Your top speed on a bike??
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- Tom
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Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 16:58
I thought this would be an interesting thread. Not to promote high speeds on motorcycles but just curious how fast you guys have gone on a bike? What kind of bike was it?
Back in my younger days i got up to around 135-140mph on a 1985 Kawasaki Eliminator. I was 19 years old and worked at a Kawasaki dealership. Kawasaki was trying to promote the Eliminator and offered "test drives". The bike was advertised to go 0-60 in 2.2 seconds! I think you were given a free shirt or something for riding it. Anyway, I asked my boss if I could take it for a ride. I took it easy at first but got on it good near the end of my ride. It was a lot of fun and to this day would love to own one!!
Let's hear your story!
Back in my younger days i got up to around 135-140mph on a 1985 Kawasaki Eliminator. I was 19 years old and worked at a Kawasaki dealership. Kawasaki was trying to promote the Eliminator and offered "test drives". The bike was advertised to go 0-60 in 2.2 seconds! I think you were given a free shirt or something for riding it. Anyway, I asked my boss if I could take it for a ride. I took it easy at first but got on it good near the end of my ride. It was a lot of fun and to this day would love to own one!!
Let's hear your story!

Tom
Holland, MI
1980 KZ550 ELR
2011 Concours14
2017 KX450 [/color]
Holland, MI
1980 KZ550 ELR
2011 Concours14
2017 KX450 [/color]
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- racer54
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 18:00
I've been 148 mph on my dragbike in the 1/4 mile which was a 1400cc KZ1000 on a bad run. My turbo went 143 mph in the 1/4 mile but haven't had it topped out in high gear though. Also took a ZX11 up to 160 mph before I thought that was stupid because I was in a forest preserve with deer EVERYWHERE, so shut it down. First bike I had, I had it topped out at about 40 mph, I think....it was a mini-trail 50cc. Had a blast on that thing. Beat it to death and it always came back for more.
1980 LTD (changed over the years), 1979 LTD (being rebuilt), 1977 KZ turbo and various KZ's in various states of build. KLX110
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- ran429
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 18:22
Speedo on my former KZ900 said 120 once while riding with Scumbag, another time on my KZ750E (again with Scumbag) i pegged my needle on a long bridge in seattle (before i knew the state patrol watch it from above) but it stops at 85. getting off the throttle it took a little bit for the needle to drop past 85 so i am unsure of how fast.
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- Bluemeanie
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 18:48
A friends garage was full so I stored his 1984 Honda (V-4) Interceptor 1000 for a few months. Fast grunty bike, got up to an indicated 145mph. At 100mph plus, that bike was like sitting home on your living room couch! Rock solid and smooth.
Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/31 21:50
Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2008/01/31 21:50
1980 KZ650F1, Bought new out the door for $2,162.98!
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- bob_z1
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 19:07
I have one of those free Eliminator shirts somewhere around here :laugh:
I've probably been 160+ on my ZX11.... don't like to bother with looking at the speedo when flying low like that
I've probably been 160+ on my ZX11.... don't like to bother with looking at the speedo when flying low like that

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- saxjonz
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 19:16
On my zr1100 I have hit 140 several times but on my brother's gsxr 1000 which I would never own coming back from LA going to Laguna Hills CA I got it up to 187. Now mind you the road seemed pretty straight at the time but at that speed my head was bobbing up and down I was fighting to hang on and the corners seemed to be much less than straight at that speed. Things come up really quick and before I had a chance to open it up the rest of the way I got the feeling that jail time would be upon me so I shut it down. Damn bike took off from 1st gear earlier and I was not yet up to redline and reached 88 with the front wheel off the ground before I shifted at 12,500. I have no idea why anyone would want to have a streetbike that fast. I was perfectly happy with my zr1100 anything past 140 is incrementally faster it seems. I am happy to cruise at 80-90 to at most 140 for a minute or two. I think speed is not a great addiction to have. But getting there fast is fun.
79 LTD B3
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
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- flht1997
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 19:27
had my YZF600 to an indicated 155. which was redline in 6th, it had no more

Matt Milwaukee, WI
75' KZ400, (5) 78' KZ400, 76' KZ 750, 78' KZ650
78'CB750F, 78' CB550K
89' BMW R100RT
05' H-D Electra Glide
06' KLR650
Do it right or don't bother doing it at all.
75' KZ400, (5) 78' KZ400, 76' KZ 750, 78' KZ650
78'CB750F, 78' CB550K
89' BMW R100RT
05' H-D Electra Glide
06' KLR650
Do it right or don't bother doing it at all.
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- Patton
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 19:41
My 150cc 2 stroke Lambretta motor scooter would run an honest 55 mph. 
Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/02/02 09:56

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/02/02 09:56
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
KZ900 LTD
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- oldkaws4ever
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
31 Jan 2008 20:37
the fastest i have been on a bike is 170mph, it was on my buddy's heavly modified 03 suzuki gsxr 1000. That this is so damn fast, it had more to go but i backed off at 170. All i know we merged with traffic at 130mph and the rest was a blur. I have had the z1 up to 130ish, good enough for me.
74 Z1a 900 (Apart and making it better than ever)
77 Kz 650b (Threw a rod, going to sandwich in a 900 or 1000 motor)
76 Kz 400d
05 ninja zx-636
81 Kz 750 Ltd
Darien, Illinois
77 Kz 650b (Threw a rod, going to sandwich in a 900 or 1000 motor)
76 Kz 400d
05 ninja zx-636
81 Kz 750 Ltd
Darien, Illinois
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- Craz1
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
02 Feb 2008 06:28
Would have to say bumping around at 200 on the ole turbo Martin...and around 150 plus on the prostreet. The Martin would start making good boost at around 135 and start to lighten up and float the tire...after that is was be very aware of what's in front of you.
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- Patton
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- ran429
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Re: Your top speed on a bike??
02 Feb 2008 07:04
Patton wrote:
I would roll to work on one. i only work a little over two miles from my home.
Imagine the fuel i would save.
thats pretty cool!
I would roll to work on one. i only work a little over two miles from my home.
Imagine the fuel i would save.
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