0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds for $10,000

"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair) 09/07/2014 at 11:47 • Filed to: None

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First, let me be very clear. I have absolutely no knowledge of bikes and if you're reading this with the hopes of learning a thing or two about them, then I apologize in advance for disappointing you. Because you won't.

Instead, what you are about to read is an auto enthusiast's true appreciation of these fine two-wheeled machines from afar. That means I've never really gotten around to learning how to ride bikes and actually owning one. But I've always been fascinated by high performance sport bikes and getting an up-close look at Dale and Shea's makes me really want to take motorcycle riding lessons tomorrow!

My friends Dale and Shea are both avid auto enthusiasts and also big motorcycle fans. They've owned several bikes in the past and these two are their recently purchased prized possessions.

There are two things I had no idea about before meeting up with Dale and Shea. First, I didn't even know what an Aprilia was and had no idea they manufactured such high-end sport bikes until I came across Shea's. Second, I didn't know that Shea's bike was naked . If you're wondering "what the hell is a naked bike?" - I had the same question. Apparently it's a bike without the side paneling that is present on Dale's Ducati.

I actually prefer the side paneling - besides improving aerodynamics I think it makes the bike look better.

The Aprilia has essentially the same power as the Ducati (around 170 hp) but you're more upright on the Aprilia as you can see below.

I imagine at high speeds the Aprilia is a tougher bike to drive (or ride), since you're sitting up more you feel the pressure of the wind…but what do I know.

Ducatis are highly respected in the motorcycle universe and I would venture to guess that people who aren't even a "wheel" fan of any kind, whether it be two or four, probably know or at least have heard of a Ducati.

The Ducati 1098 had a pretty interesting exhaust sound - so much so, that Dale's dog can recognize the sound of his bike! There's a clanking that comes from the clutch plates which sounds cool. I actually thought something was broken when Dale pulled up.

The rear wheel of the Ducati is incredibly thick. Looking at it you probably wouldn't be surprised at the fact that the Ducati has a greater power to weight ratio than a 1000 hp Bugatti Veyron. But I'm sure taking off on a bike is a very different feeling than taking off in the Veyron - and to think, Dale got this bike for only $10K (it should've cost him around $15K for a 2008 1098). How did he pull that off?

It turns out that the guy was desperate to sell the bike and so now Dale can get to 0-60 mph quicker than he could in just about any car for the cost of a two year old Hyundai Accent. But, of course, that's not the reason that he got the bike. That may be the reason why I'd get a bike and that's probably the biggest reason why I haven't gotten one yet - I probably would get into a lot of trouble!

Both the Aprilia and Ducati are incredibly powerful and capable but how good they are is also heavily dependent on the riders. Unlike cars, you really have to know what you're doing to push it on a bike, unless you want to risk crashing. Anybody could probably experience the joys of an ultra high performance exotic without having to work too hard, but few could experience just a tad of what these insane bikes have to offer without putting their lives on the line.

I asked Dale and Shea so many questions. Here was my final one - what kind of car would they compare their bikes to? Dale made it pretty easy - his Ducati is considered the Ferrari of motorcycles. What about the Aprilia? Shea really struggled to compare the Aprilia to a car and in the end this is what he came up with - "Dale's is designed to lay that power down on the track. My bike is designed to do hooligan shit on the way to the coffee shop."

I guess that sums it up pretty well.

I must say that when Dale and Shea took off and left me in the dust, I got jealous and wondered what it felt like. Must have been awesome.

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nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 11:54

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good read and explains a good bit. I know nothing about bikes but have always been interested. Do I trust myself with one? Maybe. But I'll probably need that discipline before hopping on a 2 wheeled rocket.

cabarne4 > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:07

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The dry clutch rattle on Ducatis is one of my favorite noises.

That said, go learn! Take an MSF course, learn the basics, then buy some safety gear and a used 250cc (the Kawasaki ninja is probably the most popular starter bike). Then practice, practice, practice. When you can ride the 250 at the limits of the bike, you're ready to move up.

Yes, it's a dangerous form of transportation. You can mitigate the danger by wearing proper safety gear, having proper training (knowing how to react in a given situation), and riding responsibly. That said, you still have no control over the other twat-waffles on the road.

But if you don't take any risks in your life, are you really living?

