Can your bike actually do the Ton?

[t71ford]

I was just perusing some of the project builds, and it got me to thinking. In addition, I was riding with my wife last weekend (it is great that she has really taken to Isadora), and we were cruising along at a responsible 60-65 mph. I have had her bike to 92 MPH by the speedo, but suspect it was not that fast. All of this has led me to ask a fundamental (and perhaps a bit stodgy) question: Can your 'racer do the Ton? There are lots of small CC bikes on here, and they look awesome, for sure. But do they perform?
I can say that mine easily will do it. The XS1100 cruises at 100 MPH. It does not even get good mileage until 80, and top speed is in excess of 130. But the XS360? No. It will not. As neat as it is, and as sporty as it handles at an even 300 Lbs., it is really annoying having to shift 3 times in order to get a decent 25 MPH, where the 1100 is about halfway through 1st. But that is my take; my wife loves it, since she can handle it, which is good enough for me.

Now, I am not decrying the merits of the smaller displacement bikes or the beautiful builds that are done on them (so don't Tase me, bro!). They certainly have their place, and we all have our reasons for building them. I just wanna know how many of you can actually do the ton, since that is kind of an important nostalgic criteria!!

 

[sebatron]

(so don't Tase me, bro!)

bahaha. nice one.
i haven't fired her up yet, so i'm not sure. i'm one of those low displacement bastards. i'm hoping my ~19hp and <200lb dry weight will come up with some interesting results once i experiment with gearing.

but i doubt it.

 

[Big R]

My little 175 could. With proper gearing. And a full fairing. Falling off a cliff.

But seriously, one of the guys from Batemans or Group W racing said that their top speed (ever) was somewhere in the 80's. Any they race 175's. I'm guessing if somebody hopped up a 350 it could be possible, right?

 

[Vince Lupo]

I've hit an 'indicated' ton+5 on my SuperHawk (with a bit to spare), but who knows what the speed actually is.

 

[boingk]

I've only ever done the ton on a bike a few times, all on my late Aprilia RS125. Hellava bike.

The GS850 should get there easy; was able to do 120mph stock apparently.

My little Kwaka 100 stroker is on the way to hitting 75mph

Cheers - boingk

 

[Rodders]

Yep, the CX hits it easily with some more in the tank. I just haven't been game to push it much past the 160km/h mark, it being a 27 year old bike that I have had the front and rear ends apart on.

 

[pacomotorstuff]

Of the bikes I still own:
1967 YR1 350 Yam. With touring gearing and flat bars, me flat on the tank, full chat in 5th, indicated 110 -112 mph, back in '69
1977 GS550. Stock except superbike bars and mild intake manifold match / cleanup, was sweeping past the magic 160kph when I backed off. Also saw around the same number at Shannonville - in 1985... Should be a damned sight quicker after the big bore kit, GS1000 carbs, 4-1 pipe, etc. are installed.
1973 RD350 - would do over 100mph stock - and now it's nowhere near that. Scott Clough got 127 mph out of a modified one back in the '70's.
1971 CS3C 200cc Yamaha - not a chance - maybe about 82 mph tops.
1975 RD125 road racer project - maybe 100 - 105 mph on the back straight at Mosport, but has GP fairing, chambers, the works. Not even close to a street bike.
1981 XV920 cafe. Right now the gearing should give me 125 mph at redline - if the bike can pull it. Not quite stock, though. We'll know in a few months.
Ersatz replica 1967 Yamaha 350 road race project - a real bitsa bike. If I can keep the engine together, probably 125+mph depending on gearing, track etc. The "real" race bikes would do over 140mph.
As far as a 350 Honda street bike doing 100mph, never saw a stock one on the street that would do it.
Pat Cowan,
Pacomotorstuff

 

[Maritime]

My 81/82 cm/cb450 hybrid will do the ton. And a little more. I had a chase vehicle confirm 100 mph with a gps and it was indicating 90. When it indicated 100 it was 112 or so. I found out I used the wrong drive for my speedo as I had 2-3 from different wheels and I mixed them up when I was swapping wheels around during the build. It is a 6 speed, rejetted, pods and opened up exhaust as well as a ton of weight dropped off. The bike the motor came out of had a factory top speed of 120 MPH accordign to a road test from the 80's.

