A considerable number of these beasts makes one wonder about the definition of "production"... LOL!!! "Bonneville" runs, and other similar "special' conditions really begs the question of "stock", off the showroom floor, and "production" so to speak. For that, I believe that the 14R and to give credit where it's due - the Busa - probably reign supreme in the world we tend to live in... LOL!!!
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It's all good and fine for the "review" to claim something faster... Look at #6 - with the "right rider" it can do 190.. That review does not say that it's faster than the 14R. Why it's #6, who knows...
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As for #5... the BMW - A “lightly modified” version of the bike hit 203 mph recently in Maxton, North Carolina, which was the second time the S 1000 RR broke the 200 mph mark". REALLY? No problem, but it goes back to "production" vs "lightly modified"; and in that case, unless we know it was just an ECU flash..., then it can be said that on a couple of very special ocassions, it's not going to beat the 14R with consistent 200 mph demonstrations.
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The Busa at #4? Somebody disconnected the speed limiter, and the fact of the matter here is that it tops at 194...
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At #3.... The Ducati... I quote, "Upgrade to a “track-only” exhaust and the horsepower power quotient gets especially violent for a bike (202 hp.) In this configuration, Ducati allows that the Panigale can hit 200 mph. Repeat: track-only, folks". Well that pretty much takes it out of the "fastest" by the standards applied by the "reviewers"... Production means production, not some special order version. If we upgrade the 14R with a "special exhaust", etc., we will be well above the Ducati claim of 200 mph...
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At #2 - the Lightning... I argue that it is not a regular production bike. Period. It's a specialty, niche, and by other reviews, a extremely LIMITED production "special" item. I suspect that the "reviewers" overlooked the reality of "production" and relied upon the free breakfasts, t-shirts, etc. Sucked into the manufacturer's propaganda machine, I say.
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#1... MTT's turbine... Again, my comments for #2 apply.
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My argument here is that after going up the list (to the so-called "fastest"), it's obvious and evident that the reviewers simply relied upon the "advertised" speed provided by the PR wonks associated with the respective "offerings".
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I also find it disconcerting that the reviewers simply ignored the 186 mph federally mandated number as the maximum "speed" for the other bikes built or imported into the USa. But... They surely did apply that to the 14R. Further, they certainly did not apply the same "stock production" decsriptions to the others... If that "standard" of 186 was applied, then most of the so-called top ten would be "equal".
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To be honest it appears that their standard as to what's fastest "production" was not applied to the 14R. The others certainly and demonstrably got a "free ride", what with the caveats they applied in their cursory examination... And examination is about all it was. The article was not written by someone of substance who actually took the bikes listed to the track and found out for themselves what reigns supreme. Collecting and editing the manufacturers data, at least in this so-called review, points to less than valid "list' they made.
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Taking a so-called production bike, allowing "minor" mods, referring to race only versions, and accepting the fact that "production" is equivocal in interpretation, the reviewers have done nothing more than create a biased "advertisement" that is questionable in it's intent; and can be said to show bias towards the unique specials that certainly don't meet the requirements for pure production.
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On that note... it would seem likely that the 14R is likely the fastest, sustained top speed motorcycle in current production...
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Just my take on the article (if one can apply that term to the biased exotic "love fest" screed that it really is...)
* Last updated by: groomlake on 10/19/2014 @ 7:07 AM *