Fastest bikes I've ridden were my friends' CBR600RR and a Ninja 650R. And honestly, those are probably the biggest / fastest bikes I'd consider owning. Bigger than that is almost pointless on the streets (much like supercars, you only get the most out of them on the track). But wringing out a 250 is like pushing an FR-S or Miata — fun within the speed limit. Bump up to the 500 range, and you've now got something comparable to an STi or Mustang GT or so (probably my favorite range of bikes). 600-650 you're playing with Corvettes, GTOs, Doug's Ferrari, etc... all for less than $10,000.

Now for associated costs. The bike I'm looking at getting once the snow comes and goes is a Honda CB500F. More than enough power for the streets. Owners are reporting MPG in the 60-70 range. Insurance through Geico would be around $25 / month. Maintenance costs are fairly low, just a $20 oil change every few thousand miles, and a couple hundred dollars for new tires every year (probably one of the more expensive items — motorcycle tires usually last around 5,000-10,000 miles, and typically start near the $100 / tire range for something "cheap").

If you're willing to accept the risk involved, it's an economic means of transportation, and fun as hell.

Tohru > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:07

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Aprilias and Ducatis are both like Italian cars: when everything is going perfectly, it's an amazing ride. They're finicky and a bit pricey to keep maintained, and parts have to get shipped from Europe.

With an inexperienced rider, either one would kill you faster than playing Russian Roulette with a Colt 1911.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:10

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Street bikes are the fastest you can go for 5000 dollars or less. Ask me how I know ;)

Jobjoris > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:11

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If that's what you call a 'naked bike' with all that semi-fairing, what do you call this:

Torque Affair > Jobjoris 09/07/2014 at 12:25

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That looks awesome- what is it?

Torque Affair > E30Joe drives a Subaru 09/07/2014 at 12:26

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You're probably right! What do you own?

Torque Affair > Tohru 09/07/2014 at 12:27

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Yeah I bet. Doesn't seem like you want to be on one of these bikes if you don't know what you're doing.

Torque Affair > cabarne4 09/07/2014 at 12:28

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Great input! It really is one of the cheapest way to have fun on wheels - like you said, if you're willing to accept the risk.

cabarne4 > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:32

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Unfortunately I had to give my friend's bike back that I was borrowing. Past few years I've been spending too much on racecar to buy another, but I borrow a friend's occasionally. Now that I've moved again, I want to buy another — only problem is that it snows for 6 months of the year here. :(

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:33

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I actually just sold my 2005 R6 since winter is coming up, in the spring I am probably going to buy a Ducati or a BMW bike.

Jobjoris > Torque Affair 09/07/2014 at 12:56

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A naked bike! It's a Ducati M900. The 'M' stands for, I kid you not, 'Monster'.

I have a white (fuel-tank) on black (frame/seat) M750. Missing the fairing only makes it drivable under 140 km/h. The sound it makes is... AWESOME!

Torque Affair > Jobjoris 09/07/2014 at 13:07

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Very nice!

Justi > Torque Affair 09/08/2014 at 13:14

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I have only ever owned naked bikes. Started with a 120cc Suzuki, then moved on to a Yamaha Fazer 1000. I wrote it off and replaced it with a Triump Street Triple. Hands-down the most fun bike I've ever ridden. It had an awesome exhaust note as well, the full Zard system is lovely. It was faster than my Yammie to 230km/h as well. Slipped on some oil in the road and mangled it completely. I'm now banned from riding bikes, partly because I can't risk breaking my wrist again. They'll have to bind it together if I do. Sigh, I miss riding.

doodon2whls > Torque Affair 09/09/2014 at 10:22

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Given the title of your blog, I am surprised you didn't highlight the one thing that makes these big thumpers go - TORQUE... The Aprilia TuonoV4 pumps out about 82 ft-lbs and the Ducati 1098 generates a chain-stretching 90 ft-lbs of torque. The 1098 is said to have the highest torque-to-weight ratio of any motorcycle. The HP wars continue with motorcycles just like the automobile manufacturers, but what really makes muscle cars (and bikes!) quick is torque. "Horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races." This quote is often attributed to Enzo Ferrari or Carroll Shelby - probably incorrectly - but it rings true no matter who said it first.

Before you consider owning a motorcycle, make an assessment of your track record driving cars. How many tickets, accidents, or 'oopsies' have you had driving ? If you run out of fingers on which to count them, then owning a motorcycle might not be for you. Riding a motorcycle requires understanding, calculating, and assuming risk. If you're not so good at that while driving cars, you're not likely to be so good at it while riding a motorcycle.

