Top Speed

[SpyderMechanic]

I have had the Spyder at 143 on a long ,straight,flat road here in north Texas and It had more to go.

 

[QuadManiac]

cars don't cut the wind they are wayyy more aerodynamic, bikes have much more touble breaking the 200 mph, the force you need to over come this is related to the power/weight ratio is what the math is I am talking about. The spyder is underpowered and is not geared right IMO. "do the math" is a analogy that my paintball buddies and I use.


The Spyder is more stable that 2 wheel stuff but i can not relate it to my two wheel stuff because IMO 150mph is the basic standard of "fast" when it comes to bikes.

As when I talk to people that ask me "is that snowmobile on wheels fast"
Fast is a relative term, what is slow to a top fuel drag bike racer is fast as F#ck to me. It is quick off the line, I will give it that.

This is all from my expirence on bikes, not what my friends did or what I read on the interweb, If someone has more expirence than me on this, I am all ears, as doing quarter mile at BIR next wednesday should know more on what it will do then.

Thanks for clarifying. The question stated was "what's the top speed?" not "is it fast?"; a request for absolute data, not a question about one's perception of 'speed'. Your repeated reference to 200mph is surely an issue, but not in this case, as we all know the Spyder won't get there.

Weight is a significant issue for acceleration - how quickly can you reach a speed but, except for adding to the rolling friction, weight has little to do with top speed (as long as you are on flat ground). Rolling friction is linear with speed (i.e., twice the speed has twice the drag due to friction).

The dominant issue at high velocties is air drag - which is a function of speed squared; and the power required to push through that drag, which is a function of speed (or velocity, to be exact) CUBED. This implies that to reach 200 mph requires 8 times more power than that required to reach 100 mph. And, so, to reach 140 requires (140/100)^3 or about 2.75 times the power required to reach 100. Does the Spyder have it? I don't know for sure, as stated in my first post...

But anecdotal evidence from others seems to say yes, at 10,000 RPM, as stated, the Spyder should reach 138 mph, assuming enough power to overcome the drag at that velocity. Of course, larger people (like me) will have more drag and some accessories, like windshields, bags, etc., may cause more or less drag. So, if the Spyder's maximum power output at near the RPM limit is marginal, some of us might be able to get there while some of us might not, due to individual variables such as body size and modifications that change the bike's drag through the air.

One of these days, I'll find that long, flat road (free of CHP) and determine whether I can reach the RPM limiter with MY configuration.

 

[NancysToy]

Well said, QuadManiac.
-Scotty

 

[WackyDan]

I don't care how fast it is. I've been 180 on a bike... I do not need to do that again. I learned long ago that fast isn't where it's at, but how quick your ride is. If I can get to 100 faster than the next guy, I'm happy. If the top speed of that ride is only 100... I'm happy. The thrill for me is in the pull. Now, that sometimes also gives you speed complimentary.

I used to freak some young riders out when I had my old 86 fazer. They'd pull up on their 750's or 900's with their jet kits and fancy pipes looking for a run. I'd beat them to the next light just about every time. Now.. that may be more about "sleeper" than anything, but acceleration had as much to do with it.

I bought the Spyder for touring, so it has almost as much power as I need...Though I admit, a bigger engine/more horse would make it perfect.

 

[QuadManiac]

Well said, QuadManiac.
-Scotty

Thanks, Scotty. I value your opinion.