Cheers,

 

[noahdog]

I haven't yet but I plan to this year. I did get her up over 80mph last season but that was on the 1st real ride and I don't have a whole lot of riding experience so I backed off once I broke 80. There was still plenty of go left in the engine and I was going up hill the whole way so I think I can easily hit the ton this year especially with all the extra weight gone that I cut off and the new fairing. ;D

 

[triumphrider74]

Cool thread topic, ford! I like the replies.
I've been thinking about hitting the ton a lot lately. My 500 Triumph stats say it's top was around 105. It's 40 years old now, though, as well as had a single carb conversion! I've ran it all out but something is wrong with my speedo. The bike keeps accelerating but the speedo slows down after 55 mph (Smiths oem!). I've got to use a chase car to get an actual.
I realisticall think that it's not capable right now. I've set a goal to do the ton on my bike, though.

 

[Basement rat]

My 750, Yea Did the magical 160 for a few seconds and backed off.

 

[Tim]

While not a small displacement bike (each cylinder is kinda small ) I regularly do the ton on my BMW R75/6 on my way to the office, on the 401.

I'm pretty sure the electronic roadsigns on the 401 subliminally flash 'do the ton or die' as I'm not exactly passing everyone when going 100mph.

 

[triumphrider74]

I'm pretty sure the electronic roadsigns on the 401 subliminally flash 'do the ton or die' as I'm not exactly passing everyone when going 100mph.

Nice.

I need a commute like that.

 

[t71ford]

I'm pretty sure the electronic roadsigns on the 401 subliminally flash 'do the ton or die' as I'm not exactly passing everyone when going 100mph.

^^That is funny!

For everyone with speedo issues: My XS1100 came with an 85MPH speedometer. I got a bicycle speedo from a local bicycle shop for about $35. It uses a magnet and hall effect sensor to measure actual revs of the tire. You calibrate it by wheel diameter. This is very acurate. Plus it is small, and has the added features of average speed, top speed, and ODO. Don't get the wireless ones, because they cannot usually transmit far enough to get a good reading. Since I put this on, I have thought about binning the original, since I never look at it any more, mostly because it is always pegged ;D

 

[triumphrider74]

For everyone with speedo issues: My XS1100 came with an 85MPH speedometer. I got a bicycle speedo from a local bicycle shop for about $35. It uses a magnet and hall effect sensor to measure actual revs of the tire. You calibrate it by wheel diameter. This is very acurate. Plus it is small, and has the added features of average speed, top speed, and ODO. Don't get the wireless ones, because they cannot usually transmit far enough to get a good reading. Since I put this on, I have thought about binning the original, since I never look at it any more, mostly because it is always pegged ;D

Great Idea! Fairly inexpensive, too.

 

[Ghosttown]

^^That is funny!

For everyone with speedo issues: My XS1100 came with an 85MPH speedometer. I got a bicycle speedo from a local bicycle shop for about $35. It uses a magnet and hall effect sensor to measure actual revs of the tire. You calibrate it by wheel diameter. This is very acurate. Plus it is small, and has the added features of average speed, top speed, and ODO. Don't get the wireless ones, because they cannot usually transmit far enough to get a good reading. Since I put this on, I have thought about binning the original, since I never look at it any more, mostly because it is always pegged ;D

Awesome. I have been thinking about doing this very thing, but wasn't sure if it would work somehow. Ever since my stock unit died, I kinda miss knowing how fast I am going, ha!

 

[Das]

For everyone with speedo issues: My XS1100 came with an 85MPH speedometer. I got a bicycle speedo from a local bicycle shop for about $35. It uses a magnet and hall effect sensor to measure actual revs of the tire. You calibrate it by wheel diameter. This is very acurate. Plus it is small, and has the added features of average speed, top speed, and ODO. Don't get the wireless ones, because they cannot usually transmit far enough to get a good reading. Since I put this on, I have thought about binning the original, since I never look at it any more, mostly because it is always pegged ;D

Accuracy vs. Vanity. Who will come out at the top?

 

[Tim]

Just make sure the speedo you buy is capable of measuring the higher speeds. A couple years back I bought one, and did some research first. Never installed it though and I can't find it now

 

[Saki]

I'm going to say no, lol. My speedo stops at 85 and kawasaki says 92 is the max speed.. I'm planning on some minor upgrades and sprocket changes to try to hit the ton. Maybe I can get this 41hp beast upto the ton after a rebuild as I think it would bellow more smoke then speed.

 

[t71ford]

I was skeptical about the bicycle speedo too. All the ones I researched would go to 200 MPH, though. None would read less that I could find. There must be some amazing bicyclists out there Maybe I will cafe my old Huffy...