Italian motorcycles are wonderful pieces of engineering, industrial design, and emotion. That said, they are maintenance intensive and costly to repair. If you do decide motorcycling is for you, pick up a small to medium displacement Japanese bike or Buell Blast (if you can find one) and and start with the basics at a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) approved class. I started riding off-road motorcycles 30 years ago and learned about control and balance at an early age. Imagine learning to drive in a rally car before driving a street car. All of the control skills you learn off-the-road on a motorcycle prepare you well for your on-the-road experience - you just need to add the road/traffic rules to the equation.

Torque is your friend when learning to ride... A low-revving engine that produces oodles of torque is more forgiving and these engines usually have a more linear power delivery versus the high revving/low torque engines. Look for a V-Twin motorcycle - the SV650 is a great starter bike and there are many aftermarket parts available thanks to the huge club racing scene.

Motorcycling is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on...

Torque Affair > doodon2whls 09/09/2014 at 23:13

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Thanks for your input! You're right - completely forgot to talk about torque!

theandysho - drives a SHO > cabarne4 09/10/2014 at 22:02

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That said, it takes years of experience to capably manage half of what a 1098 can do. I ride a Buell 1125R and have been on a bike almost 15 years. It's underpowered compared to the Duc, and I can still scare myself shitless on it.

cabarne4 > theandysho - drives a SHO 09/10/2014 at 23:22

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I honestly have no desire to ride a liter bike. Biggest I ever want (and my dream bike) is the Duc Monster 696. Looks incredible, and that sound!

MMinSC > Torque Affair 09/13/2014 at 15:39

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Bought a Ducati or Aprilia? First thing you order is a set of Termis!

Marek > Tohru 09/13/2014 at 15:46

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Tuono is not really that maintenance intensive but you may lose your license fairly quickly.

Torque Affair > MMinSC 09/13/2014 at 15:58

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Hah...what's Termis?

Torque Affair > Justi 09/13/2014 at 17:02

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Oh man, that's too bad. I'm assuming that nothing can quite replace the sensation of being on a bike.

John > Torque Affair 09/13/2014 at 20:57

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Bikes are also the cheapest way into the "200 mph club" and can you can prob. gain entrance for about 20K. New ZX14...15K, asst. mods to get 200 h.p. to the ground prob. 5k or less.

Torque Affair > John 09/13/2014 at 21:29

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Yea, I bet.

bob and john > doodon2whls 09/13/2014 at 22:48

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mmmmbuell blast...that was my first bike....I got lucky and only had one problem with it....carb fell off a lot. thank you shitty HD cost cutting. fixed it with a 5$ piece of plumbing hose. I put 5000km on that thing in a year (when I was 16..and the riding year was 7 months) then i sold it for 1/2 of what we paid for it with tax and everything and got myself an SV650S. Never though Id say this, but I do miss that little blast. and as I found out, the new owner bought it, rode it once, and it has been sitting in an underground parking garage...for 3 years now....That little guy deserved a better fate then that....

bob and john > Torque Affair 09/13/2014 at 22:50

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Termi is short form for Termignoni exhausts. VERY popular systems and slipons for the italian crowd, as they REALLY bring out the beastly noise from the big twins and the V4 in the aprilia. they also have a pricepoint to match.

bob and john > cabarne4 09/13/2014 at 23:00

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if you want the "cheap" way in, get a suzuki SV650 (naked)

they look similar (top 03-current suzuki, bottom 2009 ducati 696)

the suzuki is cheaper,

easier to mod (LOTS of guys swap in GSX-R suspension...fairly easy to do too)

FAR more reliabe

parts are easy to come by

sounds EXACTLY the same once you slap a pipe on the SV(suzuki has a 648CC 90 degree Vtwin, ducati has a 696CC 90 degree V-twin)

insurance is cheaper

and they are boradly similar on the suspension front.

Also, lots of guys with the naked SV's put on Ducati headlights. Personally, i'm not a BIG fan of the naked thing, i prefer my bikes fully faired.
me on my SV below

crash red hot > Jobjoris 09/13/2014 at 23:06

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Nice. I've got a 900M in the garage. It's very hard to believe sometimes that I actually own my dream bike.

Jobjoris > crash red hot 09/14/2014 at 03:15

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Awesome, pictures please!

cabarne4 > bob and john 09/14/2014 at 09:52

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definitely like the SVs. Next bike is a CB500F though. Probably gonna pick one up in the spring, after the snow melts

bob and john > cabarne4 09/14/2014 at 11:00

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if you can, go and negotiate and buy it in the winter. bikes are cheaper because no one can ride. once you get to the riding season, prices go up.

