 LBS
Est 95 RWHP
540+195/95 = 7.73 LBS/HP
Vs
2016 Camaro SS 1LE 3743 LBS
2016 Driver with gear ( Jeans, Under Armor compression shirt, Air Jordans, Steeler Nation Ball Cap ) 170 LBS
Est 420 RWHP
3743+170/420 = 9.31 LBS/HP