Saf1 > Jobjoris 09/14/2014 at 12:46

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Voxan SUPER NAKED

iwrock > doodon2whls 09/14/2014 at 16:10

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Yeah, my friend said it best after our last ride - in a car, you enjoy the scenery. On a motorcycle, you're a part of the scenery!

I've only been riding for a year and a half, but I completely agree with you, motorcycling is the most fun you can have while wearing full gear! (Don't be a squid!!!!)

crash red hot > Jobjoris 09/15/2014 at 20:43

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Sorry, been super busy lately. Hope to get them up soon.

cabarne4 > bob and john 09/16/2014 at 13:33

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Well the nearest dealer is in Phoenix... So, yeah. Doesn't work as well.

crash red hot > Jobjoris 09/16/2014 at 22:39

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Finally... here's a bad pic, but it's what I've got. Sure, she's not in the greatest of shape, and, yeah, she has a salvage title, and, yes, the paint on the tank isn't a perfect match with Ducati red (it drives me crazy sometimes), and, yeah, I put her down last spring so there are some scratches and so forth, but... she's still my dream bike.

Jobjoris > crash red hot 09/17/2014 at 02:23

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That looks pretty original, you even have both the original mirrors! That frame&rim-colour was awesome, I think that only was on the '92/'93 right?

Only customization I've got are: rear fender cut off, some small carbon(look) mirrors and smaller blinkers. When I had the tank repainted I used '80s style logos. Mine is a '99 white on black frame M750 with the original Remus exhaust. They sound hilariously dark!

Mine's not perfect either, I just use it to get to the office once in a while when I try to avoid trafficjams since the kid arrived.

crash red hot > Jobjoris 09/17/2014 at 21:40

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Yeah, I didn't commute on it this summer (it's been crazy), but I plan to next summer. And I'm not about to try any winter riding here in Wisconsin.

It's a 2000. It's a beast. Way more bike than I need, but, I couldn't pass it up. I got it years ago when I was still single. Marriage and 3 kids later and I know what you're talking about as far as riding frequency goes.

Love the 750! I haven't seen a black frame in quite some time.

southernyooper > Torque Affair 10/05/2014 at 17:09

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my last bike was a 2007 Triumph Daytona 675. It's triple sounded amazing especially after I added the jardine exhaust and race tune. Mine was graphite grey. My riding was a form of meditation. I'd ride up to the blue ridge mountains on Sundays and just feel alive.

Now, one thing people need to know is that something will happen to test your skills on a motorcycle. You want to make sure you have fortified those skills as much as possible. So many "bro's" buy a 600cc or 1000cc for their first bike and wonder why they crash a week later.

That being said, riding a motorcycle is something everyone should learn to do or just try it once. It's very liberating from the norms of everyday driving (I realize some cars can come close as well). Someone told me that the reason people ride motorcycles is the same reason dogs stick their heads out the car window........it just feels good.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Torque Affair 10/05/2014 at 17:58

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Bikes are such a great performance bargain. It's a shame people are afraid of them. My Ninja 650R is pretty gnarly and it's a relatively tame bike. I do wish it had more power. I could do something like a Z1000.

It's a real shame the US doesn't allow cars like the Ariel Atom. I would trade my bike for one of those in a heartbeat.

Torque Affair > PardonMyFlemish16 10/05/2014 at 18:36

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Do you feel like you can keep yourself from riding too fast on your bike? Isn't the temptation too great to go too fast?

Torque Affair > southernyooper 10/05/2014 at 18:38

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Yeah..one of these days I'll take lessons...hopefully.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Torque Affair 10/05/2014 at 19:39

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Outright speed, no. Going fast in a straight line is boring to me now. My drug is the corners. Even with that though, I try to keep it reasonable. I've been down a few times, it's not fun. Next year I'm hoping to go to the track.... it's possible that I may stop riding on the street entirely, if I can go to the track on a regular basis.

Tony Dickson > southernyooper 10/07/2014 at 11:20

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I think riding a motorcycle also makes you a better car driver. Being more observant of your surroundings helps no matter how many wheels you have, and riding a motorcycle teaches you that.

southernyooper > Tony Dickson 10/07/2014 at 14:01

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i absolutely agree.